WELLINGTON, New Zealand – South Africa’s Sharks have criss-crossed the globe to reach the final of the Super 15 rugby tournament and now face one last, long journey to take on the Waikato Chiefs in the first-ever final played in Hamilton.
The Sharks were forced to travel 11,000 kilometres (7,000 miles) from Durban to Brisbane for their quarterfinal against the defending champion Queensland Reds and, having passed that formidable obstacle, flew another 11,000 km to Cape Town where on Saturday they beat the top-ranked Stormers 26-19.
Already travel-weary and with a mounting air points balance, the Sharks will board another flight this week for a further 11,000 km flight to Auckland followed by a 120 km (80 mile) bus trip to Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island where the Chiefs lie in wait.
