Here it simply explains what we all seem to know, but fail to ackowlegde as and when it suits us thus not being very understanding to the situation. I made a posting in keo ealier today saying in as much and if one takes the team the Sharks could and would have had , had management just kept what we had and taken the players that approached them like  J Fourie, Brussow.

With these players plus what they lost the quality and combinations of this team would have been extremely potent and near unstoppable. Talk about spilt milk >????

80. sharks_loverReply to this comment :
March 17th, 2010 at 1:24 pm @JL1: Hi JLI as much as I agree I also dont

We had the depth and talent , we sold it and kept only a few talents; Lets take this same side and make a few changes. Bring back a Butch , F Steyn, Barritt , Bj Botha and that side would be totally different.

Then take the fact that a Jfourie had approached the Sharks and they did not snap him up and Imagine this team had they just kept their stars

15 Ludick
14 Mvovo
13 J fourie
12 F Steyn
11 JPP
10 Butch
09 Ruan
08 Kanko
07 Alberts
06 Deysel
05 Muller/Mostert
04 Sykes
03 BJ
02 Smit/Bissy
01 Beast

16 Bissy/Smit
17 Herbst/Cilliers
18 Hargreaves/Mostert
19 Botes/Daniel
20 Cockott
21 Adi/Murray
22 Odwa/Stefan

I doubt this team would have struggled , all the Sharks had to do was keep what they had and add a Fourie that approched them
Of course they also lost Hernandez to injury, but to lose what they lost and not to replace with the same kind of quality , is not the way to go

At the same time the up and comming youngsters like lambie should be blooded more , thus this year should be taken as a failure, thus they should now blood the good youngsters and plan ahead.

Fact is they dont have the Stars they had and the rebuilding phase should start A.S.A.P

Sharks paying heavy price for unsettled combinations

WHEN asked to put his finger on what has led to the Sharks’ disappointing start to the Super 14, coach John Plumtree pointed to their unsettled 9-10-12 combination as one of the main contributing factors.

Indeed, at this stage of the competition last year, the Sharks had won four games out of five, and in all matches had started with Rory Kockott, Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn in that all important channel. In addition, outside of them was an inform Adi Jacobs, hot off the back of a brilliant 2008 season with the Springboks.

Compare that to this season when injuries at the time of the opening weekend meant the Sharks started their campaign with Kockott, Monty Dumond and Andries Strauss in the 9-10-12 axis. For the next two matches, Kockott remained at scrumhalf, with Pienaar starting at flyhalf and Jacobs slotting into the more unfamiliar inside centre position.

Then, over the last fortnight, the arrival of English flyhalf Andy Goode allowed Pienaar to replace Kockott at scrumhalf on the basis of his superior passing game, while Riaan Swanepoel returned to replace Jacobs in the No 12 jersey, who in turn shifted to outside centre in place of Murray.

It is also important not to forget the disruptions of the preseason, with star flyhalf Juan Hernandez – whom the Sharks had hoped to build their backline around – returning to Argentina for back surgery.

Ex-Kearsney College pupil Steve Meyer was then signed up and was set to start the opening Super 14 game – but then, out of the blue, he retired.

Furthermore, Lions recruit Louis Ludik, who was considered as an option at centre, has failed to recover from a knee injury.

So, when put into perspective, it is no wonder the Sharks have failed to fire on attack, scoring just four tries.

“The 9–10-12 combination is obviously absolutely crucial,” Plumtree commented. “If you look at the top sides at the moment, they all have outstanding combinations in those positions. Ours has been very disrupted and disjointed and we have not been able to get our game going. Although that’s not solely the reason for that, it’s certainly one of the big ones.”

When looking at the log-leading Bulls, we see they have a settled Springbok trio in Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier operating together – playing no small part in helping the side rack up more than 45 points in every match this season – and, similarly, the other table-topping teams all have stars in the important halfback and centre channels.

In light of this, the loss of Steyn to Racing Metro has been brought into sharp perspective for the Sharks. The youngster’s extravagance was not always everyone’s cup of tea, but it is undeniable that a powerful playmaker such as him is just what the Sharks could do with at the moment.

They have to work with what they’ve got, though, and Pienaar and Goode were much improved in their second start together at the weekend. However, there are still some doubts as to whether the paperwork will be sorted out to enable the Englishman to remain with the Sharks after the overseas tour. If not, it could land the team in a world of trouble all over again.

Worryingly, there also seems to be no answer for the Sharks at centre, with Jacobs battling inconsistency, Murray far from top form and Swanepoel making little impact.

Both Jacobs and Swanepoel are also battling with injury niggles at the moment, but if they recover in time and are selected to face the Highlanders on Saturday, they need to step up and prove they can do the job. In fact, so does the entire team.

32 Responses to Sharks paying heavy price for unsettled combinations

  • 1

    yes we made huge mistakes at the sharks and its costly , fact is management made the biggest errors along with players not doing their part

    the rest is history and i feel sharks should use this season to rebuild , get the right players in and also get the fringe players into the big league and build for the future

    patrock lambie rhodes downey etc

  • 2

    patrock = patrick

  • 3

    sharky-forever

    Players like Bissy also approached other unions…

    You win some you lose some… 😉

  • 4

    In general though I agree…

  • 5

    what this article clearly shows is how the bulls with settled combo’s are performing and how the sharks with their unsettled combo’s are failing

    surely the sharks should learn from this?

    excuses ?? but they have only themselves to blame

    the fact is in players like odwa , adi , murray , they thought they had world beaters

    not having a settles

    9,10,12 was a big mistake

  • 6

    lol hiyas blouste

    actually it was denied bissy ever approached others

    brussouw and fourie’s approach to the sharks was admitted in the press

    again blouste like i said its the sharks own fault

  • 7

    For what it’s worth…

    The Sharks will win this weekend !!!

  • 8

    like you can see i am blamming noone but the sharks themselves

  • 9

    Maybe I should say SHOULD win this weekend 😆

  • 10

    for what its worth i am praying so 😆

    although again i cant see it happening

    have you seen the match officials??

    they dont have a hope in hell

  • 11

    😆

    Have faith…

    Your win will come this weekend…(if Smit is playing 2 😆 )

  • 12

    sharky
    who will be officiating the game?

  • 13

    12@ Ash – A S14 ref… 😆

  • 14

    Howzit Sharky, Agree there brudda. If Sharks never let those players go we sure would be looking brillaint. A unsettled combinations will never ever bring good results. We were sure dumb not to have given JF a contract when he approached the Sharks.

    Now we need to build again. Play some of our youngsters in the next few games. If we lose who cares at this stage. Rather try out and build for next year. This S14 is a goner for us.

    Can we beat the Landers? I don’t think it will be that easy. They are a better team than most think. They came back at Saders after Saders were 0/17 up. Also they got 35 points on the board against a very powerful Bull side. Beat the Cheetahs. Not sure what happened against the Stormers but there they were not good.

    Think we could lose to them and probably Canes too. So I would just play the youngsters that are by now probably not match fit. Give them a chance and see what we have in them.

    Who are the match officials for this weeks game? Bet anything not South Africans..hehehe.

  • 15

    Ok, ek’s weg voor Asgat my hart breek met ‘n “reply”… 😆

    Cheers

  • 16

    blouste @ 13
    wow!!
    soveel intelligensie opgesluit in een persoon!!
    amazing!! 😀

  • 17

    hei blouste
    was lekker om jou weer hier te sien!!
    chat weer!!

  • 18

    sien eks alweer alleen op die site
    dink ek sal maar ñ bietjie “hand uitruk” hehehe

  • 19

    to my tjarkie and lions friends
    remember
    …..
    I have never seen a wild thing feel sorry for itself. A little bird will fall dead, frozen from a bough, without ever having felt sorry for itself.
    D. H. Lawrence
    English novelist (1885 – 1930)

  • 20

    Sheez i just thought about the tug of war between the Sharks and the Lions. How funny (not a joke though) that the two are struggling now. Did their focus slip?
    Sharks send back those players they are haunted.

  • 21

    ok
    nou net op hierdie een afgekom
    ….
    Posted By: Johan Safari
    Subject: Blou bul aansoek vorm
    Date Posted: 09 August 2007 at 11:57am

    AANSOEK OM ‘N BLOUBUL ONDERSTEUNER TE WORD

    IK _____________________ (indien nie, moet asseblief nie jou tyd verder mors om hier in te vul nie). ‘n Ou wat nie ‘n IK het nie is klaar ‘n boubul!!!

    Naam & Van ______________________________ (verkieslik jou laaste pa s’n)

    Watter provinsie het u eers ondersteun (merk asseblief duidelik):
    Westelike Provinsie / Leeus / Cheetahs / Sharks

    Kies enige van die volgende redes hoekom u nou ‘n Bloubul ondersteuner wil word:
    1. Jy en jou eks se honeymoon was op warmbad.
    2. Jou swaer se karravaan staan in jou yard.
    3. Jou favourite karaoke song is die blou bul eet nie van die grond af nie. Of “liefling”.
    4. Jy en jou familie hou daarvan om julle bloubultruie aan te trek en vir ure foto’s in Silverton munisipaliteit se tuin te neem.
    5. Jy voel partykeer net kommin.
    6. Jy het besluit om ‘n mullet en of ‘n snor te groei.
    7. Julle het ‘n double – cab gekoop. Eerste ding is ‘n moerse bloubul sticker opgeplak, spot lights is van die bull bar na die roll bar verskuif en ‘n Amerikaanse vlag-bandannna het jy om jou tru-spieël gehang (jou vrou ry nou die v6 opgeboude kombi)
    8. Jy like om elmboog by die venster uit te ry – dag/nag, winter/somer.
    9. Jy is jaloers op die ander provisies se supporters se klas.
    10. Jy kon nooit vir Habana verdra nie – nou is hy jou bra.
    11. Jou dogtertjies speel bulletjie-rugby.
    12. Jy en jou pêlle kyk wie die meeste die ref se ma kan slegse.
    13. Jy like om langs die veld te sê: “Die bal, die bal!” of “Stuur, stuur” – wat de hel dit ookal beteken.
    14. Jy praat voor familie en vriende van die blou-bulle se CEO, Barend van Graan, as “Graaintjies” en Heineke Meyer , as “Heinies”, al weet hulle nie wie de hel jy is nie.
    15. Jy verwys ook in elke gesprek, met vriende en familie, na jou kastige onlangse telefoniese gesprek “Graaintjies, Heinies en Bakkas (bakkies Botha)”.
    16. Jou baas het Robert du Preez se 1983 rugbykouse geraamd in die ontvangsarea van sy pannel beating besigheid.
    17. Jou rekeninge by 2 slaghuise en 4 drankwinkels is oortrokke.
    18. Jy’s met jou niggie/ nefie getroud.
    (indien u nog papier nodig het om u redes neer te skryf, gebruik asseblief ‘n A4 hardeband boek)

    Hiermee beloof ek om my soos ‘n ware Bloubul Ondersteuner te gedra:
    * Ek belowe om dronk te raak en die tweede helfde van elke game te mis omdat ek te gesuip is (veral as ons verloor).
    * Ek belowe om enige funksie se onthaal met Loftus op die agtergrond te hou.
    * Ek belowe om elke girl op Loftus se gat te gryp en dan hard saam met my tjommies en my vrou te lag.
    * Ek belowe ook om enige ander span se supporters se ma’s te vloek.
    * Ek lê ‘n plegtige belofte af om ‘n Bloubul hemp, hoed, vlag te koop (jy kry die sticker vir jou kar verniet saam met die hoed).
    * Ek belowe om by elke party my kar se gat innie rigting vannie party te park en my bloubul – CD uit my boot uit te laat jol.
    * Ek belowe ook dat as dit met ons sleg begin gaan, summier ‘n Griekwa ondersteuner te word.

    HANDTEKENING :

    ______________________ (of vingerafdruk, OK as dit moet sal net ‘n kruis ook doen)

    ______________________ (Naam, moenie worry oor die spelling nie)

    VIR BLOUBUL KLUB GEBRUIK ALLEENLIK

  • 22

    ok
    laat ek spore maak!!
    sien julle manne môre!!
    cheers!!

  • 23

    That was a very well written article and was thought out very well. It could not have explained the Sharks problems any better with the exception of having an unsettled front row but thats an argument for another day 🙂

  • 24

    Super 14, Week 6

    Blues Brumbies in Auckland
    Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
    Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Matthew Stanish (New Zealand)
    Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

    Bulls vs Hurricanes in Pretoria
    Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
    Assistant referees: Start Berry (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
    Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

    Crusaders Lions in Christchurch
    Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
    Assistant referees: Matthew Stanish (New Zealand), James McPhail (New Zealand)
    Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

    Highlanders vs Sharks in Dunedin
    Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
    Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
    Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

    Western Force Waratahs in Perth
    Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
    Assistant referees: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Lourens van der Merwe
    Television match official: Julian Pritchard (Australia)

    Stormers Cheetahs at Newlands
    Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
    Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)
    Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

  • 25

    lol ty winston and you know we have to leave subjets for more articles 😆

  • 26

    The Vodacom Bulls scum half, Fourie du Preez, on Wednesday extended his contract with the union till the conclusion of the Super 15 competition in 2011.
    Du Preez, who turns 28 next week, also signed his Springbok contract that will keep him in Green and Gold till the end of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in 2011.

    He will then join a club side in Japan.

    Du Preez, who made his debut for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in 2001 and for the Vodacom Bulls in 2003, wants to end his successful relationship with the Bulls on a high.

    “These were the best rugby years of my life and I could never have played for another union. By revealing my plans for the future now, it will give the Bulls sufficient time to plan for the future and possible successors. There is already some excellent players like Francois Hougaard knocking on the door, so it is time to move on,” Du Preez said.

    “I was happy to be involved with the Bulls during arguable the best era they have ever had. It remains a massive honor to be part of the structures started and maintained by world class coaches such as Heyneke Meyer and Frans Ludeke. The leadership of Victor Matfield and the bond between the team members is also something I will always treasure. There is still time for me to add value and it is something I look forward to.”

    With regards to the national side, Du Preez indicated that the joy he had playing for the Springboks in 2009, made it easy to commit himself to the national cause till after the World Cup.

    “There is the chance to play in another World Cup, but also the knowledge that I will enjoy the experience. Last season was the most enjoyable I have had in the Bok jersey and think Peter de Villiers deserve a lot of credit for that. I feel we have the experience and core group in the team to make a serious run at the Webb Ellis trophy again,” Du Preez said.

    His decision to play in Japan was equally easy to make, he said.

    “After 11 years at the Bulls, I am affording myself the opportunity to change the scenery and to expose myself to a different culture. This contract will allow me that,” Du Preez said.

    “I think I can learn a lot and broaden my horizons in the game at the same time, which will help should I opt for a career in coaching later on in my life.”

    Ludeke indicated that Du Preez’s decision will leave them with enough time to start a succession plan.

    “Again Fourie did not only act in his own interests, but thought of the team as well. As one of the architects of the success the Bulls enjoyed in recent years, his input in our planning will be highly valued and it is nice to know he will be around for a while still. I know he had many offers and options, but he again showed his commitment to the Bulls.

    Ludeke said investment in possible replacements will start soon.

    “Fourie is a student of the game and will help in the process to indentify and bring the right successors through,” Ludeke said.

    Fourie du Preez facts:

    Vodacom Blue Bulls (debut, 2001 vs Leopards). 51 matches, 100 points.
    Vodacom Bulls (debut, 2003 vs Brumbies). 89 matches, 90 points.
    South Africa (debut, 2004 vs Ireland). 55 tests, 65 points.

  • 27

    Hey, you authors can be glad you don’t get paid, otherwise you would’ve had to share your pay with me… 😆

  • 28

    Du preez still with us till end of 2011…

    Had agreat career and served the Bulls well.

    Wish him all the best !!!

  • 29

    superBul

    Hier is vir jou ‘n artikel ou maat…

  • 30

    24 – Sharky, So we have a all kiwi match officials. Really don’t like this reffing system. Not one bit. Has to be changed.

    We have only had a saffa ref once. For the Cheetahs game.

    Maybe once we home we will get all saffa match officials 🙄

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