The Hollywoodbets Sharks are early movers in BKT URC as the only team with the maximum number of points after the first two rounds of matches.
The Durban side missed out on the play-offs last term, but this time they clearly mean business.
They recorded their second straight win with bonus points beating the defending champions Leinster Rugby 26-20 at Kings Park on Saturday night.
The man of the match award went to their winger Edwill van der Merwe who secured both the win and the bonus with a try two minutes from time.
“It was a very hard match with a lot of fighting shots,” Van der Merwe said.
“At halftime we just said to stick to our game plan. We knew there were going to be gaps somewhere in the second half and it was about taking advantage of our opportunities.”
“If you have a bunch of forwards like that, it’s nice to play rugby as backs and it was great to be at home. We love Durban.”
Cardiff Rugby they sit in second place after running in six tries while winning Zebras Parma 47-27 at the Arms Park on Friday night.
They had the bonus point in the bag before the break and led 47-8 after 54 minutes after a brace from young wing Tom Bowen ahead of Zebre who staged a last-quarter rally to claim a bonus of his own.
Coach Corniel van Zyl said: “For an hour we stuck to the task and at times we were very good.
“To be fair, we don’t normally have that kind of track record, so it’s uncharted territory.
“Then there was the anxiety of being in front and the anxiety of what was going to happen next probably worked a little bit.
“There was a mistake or two here and there, the momentum shifts and they get back into the game. It’s something to work on, but we’re definitely taking the win.”
“It probably didn’t end ruthlessly, but it was okay.”
Cardiff now turn their attention to next weekend’s trip to Dublin to take on Leinster at the newly refurbished Laya Arena.
“We all know they are a mega club with very good players, a good system and good coaches, so it will be a nice challenge for us,” Van Zyl said.
The 10Bet Lions are third thanks to a 35-19 bonus point win over Ospreys in Johannesburg, with winger Kelly Mpeku scoring two tries in the space of three minutes as they overturned a 12-10 half-time deficit.
Edinburgh Rugby lie in fourth place after their first away win followed Ulster Rugby beating DHL Stormers 17-13 at the Hive Stadium.
Coach Sean Everitt said: “I’m very happy. We haven’t had this in a while. It’s a great start.”
“I think our boys stood up well and put up a great fight against a very strong Stormers team.
“Everybody contributed. I’m very proud of the guys.”
The decisive score came on nine minutes when teenage winger Rory McHaffie collected a long pass from James Grayson on the rebound and crossed for a corner.
Fly-half Grayson then added a sideline conversion into the wind to provide an extra buffer as he continued an impressive start to his Edinburgh career.
“It’s a great club, great people and a good start to our season,” said the former Northampton playmaker.
“We try to play fast and move the ball. There is an ambition to play what we see in front of us.
“It was testing conditions and I thought we kicked the ball at the right time and tried to move it at the right time.”
In Scotstoun there was an extremely rich encounter Glasgow Warriors and Ulster drew 33-33 with both sides collecting three points each.
There were five tries apiece and Glasgow held on to a share of the spoils despite being reduced to 13 men in the final eight minutes after picking up a pair of yellow cards.
elsewhere, Dragons RFC beat the Scarlets 38-26 in the Welsh derby at Rodney Parade, doc Connacht Rugby recorded a dramatic 22-19 victory Benetton Rugby in Travis.
The weekend concluded with a shootout at Thomond Park where Munster Rugby beat Vodacom Bulls 26-22, with 20-year-old Charlie O’Shea scoring two of their four tries.
Outside half O’Shea, who was named man of the match, said: “It was unbelievable.
“I can’t thank the fans enough. It’s probably the loudest crowd I’ve ever played in front of in my life.
“It really gave the team energy in the last ten minutes to go and get the win. It’s class. I’m so happy it went well.”
Captain Craig Casey added: “The crowd were great. Fair play to them, I think they got us through that game in the last ten minutes because it was tough and the Bulls were coming at us.”
“Our fans are amazing and we can’t thank them enough.”
Scrum-half Casey continued: “I’m very proud of the team.
“We wanted to make amends for that loss (at home to Glasgow) from last week.
“Coming into Thomond, we don’t want to lose here and luckily we pulled through against a tough Bulls.
“We showed very good character. It was a great win. This one means an awful lot after last week.”
The Dragons have dedicated their Welsh derby victory over the Scarlets to their loyal fans who stuck by them through the “tough times”.
A ten-try thriller at a raucous Rodney Parade ended with the hosts coming out on top 38-26, with international hooker Elliot Dee scoring two of their six touchdowns in a man-of-the-match display.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere,” said Dee of the 56-man.
“We talk about doing it for the people in the stands, our families in the stands and we’re really proud of what we did in front of them.
“Fair play to the Scarlets, they were tough. They kept us out and they kept us out. But I’m just incredibly proud that we turned it around at the end and got the win.”
The Dragons were led by scrum-half Rhodri Williams to mark his 150th appearance for the region.
“Playing at home in a derby is something special for Rodney Parade,” said Williams.
“To do it on my 150th and get a result like that is really special.
“Kudos to the team. I’ve said openly that we’ve gone through some tough times as a region, but we’re really going to start this season at the end of last year.”
“It was far from a perfect performance, there’s a lot of work to be done, but that’s the exciting part.”
Reflecting on the bonus point win, skipper Ben Carter said: “The crowd was great.
“They are always very good, but I think they are probably at a higher level again for the derby.
“The support for us is huge.
“We’re a really tight group, we’re close with our families too, so there’s no better motivation for me than knowing they’re there to support me and we just want to make them proud.
“The fans are an extension of that and we love it when they give us energy and we love giving back by putting on shows for them.
“We love playing in these derbies, especially Rodney Parade. Playing against people you know is great, so we enjoyed it.”
The Wales the second row added: “We wanted to be physically dominant and I think we stuck to that throughout the game. The maul and scrum went really well so we’re really happy with that aspect.”
“It’s good to build momentum at the start of the season and we have to continue that.”
Delighted Dragons coach Filo Tiatia said: “The fans were singing long after the game was over and that’s a great thing. It’s great.
“I’m happy with the win and I’m really proud of the group. We just want to keep growing and moving up the ladder.”
The Scarlets led 14-12 at the break after two tries from winger Macs Page, the first a solo stunner, as they were in front again in the final quarter.
But in the end they had to settle for one lost bonus point.
Their director of rugby Nigel Davies said: “We fought well but we were on the wrong side of some big moments which clouded the game. It’s frustrating.”
Connacht manager Stuart Lancaster paid tribute to the “incredible growth” of Ciaran Frawley after his dream debut in the 22-19 win over Benetton in Treviso.
Ireland international Frawley marked his first league appearance since joining from Leinster with a brace of tries, including a dramatic winner three minutes from time.
Lancaster is delighted to be reunited with the 15-cap flyhalf he first worked with in Leinster.
“I started training Ciaran when he was 18,” he recalled.
“He was a lad from Skerries who hadn’t played a huge amount of rugby so his growth has been amazing to see.
“The way he led the team for this game, not only on the field but off the field in tackles and walks, everything he did was really class.
“His contribution, the winning try, was a dream for him. The lads love him and rightly so. He’s really fallen in love with life across the road in Galway and he’s brought us a huge amount. He loves it here.”
Reflecting on the bonus point win over Benetton, Lancaster said: “It was very stressful.
“We made too many mistakes in the first half and I felt we had to stop conceding shots and penalties, but then we continued to work in the second half.
“So we couldn’t get a foothold in the game.
“But credit to the boys, I thought they were brilliant. They showed amazing attitude and when we got into our flow I was always sure we could break them but I didn’t want to leave it so late.”
“There’s a lot to work on, but when you’re putting a new team together, with guys playing their first game of the season, you’re always going to get a little bit of that. There’s always going to be an element of rustiness.”
“That’s part of the reason why we haven’t been able to execute 100 percent.
“But it’s an amazing place to come and get five points. Everyone contributed and it was a real team effort.”