The Sharks shrugged off their United Rugby Championship blues in spectacular fashion in Swansea on Friday night when they downed the Ospreys 27-13 and looked a thoroughly rejuvenated side in the process.
The Welsh team was completely outplayed by a Sharks side that had seemed shell-shocked in their first two tour matches — heavy defeats to Munster and Glasgow.
But during the week, coach Sean Everitt had said his team had learned lessons, had done their homework and had a sound plan to beat a home team that boasted British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones, and fellow Lions Rhys Webb and Adam Beard.
Pivotal to the Sharks’ success was the impressive performance of Boeta Chamberlain at flyhalf, a position where the Sharks have faltered in recent games, while Ruan Pienaar at scrumhalf was simply masterful in controlling the game.
Chamberlain will never forget a night where he kicked a stunning hattrick of drop goals, while Jeremy Ward and Marnus Potgieter dotted down for the Durbanites.
Ospreys – Tries: Tom Botha; Penalties: Gareth Anscombe (2); Conversion: Anscombe.
Sharks - Tries: Jeremy Ward and Marnus Potgieter; Drop goals: Boeta Chamberlain (3); Conversion: Ruan Pienaar; Penalties: Pienaar (2).
Mike Greenaway | [email protected]