2007 Final, Where are they now?

   
  1. #1
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    2007 Final, Where are they now?

    All of my fellow Sharks fans know about the saddest moment in our recent history, the 2007 final.
    Robbed some have said, but that was five years ago. I thought it would be interesting to see who played in that side, and what they are doing now.

    1 Deon Carstens Deon left the Sharks in 2010 for the Saracens, before returning to South Africa this season to play for the Stormers. He was a substitute in their loss to the Sharks in the semi-finals
    2 John Smit John Smit left the Sharks for France after winning the 2007 World Cup. He returned from Clermont a year later and won two Currie Cups with the Sharks before moving to England to play with the Saracens.
    3 BJ Botha After the final, Botha was part of the World Cup winning Springbok side. He moved to Ulster for the 2008/09 season before moving south to Munster in 2011.
    4 Johan Ackermann A true legend, Ackermann retired from professional rugby in 2008. He joined up with John Mitchell and Carlos Spencer to form the Lions coaching staff, and is currently the stand-in head coach.
    5 Johann Muller Muller remained with the Sharks for a few more seasons, before going north to Ulster, where he is now the captain.
    6 Jacques Botes A player whom I consider one of my personal favourites, Jacques Botes is still a faithful Shark. A prolific pilferer of the ball and try-scorer, he is likely to be in the 22 for the upcoming final.
    7 AJ Venter AJ retired from international rugby after being left out of the 2007 World Cup squad, but he remained a Shark for another season. He later joined Western Province before retired to run his business in Natal.
    8 Ryan Kankowski Ryan missed out on the 2007 Springbok squad, but made his debut against Wales (in which he scored a try) in November 2007. Despite varied form, he has remained an integral part of the Sharks side. He is likely to start this weekend, his last match for the Sharks until the 2013 Super Rugby season, as he has a short-term contract in Japan's Top League
    9 Ruan Pienaar Another Shark-Ulsterman, Ruan joined the red hand gang in 2010 where he has become their best back, propelling them to the 2012 Heineken Cup final.
    10 Butch James After winning the World Cup, James joined Bath and remained their until 2011, when he return to South Africa with the Lions.
    11 JP Pietersen JP has remained a Shark after all these years. His recent form has caused him to be listed as one of the best backs in world rugby. JP is likely to start this weekend.
    12 Brad Barritt Barritt remained with the Sharks until 2008, after winning the Currie Cup. He then joined the Saracens before using his English ties (grandparents) to join up with the England national team, making his debut in the 2012 Six Nations.
    13 Waylon Murray Another 2008 Currie Cup winner, Waylon moved to the Lions in 2010, where he currently plies his trade.
    14 Francois Steyn The mercurial Steyn left South Africa for a lucrative contract with Racing Metro in 2009, where he remained until 2012. He returned to South Africa and the Sharks following the completion of his contract, but is ineligible to play in the final.
    15 Percy Montgomery Percy propelled South Africa to World Cup glory after the 2007 final. His boot, alongside Francois Steyn's, downing the previous winners in the final. He joined Perpignan in 2008 before retiring from international rugby after that year's Tri Nations. Percy returned to South Africa, through the Stormers, in time for the 2009 Super 14. He then linked up with Peter de Villiers and was until recently, the national kicking coach, a position now held by Louis Koen.
    16 Bismarck du Plessis Bismarck is another to have remained with the Sharks since this match. He fought with John Smit for the 2 shirt until Smit moved, with Bismarck since taking sole possession of it. He is likely to start this weekend,
    17 Tendai Mtawarira The Beast announced his presence to the world in 2009, after punishing British Lions and 2003 World Cup winner Phil Vickery. Tendai is another who will possibly start in the upcoming match.
    18 Albert van den Berg Albert left the Sharks in 2010 to join Canon in Japan's Top League
    19 Warren Britz Warren played one more match for the Sharks (2007 Currie Cup) after the 2007 final, before joining Montpellier in France's Top14. He is preseumed to have retired at the end for the 2008/09 season.
    20 Bobby Skinstad Skinstad joined the Springboks in the 2007 World Cup, where he captained the side in the hard-fought pool match against Tonga, where he scored one of his side's four tries. He retired after winning the World Cup
    21 Rory Kockott Rory left the Sharks in 2010, but not before winning two Currie Cups. He joined Castres in the Top14, where he still plays.
    22 Adrian Jacobs Another loyal clubman, Adi remained with the Sharks until the end of 2011. After turning down the Stormers, he is presumed retired.
    Last edited by TRF_Draggs; 31-07-12 at 08:32 PM.
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  3. #2
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    What, I didn't know Matfield/Botha didn't play against England that day.
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  4. #3
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    Huh?... This is the Sharks team from the 2007 final not the Springboks

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    JP pietersen is indeed in fine form at the moment. I've never thought "gee that guy is awesome" in the past, but he's really showing some skills now.

  6. #5
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    Very interesting read, cheers.

  7. #6
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    Interesting to see how many times 'Saracens' or 'Ulster' crop up in that list.

  8. #7
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    Isn't it adorable how someone actually thought this was the Bok line-up in the RWC final of 2007?

  9. #8
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    It's a bit sad that only 7 of those guys remained true to the Sharks and I'm including Frans Steyn... the rest all buggered off to other unions...
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  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by TRF_Ezequiel View Post
    Isn't it adorable how someone actually thought this was the Bok line-up in the RWC final of 2007?
    I actually found it quite sad :P

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by heineken View Post
    It's a bit sad that only 7 of those guys remained true to the Sharks and I'm including Frans Steyn... the rest all buggered off to other unions...
    I love how only Ndungane, Olivier, Spies and Morne Steyn are left from that match on the Bulls side, making your statement about loyalty to the union so sweet

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by TRF_Ezequiel View Post
    I love how only Ndungane, Olivier, Spies and Morne Steyn are left from that match on the Bulls side, making your statement about loyalty to the union so sweet
    No i think you read my post wrong. I didn't mean it in a sarcastic way, I meant it in a sympathetic way in that, you don't see many guys ending their careers with the team they started off with or played in a final for... The Bulls are in the exact same boat as the Sharks, on numerous occasions...

    I think it's still the only 2 teams that don't get players from each other...
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  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by heineken View Post
    No i think you read my post wrong. I didn't mean it in a sarcastic way, I meant it in a sympathetic way in that, you don't see many guys ending their careers with the team they started off with or played in a final for... The Bulls are in the exact same boat as the Sharks, on numerous occasions...

    I think it's still the only 2 teams that don't get players from each other...
    This last sentence is a very interesting statement, haven't pondered on it yet, wonder why this is the case, don't think with the mount of money today it's a gentlemen's agreement

    Wait got it!
    The Pretoria boys can't surf and the Durban boys don't know what to do with Afrikaans girls

    Think Warren Bosnihan was a Sharks-> Bulls move - he is now a commentator on SuperSport

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gena_ZA View Post
    This last sentence is a very interesting statement, haven't pondered on it yet, wonder why this is the case, don't think with the mount of money today it's a gentlemen's agreement

    Wait got it!
    The Pretoria boys can't surf and the Durban boys don't know what to do with Afrikaans girls

    Think Warren Bosnihan was a Sharks-> Bulls move - he is now a commentator on SuperSport
    Yeah, I've been thinking this the whole morning so far... the only other guy I can think of right now is Shaun Adendorff...
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  15. #14
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    Daniel Adongo, but he never played for the Sharks professional team so doesn't really count.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dizzy View Post
    Huh?... This is the Sharks team from the 2007 final not the Springboks
    Quote Originally Posted by TRF_Ezequiel View Post
    Isn't it adorable how someone actually thought this was the Bok line-up in the RWC final of 2007?
    I remain humbled.

    and red-faced...
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  17. #16
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    Thanks for the comments. It was something I had been thinking about for a few days and finally decided to take the time and do it.
    Certainly are a fair few Ulster/Saracens movers, as mentioned.

    Sharks <-> Bulls moves just wouldn't work.
    We are NZ-wannabes and the Bulls are boring meateaters who play ten man.
    Right? I read this online so it must be true.
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  18. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Draggs View Post

    We are NZ-wannabes and the Bulls are boring meateaters who play ten man.
    Right? I read this online so it must be true.
    Where did that come from?
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  19. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by admartian View Post
    Where did that come from?
    Some poor, misguided soul.
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  20. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Draggs View Post
    Thanks for the comments. It was something I had been thinking about for a few days and finally decided to take the time and do it.
    Certainly are a fair few Ulster/Saracens movers, as mentioned.

    Sharks <-> Bulls moves just wouldn't work.
    We are NZ-wannabes and the Bulls are boring meateaters who play ten man.
    Right? I read this online so it must be true.
    Lol! of course, that's why the Bulls have a winger who is joined-leader for most tries scored in the Super 15...
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  21. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by heineken View Post
    Lol! of course, that's why the Bulls have a winger who is joined-leader for most tries scored in the Super 15...
    ...Shhhhh...
    You are mistaken, every single point that the Bulls have scored are through Steyn drop goals.
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  22. #21
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    Sharksworld running a similar story, I daresay mine is more comprehensive

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  23. #22
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    Yours was, just like my final preview, written with a lot more passion, more detailed content and, most important, earlier for people to read and get into the whole vibe!

    I hate how these things only pop up 2 days before the match.

  24. #23
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    Thanks mate, I suppose we are just pros
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