'It was a game-changer': Sharks coach opens up on Newport turnaround

SPOTLIGHT: Sharks head coach Sean Everitt praised his team’s character after they stayed in the fight against the Dragons in Newport on Saturday.

The team from Durban were 6-19 down with 20 minutes left on the clock at Rodney Parade. However, tries from Grant Williams and Thaakir Abrahams and conversions from Henry Chamberlain ensured that they left Wales with a narrow 20-19 win.

It was the Durban side’s second win on tour after they beat Zebre 42-37 in Italy a week earlier.

“I am very happy with the result and very proud of the character that the guys showed in getting the win,” said Everitt.

“The discipline in the second half when we were under the pump was really good and I thought the guys thoroughly deserved the win in the end.”

It was all going horribly wrong for the Sharks in the first half and Everitt put that down to the Dragons’ feistiness at the breakdowns.

“The first half was disappointing for us. We couldn’t get our attack flowing,” said the Sharks coach.

“The Dragons put a lot of pressure on our breakdown. They got an international loose trio and they forced us into errors.

“We had a chat at half-time and the guys came out firing and they knew they had to stick to the task.

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Grant Williams is full of tongue & cheek 😜#BKTURC #URC | #DRAvSHA | @SharksRugby pic.twitter.com/KKKAkWB816

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 1, 2022

Everitt said the game turned on its head after Williams’ try in the 61st minute.

“I think Grant Williams’ intercept midway through the second half was a game-changer. It gave the guys belief.

“And obviously credit must go to the subs that came on.

“They changed the game, particularly [Sikhumbuzo] Notshe who set up the [Abrahams] try for us to go ahead in the game.

“We are a very happy group.”

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