NEWS: ‘At club level this is by far the best memory’ – Delighted Eben Etzebeth lauds Hollywoodbets Sharks teammates in historic Challenge Cup triumph

The Sharks secured an emphatic 36-22 win over Gloucester to clinch the Challenge Cup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday.

READ: Hollywoodbets Sharks make history to lift Challenge Cup with emphatic win over Gloucester

The foundation for the Sharks’ dominant display was set by an imposing scrum with scrummaging destroyer Ox Nche leading a Springbok front row of Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch in causing Gloucester nightmares throughout the contest.

Emerging flyhalf Siya Masuku was lethal from the kicking tee as the men from Durban clinched an emphatic win in London.

“The motivation to win was more within the team,” Etzebeth said as quoted by SA Rugby.

“To turn things around the way we did after where we were four or five months ago, was fantastic. There was a big drive to win the Challenge Cup as a silver lining to our season, which hasn’t been great.

“If you told us at the start of the season that we would win the EPCR Challenge Cup and qualify for the Investec Champions Cup, we would have taken it.

“The victory was special, and it felt as though we left our best performance for last. The guys were just incredible, and the physicality was great.”

The back-to-back Rugby World Cup-winning forward described Friday’s win as one of the best occasions at club level in his decorated playing career.

“At club level, this is by far the best memory. The last championship I won (at club level) was the Currie Cup in 2012, so it’s been 12 years.

“This is the first international trophy the Sharks have won and to become the first South African to win in Europe is definitely one of my best memories ever.”