The Hollywoodbets Sharks ended off their pool phase of their Investec Champions Cup on a high note, beating a poor Clermont Auvergne side 50-12 in their Pool 1 clash in Durban on Saturday.
But JP Pietersen’s side will have to wait until later on Saturday to see if they qualify for the playoff rounds - and will need French powerhouse side Toulouse to lose their fixture against Sale Sharks if they are to make it into the Round of 16.
The Sharks’ victory leaves them on 10 points in fourth spot at the end of their match, but Toulouse could still pass them and send them to the EPCR Challenge Cup if they win at home against Sale.
The Sharks give themselves the best chance of progression in the #InvestecChampionsCup 🦈⚡#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/jAGvHKvY9h
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 17, 2026
But it also underlines how the Sharks could have qualified already had they decided not to play a second string side against Sale last weekend, where they came within 14 points of a victory against a mediocre Sale side and with some of their bigger players they could have qualified a lot higher for the playoff rounds.
Still, the Sharks may have rested some of their senior players, but they were way too strong for the French side, who sent a second string team to Durban and will finish their campaign without a victory.
The visitors were also ill-disciplined as they received a red and a yellow card in the game and were always playing catch-up against a Sharks side that never looked like losing.
The Sharks scored in the opening minute of the game, and scored eight tries in total, but powered their way forward on the scoreboard after being held to 14-12 at the break.
The second half saw them score six unanswered tries as they cruised home to the big victory.
While they were often their own worst enemies, the Sharks upped the tempo and physicality in the second half, with players such as Jurenzo Julius, Corne Rahl, Ox Nche and Phiko Sobahle standing out while man-of-the-match Matt Ramao was everywhere and a massive thorn in the opposition’s side.
What a shift from our guy, Matt Romao 😍
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) January 17, 2026
Your Investec Champions Cup Player of the Match. pic.twitter.com/QzTlPtxw4O
CLERMONT SEE RED
The Sharks opened their account in the opening minute with the opening attack as Jaden Hendrikse chipped over the defence with precision for Aphelele Fassi to take and fall over to score.
Fassi made a telling tackle to stop Clermont’s first attack, putting in a massive tackle on his own line to stop the opposition from getting what would have been their first try.
Jason Jenkins could have added to the tally, but lost the ball over the line shortly afterwards but things then really went south for the visitors as Yerim Fall went up to challenge for a ball with Yaw Penxe, lost the contest and wrapped his arms around Penxe, who fell on his back, prompting the referee to give a 20-minute red.
In the context it felt a bit harsh, but Clermont shook it off and scored next, exploiting the Sharks' lack of space for winger Joris Jurand to score.
The Sharks hit back straight away, forcing a five-metre scrum before Ramao changed direction to give Jaden Hendrikse the simplest of tries after Ramao drew all the defenders to leave the halfback untouched.
But while the Sharks had a man advantage, they couldn’t plant a knockout blow. Clermont on several occasions looked more threatening and looked stronger than the Sharks, and it wasn’t a surprise when on the half hour they put enough pressure for a cross kick to beat Fassi and put fullback Kylen Hamdaoui over in the corner.
That left the game precariously poised at 14-12 at the break.
SHARKS GO IN FOR THE KILL
The second half started and it was a rejuvenated Sharks side that arrived on the field, and immediately started imposing themselves on Clermont.
It wasn’t long before they were pounding the Clermont line and Mr Fantastic Vincent Koch found enough of a gap to barge over.
Five minutes later, a perfect turnover was spread wide and winger Sobahle sprinted downfield without opposition to put in a swallow dive and score, widening the gap between the two teams.
From there on there was only one side in the contest and the Sharks exploited their home ground advantage to score when it mattered.
Fassi scored his second, Siya Masuku added his name to the scoresheet before Phepsi Buthelezi scored a 60 metre try off a turnover and Julius finished things off with a 80th minute try to cap a superb day for the Sharks.
It may not be enough, and if so, it will be a case of what should have been. But on a warm summer Durban day, a fifty-pointer felt just right for the Sharks' final pool game.
Hollywoodbets Sharks - tries: Aphelele Fassi (2), Jaden Hendrikse, Vincent Koch, Phiko Sobahle, Siya Masuku, Phepsi Buthelezi, Jurenzo Julius. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4), Siya Masuku.
Clermont Auvergne - tries: Joris Jurand, Kylan Hamdaoui. Conversion: Lucas Zamora.