Sharks: Munster game may hinge on discipline, who has the better goal-kicker

Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth said he expected their game against Irish giants Munster to be very tight and probably be decided by which side has better discipline and the better goal-kicker on the day.

The teams clash in their United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Kings Park on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm) after the Sharks finished third on the table and Munster ended sixth.

The Sharks are no strangers to just crossing the line. They won by three points or less in six matches this URC season. They also won once by four points and once by six points. That means the Sharks won by fewer than seven points in eight of their 13 victories.

‘We are used to it by now’

Reflecting on this, Etzebeth said that although fans have been frustrated this season, Sharks players and coaches have been too. But the past, and even the Sharks’ wounding victory over Munster in October that saw their coach Graham Rowntree resign afterwards, did not matter anymore.

All that mattered was that the Sharks win their first-ever home quarter-final in the URC, whatever the margin.

“We have seen in the past that the play-offs can be a quite tight affair. We are used to it by now,” Ezebeth chuckled. “I think last season… we lost it tight [34–21 to Munster in 2023] and this year we actually turned them around and are winning them. That’s the difference. A couple of points and now all of a sudden you have a home quarter.

“Hopefully we don’t have to make it that tight but it’s a quality side [Munster] and it’s probably going to come down to discipline on the day, who’s got the better goal-kicker. It’s going to be a very close game.”

Sharks have one of their best URCs yet

The Sharks captain praised the back-up players who stepped in during the team’s extended injury crisis. This included his own four-month injury lay-off, which he was grateful was over.

“We understand that some fans might be a bit frustrated. We as players and coaches are sometimes a bit frustrated with ourselves. But whatever happened before doesn’t really count anymore.

“If you also think about it, I think it’s the highest the Sharks have ever ended in the URC. It’s actually one of our best URCs yet.

“We ended third with only Leinster and the Bulls above us. Historically, it was sort of successful but obviously now it’s play-offs.”

The Sharks are on a four-game winning streak. Munster have won their last two games, against Benetton and Ulster.

Head-to-head, the Sharks and Munster have beaten each other twice and drawn once. All victories came at home, while the draw was in Durban.