Stefan Terblanche scored the try that sealed the Sharks’ 17-10 win over the Western Force in their Super 14 match in Durban on Friday.
Fullback Terblanche, who was not in the 22 named for the match, was called into the team when French flyhalf Frederic Michalak withdrew with a calf injury.
Francois Steyn, who had been selected at fullback, moved to flyhalf to fill in for Michalak, who was due to make his debut for the South African side.
Neither side could penetrate their opponents’ defence early on but Force fullback Cameron Shepherd broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a penalty.
The Sharks went in front six minutes later when flanker Jacques Botes scored after a lineout on the visitors’ 22m line developed into a rolling maul.
Terblanche straightened the line and smashed through several tackles to score in the 53rd minute. Scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar’s conversion put the home side 14-3 ahead.
The Australian side struck back with 15 minutes left when replacement hooker Luke Holmes sprinted 40 metres to score after Sharks number eight Ryan Kankowski failed to catch a high ball.
Steyn put the Sharks 17-10 ahead with four minutes left on the clock when he booted a penalty from 55m.
The Force ended the match deep in their opposition’s 22m area but could find no way through a resolute defence. – Reuters