0'
Our referee today is Ben Whitehouse from Wales, and he will be assisted by Cwengile Jadezweni and Griffin Colby (both from South Africa). Our TMO is Colin Brett from Scotland.
0'
Ulster: 15 Will Addison, 14 Ethan McIlroy, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mike Lowry, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Harry Sheridan, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jude Postlethwaite, 23 Sean Reffell.
0'
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 George Cronje, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Francois Venter.
0'
Their next match saw them pip Connacht 20-19 at home, followed by a 22-21 away win over Leinster. Next up was a 19-17 away defeat at the hands of the Ospreys, before bouncing back with a 49-26 win over the Dragons.
0'
At the end of November they lost 33-20 away to Glasgow Warriors, and followed that with a 24-27 home loss to Edinburgh.
0'
Ulster have also had a number of tight results over their last five matches, although they were on the right side of some of those clashes.
0'
Earlier in December the Sharks were trounced 44-10 by the Bulls, but the week before they picked up their first win, a 69-14 thrashing of the Dragons.
0'
In the previous round of matches at the end of 2023, the Stormers pipped the Sharks 16-15 in Cape Town on the back of an 18-20 home loss to the Lions.
0'
The Sharks have experienced a run of really close results, which included their 21-25 home loss to the Stormers last week.
0'
Ulster: 15 Will Addison, 14 Ethan McIlroy, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mike Lowry, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Harry Sheridan, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jude Postlethwaite, 23 Sean Reffell.
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Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 George Cronje, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Jeandre Labuschagne, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Francois Venter.
0'
After a dismal season (albeit also unlucky), the Sharks sit at the bottom of the table on 10 points from their 11 matches, while Ulster are up in fifth place with 34 points from their 11 games.
0'
Good afternoon, and welcome to our live coverage of the United Rugby Championship match between the Sharks and Ulster from Kings Park in Durban.
1'
KICK-OFF! We're underway here with the first half of Sharks vs Ulster!
2'
SUBSTITUTION, SHARKS. Cronje is replaced by Jeandre Labuschagne.
2'
George Cronje is making his way off after a double tackle on him during that movement. Awful to see and after just the first move of the day. The medics are still attending to him before they shuttle him off the pitch.
2'
Sharks with the early possession, Ertzebeth doing good work… they drive over the halfway line but are blown for a knockon.
3'
Sharks with the scrum as it was Ulster who had been penalised. Sharks run it well but a loose pass is chased down by Ulster who push into the Sharks 22, but fortunately for the Shark they are blown for an infringement. The Sharks clear the danger up to the halfway line with a great penalty clearance.
5'
Great turnover by Ulster, who run the line down to the Sharks 22 but again are penalised. Sharks force a scrum ahead of their 22…
7'
Sharks now run down the blindside and maul, then a long ball is launched into the Ulster half, but the visitors suck it up and now they counter… but the Sharks charge the kick down…
8'
Etzebeth charges down a second attempt at an Ulster clearance. Great work from the Bok. Play breaks up and they will scrum… no-one is moving too quick as I can tell you this is one stinking hot Durban day… and Durban stinking hot is something to be experienced.
10'
Ulster press forward, driving hard at the Sharks, but they are penalised on the Sharks 10m, Masuku finding a nice touch into the Ulster half.
12'
Tshituka rises beautifully to claim the lineout ball and the Sharks run right, then back left. Drive, pass, drive… nearing the Ulster 22 and the visitors knock-on and Sharks will feed the scrum in a great attacking position.
12'
Tshituka rises beautifully to claim the lineout ball and the Sharks run right, then back left. Drive, pass, drive… nearing the Ulster 22 and the visitors knock-on and Sharks will feed the scrum in a great attacking position.
14'
Sharks run it left and push into the 22… then left… right… maul… but Ulster somehow grab the ball and its cleared deep into the Sharks 22 (what a kick)… the Sharks drive back brilliantly to the Ulster half but they lose possession and we'll have a lineout on the halfway line.
16'
BRILLIANT! Tshituka steals possession and drives forward, then feeds Mapimpi, only for Bok team-mate (now with Ulster) Steven Kitshoff grabbing the ball out the maul and it's fed to the line and kicked deep into Sharks territory.
18'
Sharks kick out to the halfway line, Ulster win their lineout and drive forward… they feed the line but the attack is swallowed up by the Sharks… but the ref has penalised the Sharks and Ulster have a penalty just ahead of the Sharks 10m, which they kick to touch.
19'
The ball is grounded but the TMO wants a look as Lukhanyo Am might just have held the ball off the turf with an incredible piece of power defence while lying flat on the ground. WOW, this is close!
19'
Ulster lineout 8m from the Sharks tryline… they win the ball and ruck forward, then pass the line and the forwards try the wrecking ball approach, pushing into the 5m line… they're massed by the post…
20'
CONVERSION, ULSTER, COONEY! 0-7; No difficulty from in front of poles.
20'
TRY, ULSTER, SHERIDAN! 0-5; Well, the home side won't be happy but the officials have given it.
22'
Ulster win the ball and press forward again, winning a lineout in the Sharks 22 and driving hard forward… but Ulster are blown and the Sharks can clear the danger.
24'
Water break… and the players will need to take a lot on board in this heat.
25'
Sharks kick to the halfway line, but Ulster have the throw as it was a kick-off… they win the ball, kick deep, but it rolls over the Sharks line and the home side has a drop out.
27'
TRY, SHARKS, BUTHELEZI! 5-7; INCREDIBLE TRY… the ball is kicked deep and over the Ulster halfway line, and WHAT A RUN FROM HOOKER, who storms ahead and kicks the ball into the Ulster 22 and near the tryline, he can't pick it up but Buthelezi was one of three Sharks following up, he picked the ball up and POWERED over the line. GREAT team try… and what a run from young Hooker!
28'
CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU! 7-7; Lovely kick from wide on the right touchline, maybe seven metres in, and Masuku slots it through the poles.
30'
Sharks push forward into the Ulster half but concede a penalty, Ulster kick it into touch 7m short of the Sharks 22…
32'
Ulster win the ball and try attack the Sharks 22 but the home side pushes them back, great, great defence by the Sharks, and Ulster are blown and the Sharks clear upfield.
34'
Sharks win the lineout and drive forward to the 22, Masuku tries a grubber into the 22 but Ulster soak it up… but the ref calls play back for a Sharks penalty, which is kicked into the Ulster 22 for a lineout.
36'
Ulster clear but the Sharks push back, a chip over the top for the Sharks to chase over the tryline, but McCann collects, carries over and dots down for a Sharks scrum.
38'
Sharks push Ulster hard to the line, Ulster are penalised, close to a penalty try but it's a penalty 5m and the Sharks choose scrum again.
39'
Buthelezi peels off the scrum, pushes for the line but is held up… Sharks press for the line… KNOCK-ON! Ulster will have the scrum, with the Sharks not convinced about the knock-on, even though replays confirm it.
39'
Buthelezi peels off the scrum, pushes for the line but is held up… Sharks press for the line… KNOCK-ON! Ulster will have the scrum, with the Sharks not convinced about the knock-on, even though replays confirm it.
40'
HALF-TIME, SHARKS 7-7 ULSTER. Ulster started off looking brilliant, but the Sharks are truly back in the game and looking super good. The heat might favour the home side, so watch out for tries aplenty in the second half as the Sharks look for their second win of the tournament. Second half follows soon.
40'
Ulster win the scrum and hold it in the maul… run the clock down… then kick to touch the moment the hooter sounds. Half-time it is then.
41'
KICK-OFF! We're underway with the second half at Kings Park, the score level at 7-7…
43'
Sharks driving hard and into the Ulster half… the press into the 22, maul, send the ball down the line left, Etzebeth joins and tries to take the pass, but it's off his fingers like a bar of soap and Ulster have a reprieve of a scrum almost in front of their poles.
45'
Ulster clear upfield but the Sharks counter-attack, driving down the left touchline… Mapimpi taps a grubber through into the 22…
46'
… Keyter runs onto it into the 22, kicks it forward and into the tryline… he dives forward to try and ground it just before it bounces out of play… his hands don't ground the ball but it looks like his stomach does… TMO rules…
47'
CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU! 14-7; Another lovely kick from Masuku… he's having a storming match today.
47'
TRY, SHARKS, KEYTER! 12-7; TRY! Magnificent opportunism from Mapimpi and what a chase and execution from Keyter! Brilliant from the Sharks who deserve the lead.
49'
Ulster push forward but they are penalised in the scrum and the Sharks clear the danger to the Ulster 10m.
51'
Lovely grubber forward from Hendrikse sends the Sharks deep into the Ulster 22, the visitors collecting the ball and holding onto it, mauling as they try to rally to clear the danger… the kick clear going 10m short of the Ulster 22.
53'
Sharks pour on the pressure into the 22, battering away at Ulster… Masuku chips into the Ulster goalline, but it's carried over by Ulster.
54'
The ref calls play back for a penalty inside the Ulster 22 and seven metres to the right of the posts… and the Sharks will take the kick!
55'
PENALTY, SHARKS, MASUKU! 17-7; Slotted with ease by the Sharks flyhalf for a 10 point lead.
57'
Ulster win a penalty but they kick for touch rather than try to take the three points… it's into the Sharks 22, but the home side's defence is strong… but they concede another penalty and this is kicked to the 5m line for a lineout.
58'
TRY, ULSTER, TREADWELL! 17-12; The try stands and the Sharks are once again under pressure of losing another tight one. The conversion isn't easy though…
58'
From the lineout Ulster power over, but the ref wants to check something out…
59'
WIDE! His kick started on target but just drifted away… lucky break for the Sharks! Five points in this game now.
62'
The Sharks press hard and win a penalty… a couple of forwards drop their handbags and the temperatures rise, but the ref sorts it out quickly with a stern voice, as his size is not threatening to either pack of forwards (or backs).
63'
Sharks drive forward into the 22m, press to the 5m… the ref blows for a penalty for the Sharks… but he's asking the TMO to look into a scuffle that broke out after that penalty was awarded… and it was something that came close to closed fists.
64'
NASTY! There was an Ulster high tackle that earns a visit to the bin for the Ulster captain… and the ref also sends Lukhanyo Am and David McCann to the bin for their grappling.
65'
YELLOW CARDS, SHARKS AND ULSTER.
Henderson and David McCann get to visit the bin for Ulster, accompanied by Lukhanyo Am.
66'
TRY, SHARKS, MBONAMBI! 22-12; The Sharks drive over from the 5m lineout, Mbonambi doing well to power over.
67'
The conversion from wide is missed, so Ulster are still in with a sniff.
69'
Ulster break forward, a lovely run down the left touchline but the Sharks drive them into touch.
72'
Ulster drive forward, Sharks win the ball, earn a penalty and drive forward, kicking to the 5m line for a throw.
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