URC: Sharks coach laments lack of ball security

Sharks coach Joey Mongalo lamented the team’s failure to look after the ball during their loss to Connacht in Galway.

The Sharks went down 24-12 in the end, and the coach felt the difference between the sides was not vast.

Sharks coach admits they failed to secure the ball

Mongalo believes the Sharks started and finished the match well but lost their way in the middle.

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“I felt that we fought really well in the first 30 minutes and then also in that last 20 minutes of the game,” said Mongalo according to Rugby365.

“I thought it was in the middle sections where we lost the game.

“At 0-12 down, into the wind and rain, with 38 minutes gone, I thought we will still be in the game, then we gave away a turnover when we were about to score.

“They kicked the ball down the field that led to them going 19-0 up. Similarly, just after half-time we were on the front foot in their half, got a turnover again and they kicked it downfield and we got charged down.

“For me, that is where the game changed.

“Those two moments were massive moments.

“Either side of those moments I thought the guys fought really well. We asked them for effort, we asked them for physicality.

“They gave us effort, but they could have given us more physicality.”

Respect the ball 

The coach feels that his inexperienced team needed to show the proper respect for the ball.

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“We were on the front foot about to score and we had no respect for the ball, they took the ball and before you know it, we were on the other side.

“That is probably the area of improvement. When we do have a sniff at this level you have to value the ball and you give yourself the best chance to get points on the board in one form or the other.”