Mail Online

HAMISH CAN’T STOP SHARKS

Watson shines on return despite defeat

By Rob Robertson AT DAM HEALTH STADIUM SCORERS; Edinburgh — Tries: McBurney (2) Immelman. Cons: Savala (2). Sharks — Tries: Williams, Potgieter, Van Vuuren. Cons: Bosch (2). Pen: Bosch.

THERE was good news for Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend with British and Irish Lion Hamish Watson lasting a full 80 minutes in his comeback match against the Sharks after being sidelined after a series of concussions for two and a half months.

He was involved from first whistle to last, was excellent at the breakdown, and showed he is definitely back in the mix to start against England in the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham next weekend. His main rivals for the No 7 jersey are his Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie and Andy Christie of Saracens.

For all Watson’s efforts, Edinburgh still came up short against the South African outfit after twice turning down two kickable penalties within the last few minutes to draw the match. Instead they put the ball in the corner on both occasions but failed to come away with any points.

Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair had mixed emotions over the narrow defeat to an under-strength Sharks side that didn’t include their captain Siya Kolisi, who had been rested.

‘I’m proud of the effort and the commitment but we just lacked a bit of precision under pressure,’ said Blair, whose team did not score a single second-half point.

‘Being hit with injuries late on didn’t help and we played the last 12 minutes with our fly-half, Jaco van der Walt, in the back row. We were decision making on the hop over what we could do at line out time, too. I am proud of the effort but happier if we got the win.’

Edinburgh were architects of their own downfall at times, with Charlie Savala gifting the visitors a try after just three minutes when his wayward pass was picked off by Grant Williams just inside the Edinburgh half. The scrum-half had an uninterrupted run to the line for a touchdown that was put over by Curwin Bosch.

For all Edinburgh’s early pressure, they couldn’t score and nearly went further behind when Thaakir

Abrahams knocked on with the line at his mercy. It was desperate times for the home side who had Wes Goosen sent to the sin-bin for illegally blocking a Sharks attack.

The South African outfit went further ahead when full-back Aphelele Fassi managed to offload to unmarked winger Marnus Potgieter to score in the corner. Bosch put over the tough conversion from out on the touchline.

It took until the 28 minutes for the home side to trouble the scoreboard. Savala made a break from his own half that was carried on by the rest of the backs. When the ball got near the try line, the forwards got involved, with Boan Venter playing in hooker Adam McBurney for the try. Savala put over the extras.

Edinburgh got their second try after a superb kick to touch by Henry Immelman that pinned the Sharks back less than ten metres from their own line. McBurney’s throw in was caught by Marshall

Sykes with the hooker then tucking in behind the pack to get the touchdown. Savala put over the extras yet again.

Two minutes before the break, Immelman went from provider to try scorer. Nick Haining started the move that Boan Venter continued before the Edinburgh full-back went in at the corner.

The visitors reduced the five-point half-time deficit by three straight from the restart after Edinburgh gave away a penalty that Bosch converted.

The home side may have dominated possession, but they could not find a way to the try line. To alleviate pressure, Bosch took a penalty from deep in his own half that he was never going to put over just to give his side a breather.

It worked as it pushed play back into the Edinburgh half and after a poor Immelman clearance from the penalty attempt, the visitors attacked from the line-out. The forwards won the ball and after a discussion with the TMO referee, James Doleman awarded the try scored by Kerron van Vuuren.

They thought they had gone further ahead but replacement Ntuthuko Mchuno was held up over the line.

Just when the visitors were on the ascendancy, they were reduced to 14 men when replacement prop Carlu Sadie was sent to the sin bin for an illegal tackle.

Charlie Shiel inspired the home side with a great run from deep against a Sharks side that were now struggling to keep them out.

Captain Mark Bennett was held up just short then the home side twice turned down penalties to draw the game with Immelmann kicking to the corner on both occasions. They won the line-out both times but superb, disciplined defensive play by the Sharks meant they held on for victory.

Rugby

en-gb

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://mailonline.pressreader.com/article/283373361129461

dmg media (UK)