Sunday Telegraph AS tears of happiness were being shed by the victorious Brumbies, Sharks skipper Mark Andrews said they would beat every team but England in the Six Nations challenge. With champagne spraying in the rain, Bruce Stadium was awash with emotion as skipper George Gregan at last held up the Super 12 trophy. They loved it, which is more than can be said for the 17 Sharks fanatics who made the trip from South Africa and the 5000 who watched the second-half collapse on the big screen at King's Park in Durban.
Tonight there's a lot of grown men crying again.
Coach Eddie Jones gave full credit to his players, while they returned the compliment by declaring they couldn't have done it if Jones had not spent 12 to 13 hours a day plotting their campaign. If we make a mistake, he feels he's responsible. We expected that. Paddy O'Brien, the New Zealand referee, was an unsung hero, keeping penalties to a minimum and making sure the game didn't erupt into a series of flare ups. This might cost you the final.