With the Super Rugby semi-finalists now decided we take a look at those teams to fall at the quarter-final stage. Lastly it's the Sharks.
If there is one word to describe the Sharks' season, it would be inconsistent. One weekend they were beating the Stormers, the next they were drawing with the Rebels.
However, they still managed to make the quarter-finals with nine wins from their 15 matches before losing narrowly to the Lions in the last eight.
They began with a loss to the Reds before going on a four-match winning streak with successive victories over the Brumbies, Waratahs, Kings and Cheetahs.
Thereafter, it was stop-start stuff. They lost to the Lions before they beat the Jaguares. Then followed their worst result of the season, a 9-9 draw with the Rebels for which they were appropriately lambasted by coach Robert du Preez.
Du Preez held high standards for his side throughout the season and was honest and consistent in both his praise and criticism.
What would have frustrated him was that, besides their early-season four-match winning streak, they were not able to enjoy put together another sustained run of wins.
After the Rebels draw, they recovered with back-to-back wins over the Jaguares and Force but then suffered the ignominy of a first-ever loss to the Kings in which they were out-fought and out-thought.
Once again, a kick up the backside from Du Preez saw them bounce back with victories over the Sunwolves and Stormers, the latter triumph arguably their best performance of the season.
Unfortunately, their momentum was stifled with Super Rugby taking leave due to the international break. Upon its return, they faced a refreshed and rejuvenated Jan Serfontein-inspired Bulls outfit who beat them 30-17.
And then came the pressure of the quarter-final, a cauldron-like atmosphere at Ellis Park where they faced last year's beaten finalists. But just when they looked on course to cause a major upset (leading 21-20 with two minutes to go), Lions wing Ruan Combrinck's last-gasp penalty consigned them to defeat.
Although they won nine out of 15 before making the quarters, the Sharks will know they can do better. After all, they did not face any New Zealand sides in this year's competition which is surely the barometer for success.
They will know full well that they can't afford to have lapses such as those against the Rebels and Kings if they are to mount a sustained title challenge next year.
Best player: 2017 was a breakthrough year for Curwin Bosch. The 20-year-old racked up 151 points in Super Rugby 2017, making him the second highest points-scorer in the competition. He has earned a reputation as one of the best kickers of a rugby ball in the world and is versatile too, equally proficient at full-back and fly-half.
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