The final of the most prestigious competition in provincial rugby is upon us, as the Chiefs host the Sharks in the last match of 2012 Super Rugby, and by the end of the next 80 minutes, we will have a new winner of the ultimate trophy.
The Chiefs were in a final against the Bulls not so long ago, but had no chance in Pretoria against a team that was unbeatable, and with them getting a second bite at that apple, I expect them to throw everything at the Sharks, especially being at home. They have been playing at home (in New Zealand) since May, with very little travel since. The Chiefs have been able to select an almost full strength team, bar the absence of Richard Kahui in midfield.
The Sharks have been playing away for the last two weekends, starting outsiders in every match, and now go into the Final well travelled, slighty tired after a long couple of days on the road again, but ready to win their first Final, after failing at this hurdle in three previous occasions. The Sharks have had to shuffle their backline for this match, bringing back both Pat Lambie and Paul Jordaan, while losing Tim Whitehead to a broken hand. The forwards are unchanged though, and this is where the Sharks’ greatest strength lies.
It will be a humdinger of a match, with a home side full of confidence after putting away probably the best ever Super Rugby franchise, the Crusaders, last weekend, while the Sharks are on a mission impossible storyline, which they would love to complete. Both teams deserve to lift the Cup, but only one can. Hold onto your seats, this is set to be huge!
Chiefs: 1. Sona Taumalolo, 2. Mahonri Schwalger, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Craig Clarke (c), 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Liam Messam, 7. Tanerau Latimer, 8. Kane Thompson, 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Andrew Horrell, 14. Tim Nanai-Williams, 15. Robbie Robinson.
Replacements: 16. Hika Elliot, 17. Ben Afeaki, 18. Michael Fitzgerald, 19. Sam Cane, 20. Brendon Leonard, 21. Jackson Willison, 22. Lelia Masaga.
Sharks 1. Tendai Mtawarira , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 4. Willem Alberts , 5. Anton Bresler , 6. Keegan Daniel ( C ) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 9. Charl McLeod , 10. Frederic Michalak , 11. Lwazi Mvovo , 12. Paul Jordaan , 13. JP Pietersen , 14. Louis Ludik , 15. Patrick Lambie
Replacements : 16. Craig Burden , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Steven Sykes , 19. Jacques Botes , 20. Jean Deysel , 21. Meyer Bosman , 22. Riaan Viljoen
Referee: Steve Walsh
Assistant Ref 1:Craig Joubert
Assistant Ref 2:Keith Brown
TMO : Garratt Williamson
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I hope the Sharks pull through. I want to get excited but I then think of the magnitude of the task. Read a heart warming article in the NZ Press re Plum’s love for the Sharks. I really wanted to congratulate him for his part in getting the Sharks thusfar
WE BELIEVE. Bring it home boys. GO SHARKS
@juba_fan (Comment 2) : We believe my fellow Shark we believe.
We gonna do this. And if we don’t, we’re still one of the best teams ever. But lads, if we fail, PLEEEEEAASSE don’t let it be to an after the hooter try or kick – my heart couldn’t take it again.
@perran_dw (Comment 4) : ” No More Negative Stuff, Only Positive Stuff ” – Pro Legoete
Less then an hour to go. This is it. All or nothing.
You can do this Sharkies. We’re behind you. We believe!
Advantage Sharks. It’s RAINING!! 😀
Push their buttons and control your temper boys(specially bissy) we can do this.
c’mon SHARKS!
Gooooo Shaaaaarrkkksssss!!!!
Anyone know what the best sites to stream the game for those of us unforunate enough to not be able to watch on tv??
45 to go. GO SHARKS!! We believe!!
Seems its wet in Hamilton…
@RuckingFun (Comment 10) : Have you got DStv subscription?
One more push – big push for 80 minutes. You can do it
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHARRRRRRRRRRRKSSSSSS
Peeps i predict the starting 15 wont be the same as the one announced with the rain in Hamilton
@klempie (Comment 14) : yeah parents do but doesnt help if outta da country, have tried it before
This is a stupid time of the day to watch Rugby… But we don’t have to wait for tonight….
@sharks_lover (Comment 16) : especially with the wet weather… Bosman at 12?
@RuckingFun (Comment 17) : Try http://www.livetv4ever.com/
@RuckingFun (Comment 17) : Try Wiziwig.
@RuckingFun (Comment 11) : Try this one. You have to click through all the ads, but once the window is open you can watch the game.
http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/133690/1/watch-chiefs-vs-sharks.html
@Franshark (Comment 19) : I have a feeling thats gonna be the case
You might also see a change in the loose trio, maybe lock too
Sykes comming in and Alberts going to flank, Just a thought, i am prolly wrong, just a feeling i have
@klempie (Comment 20) : I think he wants a free stream.
@klempie (Comment 14) : 😆
I hope the boys aren´t as nervous as I am!!
@rhineshark (Comment 25) : 😐
@RuckingFun (Comment 17) : http://mypremium.tv/stream/?id=1455&1334738312
My last one… hope you find a way to watch the game.
Go Sharkies.
It’s almost game time!
@rhineshark (Comment 26) : I’m not as nervous as last week for some reason…
http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/65406/3/super-15-playoff-final-chiefs-vs-sharks-live-stream-online.html
SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
15 minutes to go! My nerves are in tatters already!
10 to go…. Come on Sharks..
Let’s do this!!!!!
@Die Kriek (Comment 33) :
10 minutes!
Go Sharks!
@Franshark (Comment 34) : 😀
Wholy shit people! Hyperventalating at the sheer thought!!
Be brave Boys, its yours for the taking!!!
Come on BOYS!!
I feel sick.
@klempie (Comment 30) : I´m not sure if the rain is a good thing for us. I reckon the Chiefs loosies are more suited to tight, wet weather games. I would have liked a nice dry surface for Keegan, Kanko and Marcell to play some ball.
@lostfish (Comment 39) : me too 🙁
@lostfish (Comment 39) : SNAP!!!
@rhineshark (Comment 40) : We shall see.
breathe in! breathe out! Basics, basics, basics! 🙂
I just want to tell you guys what an honour and a privilege it has been serving with you all during this campaign…
Alri gh t vipbox seems to be workn. Goooo shhharks!!!
5 minutes!
C’mon! Sharks!
@klempie (Comment 43) : Yebo, we shall! Very shortly! 😎
@lostfish (Comment 39) : Aren’t you past the first trimester? 😉
@RuckingFun (Comment 46) : Cool! Enjoy the game!
@robdylan (Comment 45) : thanks mate.. You going somewhere? 😉
@robdylan (Comment 45) : It’s been quite a journey hasn’t it.
@robdylan (Comment 45) : 😆
Go Sharks!!!!!
Go Boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The boys are out on the field.
Winners or Loosers, Bookies or Punters, Fans or Megatron. Tears will Flow.
No changes.
Go Sharks!!! What an amazing end to the season!!!!! Sharks Forever!!!
No changes…. Let’s do this!!(Oh I’ve already said that)
No change to the team
2 Minutes!
Chiefs still in the changing room making the Sharks wait. 😕
@JarsonX (Comment 57) : 😆
Chiefs arrive on the field.
We can do this! GO SHARKS! Bring it home!
1 Minute!
Sharks!!!!
I can hardly type…
I see the Chiefs cheer leaders are the sheep hurders?? 😆
And here we go, see everyone after the game.
Goodluck Sharkies!
You can do this!
I believe!
Pat to kick off. Here we goooooooooooo!!!
Game On!!
@klempie (Comment 49) : Hahaha. My baby Shark is 1 month old 😉
Sharks turn the ball over!!
McLeod spills it at the ruck.
No Charl….
@lostfish (Comment 72) : Oh. Well, congrats! 😎
Chiefs have lineout just outside our 22.
@klempie (Comment 76) : Thanks
Chiefs into the 22…Cruden duffs an offload, and one of the Chiefs tackles one of the Sharks early. Lambie misses touch.
JP puts one into touch at the corner flag. Chiefs lineout on their 5m.
What a kick by JP
@klempie (Comment 80) : Sharks win it.
SBW meet Anton Bresler
Nice in the line out by Kanko
Sharks picking and driving around the 5m…and the Chiefs go offside. Penalty bang in front!
Chiefs 0 – 3 Sharks
7 mins.
Kanko did well in that lienout.
Ohhhhh….near JP intercept. That was close.
Come on Sharkies!!!
Walsh giving Clarke a talking to about interfering with defenders at the ruck.
The Sharks are going to win it, they look the hungrier from the 2 sides
Chiefs 0 – 3 Sharks
10 mins
Chiefs lineout just outside Sharks 22.
Sharks showing great physicality…..
@klempie (Comment 92) : Schwalger throws skew.
Sharks doing well to slow ball down.
Sharks tackling like demons right now.
Chiefs scrum just outside our 22. Sharks need to absorb this pressure.
Stolen! 😀
Almost intercepted by Mvovo…too much ground to cover for him to have had the start on the Chiefs backline (would most likelily have caught him)…
Is it just me or are these Kiwi commentators extremely biased.
Sharks scrum just outside our 22
@JarsonX (Comment 100) : Almost as bad as the Aussies.
Come on Sharks…get another score or 2!!!
This game is tense.
SWharks having to make so many tackles.
JarsonX – All commentators are biased when the sharks play….
Try Nanai-Williams.
Damit….
Converted.
Chiefs 7 – 3 Sharks
21 mins
Eish…few missed tackles…2 key…W on SBW (think Bresler) and Jannie on Nanai…
Time to stop kicking ball away.
Sharks should not have these lapses in defense…
Sharks are starting to lose composure.
Chiefs lineout on Sharks 22.
Lambie and Keegan strugling with handling a few times each!!!
Damn knocking balls as if its a new type of game
Penalty Chiefs. Offside I assume.
😯
Lambie is shocking today!
Lambie having a terrible game…cross kick that Lambie completely misread and luckily the bounce got away from Chiefs wing Williams…
@klempie (Comment 116) : pulling down the mall..
Ja… Might be a good idea to sub Lambie at halftime – poor lad is having a ‘mare.
@klempie (Comment 116) : Just outside the 22, 5m from touch and he swings it through.
Chiefs 10 – 3 Sharks
24 mins
What a run by Jordaan!!!!
Spectacular run by Jordaan gets him just outside the 5m line…but no one is supporting him. 🙄
Great run by Jordaan
Sharks have the ball in Chiefs territory but Chiefs holding them at bay at the moment….and now turn it over.
Sharks lineout halfway between our 10 and 22.
Sharks are creating chances but not making the most of it!!
Sharks lienout just inside Chiefs half.
@klempie (Comment 129) : And the Chiefs win it.
Sharks lose lineout on halfway…not sure if a throw to the back for very short Keegan is smart…
Chiefs looking dangerous in the 22 and one of them rules to be jersey tugging.
Shrks clear the lines.
Jannie is useless!!!
Jannie!!!!!! How many times does he react and get a penalty reversed. Idiot.
Jannie is dumb!!!
Oh ffs.
We had a penalty, and Jannie loses his temper and whacks Schwalger in the chest. Penalty reversed. Walsh you dipshit.
Chiefs 13 – 3 Sharks
33 mins.
This is getting out of hand now….
10 point gap??!!??
@Hmmm (Comment 133) : @lostfish (Comment 134) : @Hmmm (Comment 135) : Yes, but it’s not tiddlywinks.
Great pressure by Kanko on the kick-off
Chiefs have dominated this half. Hopefully this is our bad one.
Ludik defending great today!!!
Bis offsides.
Cruden going from just inside Sharks territory, 3m from right hand touch.
@klempie (Comment 144) : Missed.
@klempie (Comment 139) : true but you don’t do it right under the refs nose.
Sharks lineout on our 22.
Sharks lose another lineout. That area is terrible tonight.
Look…10 points is not a lot for the number of mistakes made by the Sharks…
HT Chiefs 13 – 3 Sharks
@klempie (Comment 139) :
What is tiddlywinks?
@Hmmm (Comment 149) : Yeh. Chiefs should be way further ahead. I suppose that is some sort of positive.
This is the final, why are they playing Lions rugby?
Walsh always play to the crowd
40 minutes from glory, boys… 40 minutes from glory.
Sharks have no go forward ball… Struggling, BIG 2nd half needed… Come boys dig deep…
Come on Sharks! You can still do this! Just believe!
@Hmmm (Comment 151) : It’s rugby with tutus
@Hmmm (Comment 151) : Did you miss out on your childhood. 😛
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiddlywinks
Walsh is a frigging idiot. How much more off the ball play is he going to allow…………ffs.
Huge mistake starting Lambie at fullback. I know he´s the Wunderkind and all, but Ludik is the form fullback in SA. Hopefully Plum has the balls to sub him at half time or, what I would do, move him to 12, move Jordaan to 13 and JP to wing with Ludik to fullback.
And Frenchie needs to come to the party. Cruden is everywhere, our Froggie nowhere.
And listening to Mallet I feel vindicated, Walsh is screwing us again.
@Bayshark (Comment 160) : Would have thought, after all the warnings, that he would have carded Messam for holding onto Bissie when their scrummie kicked through in our 22.
@Die Kriek (Comment 153) :
If it were Lions rugby…the Sharks would have been much further behind!!!
Here’s the second half.
@klempie (Comment 159) : yeh I did actually…lol
@Bayshark (Comment 162) : 2007 again
Support ffs!
2nd half not starting any better…turnover in 10 seconds
WFT!!!!!!!!???????? FROM THE KICKOFF!!!!
And McLeod needs to catch a wakeup as well.
Walsh is a frigging idiot. How much more off the ball play is he going to allow…………ffs
Lambie IS having a nightmare.
Chiefs in the 22 again.
Jordaan and Ludik the 2 Sharks players playing well!!!
Everyone ball watching. COME ON SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sharks lineout just outside our 5m.
It is like the Sharks are hanging on by a thread!!!
We are so rattled, it´s not even funny. 😥
Now the Chiefs have a 5m scrum.
Try Thompson.
Could be another try!!!
Converted.
Chiefs 20 – 3 Sharks.
46 mins.
FFS….high tackle on Kanko not blown.
I hope the first thing on the Sharks shopping list is a decent scrumhalf.
CHEATING BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop kicking the fucking ball away!!
@klempie (Comment 183) : There have been a few high tackles.
Sharks in the 22.
They’re just awful at protecting the ball.
Penalty in front for the Sharks. Fred going for goals.
Chiefs 20 – 6 Sharks
52 mins
Jannie, Alberts and Kanko off. Herbst, Sykes and Deysel on.
😈 NZ rugby will once again cheat SA! Walsh is as bad as his NZ friends. Sorry SHARKS!! 😈
Penalty Chiefs after Lambie holds on.
Cruden going from just outside the 22, 5m from right hand touch.
@klempie (Comment 189) : and holding onto the ball, maybe they lost their mojo somewhere over the Indian Ocean.
Missed.
Eish…this game is just going nowhere…
Is Kanko injured?
Alberts and Kanko off??!!??
Time to start playing sharks
Chiefs 20 – 6 Sharks
55 mins
Bryce wouldve blown a better game!!
@lostfish (Comment 197) : No.
Chiefs scrum just outside our 22.
@klempie (Comment 202) : Just wondering why we would take one of our best players on the field off unless we had to.
@lostfish (Comment 204) : It can only be a fresh legs thing. But he didn’t look tired.
Game over. Masaga scores.
Well done Sharks for making the final.
And thats the game ladies and gents
Sorry Keo, you were right.
Game set and match…
We still proud…
Well done Chiefs. One step too far for the Sharks but I’m proud of the boys.
Of course I am disappointed, but let’s not tear into the team – you can see that they are running on empty.
Cruden converts.
Chiefs 27 – 6 Sharks
62 mins.
Looked a lot like a delibirate knock on, but dont tell Walsh that
We just cant get any momentum 🙁
OK, now going to mow the lawn. And I HATE mowing the lawn.
Too bad Sharkies. A bridge too far. Still proud of what you have achieved this year.
hard luck sharkies…
Sharks look beaten.
You cannot expect a fair affair in NZ…had that been Butch that would have been a yellow…
@Big Fish (Comment 212) : I won’t tear into them. But I’ll tear into the coaching staff.
Plumtree needs to go for all the bad choices he made at the first half of the season. The fact of the matter is that we should never have been put in this position in the first place. For the last 4 seasons, the same pattern has occurred. Play a territorial game by winning the ball with the forwards and kicking the ball away….and it NEVER works. Inevitably we end up in a position where we have no choice but to change the gameplan, keep the ball and throw it around and we start drilling teams. I’m absolutely goddamn SICK it. Plum must go.
@Hmmm (Comment 219) : At least it was blown
Mcload not having a good game either…he has just not been accurate…
Another handling error by Keegan!!!
@klempie (Comment 220) : Plum has his speach all worked out, same as every single year. Maybe next time
@Big Fish (Comment 212) : absolutely…
Travel a factor?
Chiefs into the 22.
Springbok Announcement?
Chiefs so confident they take a lineout penalty instead of the 3.
@klempie (Comment 229) : Confidence or arrogance 😈
Chiefs penalty. Cruden taking the points.
@klempie (Comment 220) : Haha! Wow…when the finalists are ready to sack their coach, what chance to the rest of us have? Commiserations Sharks, but I’ll be honest, with three straight weeks of travel you were never going to win this match. You’re only human.
See you in the Currie Cup.
@JarsonX (Comment 226) : nope.. Chiefs factor..
As much as this game is fucking up my day , I am really proud of them reaching the final against all the odds. Keep the heads up Sharks. No shame in this defeat..
@JarsonX (Comment 230) : Some would say that is the same thing. 😛
Chiefs 30 – 6 Sharks
72 mins
@Leviathan (Comment 232) : ja, you licking your lifs as we will loose a lot of players and we play on the back of this loss next weekend
Even the Crusaders stumbled at this hurdle last year after all their traveling. We have nothing to be ashamed off. Sharks Forever!
@Leviathan (Comment 232) : Same thing will happen next year.
@Franshark (Comment 233) : @klempie (Comment 235) :
@Ben (Comment 238) : Agree!
meyer bosman 😀
@klempie (Comment 220) : After Plum got us to the final I feel he deserves to see out his contract with the Sharks.
@Franshark (Comment 237) : The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. 😈
SBW under the posts.
Cant wait to see what Whitehead and Jordaan will give us in the Currie Cup. Who will be our 1st choice flyhalf? Bosman? Viljoen?
@Leviathan (Comment 244) : I bet ya… 😉
Converted.
Chiefs 37 – 6 Sharks
78 mins
Mighty proud of the boys and how far they have managed to come. There is a reason no team has done this before! The traveling factor is definitely a hard one to overcome. Can only improve from here. Well done chaps. Looking forward to the CC.
@Ben (Comment 243) : If he’d got us to a HOME final…I’d agree with you.
@JarsonX (Comment 246) : Viljoen
@JarsonX (Comment 246) : viljoen…
Everest stands to fight another year.
Really painful to watch our team yet again fall short at the most important hurdle – the hurdle that mattered, the one that again got away.
Wish the Sharks gave a better account of themselves, but alas our team is human after all. 😥
@klempie (Comment 250) : That’s just it. Winning 2 away knock out games aint childs play.
Well done to the Chiefs! Deserved! Again, well done Sharks for making it this far.
FT Chiefs 37 – 6 Sharks
Well done CHIEFS!!!!!
Congratulations Chiefs. Fully deserved.
@Ben (Comment 254) : Yes. And we should never have had to do that in the first place.
Lift those heads boys…
We are proud of you….
To my Sharks, well done guys. I’m really proud of you for what you’ve accomplished.
To the coaching staff, I’m really sick and tired of this. I hope you learn from this season for next season, but I’m not holding my breath.
Well done boys! You fought hard.
Cheers guys, see you in the week. 🙂
@klempie (Comment 259) : Where were the calls from you to have Plum sacked when we walked over the Reds and Stormers?
Even given the influence of the travel this was a pi$$poor performance from the players and coaching staff. How can we even think to beat the Chiefs playing Bull’s rugby in the final – just kicking the ball straight to the Chiefs – hoping for mistakes?
I was not expecting to win this – but was expecting a better performance from the boys.
@Bokhoring (Comment 265) : Have to agree with you.
Congrats Chiefs, deserved victory, best team on the day won!!!
To the Sharks ? BAd luck boys you still tried your best and you did ur proud
Well done to getting to the final in any case. Perhaps next season we will figure out a way to keep the guys motivated for all the games – you cannot win the S15 from 6 on the log
@Ben (Comment 264) : I’m a Sharks supporter, dude. As long as we’re winning, I don’t care. HOWEVER, those results in the playoffs don’t negate the results in the first half of the season. You can’t look at performances in isolation like that. That’s not being honest with yourself.
Plum can stay but we seriously need to strengthen our coaching team. We need a real back line coach and a mental coach
@klempie (Comment 269) : I understand. But I feel Plum has earned the right to see out his contract.
@Ben (Comment 266) : He said,
How can we even think to beat the Chiefs playing Bull’s rugby in the final – just kicking the ball straight to the Chiefs – hoping for mistakes?
Which is what we were playing in the first half of the season and got us into the position we did. Only when we started playing SHARKS rugby did the results start coming. You agree with Bokhoring, but not with me?
@Ben (Comment 271) : OK. No bitching from you when the same thing happens next year, k?
Well done boys…I’m very proud of you guys. You guys put smiles on our faces. I’m a very proud fan. Well done Plum, you should be given a 2 year extension to your contract that expires next year. Have a safe trip back. Have a good rest and don’t feel bad. Keep your heads up.