Sharks world class pack need one last lung busting effort to secure 'greatest ever' tag

While backline stars such as JP Pieterson and Freddy Michalak won many of the headlines following the Sharks unlikely victory over the Stormers at Newlands last week, it was the Sharks' tireless forwards who ultimately laid the foundation for their victory and secured their franchise a much coveted berth in the Super 15 final.

Attempting to silence 48,000 parrochial supporters (who had not seen their Stormers lose once at home all season), the Sharks managed to defy the air miles and logic to bamboozle their South African rivals 26-19, just a week after dishing out the same treatment to last years winners, the Queensland Reds, in Brisbane.

Deputy captain, Bismark Du Plessis, may have been brutally handed off  by young Stormers locking sensation Eben Etzebeth early on, but it was in the physicality stakes that the Sharks gained ascendancy over their opponents and that was what left Alistair Coetzee's Stormers searching for answers, which they ultimately couldn't find. At no other point in the season have the Stormers been left so utterly flummoxed by an opposition pack.

Sharks' strengths start up front

It all started up front for the Sharks. Their all-Springbok front row (Mtwarrira and the Du Plessis brothers) were fearsome come scrum time, turning the screw on a number of occasions as they earned some crucial penalties from Stormers infringements. The decision of coach John Plumtree to select Willem Alberts in the engine room rather than in the back row proved a masterstroke too, despite worries over the detrimental effect it could have on their line-out due to his lack of height.

Alberts' added weight provided extra grunt in the scrum and his presence in the locking department also allowed three other excellent back-rowers to feature prominently in the match from the very start.

The Beast, DuPlessis and Coetzee celebrate their heroic victory over the Stormers in 2012 Super 15 semi-final

That foursome of Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Ryan Kankowski and Keegan Daniel have at times strangled the life out of their opponents during the later stages of this year's tournament. Their physicality in defence and attack combined with their intensity in the rucks is proving extremely difficult to counter. The improved attitude of senior players has really brought the best out of the young tyros coming through too.

 Much has been made of the outstanding Marcell Coetzee, whose huge work rate for such a young man must have Springbok coach Heynecke Meyer beaming from ear to ear, while Willem Alberts has become a real tower of strength, both for the Sharks and South Africa this year. It is Keegan Daniel (pictured below) who has piqued my interest the most in recent weeks though.

Daniel consoles DeVilliers following his side's 26-19 victory

His leadership under pressure has been exemplary and the added responsibility given in 2012 seems to have brought the best out of the Dale College flanker. He is fast becoming one of the Sharks' favourite sons.

Having missed just 65 out of the Sharks 1200 minutes in last year's Currie Cup, where he was also given the captaincy, Daniel has continued in the same vein during this year's Super 15, adding a key ingredient to his CV (which at times in the past had seemed missing); consistency.

With doubts lingering over the effectiveness of  Bulls' captain Pierre Spies' work at number 8, could we be seeing the start of a surge for a Springbok starter's jersey from Keegan Daniel? Should he lead his side to victory over the Chiefs this weekend, that could very well be the case. His general performance around the field even had incumbent Springbok captain, Jean DeVilliers questioning his own leadership skills.

One last lung busting effort is needed though before those whispers for change are given serious thought, and it doesn't get any easier for the Sharks this weekend. They will endure another ocean crossing trip before facing New Zealand's conference winners, the Chiefs for the Super Rugby crown.

As defeated captain, Jean DeVilliers, explained following his team's loss to the Sharks though; 'if the Sharks go all the way to winning the title with the amount of travelling that they have to do, then they will be the best team in the history of the competition'.



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