Powerful Sharks too strong for hosts Cardiff

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff v Sharks

Cardiff (10) 22

Tries: Mann, Bowen 2, Hamer-Webb Cons: Sheedy

Sharks (21) 42

Tries: Mbonambi 2, Julius, Mapimpi, Venter, Penxe Cons: Hendrikse 6

Sharks celebrated a United Rugby Championship (URC) bonus-point, six-try win by overpowering a depleted Cardiff side at the Arms Park.

South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi crossed for two tries with further scores from Jurenzo Julius, Makazole Mapimpi, Francois Venter and Yaw Penxe.

Impressive Cardiff teenage wing Tom Bowen scored a double with further tries from Alex Mann and Gabriel Hamer-Webb as the hosts dropped to fifth in the URC table despite picking up a losing bonus point.

Sharks secured only a second league away win of the season to lift themselves to fourth as they recovered from the 66-12 European Champions Cup hammering at Bordeaux-Begles last weekend.

The official attendance was 11,687, compared to the crowd of 2,832 at Ospreys' 43-0 win against Benetton in Swansea 24 hours earlier.

Makazole Mapimpi scored for South Africa in the 2019 World Cup final

Sharks full of World Cup winners

Full-back Cameron Winnett returned to start after being omitted from the Wales Six Nations squad and was among six changes made by head coach Matt Sherratt.

Hooker Dafydd Hughes, prop Rhys Litterick, lock Seb Davies and half-backs Johan Mulder and Callum Sheedy also started.

Lock Josh McNally was named captain with Liam Belcher injured and stand-ins Teddy Williams and Ben Thomas with Warren Gatland's Wales.

Fellow Welsh internationals Keiron Assiratti, Josh Adams, Ellis Bevan, Evan Lloyd, James Botham and Taulupe Faleatu were also missing, while at least another 10 players on the casualty list.

South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi was on compulsory rest but Sharks still fielded a strong squad including 13 Springboks.

In the visiting 23 were seven World Cup winners Mbonambi, Mapimpi, Vincent Koch, Grant Williams, Trevor Nyakane, Jaden Hendrikse and Lukhanyo Am.

There were four Test props in the squad with Ntuthuko Mchunu and Nyakane starting and Koch and Ruan Dryer coming off the bench.

Cardiff were missing their first-choice front-row trio with Sharks enjoying scrum dominance throughout the contest.

Fast start by Cardiff

Tom Bowen made his Cardiff debut in the 2024-25 season

A breathless start saw Cardiff open the scoring with a well-worked try as a Rory Jennings chip was collected by Bowen, with the wing almost crossing the line before flanker Mann strolled over unopposed.

Mbonambi responded in typical fashion as he powered over from a maul before centre Julius popped up for the second try following a break from Jordan Hendriske, who converted both scores.

The visitors' third try soon arrived when Winnett allowed a speculative chip to bounce and Mapimpi capitalised with an easy score.

Bowen, 19, always looked dangerous and received his reward when he wriggled over in the left hand corner.

This followed good work from flanker Thomas Young in a 15-phase move as the hosts trailed 21-10 at half-time.

Sharks class and depth tells

Sharks were sharp at the start of the second half against a lazy Cardiff side with Mbonambi charging over the line for the bonus-point try.

Cardiff responded almost immediately with an inventive Winnett kick bouncing up into the arms of the onrushing Bowen, who stepped inside the final defender to grab his second try.

Bowen's pace continued to trouble Sharks but it was his fellow wing Hamer-Webb who grabbed the bonus-point try after receiving a floated Winnett pass.

With Cardiff within six points, Sharks were able to bring on a host of South Africa internationals as replacements for the final quarter.

The extra class and depth told and replacement Venter cantered over after Cardiff had been undone by a clever attacking kick.

Wing Penxe completed the scoring by carving through the tired home defence.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt: "They are a rock star team who were always going to have moments and brought on World Cup winners off the bench.

"We don't like losing but I thought with ball in hand we looked really dangerous and scored some nice tries.

"Tom Bowen has got no fear and backs himself. He was very good. He changes direction so quickly.

"If he can get the ball in space, he's very dangerous and an exciting player for the future."

Line-ups

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Tom Bowen; Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally (capt), Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Danny Southworth, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ethan Lloyd, Jacob Beetham, Regan Grace.

Sharks: Jordan Hendrikse; Yaw Penxe, Jurenzo Julius, Ethan Hooker, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Grant Williams; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka (capt), Jason Jenkins, Phepsi Buthelezi, Emmanuel Tshituka, Nick Hatton.

Replacements: Ethan Bester, Ruan Dreyer, Vincent Koch, Deon Slabbert, Jeandre Labuschagne, Jaden Hendrikse, Francois Venter, Lukhanyo Am.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Assistant referees: Mike English & Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)