If John Plumtree does not come back with at least 2, preferably 3 victories on the road and end in the top 8 of the Super 14 log, he must get the boot.
That ladies and gentlemen is the bottom line in professional sport.
Forget sentiment, forget emotions, history, tradition or whatever we as supporters love to bring up to defend our teams. The reality is rugby is a professional sport and is measured through results achieved.
We can (and do) analyse teams to the smallest detail, raising (very valid) points on possible reasons why teams, or our teams, are not performing to their potential, or the way I look at it, performing to expectations.
You see ‘expecting’ specific results is what it is all about – potential is just a gob-wolly term that more describes our emotion or emotional attachment to a team than realistic expectation.
And expecting something is measured against specifics, or constants in business (of which rugby is one).
For example, if an organisation has X, Y and Z you expect a return on result or investment of A, B and C. Organisations however, as with rugby, differs, so even in the same industry (rugby) some unions might only have X and Z, so if they achieve A, B and C it is a massive bonus and they performed ‘above’ expectation.
But there is, or should be a definite break-even point, which will then serve as an indication whether the organisation, or union are delivering as expected, delivering above expectations, or delivering below expectations.
A practical example would be to compare the organisations or unions, Sharks and Cheetahs.
Compare the budgets, compare the resources, compare the markets, etc., etc. Pretty much what is done in business, and then judge results based on this.
A union like the Sharks for instance, with a budget to buy the best to not only manage (coaches and administrators) the organisation, but also deliver a product (players), is realistically expected to deliver the best.
Of course we need to judge and analyse industries in accordance to the environments they operate in, and in this case, the industry is sport.
Now sport is unpredictable to some extent, but not completely. In any organisation, including rugby there is a clear indication or measurable standard or scale which reads – if you buy the best, you expect the best.
Players and coaches can be measured on their ability, it is therefore not unrealistic to expect the best in their trade, to operate better than the average Joe’s out there from which they distanced themselves thanks to how they performed in their trades historically and their achievements.
So quite simply, if Plumtree is not able, for WHATEVER reason, to have the best in the business operate to the best of their ability – he does not belong there.
With the budget the Sharks have, it is not unrealistic for the board and investors of the union to expect specific results. How else can Plumtree, or Straeuli realistically expect to walk into the board meeting at the end of the Super 14 campaign to table budget projections to the board and investors for the coming season and expect to get it?
In professional sport you either deliver on expectation, or you get shown the door.
Exactly Puma.
PDV did not have to try and change anything.
He made a terrible decision in not keeping BJ, asked Smit to play out of position and the rest is history.
Both the Boks and the Sharks would have been better off today.
His total lack of understanding of the front row has led us to this point.
Am I dumb, but what is the news about the DuP Bros? Even went down the wrong road to read if I’m missing something. Maybe it is just the Irish thing.
I think Plum has gone as far as he can go with the Sharks and it is time for him to leave and if Van Zyl still wants him there, it is time for him to leave as well.
A professional team is paid to win not to entertain. Only one thing is going to fix us.
BRING ON JAKE WHITE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Treehugger 😉 Who is Jake White? Bwahahahaaaaaaaaaaaa
32 – Irish, None of us are really sure either. Just hearing rumours at the moment that they causing a bit of trouble. Not too sure really. If they are then would rather they both left the Sharks.
One thing is for sure! Getting to the top is easy – staying there is tough. One day you way up and the next day you rock bottom – the wheel turns – some faster than others. We were there for exactly one year – now the French have brag rights.
Hiho Irish, dont you bwahahahahaha Jakey baby, i admire him and will give you a good kick on the bum ::-):
33 – Treehugs, I would have Jake there too, just don’t think he and Straueli get on. So not sure if that will happen.
Puma@35 – Ouch!!!
Hi Puma, Straueli can go as well.
36 – Irish that is for sure. My Sharks are going down really fast. Should not be happening with the players we have.
Ireland did win on Sat though. Congrats to them.
Well I am afraid if you are looking for Jake you are in for some disappointment.
Names I heard mentioned is that of a caretaker role for now, of which Straeuli and his assistants when he last coached the Sharks might be coming back…
Anyone remember who that was???
Treehugger
Jake White will fire Smit…he told him to retire end of 2007 already… 😆
Treehugger – Hiya too – my new adopted team is not really performing – but I stick to them like super glue. Yeah maybe you are right. Is there a chance of this happening or also hearsay?
Puma 29.
I would actually like to know exactly how much more Smit weighs.
I suspect that it is not as much as people are making it out to be.
Extra bulk on him as a hooker is not a problem at scrum time, it is better to play with a big hooker.
You may argue that this makes him slower around the park, but I think that is a debatable point.
I have no worries about Deon Carstens at loose head against the Tahs, but Jannie will have a big fight on his hands to contain Ben Robinson who is a destructive loose head.
I dont know why we lost Steyn and Goode is obviously there because we are desperate.
I am close to the Lambie situation and I suspect that they do not want to put him in too early as he is young, inexperienced and not physically developed enough yet.
However he is the most talented youngster in a very long time in SA rugby.
40 – Treehugs……hahahahaha. Agree for sure. Not sure why we have him there after he messed up with the Boks in 2003.
He did do well with the Sharks team when he coached, but still after what happened under him with the Boks. Not sure why we have him.
Puma@41 – thanks buddy – a bit of a bittersweet victory though. The French game was hyper embarassing – so feel for you guys big time.
36@ Oirish,
Getting on top… you say….
Sounds like Rodeo-style rugby….. “gettin onnnn toppp, and stayin there for the ride, pardner!”
“Whoop dee doo”!
42 @ Morne
Bwahahahaha…
I can hear some of the bloggers already if the likes of Straeuli takes over… 😆
Name on the tip of my tongue, can picture him, wasnt he also a selector.
We have this stupid ‘meeting bell’ which irritates the crap out of everyone the new ‘boss’ rings it and calls us like frikken sheep to the slaughter. He is the reason I’m so scarce. Let’s see what the twarp wants now. Chat later.
51@ Oirish – Is your boss’s surname Pavlov?
Hehehehe
45 – TH, Agree with John’s weight everyone says he is so over weight, but looking at him he does not seem to look too different to when he was playing in the WC 2007. Unless I need glasses .. haha.
I am not a expert on the scrum but for me he is still the best scrummaging hooker in the world. That is my feeling. Just look how well our scrum was once he was back and hooker and BJ next to him against Italy who was supposed to have a good scrum.
Plum must just keep playing him at hooker and let Bismarck come on from the bench. (If needed)
Pleased to read that you feel Carstens is okay. Was not too sure.
Look how the youngsters are playing for the Bulls!! Maybe we should give Lambie a go. He is pure class for sure. So was Steyn and we let him slip though our fingers. Pity. Would have been great to have had him still there at inside centre this year for the Sharks.
Tight Head, just a question, did BJ not leave during the JW era?
Macintosh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think thats the bloke.
Irish you sure he is not just ringing for his tea.
51 – Irish………..hahahahaha. A meeting bell? That is funny man……..LOL.
54 – Loosehead, NO he left in 2008. Think it was just as the Tri-Nations was about to start.
Loosehead.
BJ, Victor and Smit were all playing in the UK when PDV was made coach.
PDV went to the UK and asked Smit and Victor to come back.
He never asked BJ.
Danie Craven would have told him to sign BJ before the other two players.
You can be glad you are not from New Zealand Irish… 😆
47 – Irish, Ireland will get it back. They a good side.
Look at my Sharks thim weekend against the Saders. Not good. Hope we can win something on the road over there.
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