Sharks coach John Plumtree asked his squad for a response after their battering in Bordeaux and there was an emphatic delivery in Cardiff where the home team was smashed 42-22.
It was a vital recovery for the Sharks after they had lost 66-12 to Bordeaux in the Champions Cup and this United Rugby Championship win pushes them up to a comfortable fourth spot in the 16-team standings.
The Durbanites’ sad demise in the elite Champions Cup is well-documented but this hard-fought win suggests they have an excellent shot at making the playoffs in the URC.
The biggest thing about this win was the dogged effort made by a team missing 18 first-choice players.
Plumtree told his players to show their pride in the jersey and they delivered.
It was excellent to see veteran Springbok Bongi Mbonambi score two tries as he led from the front.
The Sharks forwards stayed in the fight and refused to go away even when Cardiff scored an early try via flanker Alex Mann, after a protracted period of pressure.
But bustling Mbonambi crashed over and then there was a fine try by centre Jurenzo “The Boogeyman” Julius. He earned that nickname because of his dazzling exploits with the SA Under-20 team and if he keeps scoring tries he will keep Bok veteran Lukhanyo Am on the bench.
The Sharks could have had a third when Ntuthuko Mchunu barrelled over but the TMO adjudged that he had knocked the ball on before grounding it.
This was exacerbated when the Sharks conceded a soft try to wing Tom Bowen and Plumtree would have winced with the conceding of points on half time.
The previous week in Bordeaux, the Shark went behind on the point of half-time and that resulted in an avalanche of points against them.
Cardiff threatened a comeback when Bowen scored his second try but further tries by Francois Venter and fullback Yaw Penxe put the matter beyond doubt.
Scorers
Sharks —Tries: Bongi Mbonambi (2), Jurenzo Julius, Makazola Mapimpi. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2).
Cardiff – Tries: Alex Mann, Tom Bowen (2), Gabe Hamer-Webb. Conversions: Callum Sheedy.