Cardiff suffered a 21-15 defeat to the Sharks in Durban, with Wales great Taulupe Faletau sustaining a worrying arm injury in the second half. The Blue and Blacks showed resilience despite the loss, keeping the Sharks scoreless after halftime and denying them a bonus point.

The match saw both teams trade converted tries in the first quarter, with Sharks flanker Phepsi Buthelezi scoring twice from driving mauls. Cardiff's Ben Thomas created opportunities with a clever kick-pass that allowed Josh Grady to cross twice in the first half. Sharks fly-half Jordan Hendrikse was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on, but his team capitalized on the man advantage to build a 21-12 lead at the break.

Cardiff's determination shone through in the final quarter, with full-back Ioan Lloyd's boot reducing the deficit to six points. The Welsh side's inability to finish their chances proved costly, though they salvaged some pride by preventing the Sharks from securing a fourth try. Cardiff now face crucial URC derbies against the Scarlets and Ospreys when the competition resumes after the European rugby break.