Sharks rickshaw across the line but boss Powell happy with Ospreys win after 'tough' week

Like a Durban North rickshaw carrying far too many people too pull, the Sharks laboured over the line to defeat the Ospreys on Friday night in the immediate game following the Cardiff humiliation.

But director of rugby Neil Powell, who took over the head coaching duties after Sunday’s 35-0 loss saw Sean Everitt exit Kings Park, cared only that they won and could breathe following a tumultuous week.

Everitt’s tenure, which coincided with CEO Eduard Coetzee taking over from Gary Teichmann, was meant to herald the stability that characterised the former head coach after years of Robert du Preez turmoil.

AS IT HAPPENED | Sharks 25-10 Ospreys

But this week showed that no one is insulated from the pressures of professional sporting ambition, least of all well-stocked squads like the Sharks’.

"If you know me, then you’ll know I’m not about the result but this one was about the result for us. It will give us a bit of a breather," said Powell, letting out a sigh that could be heard all over the Indian Ocean.

"We all know it wasn’t an easy week. This game was never going to be easy because of the week and that it was a short week as well.

"We played Sunday and we had to get the guys recovered and get good preparation to play Friday again. That turnaround also made it difficult.

"It was a tough week and a much-needed result for us, especially looking forward to next week and what we want to achieve.

"It’s good that we got a bit of confidence and a good result from this game."

On the field, the Sharks looked scarcely different than they had all season – bar their most complete performance to date, the 40-12 win over Glasgow in which Eben Etzebeth made his Sharks debut.

They looked like players who met up accidentally to play rugby at times,