Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup final between the Sharks and Western Province will be a massive event for KwaZulu-Natal and no one could be prouder than coach John Plumtree of the Sharks, who earlier this year contested the Super Rugby final against the Chiefs in New Zealand.
“It is great for the city and we are delighted we can reward the people of our province and Sharks fans all over the country with our fourth final in four years and our third in Durban since 2008,” Plumtree said on Sunday.
“At Kings Park we don’t usually get the huge crowds that turn out in Cape Town and Pretoria, but a final sells out and everybody in the hospitality industry in Durban benefits. Restaurants, bars, hotels and everybody associated with sport loves a major final in Durban.
“Personally I think it is fantastic that the Sharks are maturing as a team and are consistently making finals. We just hope the weather plays ball and we get a dry field so that we can play the attractive, running rugby that we would like.”
Sharks fans will be hoping that their team continues their pattern of winning every second year in Durban. They beat the Bulls in the 2008 final and Western Province in the 2010 final.
The Sharks lost last year to the Lions in Joburg. The Sharks also won the title in 1990, 1992, 1995 and 1996.
“Hopefully it will be a dry weather final,” Plumtree said.
“We have often been frustrated over the past month or so by having to play conservatively because the rain makes handling difficult.”
Despite the weather, the Sharks won their semi-final comfortably on Saturday. Western Province beat the Lions in Joburg in the second semi of the day.
* Tickets went on sale on Monday morning at the Shark Tank as well as at Computicket.
The Mercury
