Inside centre Meyer Bosman capitalised on a terrible error by Melbourne Rebels first five Danny Cipriani to help South Africa's Sharks sneak a 34-32 victory over the Australian side at Olympic Park on Friday.
Bosman scooped up a loose ball after Cipriani had passed into vacant space near his own goalline, allowing the big centre to regather and flop over the line.
The try came just five minutes after number eight Ryan Kankowski had scored to snatch back the lead from a spirited Rebels' side, who had threatened an upset with victory over the competition's early front runners.
Springboks hooker Bismarck du Plessis had scored his side's first try, with first five Patrick Lambie slotting a conversion and two penalties before the Rebels dominated the next 25 minutes of the game.
The former England number 10 Cipriani, winger Cooper Vuna and Julian Huxley scored tries for the home side, while Cipriani added two conversions and two penalties.
Cipriani's 60-metre solo try, when he dummied and slipped inside the first line of defence and then outsprinted the cover, had looked to give his side the momentum two minutes into the second half as the Rebels went out to a 25-13 lead, having scored 22 unanswered points.
The Sharks got back into the game when winger Lwazi Mvovo crossed in the corner after a movement that swept back and forth across the field and Lambie converted to reduce the deficit to 25-20.
Kankowski and Bosman then scored their tries, both of which were converted by Lambie, to give the South Africans enough breathing space despite Rebels' flanker Jarrod Saffy scoring a late try that threatened to ruin the visitors' unbeaten start to the season.
