Rugby legends share their predictions

They played for both the Sharks and Western Province and, unsurprisingly‚ a trio of former Springboks offered widely differing views ahead of Saturday’s Currie Cup final in Durban.

Former wing James Small‚ with familiar fist-thumping authority‚ is predicting a Sharks win‚ erstwhile lock Nico Wegner is a little more measured in his expectation of a WP triumph‚ while Dick Muir believes we will witness a spectacle.

Although he admits to being surprised by Western Province in their semifinal victory over the Golden Lions‚ Small believes Western Province’s high error rate will catch up with them at Kings Park.

“The Sharks at home are just going to be too strong‚” said Small. “Defensively, the Sharks are going to be very sound.

“Finals are won on the mistakes of others and Province were lucky to get away with it, given their high penalty count.

“They played good rugby and they have good players — like Huw Jones, who can come alive — but they gave away way too many penalties.”

While expecting “an interesting battle”‚ Wegner said Western Province would draw encouragement from their recent win at the conclusion of the league stages in Durban.

“I think it is 50/50. The fact that Province won there recently and their defence, I think, puts them ahead by a short head.

“Defence can pull you through in a final. The Sharks have had their momentum slightly broken.

“Both teams can jol. Both are playing nice rugby‚ when they decide to give the ball some air.

“But then you know what it’s like in finals‚ teams become more conservative.”

The forever sanguine Muir expects quite the opposite.

“It is going to be quite an epic final. It is going to be one of those we haven’t seen for a little while. It will be a really great game.

“Both teams are pretty balanced.”