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Cape Town - A valiant display from the Sharks against the Waratahs on Saturday was not enough to prevent a sixth straight loss in Super Rugby, though the headlines after the match were mostly directed at referee Rohan Hoffmann.
The Australian match official ruffled feathers among analysts and supporters with his questionable decision making during the Waratahs’ 33-18 win in Sydney.
Sharks captain Marco Wentzel was visibly irritated with Hoffmann during the match, at one stage pleading with him to refer a decision to the TMO after the ’Tahs had scored a try.
“You are always going to be perplexed when things aren’t going your way,” Wentzel said after the match.
“I felt like there were a lot of decisions not going our way. I don’t want to moan about the ref, but I felt there were a few calls that could have been referred. If you have the option to refer calls, you should do it, but it is what it is.”
Coach Gary Gold was more circumspect in his reaction, but did acknowledge that from the sidelines it seemed that the Sharks were facing a tough time with decisions going against them.
“It did seem that way, but that’s the way the game goes I’m afraid,” he said.
“I just though the guys hung in there for the full 80 and we knew what a desperate Waratahs team was going to be like.
“I’m proud of how the guys hung in there, but it was a cruel result at the end of the night. We’ll take it on the chin, we’ve got to stay in this fight, and we’ve got pride to play for. We’re a very proud union and this is not a great place to be in.”
The Sharks will have their last chance to record a win on tour when they face the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
