- The Sharks beat Gloucester 36-22 to win the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham
- The Bomb Squad of Oc Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, key to winning
- Defeat ends South Africans’ search for Gloucester pair
South Africa’s deadly Bomb Squad detonated English dreams again last night as Gloucester’s quest for a cup double was ruined by the Sharks’ scrum blitz at Tottenham.
Last fall, England narrowly lost the World Cup semi-final against the Springboks due to a set-piece attack led by Oc Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch, and that trio were the heroes of this Challenge Cup final.
When they were replaced to a thunderous applause midway through the second half, Gloucester were doomed.
Former Saracens prop Koch added a spectacular flourish with a 50-22 kick and then spoke of the Sharks’ pride in becoming the first South African team to win a “European” title.
In the stands, Racing 92 hardhead Trevor Nyakane danced and shouted ‘Bomb Squad’ in tribute to his front-row Bok friends.
Sharks celebrate winning the Challenge Cup final by beating Gloucester in Tottenham
Part of Shark’s ‘Bomb Squad’, Bongi Mbonambi, kisses the Challenge Cup trophy after victory
Sharks Makazole Mapimp flies in for a try in the second half during 36-22 win over Gloucester
For Gloucester, there was no redemption after the ridicule that followed their 90-0 humiliation at Northampton 13 days earlier.
In the end, George Skivington’s ploy to prioritize this match did not work. The West Country Club was defeated.
It wasn’t a cricket result this time, but it was emphatic enough, despite late consolation attempts from Santiago Socino and Freddie Clarke.
With strong support in the stands, Gloucester put on the pressure from the start, before the Sharks group turned the screw, with their powerful captain Eben Etzebeth another standout player.
Gloucester’s defeat ended their hopes of a cup double this season.
Zach Mercer was striving to make another strong case for a call-up to the England tour, but the number 8 was overshadowed by his counterpart Phepsi Buthelezi, who scored a spectacular solo try.
Skivington was proud of his team’s effort, but said of the victors: “That front row has dominated some of the best scrums in world rugby.”
“They have many world champions and they squeezed us.” Looking at the bigger picture, he added: “What we want to do is get to the big knockout games and play in these big stadiums.” This is a glimpse of what Gloucester can be like.