Johannesburg – Despite an extra man advantage for the best part of 80 minutes the Sharks were unable to dominate the Rebels as they ground out a narrow 25-21 Super Rugby win in Durban on Friday.
Sharks captain Marco Wentzel, however, said any victory was welcome in a season where his team has struggled to get results.
“We’ll take it, we don’t care. Two wins in a row is actually like a winning streak for us the way the season has gone so we’re very happy.”
The Rebels were reduced to 14 men just inside the half-hour mark when prop Laurie Weeks received a straight red card for punching Jannie du Plessis – who himself got a yellow card for pushing the opposition player in an off the ball incident.
While Du Plessis instigated the incident, he did not react when Weeks repeatedly struck him in the face.
Wentzel paid tribute to the handling of the incident by the prop.
“Jannie showed what it’s about, he taking shots for the team. It was a great win,” said Wentzel.
Tasting victory in their final games has become the focus for the Sharks according to the skipper.
“The youngsters have been working hard when we were overseas and they’re going to get opportunities like in the Currie Cup. We want to win at home and that’s what this was about. We want to build an end of season high for the people at home.”
The Rebels, meanwhile, could take much credit from their performance against the Sharks, and their superior numbers, for the majority of the match according to coach Tony McGahan.
“I thought our effort, particularly being down to 14 men away from home, was fantastic,” said McGahan.
“The forwards were tremendous, and the set piece was great; both the lineout and scrum. I wish we had more composure at times, as I feel we left a win out there, but that will come in time.”
The Rebels head back home where they will host the Bulls next week, and McGahan said his charges would revel in the chance to get a win over South African opposition.
“Everybody likes to play at home, you saw that with the Sharks tonight after they’d been away on tour, and we’ve got two big home games left at the back end of the season which everybody is keen to make the most of.”– ANA