The Scarlets put in a stirring effort in Durban against a star-studded Sharks team, but were left to rue a series of missed opportunities in the first half.

They came tantalisingly close to scoring tries three times in the opening period, but just weren’t quite able to nail them, leaving it all square 6-6 at the interval.

They did cross twice after the break through Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans, but the hosts doubled that tally, claiming the bonus point touchdown deep into stoppage time.

The Scarlets started really brightly against a team featuring no fewer than nine Springboks and came within a whisker of notching a try after just seven minutes.

It seemed as though outside-half Sam Costelow had done the business after appearing to win the race in chasing his own kick ahead.

But after repeated replays in a TMO check, the decision was that Sharks wing Aphelele Fassi had just got his fingertips to the ball ahead of Costelow grounding it.

Then came a moment winger Steff Evans will want to forget.

He seemed certain to score from a searing backs move, with full-back Tom Rogers hitting the line and giving the final pass.

But as Evans took off to produce an acrobatic one-handed finish in the corner, his foot just clipped the touchline and the try was ruled out.

The Scarlets did take a deserved lead through the boot of Costelow before going so close to a try yet again.

Brilliant work from dummying skipper Scott Williams off a lineout sent scrum-half Dane Blacker racing towards the whitewash, only for Siya Kolisi to snare him from behind.

Towards the end of the half, it was the Sharks who piled on the pressure, but they were denied by some heroic defence from the Scarlets.

So in the end, all the points in the opening period came through the boot, with Curwin Bosch replying to two successful shots by opposite number Costelow.

The second half began in hugely encouraging fashion for the visitors as they finally managed to get over the whitewash to take the lead.

From a close-range attacking lineout, Sam Lousi leapt high to claim the ball and then fed it direct to replacement lock Aaron Shingler who dummied his way over.

But the Sharks levelled the scores again as exciting full-back Aphelele Fassi raced in after latching on to a no-look grubber kick from scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.

The Scarlets spurned more points as replacement fly-half Dan Jones struck the woodwork with a very kickable penalty, ahead of a decisive moment just past the hour mark.

Looking to clear his lines, Scott Williams had his kick charged down by Ben Tapuai, with Bosch diving on the loose ball for a try he converted himself.

As the Sharks set-piece power began to tell, they went further ahead with a penalty try which saw Kemsley Mathias yellow carded for collapsing a maul.

Despite being down to 14 men, the Scarlets didn’t give up, with Steff Evans sprinting over after being put into a hole by a superb one-handed offload from lock Lousi.

But the Sharks had the last word amid another yellow card as they secured the bonus point fourth try through centre Marius Louw.

Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Werner Kok, Jeremy Ward, Marius Louw, Makazole Mapimpi; Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Gerbrandt Grobler, Reniel Hugo, Siya Kolisi (capt), Henco Venter, Sikhumbuzo Notshe.

Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Khutha Mchunu, Le Roux Roets, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Tito Bonilla, Ben Tapuai.

Scarlets: Tom Rogers; Steff Evans, Johnny Williams, Scott Williams (capt), Corey Baldwin; Sam Costelow, Dane Blacker; Steff Thomas, Daf Hughes, Samson Lee, Sam Lousi, Jac Price, Blade Thomson, Dan Davis, Sione Kalamafoni.

Replacements: Shaun Evans, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Aaron Shingler, Carwyn Tuipulotu, Archie Hughes, Dan Jones, Joe Roberts.

After incessant pressure, the Sharks finally claimed the bonus point try seven minutes into added time with centre Marius Louw going over.

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Despite being down to 14 men following a yellow card to prop Kemsley Mathias, the Scarlets aren't giving up.

Steff Evans races away to the line for a converted try after being put into a hole by a superb one-handed offload from Sam Lousi.

The Scarlets collapse a lineout maul as it heads for the whitewash and the referee runs under the sticks.

Curwin Bosch extends the hosts' lead from in front of the posts, with the Sharks' scrum power now really telling.

Curwin Bosch pounces to give the hosts the lead for the first time.

Sione Kalamafoni had just pulled off a turnover in his own 22, but as Scott Williams looked to clear downfield his kick was charged down by Ben Tapuai, with Bosch diving on the loose ball.

The officials checked to see if Bosch was in front of Tapuai.

It was really close, but in the end they decided the score would stand and the fly-half added the conversion to his try.

Points go begging as replacement fly-half Dan Jones strikes the woodwork with a very kickable penalty.

Full-back Aphelele Fassi responds by racing in after latching on to a no-look grubber kick from scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse. The score is converted.

Curwin Bosch goes for goal with a penalty attempt from well inside his own half, but he is off target.

Finally they have done it!

From a close-range attacking lineout, Sam Lousi leaps high to claim the ball and then feeds it direct to replacement lock Aaron Shingler who dummies his way over.

Sam Costelow adds the conversion and it's a great start to the second half for the Scarlets.

What an enthralling half of rugby.

All the points came through the boot, but we could easily have had a number of tries.

The Scarlets will be rueing three oppportunities they just missed out on taking, while the Sharks failed to capitalise on their mounting pressure late on.

All to play for after the break then.

It's all square with Curwin Bosch slotting a straightforward kick after sustained pressure.

Another wayward effort from fly-half Curwin Bosch.

A missed penalty attempt from fly-half Curwin Bosch.

Scarlets so close yet again as scrum-half Dane Blacker is sent away to the line by a dummying Scott Williams, only for Siya Kolisi to snare him from behind.

Fly-half Curwin Bosch opens the account for the South Africans.

Fly-half Sam Costelow doubles the lead for the visitors after a high tackle.

Another Scarlets try is disallowed as winger Steff Evans just puts a foot in touch in producing an acrobatic diving finish, getting the ball down one-handed in the corner.

Such a shame because it was a great backs move, with full-back Tom Rogers hitting the line and giving the final pass.

After having a try disallowed by the narrowest of margins, Sam Costelow responds by opening the scoring through the boot.

So close for the Scarlets.

Fly-half Sam Costelow chases his own kick ahead and looks to have got his hand to the ball first to claim the try.

But after repeated replays in a TMO check, the decision is that Sharks wing Aphelele Fassi just got his fingertips to the ball ahead of Costelow grounding it, so it's no try.

We are underway in Durban.

The Sharks’ head coach is Sean Everitt, who has been involved with the Durban-based side for more than a decade.

Here are his thoughts ahead of the historic URC meeting with the Scarlets at Kings Park.

“I said to the team on Monday that people have been hyping up the fact that these overseas teams are coming to South Africa,” he said.

“But now it’s time to put words into action. What’s important for us is to put in good performances at home.

“Scarlets had a great win against Glasgow, a top three team, so we are wary of what they can bring.”

On the conditions, he said: “The heat and humidity do affect what you do. We won’t move away from what has worked for us over the last few weeks, but one must be mindful of playing rugby in the right areas of the field is of utmost importance.

“Scarlets are a very attack-oriented team and although they do kick a lot, they do that to try get the ball back to attack.

“We’re also a team that likes to keep ball in hand and often we’ve played our best rugby away from home, Benetton being a good example because we were able to hold on to the ball for longer passages of play and we did get reward although we didn’t finish all the opportunities we had.

“We’ve had to adjust to differing conditions from week to week, but our game model allows us to play in any conditions because of that. I’d like to think that when the opportunities arise to keep ball in hand, we do so, no matter where we are playing or in what condition.

“Playing in humidity in Durban doesn’t mean you can’t move the ball around - but it is a bit of a horses for courses approach.”

There's been a late change to the Sharks team with Werner Kok taking over from Sbu Nkosi on the right wing, which sees Ben Tapuai join the bench.

That now makes it four changes from the side that beat Benetton 29-7 in Treviso last time out.

Jeremy Ward comes in for Lukhanyo Am at outside centre, while Reniel Hugo replaces Ruben van Heerden in the second row and Sikhumbuzo Notshe takes over from Phepsi Buthelezi at No 8.

The Durban-based franchise lie eighth in the United Rugby Championship, with five wins from their ten matches to date, with just one defeat in their last six league fixtures.

There is no sign of Leigh Halfpenny and Ken Owens making an imminent return to action for the Scarlets.

Full-back Halfpenny suffered serious knee ligament damage playing for Wales against Canada last July, while hooker Owens is recovering fom back surgery.

“It’s a long process for those guys,” said head coach Dwayne Peel.

“They are not imminently coming back.”

Asked if Halfpenny would feature at all this season, Peel said: “I’m not sure. If he does, it’ll be right at the very end.”

World Cup-winning Springboks captain Siya Kolisi leads the Sharks in the absence of regular skipper Lukhanyo Am, who has been granted leave to spend two months with Kobe Steelers in Japan.

Commenting on the reins passing to flanker Kolisi, winger Sbu Nkosi said: “It’s a huge boost having Siya as captain, although it doesn’t really change much because he’s been playing a leadership role since he arrived at the Sharks.

“He’s been very positive and very involved and I don’t think it will be a major shift for us because he’s been bringing that same energy all the time. The only thing that changes now is that he has the authority that comes with the title of captain.”

Here's what Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel has had to say ahead of this evening's game in Durban.

"You look at the Sharks, they are star-studded, a lot of Springbok internationals," said the former Wales scrum-half.

"Physicality is taken for granted here. If we don't turn up with physicality we are going to be in trouble, they can also hurt you with speed out wide.

"We have to be physical, clinical and disciplined. We have brought a young squad here, it is a big test for us.

"But what a great opportunity to go up against a class side in a world-renowned stadium. It is great for our boys.

“The weather’s going to be hot and humid, the ground’s going to be hard, which will suit some of our guys as well.

"We have prepped well and are looking forward to it."

As for the sight of so many Springboks in the opposition ranks, Peel said: “It’s great for the competition moving forward.

“The introduction of the four sides at the start of the year brought excitement, but Covid and so forth has been a bit of an issue. Now we’re able to talk about the rugby and play these sides.

“We’ve grown up watching Super Rugby from years ago and you see the names that are synonymous with that competition. So it’s huge for the Scarlets to come out here to play the Sharks.”