That year the Crusaders went so close to defying all odds during their earthquake odyssey which forced them to play every match outside Christchurch. In the playoffs after finishing third, the Crusaders rolled the Sharks in their Nelson quarterfinal; the Stormers in Cape Town but fell to the Reds in the Brisbane finale.
It was the Sharks turn in 2012. From sixth they beat the Reds in Brisbane, the Stormers in Cape Town but lost the final 37-6 to the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The next year Jake White's Brumbies won their home quarterfinal, got over the Bulls in Pretoria but ran out of steam after going all the way back Hamilton to lose the final 27-22 as the Chiefs went back-to-back.
In 2014, the Sharks beat the Highlanders in Durban but were then dispatched 38-6 in the Christchurch semifinal.
In 2015 the Brumbies knocked over the Stormers in Cape Town but lost the semifinal 29-6 in Wellington.
The Chiefs won't need reminding about last year, either. After walloping the Stormers in South Africa they returned to Wellington and lost the semifinal 25-9.
The evidence is compelling. Getting to South Africa from New Zealand involves going via Perth or circling down close to Antarctica. In either case it takes at least 16 hours. Even with modern hydration drinks, oxygen masks, sleep and exercise plans, travel zaps legs and will almost certainly get someone again this year, and it could well be the Hurricanes or Chiefs.
The upshot is this weekend could decide their fate. Both will do everything they can to avoid the dreaded journey.
A playoff match in South Africa alone won't hold fears but the compromised week that follows has consistently proven to be a killer. This year's playoff format has been tweaked slightly with the semifinals determined along these lines: the winner of 1 v 8 against the winner of 4 v 5 while the winner of 2 v 7 plays 3 v 6. But the long-haul intensive travel schedule remains.
The scenario for the Hurricanes is simple enough on paper: beat the Crusaders on Saturday and the prize is a much easier trip to Canberra for the quarterfinal. Any wonder they have named their strongest team which features TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Jordie Barrett and Nehe Milner-Skudder in the backline.
Despite their 17-14 victory over the Hurricanes in their last outing, the Chiefs sit one point behind the champions. If the Hurricanes win this week, the Chiefs will finish seventh and travel to the Republic. Even a bonus point win over the Brumbies in Hamilton on Saturday won't be enough to leapfrog the Hurricanes.
If both teams are locked on points the tie breaker system sees them split by number of wins (both have 11) followed by points differential. And with a 192 advantage there, the Hurricanes hold the upper hand.
Tale of the tape:
2016: Chiefs win 60-12 over Stormers in Cape Town, lose semifinal 25-9 Hurricanes in Wellington
2015: Brumbies beat Stormers in Cape Town, lose semifinal 29-9 to Hurricanes in Wellington
2014: Sharks beat Highlanders in Durban 31-27, lose Crusaders semifinal 38-6 in Christchurch
2013: Brumbies beat Cheetahs in Canberra, the Bulls in Pretoria but lose final in Hamilton 27-22
2012: Sharks beat Reds in Brisbane, the Stormers in Cape Town, lose final to Chiefs in Hamilton 37-6
2011: Crusaders win in Nelson, beat Stormers in Cape Town, lose final 18-13 to Reds in Brisbane
