Masuku hits the target for Sharks

THE Sharks turned Twickenham ‘Stoep’ into a mini South Africa as a partisan crowd roared their side to a dramatic victory over three-time winners Clermont to reach their first European final courtesy of deadeye goal kicking by Siya Masuku.

- BEN JAYCOCK

Fly-half Masuku proved the Sharks’ saviour, flawless from the tee, striking nine shots from nine and was thrown in the air by his teammates at full-time.

South Africa’s large London expat population descended on the home of Harlequins to grab a chance at seeing their back-to-back World Cup winning heroes.

Stars Eben Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am were on display and delivered to help their side bounce back from a 31-18 early second-half deficit to pip Clermont, whose players had their heads in their hands at the final whistle pondering how they had let the match slip.

The Top 14 strugglers, who are languishing in 10th, will rue a missed opportunity as their season peters out.

Sharks head coach John Plumtree said: “We’ve done so well to reach the final at the end of an enthralling contest. In the build up all I asked the players to do was to win the week, by nailing their preparations and roles to give us the best opportunity to win and that paid off.”