In an eventful first ten minutes, Chiefs’ number 8 Greg Fisilau was sent off with a yellow card for a head-on collision with Aphelele Fassi. That didn’t stop the visitors, however, from scoring a try just a few minutes later, courtesy of hooker Dan Frost.

But halfway into the first half, the Sharks took control of the match. Phepsi Buthelezi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams and captain Siya Kolisi all scored before half-time, with Jordan Hendrikse converting two of the tries.

Another yellow card for Exeter (Will Rigg) a few minutes before half-time, did not help their cause.  Frost touched down again in the closing seconds of the first half, but with the Sharks leading 26-14 at the break, Exeter had to come all guns blazing.

A special message from the Investec player of the match ??#InvestecChampionsCup #SHAvEXE pic.twitter.com/FhgDdXKJ8g

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) December 7, 2024

It was the Sharks, however, who scored first in the second half when Siya Kolisi scored his second, and the bonus point try in the 56th minute. Poor discipline by the Sharks cost them three yellow cards late in the game, allowing Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to score an unconverted try, but it wasn’t enough to stop the men from Durban.

In the next round of the competition, the Sharks will travel to England to take on the Leicester Tigers, while Exeter will return home to host defending champions Toulouse.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg