Tuesday, 15th May 2007 at 9:06 pm

Sharks have the edge in Durban

Just a few days to go, and despite the distractions of meddling politicians in the Springbok squad, the Super 14 final has gone well past simmering, and is moving quickly towards boiling point. Furious fans who’d driven down from Pretoria, and slept outside the Shark Tank all night, and then been unable to get their hands on tickets, have underlined just how frenzied the interest in Saturday’s game is - and how different this weekend’s rugby is to last.

The semifinals saw the entire country support the Sharks fervently for two hours, and then swiftly don blue and get behind the Bulls, all in the name of ensuring an all-South African final. Now that we’ve got it, however, the country is split down more recogniseable lines, South Africans now defined not as black or white, but as Sharks or Bulls. The potential for a particularly brutal Currie Cup-style encounter; who, though, is going to win it?

There’s no clear favourite, unless you go simply with homeground advantage, in which case the Sharks take it; finals are unpredictable beasts, however, and both teams have an array of attacking weapons that could turn the game. The Bulls in particular have the boot of Derick Hougaard, riding off a huge, marauding pack in which Victor Matfield has been consistently imperious.

Add Fourie du Preez, arguably the world’s top scrumhalf at the moment, and a backline that’s proved remarkably more fluid than in seasons past, and Heyneke Meyer has moulded a team that has every chance of securing his greatest coaching moment yet. But that will entail getting past the Sharks, who finished top of the Super 14 for a very good reason.

Crusaders fans may argue otherwise, but the competition’s most complete outfit in 2007 has hailed from Durban. A powerful, technically astute tight five, four outstanding loose forwards in Venter, Botes, Kankowski and Skinstad (so crucial in the last 20 minutes against the Blues), their own outstanding scrumhalf, and a wealth of quick, attacking backs, has brought one hell of a smile to the face of Durban rugby.

And on home ground, with a full house, and the chance to officially seal the rise of a new rugby empire in South Africa, Saturday could be the Sharks’ day. Hougaard could sink them, certainly, and a moment of magic from Habana or Du Preez could decide what promises to be a close, uncompromising battle. But as a complete team - and based on their season to date - Feverpitcher has the Sharks to shade it. Not that we’re betting the house on it, mind.