There has been some classical cases this year of outright devious and unethical play by NZ players and the list seems to be continuing. Let us not forget the classic of Retallkick claiming interference to prevent a Bulls try and some really other cases.
Aaron Smith did the same type of classic to milk a penalty for the Highlanders on Saturday. He got the ball from a mall and instead of passing to his backline - he hit the back of the head of a Sharks player sitting outside the maul and not interfering in the game at all. Nigel Owens would have warned Smith about getting a yellow card for that type of thing - but Smith succeeded in milking a penalty.
Not that it helped the poor Highlanders - they were still disgraced by the Sharks.
However, Du Preez was right in saying the game on Saturday was the best game played by the Sharks for years. The last time the Sharks played the Highlanders in a round robin game in Durban - the Sharks was beaten 30-15. That was in 2014 and the outcome was when White was the coach - and when dear Fat Fransie destroyed the Sharks game.


