Saturday is one of the biggest days in South African rugby history. Whether it goes to Pretoria or Durban, South Africa is guaranteed to hold the Super 14 title for a year when the Bulls and Sharks face up in the final at the Absa Stadium in Durban.
The final will square up two of the strongest and most consistent teams in this year’s edition of the Super 14.
The Sharks ground their way into the final through a valiant comeback against the Blues last Saturday, but their route to the final had been set through the six-match unbeaten run at the beginning of the tournament.
The Bulls stumbled at the start of the tournament but showed tenacity and character to fight back from being on the wrong side of the log to play a home semifinal against the defending champions, the Crusaders, and comprehensively beat them 27-12 last Saturday.
South African rugby may be in turmoil off the field of play with the saga of South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins adding the name of Stormers captain Luke Watson to the Springbok 45-man training squad, but on the field of play things have never looked better.
Durban is alive with rugby fever as the Sharks target this game as the beginning of a renaissance in bringing silverware to the union that last won anything meaningful in 1999 in the Currie Cup.
The Bulls, on the other hand, need only this trophy to ensure that they have won every competition they have competed in, domestically and internationally, at least once.
Regardless of what happens in this game, the trophy will stay in South Africa for the first time since its inception in 1996. — Sapa