Sharks make it two defeats on the spin for champions Leinster

Leinster suffer a second consecutive defeat at the start of the new United Rugby Championship season as they lose 26-20 to the Sharks in Durban.

Leinster's Alan Spicer comes up against Phepsi Buthelezi of Sharks

Tries: Tshituka, L Bester, Esterhuizen, van der Merwe Cons: Moyo 3

Tries: Henshaw, Clarkson, Osborne Cons: Gabriel Pens: Prendergast

Leinster suffered a second defeat in a row at the start of the new season as the United Rugby Championship title holders went down 26-20 against the Sharks in a keenly contested encounter in Durban.

Leo Cullen's side lost 27-26 to the Lions in their opening game of the campaign in Johannesburg, but they have at least managed to salvage three bonus points from the two fixtures as some consolation from their tour to South Africa.

The young Leinster side competed well throughout but in a tough physical contest often found themselves outmuscled at the set-piece as their opponents enjoyed the ascendancy in the scrum.

Source: BBC Sport Africa