Kunene cited as Sharks hope to bounce back against Cardiff

When it rains, it pours – and that’s how the Sharks will be feeling at the moment, days after their 66-12 annihilation at the hands of Bordeaux in the Champions Cup.

Already missing a number of their big stars to injury – including Springboks Eben Etzebeth, Aphelele Fassi, Vincent Koch, André Esterhuizen, Jordan Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi, who all missed last Sunday’s disaster in France – young fullback Hakeem Kunene may now be added to the unavailable list for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff in Wales (7.15pm kick-off).

The 21-year-old No 15 was cited yesterday for a dangerous tackle against Bordeaux, which saw him receive a yellow card. He will face a disciplinary hearing today via video conference, and the sanctions range from two matches in the low-end range to six in mid-range.

Kunene was a late inclusion in the starting team against Bordeaux after Eduan Keyter was withdrawn, which saw Yaw Penxe shift from fullback to right wing.

Kunene made a great start, finishing a fine early move as the Sharks rocked the home side with a 12-0 lead, with flyhalf Siya Masuku scoring the opener following a superb run by centre Jurenzo Julius.

But Kunene then made a dangerous tackle on Bordeaux wing Arthur Retiere in the 12th minute in the build-up to the first of six tries to star French wing Damian Penaud at the Stade Chabane-Delmas.

It looked like referee Christophe Ridley had made his mind up that Kunene had made head-on-head contact to Retiere and was about to dish out a straight red card, but TMO Dean Richards pointed out that the initial contact was around the shoulder and neck area, with the Sharks back’s arm then sliding up to the head.

Ridley then handed out a yellow card, and Kunene stayed off the pitch as he was hurt in the incident, which saw Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am coming on in the 22nd minute – with Penxe moving to fullback and Julius to right wing.

The Sharks were still right in the contest at half-time at 19-12 to Bordeaux, but the visitors conceded three tries in 13 second-half minutes to end the match as a contest. Sharks coach John Plumtree will hope to halt the three-match losing streak against Cardiff.

And even without Kunene and all those Boks – as well as others who may not be ready yet, such as locks Emile van Heerden and Gerbrandt Grobler, flank James Venter and hooker Fez Mbatha – the visitors should have enough firepower to get past a Cardiff side that have lost to Connacht and Perpignan in recent weeks, and drew 13-13 with the Ospreys on New Year’s Day.

Bok prop Ox Nche and Am may start against Cardiff after playing off the bench against Bordeaux – although Scottish international Dylan Richardson has been ruled out of the Six Nations as well with a shoulder injury – while Plumtree must address the high number of one-on-one missed tackles in France.

The Sharks will still feature in the Challenge Cup round of 16, where they will face Lyon in France in early April, but they are still handily placed in fifth position on the URC log.