Siya Kolisi snatched a try on debut for the Sharks as they pumped the Bulls by scoring five tries in the first 25 minutes to set up a convincing 45-12 victory at Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.
The consistency on attack from a powerful Sharks side in the first half was just too much for a Bulls outfit that was largely average in nature.
During a second half TV interview, head coach Sean Everitt expressed his delight in the way his team kept the ball alive in such wet and soggy conditions. With the Rainbow Nations Cup start date fast approaching (24.04.2021), he has every reason to be happy with the intent his boys showed on Friday night.
Sharks fly-half, Boeta Chamberlain had all eyes on him as the game kicked off under the worst conditions one could hope to play a game of rugby in. He seemed to handle the pressure really well, getting the ball wide and making some excellent tactical kicks.
The Sharks pack of forwards however, played a really good game, dominant during scrum time and at the breakdown, the solid first half performance from the heavy pack paved the way to a 45-12 win. A powerful forward pack is what the Sharks were missing in the previous games.
Although the game was classed as a ''Preparation game'', there was nothing friendly about it. Director of Bulls rugby, Jake white, said on Thursday that he expected the Sharks to throw the kitchen sink at them, utilizing their Springbok players such as Lukhanyo Am, Thomas Du Toit and Siya Kolisi.
''In every single game of rugby you throw in the kitchen sink from a physicality point of view, because that's why we play the game,'' said Everitt.
The Sharks Vs The Bulls is always a derby that needs to be watched. Out of the last 4 games between the two sides, the bulls have beaten the Sharks convincingly. Friday nights result is a huge relief for the Club.
Hopefully we can see the boys take this momentum into the Rainbow Nations Cup.