The Sharks, rather than last year’s best-performing South African franchise the Stormers, represent South Africa’s best chance of success in the 2012 Super Rugby season.
Rob Howing, Sport24
That is according to the latest (February) edition of Sports Illustrated magazine, which is heavily themed toward the southern hemisphere competition starting next month.
SI has the Sharks finishing second on the overall log behind the Crusaders, last season’s runners-up and the top side in the Super Rugby history, and thus winning the SA conference.
It tips the Stormers, last year’s domestic conference winners and eventually beaten semi-finalists, to end fifth overall and as conference runners-up, thus qualifying again for the playoffs as the only other South African team to do so.
According to the magazine, the rebuilding Bulls will end seventh, just outside the playoffs, cash-strapped Currie Cup champions the Lions 11th and the Cheetahs 12th.
“The Sharks have all the personnel, skills and smarts a team could wish for. Now they just need the belief,” SI said.
It cited favourable aspects for the Sharks like the fact that they don’t meet the Crusaders on the pre-playoff calendar this season, and will play defending champions the Reds at home.
In slightly downgrading the Stormers this year, the magazine said: “They have the goods to take top (conference) spot if they fire on all cylinders, but when they backfire, they do so spectacularly.”
On a broader level, as the tournament faces a record-length year marked by a three-week break for Test rugby, it quoted SARU chief executive Jurie Roux as admitting that the schedule was “challenging not only from a player point of view but also because we have the incoming English tour in the middle of the Super Rugby competition which makes selling both quite tricky”.
He added: “It’s certainly easier to handle the promotion of one tournament at a time. The Test window will put added pressure on the new Bok coach because he’ll have hardly any time to work with the players before the first England Test.”
Sharks? ROTFLMFAO!
Sharks probably have the most experienced squad which is well balanced.
Stronger in the forwards department than at the back.
Glearing weaknesses though at lock, scrummie and centers!
… and does Plum have what it takes to go all the way?? I doubt it….
Only time will tell, but I cannot say that I agree with Howing that the Sharks are this year’s SA Flagship side.
According to Houwing the Cheetahs will end 12th? Somewhere the man missed an entire season of rugby! As GBS says, they have issues to resolve, as have all the franchises.
Sharks: Is Eugene van Staden off, if so, who will be their back up props. Chadwick and Herbst?
Bresler and Jandre Marais should solve the lock dilemna, but not much depth
Centre pairing? Scrumhalf back up
Where are our Guppy informants… Let’s get some feedback as to the possible make-up of their 35 man squad
Sharks? Stormers?
SA sides may not do as well we all hoped. From the CC play offs it looks like the Sharks have some issues. Stormers always flatter to deceive. Bulls are rebuilding, and Cheetahs always underperform. Will the Lions build on their CC win? Only time will tell.
@ Lion4eva
Cheetahs always underperform? Measured against what? I reckon if you compare what most people predicted for the Cheetahs prior to the Super 15, and where they ended, I reckon the exceeded expectations. The pundit’s expectations anyway. “Same scenario for 2012… Houwing predicts the Lions will finish ahead of the Cheetahs. 11th and 12th as I recall the man writing.
If you compare the personell the Cheetahs had last year compared to the other SA franchises, i would say it is harsh to say they have underperformed!
Never the less, the Cheetahs need to improve on their finish last year. Considering the results of the the 2011 S15, they did well to pull their season back. They even lost to the poor cousins up north, the Lions. Eventually their poor start, and defence cost them. Losing 7 matches by less than 7 points, their season could have ended way better. Lets hope that they can build on that, and that the Lions can build on their CC as you say. I doubt that the Stormers will be able to challenge for semi fimnals, but I could be wrong. I think the Bulls might surprise some people, and the Sharks may well battle to maintain their standing as the””flagship SA franchise.
My thoughts for now!
6 @ Cheetah4eva:
The Cheetahs had a strong run at the end of Super Rugby 2011.
The Lions had a massive Currie Cup.
The Bulls can only get better.
The Strompoppies… well I’m wondering if they’re not desperate to implode.
The Sharks need to be feared, but will they be in the running… I just don’t know.
Interesting times indeed!
Have you guys and gals seen the new iPad?
Here it is!
This has to be one of the most wide open tournaments for a long time, there are strengths and weaknesses in all the teams (bar Stormers), and has lead to one of the most exciting and hyped up lead ups for a long time. Reading through all the supporters arguments, there are some very good and relevant arguments that show the strengths of the various franchises.
As much as I would love my beloved Stormers to walk it, reality set in prior to Christmas, and in all honesty, as GBS points out, with an iminent implosion about to occur, I don’t they will do too well.
8@ grootblousmile:Looks more like a small ‘x’ to me than an iPad, but if thats it, I am sure its great
10 @ Just For Kicks:
I hear it has a really great operating system!
Hahaha
Ah, there it is. Wow, is that what drove Steve Jobs to his death bed. I can see all the stress it must have caused him. Still, he must have been very proud of the final result though.
12 @ Just For Kicks:
Did you see the Mails I included you in with WP Rugby Union’s Leila Steyn?
@ Just For Kicks:One has to wonder though, what actually goes on in the microbilly’s minds. To take a sanitary towel, draw on it and take a pic of it to post on the internet. Imagine what you would have come up with if your brain was still fully functioning!
13@ grootblousmile:Yes, thanks, already tweeted it!!!!
14 @ Just For Kicks:
They could have taken the pic of it in the position where it is worn…. eishhh hehehe
16@ grootblousmile:Yup, eishhh, you’re not fully recovered yet, are you?
14 @ Just For Kicks:
One would have to say that one would HAVE TO to connect the right MOUSE to that iPad, to function well!
17 @ Just For Kicks:
There’s nothing wrong with me, with me, with me, with me…
18@ grootblousmile:Great thing about iPads – don’t need a mouse – its all done with fingers
20 @ Just For Kicks:
I believe THIS particular iPad, NEEDS a mouse!
19@ grootblousmile:Thats not what the vultures think, with a bill like that, they must be hoping you’re still completely off your rocker!
21@ grootblousmile:I know it has retina identification
22 @ Just For Kicks:
Can you believe their freegin Account?
Next to my car stood a Nissan Quashqui (well my wife said it was a Quashqui), which had an accident on Sunday. Man, what a wreck!
It belonged to our local Pharmacist… he died, as well as his 2-year old, the other little one has bleeding on the brain… don’t know about the wife.
Apparently the drunk asshole who hit them only broke his leg.
24@ grootblousmile:And he’ll probably walk away with a small fine or suspended sentence.
25 @ Just For Kicks:
I still have to place a few pics on here of my car…
25 @ Just For Kicks:
Eish, they should attach his baber to a grinding stone, and spin the grinding stone a little every day, till his feet fall off on their own!
dagse almal
eish het lanklaas geblog
sharks being the best bet this year i think is very premature to predict
i agree with rudi re their weaknesses
28 @ sharky_forever:
Good to see you’re still alive
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