DAI FLANAGAN'S MEN HAD BEEN BUOYED BY THEIR DERBY WIN OVER THE OSPREYS BUT CONCEDED 10 TRIES ON A DISMAL NIGHT IN DURBAN 19:39, 25 Nov 2023Updated 20:44, 25 Nov 2023 The Dragons

couldn't repeat their heroics of last weekend as they were thrashed by a bolstered Sharks side in Durban. Dai Flanagan's men headed to South Africa buoyed by their derby day win

over the Ospreys - their first home victory in over a year - but were outclassed by their hosts at Kings Park, who fielded a number of returning South African World Cup winners. While Dane

Blacker and Rio Dyer got on the scoresheet for the visitors, they were dominated throughout the bruising encounter and endured a torrid time at the scrum, with the Sharks running in 10 tries

from their mood-lifting win over at Rodney Parade a week ago, with Aki Seiuli and Chris Coleman named as starting props, while George Nott was brought into the second row and Blacker was

named at scrum-half. Article continues below The Sharks, meanwhile, welcomed back a host of heroic Springboks with the returning Eben Etzebeth, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi all

starting alongside skipper Lukhanyo Am. Ox Nche and Grant Williams, meanwhile, were named among the replacements. The strength of those reinforcements proved itself from the off as the hosts

won an early penalty, which Curwin Bosch coolly converted to put his side on the board after three minutes. Etzebeth then did well to claim the lineout ball on the Dragons' 22 with

some clever hands ultimately freeing Aphelele Fassi to cross in the corner. After Bosch converted to put the Sharks 10 points clear, the home side immediately went looking for more and

tested the Dragons' defence with relentless phases of attacking play, much of which came throught the returning Boks. Soon, that defensive line was broken again as more good work off

the back of the lineout helped set Mapimpi on course to score his side's second. Cai Evans looked to have missed a good opportunity to get the Dragons on the board as he shanked a

penalty wide from a tight angle, but would redeem himself moments later as he helped set up a fine try for Blacker after some good work from Will Reed. They would be pushed back again before

half-time, however, as tighthead Chris Coleman was shown a yellow card after Flanagan's men were penalised for a sixth time at the scrum. The Sharks made their man advantage count

almost instantly as Kok's try put them 15 points clear at the break, following a TMO review. Despite losing Ollie Griffiths, Will Reed and Cai Evans in the first 40, the Dragons started

more brightly in the second-half but after Rio Dyer spurned a chance, the hosts made them pay with Etzebeth and Williams both crossing either side of Sio Tompkinson's disallowed try.

Article continues below After a fine performance against the Ospreys, Dyer would get his moment again as he skinned Williams on the way to scoring his side's second, but the

celebrations were cut short yet again five minutes later, as Phepsi Buthelezi capped a fine performance with a try before Lappies Labuschagne got in on the act. However, there was still time

for more as a howler from Tompkinson set up Williams to run it in from distance, while Fassi grabbed his brace and Am scored another as the Dragons welcomed the final whistle on a brutal

night in South Africa.