The Sharks can beat the Chiefs. Our Forwards are better than theirs.
Not too sure about the travel fatigue factor, and playing for 80 minutes- but if our forwards dominate them we can do it.
The danger players are Aaron Cruden, Sunny Bill, Sam Cane, Kahui, Messan, and the winger(forgot his name)
The Jokers-
You need'nt worry about Kahui too much as he has been out for the season for quite a while now Sharkbok. Another illustration of the Chiefs depth managing despite the major loss of one of their star players. As for the rest of the team pictured above - you won't see them for dust either.
If its Masaga the winger they call flash you're refering to then i did see Goosen run around him once so one of your juniors to watch out for.
Brycy
I wrote elsewhere about th reasons why the Chiefs will win on Saturday - nothing rugby-related will make them win the Champiosnhip - there are other factors at play in this case. Go and read my summary and then we can discuss this issue further. Be happy - I believe that the Chiefs have all the odds staggered in their favour.
Are you trying to dine out on the Chiefs again not so clevermike. We don't need your support so thanks but no thanks.
Home final massive advantage for Chiefs
The Chiefs are lapping up the Sharks' upset Super Rugby semi final win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
The result means the final will be played in Hamilton next Saturday, rather than in South Africa.
Coach Dave Rennie says it gives his side a massive advantage.
"There's a lot of reason's why it's great to be home, obviously we don't have to travel so you get to sleep in your own bed. We would have been on a plane to Sydney this evening and then off to JB tomorrow."
Rennie has already dismissed talk that the Sharks will be ripe for the picking in next Saturday's Super Rugbyfinal.
In the space of three weeks, the South Africans will have gone from Durban to Brisbane, to Cape Town and then to Hamilton.
Rennie says his side has already shown that winning on the road is all mental.
"We went to Africa played the Cheetahs first up at altitude and went really well, travelled all the way home played the Hurricanes and fronted really well in that game too.
"So it's about getting the bodies right and getting the head right so attitude is key, I don't believe the issue that a lot of people are talking about."
The Sharks have bought Chiefs co-captain Craig Clarke a bit of extra time as he races to be fit for Saturday's Super Rugby final.
Rennie says now they don't have to fly out this evening, they can delay a call on Clarke's availability.
"We've got major concerns around Craig Clarke, he's sort of tweaked his knee so there's a question mark over whether he'd be available.
"So again being at home is a real bonus because we can leave it as late as possible. We would have to make a decision on him today if we were flying out ."
Dave Rennie says they'll wait until later in the week before making a call on injured co-captain Craig Clarke.The Sharks' Kiwi coach John Plumtree knows the travel challenges, " ... flying there, flying back here, than back again. I know personally the jet lag when travelling there is terrible; I have to take sleeping tablets most nights for a week!" Thanks for the confession John!
I say why fight it John? Why fight nature? Why not just let your boys sleep it off on the field this saturday? ;-))
and The IRB should test all Sharks players for Sleep Enhancing and Sleep fighting Drugs/Substances on arrival in NZ this thursday! Line up boys and fill these cups - if you can stay awake long enough! :-)) zzzzzzzzzzzzzz! Look into my eyes all you Sharks players, you are falling asleep! Michelak, don't give me that blank stare, I know you can speak English, inglis, anglais! Sorry, did not know you were already asleep, "rockerbye baby on the tree top............."
sharks beat reds in durban, sharks beat reds in QF in brisbane,,,
sharks beat stormers in durban, sharks beat stormers in SF in newlands,,,
sharks lost to chiefs in durban, sharks
according to the patterns, sharks are the entrees before chiefs feast on the spXV crown.
i feel bad for the sharks though, durban to brisbane to newlands to hamilton,,,o_O IMHO chiefs would have beaten the sharks if they didnt have such a punishing travelling regime, but becaue they do, im thinking the chiefs by 20+..
Apparently Clarke is highly unlikely to play next week, according to their coach .... recurrence of injury .
Working in the Sharkies favour Sharkbok is that they have nothing to lose and everything to gain so if they take the devil may care attitude and string a few passes together with that rugby we have seen in recent weeks they can be very dangerous.
Can also see them topping the SA conference next year when Frans Steyn becomes a permanent fixture in their backline. He seemed to be the catalyst that sparked the Sharkies revival but to win without him against the Reds makes me question that theory.
The Chiefs will be studying their game don't you worry and shut down their danger men no doubt, the way they shut down the Crusaders. Up front it will be a good battle between the forwards as to which team can dominate and secure the most possession to feed two exciting backlines. So these two teams, synonymous with running rugby should provide a great spectacle befitting of a final.
My only regret is that we never got to see the Chiefs and Stormers play all season. Would have also liked to see a game between the Hurricanes and the Bulls. Such is the format though so maybe next time.
Sasu
beware about a 20+ vic6tory. The Chiefs are not that good and the leveller is the travelling issue. If you say Chiefs by 7 - I would believe you - otherwise you are way off the mark. Please note that the Sharks has peaked recently - while the Chiefs were very average aginst the Hurricanes and the Crusader round robin game. They do have one problem though and that is their line outs. I have not at all been impressed by Retallick. His line out work is poor to say the least and in tight situations he cannot manage properly. Have you got no better locks than him in New Zealand?
