WATCH: Springbok-laden Sharks scrum send warning to URC rivals
Siya Kolisi of the Sharks warming up before the United Rugby Championship 2021/22 game between the Stormers and the Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on 5 February 2022 © Ryan Wilkisky/Sports Inc
The Sharks finally had the opportunity to field their plethora of Springbok stars in their dominant 40-12 win over Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.
Although many of their Test returnees started from the bench, it was veteran Eben Etzebeth who was named man-of-the-match on his debut for the Durban side.
The second-row’s exploits earned high praise from Sharks coach Sean Everitt who is delighted to have such a quality player on his roster.
“What a great start for him and like I said, he is one of the best players in the world, if not the best lock in the world, and he certainly played like that tonight and deserved Man of the Match,” Everitt said.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi came off the bench alongside national team-mates Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche in the forwards, who showed a glimpse of the power they can offer as a unit at scrum-time.
The Sharks absolutely monstered Glasgow off their own ball in a 67th-minute scrum, undoubtedly sending a warning through the United Rugby Championship.
The feeling in Durban is that a giant has been sleeping, and with the supremely talented squad available to Everitt, there is a sense of inevitability that this team will fire.
Everitt’s star-studded side will face their sternest test since the return of their international players in the next two weeks as they welcome Ulster to the ‘Shark Tank’ before travelling to Pretoria for a clash against the Bulls just before the November Tests.