It’s not often a rugby team is reduced to 12 players, and it’s even less often that a player receives a red card and comes back onto the playing field. But that’s exactly what transpired for the Sharks during their Currie Cup semi-final clash against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Quite incredibly the Sharks were reduced to 12 men in the final stages of regulation time, but still managed to find a way to force extra time and ultimately book their spot in the trophy match.
It would have come as a particularly bitter pill to swallow for the Bulls who led for most of the encounter, before finally exiting the competition (though the scores were tied at 40-all) on a technicality for scoring fewer tries than their coastal foes.
Sharks centre Francois Venter was red-carded for foul play with just over 15 minutes remaining in regular time.
Unbelievable scenes at Loftus Versfeld 😲
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 14, 2024
The Hollywoodbets Sharks defy the odds to reach the 2024 #CarlingCurrieCup final 🦈![CDATA[]]>🏉
This match is a must-see if you missed it 🍿 pic.twitter.com/7yZOWt2oeH
New rule bit of a head-scratcher?
However, a new rule is being trialled during the Currie Cup - which allows red-carded players to come back on after 20 minutes.
It came as no surprise though, that many were caught unaware by this new rule, including Sharks coach John Plumtree.
“There was no real stage of the game where I sat there comfortably in my seat,” Plumtree told rugby365.com.
“I actually didn’t know the rules – Lionel [Cronje] had to kick it [the conversion to tie] because we had more tries.
“There was a fair bit of chat on the sidelines around the red card replacement after 20 minutes. The officials really didn’t know what was going on there as well.
“I think it must be the first time it has happened in the Currie Cup. I don’t think either coach was feeling comfortable at any stage.”
Plumtree said his team frantically phoned a referee to confirm the new rule before they found out that Venter would be allowed back on the pitch.
“We got that message on and then they [officials] said, ‘Yes okay’.
“There was a lot of confusion on the sideline. I don’t blame the referee for that. I think the officials on the sideline need to be better than that because it added to the stress in that moment and we didn’t know if we could get Lili Bester on.”
The Sharks will take on the Lions in the Currie Cup final at Ellis Park on September 21.