Sharks surf into Euro cup semis on a high

The Sharks clinched a morale-boosting victory away from home in the build-up to their historic Challenge Cup play-off against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday.

For the first time, a South African team will contest a last-four clash in the European club tournament, and the Sharks will face three-time winners Clermont at London’s Twickenham Stoop on the back of a 32-27 win at Scarlets in the Vodacom URC last week.

Werner Kok celebrated his 50th appearance for the Sharks with a hat-trick of tries in Wales as John Plumtree’s charges bounced back from a narrow defeat to the Glasgow Warriors two weeks ago.

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Winning the Challenge Cup will secure safe passage back to the Champions Cup next season for the Durbanites, who are out of the race for a play-off spot in the URC.

If the Sharks win their semi-final in the English capital they will contest the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday,  May 24, facing the survivor of the semi-final between Premiership club Gloucester and Italian URC outfit Benetton.

Clermont languish near the bottom of the Top 14 log in 10th spot, but have won four of their last six matches in all competitions. On Saturday, Fijian flyer Alivereti Raka notched up a hat-trick while fly-half Anthony Belleau scored 15 points in a six-try demolition of a Stade Francais outfit including former Sharks stars Jeremy Ward and JJ van der Mescht.

In a wrap of the sides in the Champions Cup semi-finals, four-time winners Leinster tackle the Northampton Saints – who make their first appearance – in Dublin, while French giants Toulouse face Harlequins at Le Stadium.

Challenge Cup semi-finals

Saturday, May 4
Sharks vs Clermont (12:30)
Gloucester vs Benetton (15:00)

Champions Cup semi-finals

Saturday, May 4
Leinster vs Northampton (17:30)

Sunday, May 5
Toulouse vs Harlequins (16:00)

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