S'busiso Nkosi and Sanele Nohamba ran in second-half tries as the Sharks overturned a half-time deficit to kick off their Super Rugby campaign with a 23-15 victory over the Bulls.

The Sharks had failed to win any of their previous nine meetings with their South African rivals and trailed 9-6 at the interval in Friday's clash at Kings Park.

But Nkosi got the first try of the evening five minutes into the second half, and the hosts, who finished four points behind their opponents last term, added a second late on through Nohamba.

Morne Steyn, making his first Super Rugby start since 2013, kept the Bulls in contention throughout with four penalties and a drop goal, but the second Sharks try made the game safe.

Debutant Nohamba scuttled through to seal the win in the closing seconds, with Curwin Bosch - the supplier of 13 points with the boot - adding the extras.