--- title: "Clinical All Blacks thrash directionless Sharks in ugly mismatch" description: "The All Blacks produced some vintage class in treacherous conditions to thrash an inexperienced and disjointed Sharks 54-0 (halftime 14-0) at King’s Park in Durban on Tuesday." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "RAINING TRIES" author: "Craig Ray" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/craig-ray/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-11-clinical-all-blacks-thrash-directionless-sharks-in-ugly-mismatch/" published: "2026-08-11T22:22:15" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 1050 --- # Clinical All Blacks thrash directionless Sharks in ugly mismatch > The All Blacks produced some vintage class in treacherous conditions to thrash an inexperienced and disjointed Sharks 54-0 (halftime 14-0) at King’s Park in Durban on Tuesday. By Craig Ray · Published 12 August 2026, 00:22 SAST ## Key points - The All Blacks humbled a makeshift Sharks side 54-0 at King’s Park, a one-sided rout sealed by halftime (14-0) and eight unanswered tries after a drab opening spell. - Played in sodden, treacherous conditions, the only theatre came when 44-year-old Ma’a Nonu responded to the Ka Mate haka with a solo Kapa o Pango — otherwise it was an ugly mismatch. - Sharks looked rudderless: a controversial rebrand, a callow selection heavy on U20s and journeymen, a confused game plan and baffling moments (unchased kicks) that underlined JP Pietersen’s offseason headache. - The All Blacks’ class shone — Jordie Barrett’s kicking, Fehi Fineanganofo’s power (two tries), Ruben Love’s kicking and a dominant pack; concern: Damian McKenzie left early with an ankle injury. ## Content If the opening game of the Greatest Rivalry tour in Cape Town on Saturday set the tone for a sensational trek through South Africa, Game Two against the Sharks on Tuesday, 11 August, set it back. Played in sopping conditions after heavy pre-match downpours, supposedly in front of 14,759 people according to the official count, it was an ugly mismatch. The only highlight was when the Sharks’ 44-year-old centre Ma’a Nonu, a 103-Test All Black, responded to the tourists’ Ka Mate haka by doing a solo version of their other haka, Kapa o Pango. ![Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: Hollywoodbets Sharks v New Zealand](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/vfYQ40gmq2xFG7i2aey-7irolP8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2996/TL_2601813_818409.jpg) *The All Blacks do the haka before kick-off against the Sharks at King’s Park. Sharks centre and former All Blacks centurion Ma’a Nonu responded with a solo haka. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)* It should have been a gesture roared on by a full stadium. Still, it was wonderful theatre — the only memorable moment in an otherwise shambolic encounter. ### **Rebrand** The All Blacks scored eight unanswered tries and, outside of the opening 10 minutes, were never under any duress. The Sharks were already on shaky ground with their rebrand last week, which features a logo, to the consternation of some more traditional fans. Logos aside, the more worrying aspect was that the Sharks put out a callow team containing five junior Boks and a string of journeymen against the All Blacks. ![Rugby-Sharksv ABs](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/4PRBLTc5p6jG6DkZKTgLVF4cQME=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TL_2601911_647806.jpg) *Sharks loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi is about to be tackled by All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua and No 8 Wallace Sititi. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)* Obviously, the Sharks were in a pre-season phase and were, to an extent, hamstrung by circumstances. But the contrast to the team and the effort the Stormers put into the fixture a few days earlier was stark. While it must have been a great moment and thrill for the U20 youngsters to face the All Blacks, the sight of the hugely talented 18-year-old Zekhethelo Siyaya completely out of his depth was uninspiring. He might go on to be a great Springbok in years to come, but he was not ready for this. The same could be said for many others. At least Sharks coach JP Pietersen knows the scale of the challenge he faces in the new season. ![Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: Hollywoodbets Sharks v New Zealand](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/gkTWgr1p46Bo82CV4_8EzCQRn_g=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2996/TL_2602062_255862.jpg) *Sharks head coach JP Pietersen selected a callow team to face the All Blacks. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)* Overall, it seemed the Sharks players were confused by the game plan. Late in the contest, at 47-0 down with barely any scraps of possession, scrumhalf Ivan van Zyl launched a contestable kick from one of the rare moments when they had the ball. Why kick away possession at that stage? And to make it worse, not a single player chased the kick. Shambolic. It summed up the confusion of the entire night for the home team. The stats reflected the dominance on the scoreboard. The All Blacks made 15 line breaks to the Sharks’ one, and made 371 post-contact metres with 60% possession. ### **Class and experience** The conditions were obviously atrocious and unhelpful, but the way the All Blacks adapted, especially after halftime, underlined their class and experience. Centre Jordie Barrett was outstanding, unleashing a tactical kicking game that will have the Bok analysts working overtime before the first Test. Wing Fehi Fineanganofo has pace, power and good feet. He scored two tries and was a constant source of good moments for the tourists. Flyhalf Ruben Love also looks a fine player and an excellent goal-kicker. Missing only one of eight kicks at goal in those conditions, and many from wide out, was a formidable feat. Giant loosehead Ethan de Groot dominated Vincent Koch in the scrums while flank and captain Luke Jacobson showed why coach Dave Rennie rates him so highly. The pack in general was excellent, while the backline grew into the game and, once it found its rhythm, produced some fine tries. Fullback Damian McKenzie, wing Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, scrumhalf Kyle Preston, wing Timoci Tavatavanawai and lock Sam Darry scored the other tries. They were almost all scored through fine passages of ball-handling and accurate running lines that cut the Sharks to pieces. ![Rugby-Sharksv ABs](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/sewx-IRKKluRc_eqAwcGbdnBi1c=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/orphans/TL_2601873_188708.jpg) *All Blacks fullback Damian McKenzie suffered an ankle injury when taking a high kick early in the game. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)* ### **Slow start** Despite just about setting up a small village in the All Blacks’ 22-metre area for the opening 10 minutes of the game, the Sharks never looked like scoring. The tourists’ defence was as unyielding as Shaka’s Rock, and once they had weathered the early onslaught, the All Blacks gradually squeezed the life out of the home team. The All Blacks nearly scored with their first 22 entry, but did score with their second when Fineanganofo smashed over from close range. The try had its genesis from a towering up-and-under from Barrett from a free kick, which the All Blacks regathered and took through the phases. It was a lesson in clinical play in extremely difficult conditions. The All Blacks underlined that it was essential to make the most of chances on a field that was almost as saturated as it was for the 1995 World Cup semifinal. [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCW1T7KMiMY) Fullback Damian McKenzie scored the team’s second try with a nicely angled run. He received the final, clever pass from Fineanganofo, who in turn had received a clever cross-field kick from Barrett. That score came moments after McKenzie appeared to have scored by knocking the ball on in the process of sliding in to dot down. Chalk that one down to the treacherous conditions. McKenzie, who is one of coach Rennie’s key players, didn’t make it to halftime, though. Early in the game he twisted his ankle when fielding a high kick. Despite a heavy strapping being applied, he never looked fully comfortable and was withdrawn early. The All Blacks will be sweating on the further scans. After halftime it was one-way traffic to the Sharks’ line, with the All Blacks scoring six tries. Nonu made a late appearance to some listless cheers, and the match descended into little more than a contact training session for the tourists. **DM** **Scorers** New Zealand – Tries: Fehi Fineanganofo (2), Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Kyle Preston, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Sam Darry. Conversions: Ruben Love (6).