Etzebeth blow as Sharks wreck Ospreys’ play-off bid

United Rugby Championship

Sharks (14) 29

Tries: Jenkins, Esterhuizen, Hooker, Buthelezi Cons: Masuku 2, Fassi Pen: Masuku

Ospreys (3) 10

Ospreys’ play-off hopes in the United Rugby Championship (URC) are all but over following defeat by Sharks.

The South African side scored two tries apiece in each half to claim a scrappy victory in Durban.

Sam Parry stepped off the bench to grab his fifth try of the season in a gutsy but limited display by the visitors at Kings Park.

Ospreys’ season could be ended by other results this weekend before next week’s climax at Lions.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones made just one change to the team that thrashed Dragons for this must-win game but a star-studded Sharks were a distinctly different prospect.

The hosts led 14-3 at half-time through their aerial dominance and sheer brute force – but Ospreys had their chances.

Lock Jason Jenkins was hard to stop from close range, while centre Andre Esterhuizen proved similarly unstoppable from a few metres more.

Ironically it was a dropped ball that dislodged a solid Ospreys defence as well as a wonderfully delayed pass by Jaden Hendrikse.

The scrum-half would prove Sharks’ match-winner.

Adam Beard played his 100th league game while Jac Morgan made 50th regional appearance – a day after being named in the British and Irish Lions squad.

The Wales captain was utterly impressive once again despite another loss – perhaps even more so because of it – keeping Sharks at bay almost single-handedly, leading the match for both turnovers and tackles.

But Keelan Giles failed to gather Henrikse’s speculative kick to hand wing Ethan Hooker an easy finish.

Ospreys struggled to negotiate the Sharks’ blitz defence until replacement hooker Parry finished a line-out drive.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Dian Bleuler, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi.

Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Emmanuel Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Will Spencer, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morse.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Steffan Thomas, Ben Warren, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (WRU)

Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira & Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)