Aphelele Fassi

The Sharks have secured the services of Springbok Aphelele Fassi on a new multi-year deal, deciding against a move to the Stormers. Photo: Teaukura Moetaua/backpagepix

Sharks thump Glasgow courtesy of second half surge

Sharks vs Glasgow: The Warriors are in the Shark Tank in Durban this afternoon where the hosts will be heading out debuts to a couple stars.

Aphelele Fassi

The Sharks have secured the services of Springbok Aphelele Fassi on a new multi-year deal, deciding against a move to the Stormers. Photo: Teaukura Moetaua/backpagepix

The Sharks delivered a strong second-half showing in their United Rugby Championship clash against the Glasgow Warriors at Kings Park in Durban on Saturday

In their opening home game of the competition, the Sharks secure a bonus-point 40-12 victory.

Match report

Both teams scored a try apiece in the first half, with wing Anthony Volmink touching down for the Cell C Sharks and Glasgow Warriors flanker Thomas Gordon earning his team’s five-pointer, while flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain added two penalty goals for the hosts, which handed them a 13-7 halftime lead.

The Durbanites broke away on the scoreboard in the second half thanks to four tries to one by the visitors, while Chamberlain added his third penalty goal for the rewarding win.

The Cell C Sharks applied early pressure on attack but mistakes at crucial times denied them from posing a threat close to the tryline.

The home side’s dominance finally paid off in the 12th minute as Chamberlain kicked a penalty goal, but this lead was short-lived as Gordon hit back with a try from a great burst through the defence, and flyhalf Tom Jordan added the extra two to hand them a 7-3 lead.

Chamberlain reduced the Durbanites’ deficit to one point in the 24th minute compliments of his second penalty goal before both flyhalves missed a shot at goal soon after.

Volmink had the last say in the half as he scored a stunning try in the 33rd minute from great team move and he showed his raw pace in the process, sprinting through the defence to earn his side a 13-7 lead.

The visitors came out firing in the second half with Jordan crashing over for the second time from a rolling maul in the 43rd minute, but Volmink cancelled this out in the 52nd minute after receiving a well-timed pop pass in the corner, and he stepped on the gas to earn his brace for a 18-12 lead.

The home side continued to keep the scoreboard ticking with Chamberlain kicking their third penalty goal minutes before the fourth quarter to stretch their score to 21 points.

The Cell C Sharks continued to make their presence felt in the fourth quarter, with Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi scoring their third try from a powerful rolling maul and Chamberlain converted to push them 28-12 ahead.

Fullback Aphelele Fassi added their bonus point try in the 68th minute as he snatched the ball out of the air from a good pass from a ruck, and dashed to the tryline, and again Chamberlain made no mistake with the conversion.

The hosts continued to fight until the final minute for their fifth try and it paid off with wing Werner Kok dashing through in the corner, and this saw them walk away with an emphatic 40-12 win.

Match report from SA Rugby.

Sharks vs Glasgow: The Warriors are in the Shark Tank in Durban this afternoon where the hosts will be handing out URC debuts to a couple stars.

Here you can track the match with live scores from Kings Park.

Sharks vs Glasgow: Live scores

Sharks team news

Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will make his run-on debut for the Cell C Sharks on Saturday when they host Glasgow Warriors in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Etzebeth has been a key and very popular signing for the Cell C Sharks, and he will play alongside a number of Springboks who are back in URC action following the conclusion of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

Jaden Hendrikse Rugby Championship Springboks All Blacks South Africa vs New Zealand Eben Etzebeth
The Springboks dished out a 26-10 rugby lesson to the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship opener at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images

Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, fresh off his exploits with the Springboks, has returned to the Cell C Sharks team as well and he can’t wait to get stuck in.

“I’m super excited to get onto the park this weekend, for me it’s about enjoying every moment,” he explains.

“The focus for us has been on our defence, we need to get our spacing and alignment right and then to make our tackles. And when we have possession in their 22, to be absolutely accurate with the ball.

Returning Springboks will bring immense firepower, not least of all Eben Etzebeth, who will be keen to deliver a strong showing in his first outing for his new team.

“We’d like to have a big influence, but within the Cell C Sharks’ DNA and fit in as smoothly as possible. A guy like Eben is super-excited to be playing.”

Glasgow come to Durban fresh off a victory over the Vodacom Bulls and will come to Durban full of confidence.

“What we saw last weekend was Glasgow matching the Bulls physically, they disrupted the Bulls’ lineouts and attacked their breakdown. But the focus of this game is more on ourselves and pitching up on Saturday and playing the Cell C Sharks way.

In changes to last week’s game, Eben Etzebeth will get his first start and there will also be another debutant amongst the loose-trio in Vincent Tshituka, with Phepsi Buthelezi returning at eighthman in the three changes amongst the forwards.

Jaden Hendrikse takes over from an injured Grant Williams at scrumhalf, Anthony Volmink comes in for Thaakir Abrahams on the wing and Marnus Potgieter replaces Rohan Janse Van Rensburg at outside centre to complete the changes to the starting XV. Springboks Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Siya Kolisi, and Makazole Mapimpi are expected to make a collective impression off the bench.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Henry Chamberlain, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Hyron Andrews,4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit (captain), 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Cameron Wright, 23 Makazole Mapimpi.

Glasgow: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Josh McKay, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Thomas Gordon, 6 Scott Cummings, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Gregor Brown, 22 George Horne, 23 Ross Thompson.