Edinburgh 17-18 Sharks: Makazole Mapimpi’s last-gasp try settles close encounter

And a minute after the restart Lukhanyo Am made a break and put in Aphelele Fassi to give the Sharks the lead and remind everyone of their star quality.

However, a kick through minutes later resulted in Am going to the sin-bin for cynical play. And when he was joined by Springbok team-mate Eben Etzebeth and Edinburgh’s Sam Skinner following an almighty scrap, Edinburgh smelled blood.

Hooker Ewan Ashman crashed over a few phases after a tap penalty in front of the posts, and Ross Thompson converted to restore Edinburgh’s four-point lead.

Thirty intense, but scoreless, minutes followed and included Edinburgh being held up over the try line, before Sharks won a critical scrum penalty which gave them field position in the dying moments.

They took advantage ruthlessly. The forwards softened up the Edinburgh defence before Siya Musuku spun a perfect pass out to Mapimpi to fall over the line.

Another scrap ensued as tension boiled over, but it was Sharks who were left grinning as they stay in fourth place, now one point behind Bulls.