Hail a new star in scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar. Hail a new Sharks outfit. Hail courage, commitment, character, spirit, passion and confidence. And salute the brave men of Natal for a complete swing around in fortunes following a mid-week change in coaching personnel.
And hail the 24 000 spectators at the Absa Stadium in Durban as they turned the boos of last week into cheers of sheer adulation this week when the Sharks beat the defending champions, the Brumbies of Australia, 36-24 in a Super 12 rugby try fiesta at the Absa Stadium in Durban Saturday.
It was the Sharks first win in five outings in the 2005 season and it could not have been fashioned in a better manner. What’s more, they outscored the Australians by five tries to three to secure a bonus point and send them up from bottom spot on the log to ninth position.
Those five tries all but matched the six they have scored thus far in the competition as a whole. The crowd hardly knew what to expect — especially after the Bulls, earlier in the day, had been outclassed by the Warratahs to go with defeats this weekend for the Stormers and the Cats.
If only it had been four weeks ago one might ask as the dispirited Sharks limped from one defeat to another in listless form.
This time it was a different story altogether. The forwards were fiercely competitive and the backs ran like rabbits chased by a pack of hounds.
It was great stuff that sent the fans into waves of ecstacy as the Sharks defended like Trojans and attacked with all the power and skill of the blitzkreig of World War II.
This was the Sharks of old.
The Brumbies were outpaced and outhought and let it not be forgotten they played their part in a memorable game of Super 12 rugby in fighting to the very last whistle.
Now for the new star. It was man of the match Ruan Pienaar, who took over the scrumhalf position from the injured Craig Davidson, and who turned in an absolute blinder. Son of famous Springbok Gysie Pienaar he showed many of his father’s old skills as he scored two magnificent solo tries, set up phase after phase of attacking rugby and kicked four conversions and a penalty goal.
At 20 years of age, he seemed to provide the additional playmaker that the Sharks so badly needed to support the pocket rocket Brent Russell.
But in essence this was not a match of individuals it was a team effort second to none in the realms of Sharks rugby considering the wretched start to their Super 12 campaign.
The Sharks were back-heeled almost immediately conceding a goallable penalty inside of two minutes and flyhalf Matt Giteau was on target.
But at least this time they just did not give up and die.
And in a spirited display, they forced a penalty but scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar’s kick rattled the near upright. All their confidence was back and they pressurised the Brumbies defences at every opportunity as forwards and backs combined in some really scintillating play.
It just had to produce a try and it did.
Centre Trevor Halstead made the initial break through the middle. Flank Solly Tyibilika was up in support and at his heels was Jaco Gouws at lock — on as a substitute — to dive over and Pienaar converted.
Sadly for the supporters the lead lasted only a matter of minutes before the hyper-active George Gregan master-minded a Brumbies counter that had Giteau in for a try which he converted (10-7).
The rejuvenated Sharks continued to dazzle and a penalty to Pienaar was followed by another spectacular try by the scrumhalf engineered by the forwards with AJ Venter as the battering ram. It was heartening stuff as Pienaar converted. The crowd hardly had time to settle in their seats when centre Adrian Jacobs got an intercept inside his own half and scored easily for a third try to the Sharks who were now 22-10 ahead after Pienaar failed with the conversion.
The Sharks were denied a possible bonus try to Jacobs when referee Steve Walsh ruled a forward pass soon after the restart.
But not to the Brumbies as a sleight-of-hand pass from Gregan gave hooker Jeremy Paul the easiest of chances and Giteau converted to narrow the gap to five points.
The Sharks hit back almost immediately with Ruan Penaar chip-kicking over his defensive opponent and from the gather with 20 metres to go it was Warren Britz, on for Tyibilika, at his shoulder to get the bonus try and after converting he ran straight through the Brumbies defence for another goal (36-17). The tries were coming thick and fast and burly Brumbies lock Radike Samo simply burst his way through a Sharks defence that had to this point played with gusto and passion. Giteau added the conversion points (36-24).
That was the end of the scoring but not the excitement as every man on both sides ran himself into the ground in a show of pride recently missing from South African rugby.
Scorers:
Brumbies: 24 (10). Tries: Matt Giteau, Jeremy Paul, Radike Samo. Conversions: Matt Giteau (3). Penalties: Matt Giteau (1).
Sharks: 36 (22). Tries: Jaco Gouws, Ruan Pienaar (2), Adrian Jacobs, Warren Britz. Conversions: Ruan Pienar (4). Penalties: Ruan Pienaar (1).