Keegan's road warriors march on
Keegan Daniel says his team of Sharks are determined to do something that has never been done before.
The Durban-based franchise earned themselves a place in the Super Rugby Final for the first time in five years, when they beat the Stormers by 26-19 at Newlands.
Should the Sharks beat the Chiefs in Hamilton next week, there will be a number of firsts.
A new champion will be crowned in 2012, as the defending champion Reds were knocked out by the Sharks last week and neither of these teams have won a Super Rugby title before.
It will also be the first time since the Crusaders in 1999 - and only the second time ever - that a team has gone on to win the competition after finishing outside the top two places on the table.
In 1999 the Crusaders finished fourth. This year the Sharks finished sixth, which means just reaching the final was already a new record.
Daniel admitted it would take another huge team effort to overcome the most arduous travel schedule - they have already crossed the Indian Ocean and the massive Australian continent twice (12,000 kilometres). Add to that the nearly 3,000 kilometres from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back, along with another two hours flying from Sydney to Hamilton, and the daunting nature of their schedule in the last 10 days or so begins to sink in.
"It is not an individual thing," Daniel said, when asked how they have overcome the odds, adding: "The boys put their bodies on the line.
"We knew it was going to be tough coming here to Newlands.
"We came back last week from Australia and tomorrow [Sunday] we head to New Zealand, so we knew it was going to be tough.
"However, that was part of the resilience the boys showed today [Saturday]."
He said the determination to become the first Sharks team to win a Super Rugby title is what was driving them to overcome the travel factor.
"This side hasn't been in a [Super Rugby] Final since 2007 and we haven't won this competition, so the boys are really motivated to do something that hasn't been done before."
He admitted that the job was far from done, adding: "We spoke about it last week, having beaten the Reds. It was a big effort, but we haven't done anything yet, we have just given ourselves an opportunity and likewise tonight.
"We have put ourselves in a position to be contenders for this competition.
"We are going to have to stay humble and this is just one step on the way to do something that hasn't been done before."
Sharks coach John Plumtree, who spoke of the "pure guts" his team showed, admitted they would have to overcome huge odds to win in Hamilton.
"Nobody will be backing us, but with this group you never know," he said of next week's final.
"I hope all the Sharks supporters are proud of this group, they are trying hard," Plumtree said, adding: "It's going to be a big exam for us in New Zealand, a tough place to win - we will give it our best shot for everyone."