Sharks suffer third straight URC loss after scrappy defeat to Scarlets

A full-strength Sharks came unstuck in Wales, suffering a third defeat on the bounce in the competition, after losing 32-20 to a Scarlets side that brought their A-game in Llanelli on Saturday night.

The defeat at the Park y Scarlets left the Sharks in a precarious place (8th) on the United Rugby Championship (URC) table, with only two points separating them and Cardiff.

For large chunks of the match, the Sharks looked like they were playing together for the first time. The two-month break some of their biggest stars such as Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth enjoyed seemed to cause them to take steps backwards.

Both Springbok stars were in superb nick at the turn of the year but their momentum seemed sucked out by the inactivity. Their rotation policy between the URC and Champions Cup has been nothing short of disastrous.

There were periods at the start of the Sharks’ URC season under Sean Everitt when they looked a confused mess and this performance was not far off from that.

AS IT HAPPENED | Scarlets v Sharks

In the opening five minutes, Curwin Bosch thwarted a runaway near-Scarlets score after right wing Steffan Evans and Gareth Davies broke through.

The Sharks flyhalf managed to use his pace, get a grip on both players in the same move, resulting in a false pass that landed in teammate Makazole Mapimpi’s hands.

After eight minutes, the hosts found the breakthrough, this time Evans successfully evaded tacklers deep inside the Sharks' 22m area after being put in the gap by lock Javan Sebastian.

The Sharks finally got themselves into the back and it took 28 minutes for them to strike when skipper Siya Kolisi scored from a close attacking lineout.

Although the visitors managed to get more territory and possession, they had minimal