The Sharks are probably the team in World Rugby that made the most of the game going professional, for one thing with the help of Mr. Price they sure sell a hell of a lot of T-Shirts.
But looking deeper, the Natal province is not a place that exactly bursts with rugby talent to prove my point, only 6 of the 20 Springboks that the Sharks produced from 2000 onwards, originated in the Natal province. In fact, Natal produced less Springboks than any other of the 4 major provinces, 60 Springboks against the 231 from WP, 184 from the Lions and 84 from the Bulls (From 1970), which explains why the Cheetahs always moan about the Sharks poaching their stars if you look at the numbers of Boks playing in the Sharks team, as opposed to those who come from the province.

But in professional sport, that is the way the cookie crumbles, if a union cannot identify & contract players in their own ranks, and those players get poached, then a pox on them, and a golden star to the recruitment services of Sharks Rugby.

Unfortunately for the Sharks, one cannot buy trophies…
But hey this is the Sharks, they don’t need to buy trophies do they?


ABSA Park is one of the best attended stadia in the whole competition, and the Sharks draw big crowds no matter where they play. Unlike some local franchises ABSA Park never suffers from the echo effect, the fans are very active, and a healthy supporters culture exists in Durban. Even though half of the supporters have no clue about rugby, and merely joins in because of the party atmosphere, it still means a lot of noise, and more importantly, a lot of feet through the gate.

The team is also quite impressive, if you look past the hair products, quick tan lotions and manicures, the sharks have some players that, on paper at least, can rock the joint (not that joint). They possess a tight five capable of mangling anything put before them, a loose trio that can dominate in the loose as well as on defence, and a backline boasting at least 7 internationals, all capable of turning a game on its head.

The coaches can hardly be faulted (except maybe Kevin ‘brainfart’ Putt), Ian Macintosh, Rudolph ‘Staaldraad’ Streauli, and Dick Muir al went on to Springbok duty, while John Plumtree is highly rated in SA as well as his native NZ. The structures within the organization saw the creation of the Sharks Academy where promising talent is honed and perfected, so you have homegrown youngsters coming through at regular intervals.

Now it’s open for discussion, if you have the fans, the players and the coaches, where are all the cups? (And I am not referring to B and C cups of the Shark Flashing Girls, who probably boast a few fans of their own)

I fear that the success of the Sharks franchise might indirectly be the downfall of the team. Think about it, when last did the Sharks play a game where they were the underdogs? I cannot recall even one game from recent memory. But why?????? There are no trophies or super achievements to support this view, yet they enter every game as favorites, I’d even go so far as to say, overwhelming favorites, even when facing the Bulls? The Sharks media partners and the printed press, sell the Sharks way better than actual achievement ever could. Everyone believes the hype, even the players, but the sad reality is, at most times hype is all it is.

The Sharks, talented as the individuals in their team might be, have never, and I want to repeat this for some major dramatic effect, NEVER, reached even 70% of their written potential. That is a major statement to make, but I challenge anyone to contradict me.

Should the Sharks have played to merely 75% of what they are capable of, the Super 14 would not have eluded them for as long as it has been doing.

In my honest opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Sharks game plan, their use of forwards and backs and their strategies seem impeccable, they know what to do when, and they are well prepared beforehand, for any situation that might occur during the game. All they need to do, is stop believing everything they hear about themselves, stop believing how awesome they are, and get down to playing some rugby!

Commitment and balls of brass is something that needs to be instilled in the Sharks team, they sorely lack both urgently, and neither of the above can be bought…sorry Rudolph. They should do away with the relaxed, laid back Durban lifestyle, and actually come to the game.

The Great White Shark also has a fearsome reputation, but unlike the Natal Sharks, it will cost you an arm and a leg if you piss in its pool. Maybe there is a lesson in there.

The Team
Their tight five might just be the most impressive part of this team, in the Beast, Deon Carstens, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit, Craig Burden, Pat Cilliers, Johan Muller, Steven Sykes, Gerhard Mostert, and Alistair Hargreaves they have quite a number of different options for different scenarios. A question might be where John Smit fits into the picture, as he cannot really compete for a place as prop or hooker. However, I feel that should the Sharks want to win this Super 14, Smit must get quite a bit of game time. Nothing against Johan Muller, but there are a few hotheads in the squad who needs some control, and I doubt whether Muller has the true aptitude for captaincy.

In between the loose forwards the same applies, Jaques Botes, Jean Deysel, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts and Keegan Daniel are all proven players, the cover at loose-forward is a bit thin though and relatively unknown, which is a problem, as loosies are usually prime injury candidates, add to that Daniels’ Red Card that he is bound to receive somewhere during the group stages, and the Sharks might just applaud Streauli’s acquisition of Alberts as an act of clarity!

At scrumhalve there should be no problem in Sharkland, Kockott & McLeod probably getting the bulk of the work, and Cronje filling the gaps. Where is Pienaar you might ask? Well, as a late shock Hernandez has picked up a serious injury, and will be out for the competition, leaving Guy Cronje and Pienaar to fill in. However, Pienaar and Cronje are now also injured, albeit short-termish, meaning that Monty Dumond’s transfer to the Cheetahs, is now also something of the past, as he is now candidate number 1. With the only guy you can now rely on, being the one that knows the coaches thought he was originally not good enough, I foresee a struggle at 10, something that might just scuttle the whole ship.
Centre is, if anything adequate, with Riaan Swanepoel, Adrian Jacobs, Waylon Murray and Andries Strauss the main contenders, I believe they should be enough to keep the midfield secure, even if Strauss is greatly overrated, Jacobs’ experience could be telling, but work is needed on defence.

The back three might be more powerful than originally thought, the vastly impressive Terblanche should remain at 15, meaning that Ludik might be playing at most an impact role, or even cover at wing where he will share the spotlight with Ndungane, Pietersen, Vulindlu and Mvovo, all in all no problems here in the foreseeable future.

If I was the coach, Terblanche might even get the nod as captain ahead of Muller, but behind Smit, as the only Sharks player, apart from Smit who in my mind has true leadership abilities. I know I will probably be crucified for this, but apart from flyhalve where there is a true crisis, Johan Muller could be equally detrimental to the Sharks’ cause because of his inability to stamp his authority on the team and control the unruly (read Bismarck, Kockott and Daniels especially) in his ranks.

All in all this could be a good year, I expect at least a top 6 finish, but again no silverware.

Forwards
Beast Mtawarira, Deon Carstens, Pat Cilliers, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit, Wiehahn Herbst, Bismarck du Plessis, Craig Burden, Kyle Cooper, Johann Muller, Steven Sykes, Gerhard Mostert, Alistair Hargreaves, Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel, Skholiwe Ndlovu, Jean Deysel, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Michael Rhodes, Luvuyiso Lusaseni

Backs
Ruan Pienaar, Rory Kockott, Charl McLeod, Ross Cronjé, Juan Martin Hernández, Monty Dumond, Guy Cronjé, Riaan Swanepoel, Adrian Jacobs, Waylon Murray, Andries Strauss, Jean Stemmet, Jerome Pretorius, Patrick Lambie, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Luzuko Vulindlu, Chris Jordaan, Stefan Terblanche, Louis Ludik

174 Responses to The Saint’s Super SA Showdown – The Sharks

  • 61

    Jis Kapama het nou n nuwe kamp geopen, die ou Gwala Gwala Tentkamp en hom heeltemal herbou. Elke keer is hul nuwe Lodges nog beter en beter. Jy het mos n vriend by Kapama River Lodge?

  • 62

    Ja, dis baie nice.

    Toe ons laas daar was het een van daai Sussens broers ons na sy huis toe gevat dat die kinders met een van die leeuwelpies kon speel.
    Hulle het dit moosa gebiet.

  • 63

    BdB ek kan nie wag vir die artikel oor WP/Stormers nie. Daai een gaan vir jou ontkennings ontketen.

  • 64

    63: Naand super, gaan interesant wees om te sien hoe Habana gaan inskakel ‘down under’.

  • 65

    Gister het een van die kleinseuns, 3 van hulle is nou betrokke in die main lodge, ons na leeus, rooikatte, king cheetahs en wilde katte gevat. Dis iets anders om so na aan die gevaarlike diere te kom. Regtig n great geleentheid daar.

  • 66

    Kyk hierdie plek kan ou jou menings gee, ek wonder hoe hulle hom gaan “utilize” Fdp het hom skitterent in die game gebring. Gaan baie interesant wees.

  • 67

    64
    Maar hierdie artikel oor die Sharks. Eish ek weet nie mooi wat om vir hulle te se nie. Hulle het so met Frans , Ruan en Monty gemors ek weet nie of hulle hul self kan help nie.

    So vroeg laasjaar het almal vir ons gelag oor Morne, ja vir jare was hy mos maar niks in ander se oe nie. Dit was net Burch en Ruan en Grant voor en agter. Maar ons het in hom geglo, die res is geskiedenis. So ook met Wynand almal het hom afgelag oor die jare, nou staan hy oral hoog aangeslaan.

    As hulle bietjie vasbyt sal Monty goed word, hy het genoeg talent. So ook het die Cheetahs met JLP vasgebyt en kyk hoeveel het hy verbeter.

    Maar Sharks sal eerder iemand invoer.

  • 68

    Ja ,Christiaan.

    Het gehoor van die nuwe kamp, nog nie gesien nie.
    Het die foto’s gekyk, baie nice.
    Sukkel net met die bloody konneksie vanaand.
    Seker die weer.

  • 69

    superBul, I agree with you. We need to have faith in Monty and let him develop

  • 70

    69
    Rob,
    There is no gain in playing with the overseas fly halves. They cant help the Natal boykies. They just steal their time to develop.

  • 71

    68
    Ja die kamp word Karula Tented Camp genoem sover ek kan onthou. Op die Klaserie river.

  • 72

    Dit was mos ‘n bestaande kamp.
    Is hy nou oorgedoen?
    Ek het verstaan dit gaan basies bly soos dit was.

  • 73

    Dit was die ou Gwala Gwala, maar hy is heeltemal oorgedoen

  • 74

    Ek sien.
    Ek wil probeer om Februarie ‘n draai daar te maak.
    Sal net sien hoe my dinge uitwerk.
    Het jy al daai ope lug honeymoon suite van hulle gesien ?

  • 75

    Nee, maar as jy kom moet ek jou ontmoet. Cristiaan is maar skaars ek sien hom min vandat hy getroud is.

  • 76

    He he, ja sy leisels is bietjie korter getrek.
    Die klein mannetjie hou hom ook maar besig soos ek verstaan.

    Daars ‘n klein kans dat ek dalk Junie vir ‘n maand soontoe gaan vir mediese bystand vir ‘n groep wat die River lodge gebook het vir die wereldbeker, maar die reelings is nog in die baba skoentjies.

  • 77

    Is jy in die mediese bedryf. Dokter?

  • 78

    Nee.

    Was ‘n paramedic so paar jaar terug.

    Ook aptekers wese geswot.

    Het redelik noodhulp opleiding ens. ook gedoen vir bv. Sasol ens.
    Dis maar hoe die dinge inmekaar pas.

  • 79

    Dit sal n lekker paid vakansie wees as dinge vir jou uitwerk, sal duim vashou. Ek weet ook nie die oorsese lot kan n pyn in die gat wees jong.

  • 80

    The SARugby.com Top 50 Springboks since re-admission:

    50 – Stefan Terblanche
    49 – Joe van Niekerk
    48 – Kobus Wiese
    47 – De Wet Barry
    46 – Robbie Fleck
    45 – Pieter Hendriks
    44 – Marius Joubert
    43 – Krynauw Otto
    42 – AJ Venter
    41 – Pierre Spies
    40 – Jannie de Beer
    39 – James Dalton
    38 – Andre Pretorius
    37 – Rassie Erasmus
    36 – JP Pietersen
    35 – Danie Rossouw
    34 – Breyton Paulse
    33 – Pieter Rossouw
    32 – Hennie le Roux
    31 – Jean de Villiers
    30 – Bob Skinstad
    29 – Japie Mulder
    28 – Pieter Muller
    27 – Balie Swart
    26 – Uli Schmidt
    25 – Chester Williams
    24 – Butch James
    23 – Ruben Kruger
    22 – Francois Steyn
    21 – Juan Smith
    20 – James Small
    19 – Jaque Fourie
    18 – Joel Stransky
    17 – Henry Honiball
    16 – Naas Botha
    15 – Joost van der Westhuizen
    14 – Danie Gerber
    13 – Bakkies Botha
    12 – Gary Teichmann

    every day another player is added.
    who is missing?
    John Smit
    Victor Matfield
    Fourie du Preez
    and i wonder if Morne Steyn will make the list

  • 81

    Good evening guys, how is things tonight?

    Sharks is always dangerous, but they are beatable. We tend to play indifferent at times.

  • 82

    Superbu- My bet is that Percy makes the top 5….

  • 83

    Honiball moes in die top tien gewees het.

  • 84

    Their panel of experts as they call it picked this group.

  • 85

    Hi Snoek –
    The Saint is a bit rude about your sharks, laid with no commitment, ‘Balls of Brass’ also in short supply!!

    (That was my home btw in the snow)!

  • 86

    Snoek – yeah. Consistency would be great

  • 87

    Surely Joost must be in the top 10. He was the best Scrummie SA ever had.

  • 88

    @80
    Nou hoekom stop daai lys by 12?
    Een ou wat ek nie daar verwag het nie is AJ Venter?

    Ouens wat nog kort is Jouba, Teichman, Krige?, Os, Scalla, Victor, Barney, CJ?….

  • 89

    Carol you have a beatifull home. My wife loves the style.

    Regarding the article, can’t fault it really, i believe we underperform most of the tournaments we play in.

  • 90

    Pedrie Wannenburg is in the news today. The press is running away with his story.
    I like this comment by someone on the Bulls site. That is how i feel too.

    3. The reporting of this story on several news sites sees hundreds of critics posting against PW and the Bulls in general. This is the thing with South Africans: when we can’t celebrate success, we cherish failure. So, for the chokers, cheeters, twinky toes and fans of other failed franchises out there that are relishing this opportunity to jump on a “fallen hero” take heart: the story is old, the condition is old, PW works to defeat his demons on a daily basis.

    We should be proud of him and we, the BLUE SEA, are proud of him and our team. Sterkte an almal – nou begin nog ‘n snotklap…
    Posted by GreGorGy (2010 = 2 more cups!) Monday, January 11, 2010 – 19:0

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