Bok-laden Sharks down URC defending champs Glasgow in Durban

Emboldened by the return of their Springboks, the Sharks did what they had to do in their toughest assignment of the season. They beat the defending United Rugby Championship champions Glasgow Warriors 28-24 in a gripping encounter that just about lived up to their pre-match billing at Kings Park.

The Sharks in the end relied on their international experience to get the job done and there were stellar performances from captain Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Makazole Mapimpi, not to mention man of the match Aphelele Fassi.

He marvellously rose to the occasion and again delivered a performance of real authority. He is in the form of his life.

It was the Sharks' power game, however, that gave them traction. Their scrum purred with intent and they made significant inroads when took the direct route. More often than not they bossed the collisions.

Franco Smith's Warriors, however, are a crafty bunch. They also possess fighting spirit. Every time the Sharks appeared to have the upper hand, the visitors counter punched and though their convulsions at the death came too late to win them the game, they did bag two precious bonus points with tries in the 79th and 80th minutes.

As you'd expect, the Sharks, having made wholesale changes to their squad, did not play with any great fluidity or tempo — but they were able to call on vast experience and sheer muscle to subdue the travellers.In any case, for them this was not a clash with an accent on artistic impression and they scrapped, rushed and hurried the defending champions into error.

The Warriors barely had time on the ball but to their credit they fashioned two splendid tries in the first half, while two more followed when the game was already lost in the last two minutes.

They conceded too many penalties and after the break they attempted fruitless contestable kicks under which Fassi stood tall. A yellow card to replacement Gregor Brown in the 66th minute lengthened the odds on them wiping out their deficit.

After a passive start by their standards, the visitors gradually found a foothold in the game. Sione Tuipulotu's skip pass in the 18th minute helped create space on the outside and once the ball was transferred back in field, scrumhalf George Horn was on hand to score a try he soon converted.

The Sharks then went about their business with more urgency. Etzebeth grew more influential as he carried with gusto. It helped earn the Sharks set up favourable field position and Siya Kolisi upon his return to the franchise drew the game's biggest applause when he barged over in the 27th minute

Fassi then benefited from a quick tap from five metres out to score the Sharks' second try but the Warriors showed their inventiveness when scrumhalf George Horn was rewarded for good support running.

The Sharks were again caught out down the left flank when the Warriors used the width to find and exploit space. As was the case in their first try, left wing Kyle Rowe made inroads — but this time he used his boot as the killer punch. He side-footed the ball in field and Horn was again on hand to gobble up the bouncing ball to score before the break.

With Brown in the bin, the Sharks put the issue beyond doubt in the 70th minute when Grant Williams crashed over for the decisive score.

Scorers

Sharks (15) 28 - Tries: Siya Kolisi, Aphelele Fassi, Grant Williams. Conversion: Jordan Hendrikse (2). Penalties: Hendrikse (3)

Warriors (12) 24 - Tries: George Horn 2, Rory Darge, Johnny Matthews. Conversions: Horn, Adam Hastings.