The Sharks will take part in their fourth Superugby final if one excludes the 1994 Super 10 game against Queensland.
The final has always ended in pain for Sharks fans. In 1994 it finished 21-10 to Queensland (Reds), in 1996 it was 45-21 to “awesome” Auckland (Blues), in 2001 the Brumbies took it 30-6 and in 2007 it was the Bulls that sneaked in 20-19 at the death. Does the suffering end or continue on Saturday, 04 August at 09h30 (SA time)?
Apart from the crazy amount of traveling the Sharks have had to do in the last few weeks there is also a history that goes against a team winning a final held outside their own country. The Crusaders are the only team to have gotten this right when they beat the Brumbies way back in 2000. So the odds are heavily stacked against the Sharks coming out on top but what an outstanding run they have during the second half of this year’s Superugby. The Sharks have won eight of their last nine including two playoff games.
(Update: the Sharks did not end up doing very well in this 2012 final either.
final score: Sharks 6 Chiefs 37
Eina! It hurts just looking at that score, nevermind having had to live through the game itself)
Teams for the final:
| SHARKS | CHIEFS |
| 1. Tendai Mtawarira (Peterhouse) | 1. Sona Taumalolo |
| 2. Bismarck du Plessis (Grey College) | 3. Ben Tameifuna |
| 3. Jannie du Plessis (Grey College) | 4. Craig Clarke (c) |
| 4. Willem Alberts (Monnas) | 5. Brodie Retallick |
| 5. Anton Bresler (DHS) | 6. Liam Messam |
| 6. Keegan Daniel (c) (Dale) | 7. Tanerau Latimer |
| 7. Marcell Coetzee (Port Natal) | 8. Kane Thompson |
| 8. Ryan Kankowski (St Andrews) | 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow |
| 9. Charl McLeod (Wonderboom) | 10. Aaron Cruden |
| 10. Frederic Michalak (Lycee Jolimon) | 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma |
| 11. Lwazi Mvovo (Maria Louw) | 12. Sonny Bill Williams |
| 12. Paul Jordaan (Grey College) | 13. Andrew Horrell |
| 13. JP Pietersen (Generaal Hertzog) | 14. Tim Nanai-Williams |
| 14. Louis Ludik (EG Jansen) | 15. Robbie Robinson |
| 15. Patrick Lambie (Michaelhouse) | 16. Hika Elliot |
| 16. Craig Burden (Maritzburg College) | 17. Ben Afeaki |
| 17. Wiehahn Herbst (Klerksdorp) | 18. Michael Fitzgerald |
| 18. Steven Sykes (Marlow) | 19. Sam Cane |
| 19. Jacques Botes (Potch Gym) | 2. Mahonri Schwalger |
| 20. Jean Deysel (Hentie Cilliers) | 20. Brendon Leonard |
| 21. Meyer Bosman (Oakdale) | 21. Jackson Willison |
| 22. Riaan Viljoen (Klerksdorp) | 22. Lelia Masaga |
Natal 1994: André Joubert, Cabous van der Westhuizen, Pieter Müller, replaced by Andy Marinos, Jeremy Thomson, replaced by Shaun Payne, James Small, Henry Honiball, Robert du Preez, Gary Teichmann, Andrew Blakeway, Wahl Bartmann (captain), Steve Atherton, John Slade, Adrian Garvey, John Allan, Guy Kebble
Natal 1996: Andre Joubert, James Small, Jeremy Thomson, Dick Muir, Cabous van der Westhuizen, Henry Honiball, Kevin Putt, Gary Teichmann (captain),Wayne Fyvie, Wickus van Heerden, Stephen Atherton, Mark Andrews, Ollie le Roux, John Allan, Adrian Garvey
Sharks 2001: Ricardo Loubscher, Justin Swart, Trevor Halstead, Deon Kayser, Stefan Terblanche, Butch James, Craig Davidson, AJ Venter, Charl van Rensburg, Warren Britz, Albert van den Berg, Mark Andrews (captain), Ollie le Roux, John Smit, Etienne Fynn.
Sharks 2007: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Francois Steyn, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Johan Ackermann, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Deon Carstens
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Warren Britz, 20 Bob Skinstad, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
My son plays prop – this week loosehead but sometimes plays tighthead depending on …. well I don’t need to go further. I’m curious to see how the front row works after some injuries, etc. The Glenwood boys all seem so tired.
@Star: I will try avoid the long stories but the short juicy ones may be worthwhile.
Derwent Stopforth will not be playing tomorrow as he is sick – such a huge pity especially as I took some of my best photos ever there last year.
Gungets- I see all and know all. What a great moment with Phelps and Chad! That is how legends are made. Enjoy the rugby tomorrow and think of us as we play House soccer.
@star: That he is – what kind of guess is that????
Gungets-the boy is not the scrumhalf is he?
Cyndi- What position does your boy play? Remember the pressure is on as Westville beat College convincingly twice. Just kidding. Enjoy the day and do not let Gungets bore you with his stories.
@CyndiAtRugby: A boy in our lift club is in the U15B, hence my early start. I will be on the river side of the field and will keep a lookout for a tjikkin with a camera. If someone trips you, it won’t be me
Haven’t had a boxing match since Goldstones 2 years ago, no need to start now. Despite the “interest” in the U15As and 1sts, it is no deal for College. When they played at Glenwood their comment was “we will be friends but never be brothers” . Not a bad compromise, I think??
“Greenstones” will never catch on, it’s way too disrespectful ….
My boy is on Snows (U15B) with a 50 minute game. Will have to survive on message updates for the game and watching the re-run later cos tomorrow and Friday is dedicated to the matric boys – I want to ‘shoot’ as many of them as possible so will be on Greenstones for the rest of the day
Except for a short visit to the U15A. With some luck there will be a break at some stage for coffee and that promised sticky bun
@Gungets Tuft The only red on me will be lipstick and maybe sunburn
I”m looking forward to an awesome day of enjoyable rugby and spectacular action for the photos. I’m hoping they will all be rugby action photos and no boxing photos.
Not enough Klerksdorp and Monna boys in the team.
@Gungets Tuft:
@beet: Eeisch – I am planning to have only Queen (We are the champions), Tina Turner (Simply the best). In the unlikely event that we lose – I mean the small matter of 35000km, 42 hours flying, 28 time zones, all in 2 weeks – then I will boil my head in the urn!! – My old teachers will tell me that it won’t help me improve …
Look out for the oke in College shirt and cap on the Pavillion corner of Goldstones. – pick any of the 300 possible’s.
@Gungets Tuft: Yes but I’m chickening out of the College Pavillion bit. Will watch the final in Durbs and then take either an adrenaline filled top of the world drive up to PMB listening to LMFAO, David Guetta and that Dynamite hit by Taio Cruz
OR a depressing slow drive making extra use of the head-rest for support while REM’s Everybody Hurts, Its the End of the World and Bruce Springstein’s Streets of Philadelphia plays 
.
@beet: Are you going to be at College.
My lighties hockey is only at 12:30, but there from 7:30 (6:30am start esor in Durbs) so I will be the oke snorting lines of coffee and sucking hot water straight from the urn.
Cyndi – Compromise. Put a red stripe on the Black and white and you are set :-))
Coffee available at Goldstones pavillion and at Papes Astro, with a sticky bun for breakfast. Not sure what field you are on – Lamonds, Leaches and Nicholson’s means a small walk across the road.
@CyndiAtRugby: Gosh I hope you have someone to reserve a spot for you in the College Pavillion. That place will be chock-a-block by 9:30am tomorrow. Is your son’s game 60min?
I’m going to look rather strange tomorrow – Black and white for Sharks + Green for Glenwood. All in all its going to be an awesome day of rugby. My boy is playing at 08:30 so will be there bright and early. Hope someone has some coffee for me.