wow, 2011 currie cup had two NZ coaches, 2011 RWC semi finals had three NZ coaches and was won by a NZ, 2012 heineken cup final had one NZ coach who won it, 6 nations was won by a NZ coach and now 2012 spXV has two NZ coaches.
there is litreally no top top tier tournament that has not been touched with NZs coaching rugby prowess.
SA may have the best refs but NZ has the best coaches.
GO CHIEFS!!!
Stop tormenting the Saffas Sasu . Australians are already having psychological problems due to the Kiwis. Just cause you're World Champions at sevens and rugby and league and leading the medal table at the Olympics and ..um.. I'm not sure where i was going with that one...maybe the Sharks will shred you to pieces in the final despite....
Home advantage
Chiefs fans. Photo by Getty
The Sharks have done a ridiculous amount of travelling to get to the final, having played the Reds in Brisbane and Stormers in Cape Town on consecutive weeks before landing in Hamilton following a few days in Sydney.
The Crusaders showed last season in falling to the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in the final after playing the Stormers at Newlands that the travel factor is huge at the end of a long season.The Chiefs, on the other hand, have been in their own beds for weeks. They accounted for the Crusaders in Hamilton in last weekend's semifinal and before that they had the week off.
Most of the Sharks' on-field training recently has been recovery work. Dave Rennie's men are well rested and will be playing in front of a partisan crowd.
Settled squad
Craig Clarke. Photo by Getty
Lock and captain Craig Clarke's recovery from a knee injury is a massive boost for the Chiefs. Even if he doesn't last the whole match, his initial steadiness in the set piece, especially the lineout against the Sharks' tall timber, will be crucial.
The Chiefs don't have any other injury concerns, whereas the Sharks have had centre Tim Whitehead ruled out with a broken hand. Springbok Pat Lambie comes back into the team after a six-week injury break and starts at fullback, with the promising Paul Jordaan also back from injury and starting at second-five.
JP Pietersen, normally a wing, starts at centre. It's anything but a settled backline, though there is plenty of talent there.
Defensive mastery
Wayne Smith. Photo from ODT files.
A strength this season for the Chiefs, and assistant coach Wayne Smith has had a big part to play here.
The Sharks, who have the best attacking record in the competition, scored only one try against the Chiefs in the 18-12 defeat in the round-robin match between the two teams in Durban this season.
The Sharks could panic if they fail to find their way through the Chiefs' wall, especially if first-five Freddie Michalak has an off night in his final appearance for the team. And once they get momentum, the Chiefs are extremely hard to stop.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams will be eyeing the above changes with more than a little relish.
Aaron Cruden
Aaron Cruden. From ODT files.
The little first-five has had a breakthrough season and outplayed All Blacks incumbent Dan Carter last weekend. He appears sharper and quicker than Carter and has been more accurate with his goalkicking this season.
Cruden is sitting on 234 points which is the most scored by a New Zealand player in a Super season, and the second best by any player in a Super season behind Morne Steyn's record of 263 in 2010.
He has built an impressive understanding with both Kerr-Barlow and Williams on either side of him.
SBW factor
Sonny Bill Williams. Photo by Getty.
He tends to reserve his best for special occasions and they don't come much bigger than a Super Rugby final at home in what will be last appearance for the Chiefs.
Williams has been consistently excellent this season which he has achieved through consistent game time. Last season he was plagued by injuries at the Crusaders and was often exhausted due to his boxing training.
Now that he has put the boxing on hold and is concentrating on his day job he has gone to a new level.
Second thoughts - The Chiefs will be too good.........
@mungbean,
LMAO, i aint tormenting the saffa bros, just merely pointing out something i find of interest, which is NZs dominanace in the coaching department.
oh and errrr, u forgot 7s commonwealth gold medalists, IRB No1 ranking for over two years straight and No1 80% of the time since its inception, womens RWC champions,,,,but errrr i dont where im going with it either, LMAO, :P
Mongbeano1, your avitar is similar to Beeno1 LOL, whatever happened to Angelina Jobean? ;-))
