Sharks make it two from two in Durban

The Springbok utility back intercepted a pass and darted from his own half to touch down between the posts and fly-half Robert du Preez kicked his third conversion of the match.

Full-back Aphelele Fassi, hooker Akker van der Merwe and Du Preez scored first-half tries as the dominant Sharks established a 19-0 half-time advantage at Jonsson Kings Park.

The Blues were a much improved side in the second half only to be denied a try on 55 minutes when the television match official spotted obstruction by flanker Dalton Papalii. 

However, the New Zealanders were deservedly rewarded soon after when a long skip pass from fly-half Otere Black sent replacement back Tanielu Tele'a over in the corner.

Black converted from the touchline to leave 12 points between the teams and Sharks supporters must have feared a constantly-retreating home team could be overtaken.

Those concerns were heightened 12 minutes from time when Sharks lock Ruan Botha was yellow-card for a cynical maul infringement. 

However, the South Africans held firm with 14 men until Bosch put the outcome beyond doubt.

A need for consistency was the pre-season battle cry of Sharks coach Robert du Preez, a former Springbok scrum-half and the father of the fly-half.   

"There is a great respect for New Zealand teams and the Blues brought the best out of us, especially during the first half," he said.

"It is vital that we maintain this good start. Too often in previous seasons we have been up one weekend and down the next."

The Blues, the weakest of the five New Zealand title contenders in recent seasons, have just one point from two matches.