Mike Greenaway

The Sharks’ shock defeat of the Bulls last week has set them up nicely for a shot at winning the United Rugby Championship for the first time.

The Durbanites are in fourth place on the standings (34 points), while the Bulls are marginally ahead on 35, and the South African teams have a game in hand on their European counterparts.

The vital thing for the Sharks is that they have beaten the Bulls home and away while under-strength, and with a host of Springboks due to return to action in March, they are well-placed to overtake the Pretoria side and target a top-two finish.

Jake White’s team will be annoyed that they have lost games against the Sharks that they ought to have won.

On December 21, the Sharks snuck over the line in Durban with a last-minute 20-17 victory that had White holding his head in disbelief.

The Bulls boss would have felt the same way last week when his forwards overpowered the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, but his playmakers could not turn top-quality possession into points. The Sharks’ backline was grateful for the charity and ran in late tries in their 29-19 victory.

The message from the Sharks to the rest of the United Rugby Championship contenders is clear – if they can beat a top team while missing 15 first-choice players, then “stop us if you can when we are at our best”.

To that end, coach John Plumtree’s side are expecting back a host of big names for their next game, the March 1 visit to the Lions in Johannesburg.

Bok big guns Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, André Esterhuizen and Aphelele Fassi will be in the selection frame for that match, while key loose forwards James Venter and Manu Tshituka are on the mend.

It is understood that man mountain Eben Etzebeth will be available for the Sharks’ return match against the Lions, on March 8, at Kings Park.

Etzebeth has been battling concussion issues since taking a knock in the defeat of Exeter Chiefs in Durban on December 7.

The Sharks have said they are taking a conservative route with the influential Springbok because his health is of paramount importance.

It is the only thing that truly matters, but the indications from the Durban outfit is that the big fellow could be available for the March 8 match against the Lions in Durban.

The next day, 56 players go into the first Bok alignment camp of the year in Cape Town, and South African rugby will breathe a sigh of relief if Etzebeth had game-time the day before for the Sharks.