Springboks front-row Trevor Nyakane was responsible for a light-hearted moment during the Sharks’ United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Stormers in Durban on Saturday.

The double Rugby World Cup winner joined the Sharks from Top 14 outfit Racing 92 after last year’s global showpiece in France and is already a fan favourite in his new surroundings.

In Saturday’s highly anticipated South African derby, the Sharks suffered a setback midway through the opening half when fellow Boks prop Vincent Koch was forced off the field due to injury with Nyakane coming on as his replacement.

‘Stormers dominated the scrums’

Up to that point, the Stormers dominated the scrums and despite Nyakane’s introduction the men from the Cape continued to hold the upper hand in that department during the opening half.

Stormers loosehead prop Ali Vermaak was the destroyer in chief at the set-piece but despite being on the back foot at most of the scrums, Nyakane saw the funny side to the situation.

In the 38th minute, while packing down for another scrum, the 35-year-old was caught on television cameras smiling, lifting his eyebrows and licking his lips.

While scrummaging is usually serious business, Nyakane defused the tense situation with his funny actions. Although the Stormers continued to put pressure on the Sharks in the scrums, the home side eventually gained parity at the set-piece in the second half.

Momentous result for the Sharks

The Sharks also finished stronger as they clinched a 21-15 victory which was a momentous result as it was their first ever triumph against the Stormers since the inaugural URC in 2022.

Both teams will be in action in the Champions Cup on Saturday with the Sharks travelling to Welford Road where they will face Leicester Tigers while the Stormers are hosting Toulon in Gqeberha.

The Stormers moved their match to the Eastern Cape as their home venue, the DHL Stadium, in Cape Town is hosting the South African leg of World Rugby’s SVNS Series this weekend.