Daniel: ‘The final was a step too far’
4 Aug 2012
Sharks captain Keegan Daniel credited his team for a strong finish to the Super Rugby season, but conceded that the odds were always against them in the final.
After a stuttering start to the 2012 tournament campaign (which included five losses in their opening nine fixtures) and a 38-28 shock defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg near the play-off rounds, the Sharks needed a strong finish to push for a top-six place on the overall table.
And it was mission completed as they recorded bonus-point victories over the Bulls (32-10) and Cheetahs (34-15) at Kings Park.
However, the road through the knockout stages was always going to be difficult for the men from Durban.
They had to travel to Brisbane during the wildcard qualifiers to tackle 2011 champions the Reds. They did the job as they powered to a 30-17 win. They then had to make a return trip to South Africa, to face the Stormers in Cape Town. Despite the travelling factor, they picked up a 26-19 win over the log-leaders. Incredible.
But there wasn’t much time to celebrate as they had to make their way to Hamilton to face the Chiefs in the title decider – their third move across the Indian Ocean in the space of three weeks.
While most of the media and pundits gave the Sharks no chance of victory because of the travel disadvantage, the team tried to remain positive. The players believed they could fight through the 80 more minutes to complete an amazing run.
However, the Chiefs outplayed the clearly fatigued visitors in a 37-6 triumph to be crowned champions. Daniel admitted that the better team won on the day.
‘This challenge was too big, but we have no excuses. The Chiefs were outstanding,’ Daniel said in the post-match interview. ‘It’s been an incredible journey for the team, since the loss against the Lions. We gave ourselves a decent chance, but in the end, we just couldn’t take it.’
Daniel also lamented missing early try-scoring opportunities that would’ve handed the Sharks an early advantage. They held the ascendancy in the opening quarter, but could only score three points via a Frederick Michalak penalty.
The Chiefs then powered to victory as they converted their 13-3 half-time advantage into a comfortable win. Captain Craig Clarke lauded his team’s battle at the gainline and their competition under the high balls and lineouts.
‘Winning the competition is so surreal. The boys are very chuffed, just like after our win over the Crusaders last week,’ said Clarke. ‘In the first quarter, we were very slow to get to the box. It could’ve been the effect after a physical game the weekend before.
‘But we picked up in the second half, and got into the work. We disrupted them in the air and they struggled to drive from the lineouts. We managed to deliver our trademark line speed on attack and we were in their face. We also had heaps of pride on defence and kept them out from scoring tries.’
10 Comments
4 Aug 2012, 12:16 pm
Keegan remains a dragon. The Stormers fans – with a few exceptions – remain as bitter as ever. Nothing has changed.
4 Aug 2012, 15:46 pm
Another hollow victory for the Kiwis
4 Aug 2012, 16:40 pm
@kaksioek-1: And the Sharks lose their fourth Super rugby final.
Correct, nothing has changed.
Very sad that the ‘best team in Super rugby never to win a title’ has only once finished
high enough to get a home choke. (the others were away chokes). What does this tell you?
Maybe, just maybe……like the rest of the teams who have never won a Super rugby
title, you just aren’t good enough.
You are just like us. Until you WIN it, you are merely a team in it.
4 Aug 2012, 23:13 pm
@YoMama-2:
All Kiwi victories are hollow, much like the trophies. More room to fit the champagne in.
5 Aug 2012, 00:48 am
Sharkfin soup… aaahhh!
(A 30 point four-tries-to-nil pounding in the final really isn’t a “strong finish”, by the way. The word you’re probably looking for is “whimper”.)
5 Aug 2012, 01:56 am
Hats off to the Sharks. In the latter stages of last weeks match against the Stormers, there was a noticeable drop off in intensity by the Sharks. They were stuffed. The Stormers failed to capitalize. They didn’t have a clue what to do next. Most level headed pundits, whether Sharks fans or not, would applaud the effort put in by the Sharks. I am a Chiefs supporter, and after the match had the good fortune to have a few words words with Keegan Daniel as he made his way off the field. I shook his hand thanked him and wished him and his team well for the future. He patted me on the back, and said “it was bloody tough out there.”
Well done to the Sharks and all of their supporters.
5 Aug 2012, 06:24 am
@horiman-6:
A nice feel good story for a change. Mr Chiefs fan, what happens now Sonny has gone? Kahui at centre?
5 Aug 2012, 15:29 pm
Sound like a 10 years old excuse?
Sharks management and its union should have made a stand for:
1. Reject Walsh as the referee, he did enough Vs the Stormers to disqualify himself
2. To threat to send 2nd team since the 1st team clearly was not able to perform on Saturday, there were enough sport doctors to attest to it.
They did none.
6 Aug 2012, 08:06 am
Boom!!! Fzzzzz POP!!!
The Sharks are notv the best Team in SA!! They were lucky to be in a final.. 37 – 6??? Come on!!
No jetlag excuses.. .it was not offered last week.. it will not be offered this week!!
I will say it again: They were just part of the NZ plan to have the Chiefs play a home final… a Newlands final would have been so much better!!
6 Aug 2012, 08:07 am
Where is HG?? After that Pakkeslae I would not show my face either here on Keo!! You really gave it to us Stormers.. so come receive your can of WHOOPAAASSSSS.. and can of STFU!!!!
Losers!! Sonny Bill made those Guppies his personal Biaatchesss!!!!
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