Following the Hollywoodbets Sharks' 36–24 victory over the DHL Stormers on 31 January 2026, captain Andre Esterhuizen described the intensity of the coastal derby as "like Test rugby".
Esterhuizen, named Man of the Match for his "powerhouse performance," scored a crucial second-half try that secured a bonus point and helped the Sharks complete a rare season double over their rivals.
“We won a lot of the small moments, and that counted in our favour. That’s something we focused on all week,” Esterhuizen said.
He credited the win to a disciplined aerial game plan tailored for Durban’s humid, slippery conditions, singling out wings Edwill van der Merwe and Jaco Williams for their excellence under the high ball.
“We spend a lot of time on our aerial game. It’s one of the most important areas. If you can’t get out of your half, you can’t play rugby because you’ll be pinned down the whole time,” he explained.
“Our wings were outstanding under the high ball. We put them (Stormers) under constant pressure and won a lot of loose scraps. That’s something we focused on all week.”
Emphasising the importance of their kicking strategy, he noted, "If you can't exit your half, you can't play rugby. You just end up trapped." He added, “It might have looked nice on TV, but it was very wet and slippery out there, so that style suits days like this.”
Esterhuizen also praised scrumhalves Jaden Hendrikse and Grant Williams: “Jaden came on and did really well, and Grant was excellent in the first half. We also had a bit of wind behind us after the break, which definitely helped.”
He highlighted the team’s resilience in overturning a 17–14 halftime deficit and a 24–14 deficit early in the second half. “I’m very proud of the guys. We showed real courage to fight back in the second half.”
Despite back-to-back wins, Esterhuizen cautioned that there is "no room for complacency," as the Sharks have climbed to ninth in the URC table and need to move into the top six.