Champions Cup: Five takeaways from the Sharks v Harlequins as Makazole Mapimpi shows his class in historic victory

Jared Wright
sharks and springboks winger makazole mapimpi runs with the ball

The Sharks are the first South African team to claim a victory in the Champions Cup, defeating Harlequins 39-31 in a thrilling encounter in Durban.

The fierce clash went right down to the wire, with Boeta Chamberlain scoring in the final play of the match, as the Sharks survived a late surge from the visitors.

Following the Sharks’ debut win in the tournament, here are our five takeaways from the match.

Mapimpi has plenty left in the tank

A lethal finisher, Makazole Mapimpi didn’t waste any time opening up his Champions Cup account, scoring twice in the opening 30 minutes.

At the age of 32, there have been concerns over whether Mapimpi can keep his role in the Springboks set-up, particularly with the emergence of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie in 2022.

However, the speedster showed his class with some brilliant footwork to score his second try and threatened soon after with a superb chip and chase.

He was on hand to walk in his second try after a brilliant pass out the back from Jaden Hendrikse.

It wasn’t all attack from Mapimpi, with the veteran making good defensive reads, particularly when the Sharks were down two men.

Sharks have the pack to compete in Europe

The last few Champions Cup winners have painted a clear picture of what is required to win the competition, and a powerful pack is essential.

The Durbanites flexed their muscles in the set-pieces, seizing the upper hand in the scrum and lineout against the 2020/21 Premiership winners.

Joe Marler and Wilco Louw just about held on at times, but Ox Nche and Carlu Sadie comfortably had the upper hand over their opposing props.

The only time Quins did get purchase in the scrum was once the Sharks lost Nche to a red card, and Simon Kerrod came onto the pitch.

It wasn’t just in the scrum that the Sharks flexed their pack prowess, with Eben Etzebeth proving to be a handful for the Quins lineout.

The brutality at the breakdown was too much to handle for Harlequins during long periods of the game. Nche, Mbonambi, and Siya Kolisi feasted on the Quins’ breakdown, stifling their attack.

Esterhuizen is back to his best

Back in Durban and back playing his best rugby, Esterhuizen was on top of his game against his former club, scoring two tries in an abrasive performance.

The Springbok centre has yet to quite hit the highs of last season at Quins, which earned him a Test recall, but time in the saddle and the prospect of playing his former employers spurred him on.

He was highly efficient with the ball in hand, gaining over 80 running metres from his 11 carries and was relentless on defence.

If Quins are going to go far in the competition, Esterhuizen will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their success.

Bassett a perfect fit

In Josh Bassett and Cadan Murley, Harlequins had two lethal speedsters at their disposal in Durban, and while they struggled to get them firing, when they did, it was a joy to watch.

Bassett looks to be a perfect fit at Quins, taking his two chances to score with both hands and played a part in another with his pass just making it to Murley. The former Wasps man gained over 60 metres, making three clean breaks, and if he continues this form, he will surely become a fan favourite.

Meanwhile, Murley continues to push for higher honours, having missed out on a Test debut in the Autumn Nations Series. Although he didn’t get his name on the scoreboard, he showed his composure to send Esterhuizen over for his second try.

The South Africans are up to the fight

The United Rugby Championship last season proved that the South Africans are more than capable of competing in Europe, and the Sharks reinforced that point on Saturday.

Quins looked to be on track for another trademark come-from-behind victory after Nche’s red card, but the Sharks held on and scored the try that saw the visitors leave Durban with just a try bonus point.

So many teams have folded when confronted by a rampant Harlequins outfit, but the Sharks didn’t, and the odds were stacked against them. Although the conditions will have been a factor, the Sharks have been inconsistent this season, and it was just their second match under Neil Powell’s full control.

If Powell’s side find some consistency over the next few months, they could be real contenders for the title.

READ MORE: Leinster and Sharks claim bonus-point wins over Racing 92 and Harlequins respectively

Champions Cup Makazole Mapimpi Neil Powell

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