The Sharks lost by 15 points against the Waratahs on Saturday, but there was plenty of controversy along the way.
The record books won't tell the story of Australian referee Rohan Hoffman's influence, but Twitter sure will.
Social media was abuzz following Saturday's clash, which ended 33-18 in favour of the home side, as rugby lovers and critics voiced their concern with what they had seen from Hoffmann.
Sport24 selected some of the more striking reactions.
Once upon a time it was Darrel Hair...now its Hoffman...WTH....
— Pat Symcox (@PatSymcox77) May 16, 2015
Hoffman was bad but TMO George Ayoub shouldn't escape ridicule either. Staggeringly inept. #WARvSHA #SSRugby
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) May 16, 2015
I'm not South African, but when their #SuperRugby teams tour Aus/ NZ, they suffer from some awful refereeing decisions #WARvSHA
— Steve Graham (@ManeyHillMob) May 16, 2015
What a joke of a ref today clearly robbed the Sharks and we need all the help we can get this season
— Monde Zondeki (@zondecks) May 16, 2015
To borrow a line from the Beatles, the Waratahs got by with a little help from their friends. The Friends being the ref and his assistants.
— Gavin Rich (@blobby15) May 16, 2015
David Campese calls Rohan Hoffmann a joke. He's being kind. #ssrugby
— Brenden Nel (@BrendenNel) May 16, 2015
The IRB really has to look at the rules governing referees participating in SuperBru.
— Dan Nicholl (@dannicholl) May 16, 2015
If Phil Kearns says "the Sharks were really stiffed" tells you how bad Rohan Hoffman was
— Dan Retief (@retiefdan) May 16, 2015
Rohan Hoffmann doing his best Stuart Berry impersonation. Super Rugby really need to look at improving standard of refs #WARvSHA #SuperRugby
— Scott Fitzgerald (@Fitzy_S) May 16, 2015