The Sharks' nightmarish season thus far lurched to another low on Sunday with a Challenge Cup defeat to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
RECAP | Cheetahs 32-29 Sharks
Going into the game, John Plumtree's charges had lost six of their eight matches thus far - winning one of their seven United Rugby Championship (URC) match and their opening Challenge Cup game against Pau last week - and by the end their record was a desultory two and seven in a campaign that threatens to be derailed before it's even started. There will be a temptation to say a Springbok-laden Sharks side dropped their bundle on the day, but it would only be true to a point.