The 5th and Article in the set discussing the Sharks Super Rugby players for 2012.
In this Article we look at the contenders for SCRUMHALVES in the Sharks 2012 Super Rugby group, and what their worth will be in Super Rugby terms.
The Contenders:
Name: Charl McLeod
Date of Birth: 05/08/1983
Place of Birth: Johannesburg
Position: Scrumhalf
Height: 1.80 m
Weight: 88 kg
High School: Wonderboom High School
Club: Bluff Superspar Harlequins
Charl attended Wonderboom High School in Pretoria.
He was recruited to the Sharks from one of the smaller SA Rugby Unions and made his Provincial debut for the Sharks against the Boland Kavaliers in 2008.
He made his Super Rugby debut in 2009 against the Brumbies.
He made his Test debut for the Springboks on 30 July 2011 against the All Blacks in Wellington… the only Test he’s played in.
McLeod missed the final four matches of last year’s Currie Cup tournament after sustaining the freakiest of injuries, a cracked hip. He has been in The Shark system long enough now with 60 caps to be an established member of the squad who is able to bring rapid service and an educated boot to the team’s endeavours.
Name: Conrad Hoffmann
Date of Birth: 09/11/1987
Place of Birth: Worcester
Position: Scrumhalf
Height: 1.81m
Weight: 86kg
High School: Paarl Boys High
Club: Fidelity Security Jaguars
Conrad made his rise through the age group levels at Western Province and represented South Africa Under 19 in 2006.
He made his Provincial debut for Western Province in 2007 against the Border Bulldogs.
He made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers in 2008 against the Western Force.
Established himself as one of the top scrumhalves in the Currie Cup last year, enjoying extended game time following the injury to Charl McLeod, this coming off Hoffmann’s return from long term injury himself and he will look to build his reputation after playing in 21 matches for The Sharks over the course of the 2011 rugby season.
Name: Frederic Michalak
Date of Birth: 16/06/1982
Place of Birth: Toulouse (France)
Position: Flyhalf/Scrumhalf
Height: 1.82 m
Weight: 85 kg
High School: Joliman
Club: Fidelity Security Jaguars
Freddy was born in Toulouse, Haute-Garonne and is a French rugby player, who currently plays in South Africa for the Sharks in Super Rugby and the Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup. His early career was spent playing for his hometown team, Toulouse, in the Top 14 and in the Heineken Cup. He moved to South Africa to play for the Sharks in the Super 14 after the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but after just one year with the Natal Sharks he moved back to Toulouse. He has also played over 50 tests for France to date. He originally played scrum half but has played mainly at flyhalf. He has appeared in advertisements for companies such as Nike and Levis.
Michalak made his debut for Toulouse in 1998. He was a member of the team that won the French championship in 2001 and the Heineken Cup in 2003 and 2005. Michalak made his first appearance for France against South Africa on 10 November 2001 and became a regular on the French side. He was selected as a member of the squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. Michalak was also a part of the Six Nations French Grand Slam winners in 2004 and the champions of 2006.
Michalak signed with the Sharks for the Super 14 in 2008. The team, who had previously signed former French internationals Thierry Lacroix and Olivier Roumat, saw him as a key player in the Currie Cup campaign of the Natal Sharks, the provincial side that operates the Super Rugby side. Michalak made his Super 14 debut against the Stormersbut featured in only nine games before being sidelined by injury and shortly thereafter ending his spell with the Sharks. He played in the 2008 Currie Cup final, helping the Natal Sharks to win and becoming the third Frenchmen, after Olivier Roumat and Thierry Lacroix to win a Currie Cup medal. Michalak re-signed with his former club Toulouse for the start of the 2008-09 season.
Michalak’s second spell with Toulouse was frustrated by injurywith two serious injuries that limited his appearances for his club.
On 31 May 2011 it was announced that Michalak had signed a one-year contract with the Sharks, effective immediately – which meant that Michalak would not play in Toulouse’s Top 14 final on 4 June 2011.The Sharks’ need to fill vacancies left by injuries to several of their scrumhalves is widely considered a key short-term motive for the signing for the 2012 season, he is also seen as an extra option at flyhalf, a position where they had issues in 2011.
He contributed 192 points in the 2011 Currie Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top-scorer and will look to add his brand of mercurial magic to the Sharks backline in 2012.
Name: Cobus Reinach
Date of Birth: 07/02/1990
Place of Birth: Bloemfontein
Position: Scrumhalf
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 83 kg
High School: Grey College Bloem
Club: Acer Durban Collegians
A speedy scrumhalf with an eye for the gap and the ability to break the line and either score, or set up scoring opportunities. Added to his blistering pace is a good appreciation of the tactical aspects of his position including good ball distribution.
Starters:
One of Charl McLeod or Frederic Michalak will start and I somehow think that it will be Charl McLeod, so that Frederic Michalak could cover on the bench both as scrumhalf and flyhalf. With a long season ahead, we should see Conrad Hoffmann play a role as well.
This was the FIFTH article in the range dealing with the Sharks, the FLYHALVES will be up next.
What is it with the guppies and those dreadful moustaches?
In other unimportant and equally unexciting news, the Stormers have taken on the Cobras in their one match annual pre-S15 T20. Cobras batted first and put 211/8 on the score board for the Stormers to chase. Schalla opens the batting with Tiaan in tow, and together put on 77 before Tiaan is caught on the boundary for 32. Schalla goes on to score 109 off 51 before being bowled, taking the score to 173/2. Brache and Duvenage go cheaply, leaving the Stormers to get 14 off the last 2 overs with 4 down. Can they do it?
10 runs needed in the last over
JDV caught 205/6. Stormers need 7 from 3, almost as exciting as the Proteas T20 this morning!
We have a abundance of good players in SA, all of these in the Sharks squad are good S15 players, but are they real match winners, guys who can swing a game?
I know that all depends what type of ball they get but FduP was such a big presence on the field , he could change a game in minutes. At this stage i feel my 1st choice will still be FduP , then Hougaart and then Sarel Pretoruis.
On the last ball, the Stormers run 3, but given out, run out. Scores are tied. Edge of the seat stuff!!! Not! Stormers need to go up a gear next week for their 1st match. No room for second place any more.
@ superBul:Without wearing my heart on my sleeve, I feel that the Sharks have the best chance of topping the SA conference this year. The bulls are building, the Lions are also building, young team and too much internal wrangling, the Stormers, well we all know, you can’t go into this comp with no front row, the Cheetahs are a bit of a wild card, but I don’t think they will do it. Which brings me back to the Sharks. How I hope I’m wrong
Having said all that though, the margin I give to the Sharks is very small, and in reality the SA conference is wide open
@ Just For Kicks:
7
the Sharks will be around , i checked the performances of the teams on Pick and Go and it is maybe the most frustrating union to support, next worst for your heart is the Stormers.
Stormers alway around mid table but the pacing not great, Bulls again build well to a climax at the right time.
Last year we peaked well at the end by winning our last 6 but the 7th one was a bit too much.
At least some comfort for Stormers fans, the Bulls lost 2 semis and 3rd time they hit the jackpot.
Watching the Titans struggle to put up a decent score against the Knights
@ superBul:Ours has to be the most wide open conference in the comp, and its going to take a good few matches before how good the teams really are
10@ superBul:Yup, one good shot, followed by a rubbis one, the a wicket. at last we’re seeing some 6’s from Beharhdien
Good 19th over by Titans
22 off it
Should read ….’followed by a rubbisH one, theN a wicket.’
Beharhdien giving the TTN’s a much more respectable score, TTN 165/7 after 20
@ Just For Kicks:
Yes this will be a good score to chase, some work left
Bulls flanker Dewald Potgieter will miss the first two months of the Super Rugby season after undergoing surgery.
The 24-year-old – capped six times by South Africa – suffered cuts to his arm in what the franchise has described as a “freak accident”.
Last 5 overs saved us a big embarrassment
Last 5 ovs 61/2 RR 12.20
Knights need to go at over 8/over, should be exciting if not too many wickets early on
@ Just For Kicks:
Aagh dammit , he looked in great form against the Cheetahs. I thought he would play himself back to the top tier off SA flankers this year.
Shame we expect so much for our players and they must go through all these bad luck.
Go Well Dewald
Reset time slow on your side too JFK. Is the BOSS working on the site again?
Dolphins 151/6 (20/20 ov)
Impi 30/0 (3.0/20 ov)
Impi require another 122 runs with 10 wickets and 17.0 overs remaining
21@ superBul:Mine seems ok, it’s me thats being slow today, but posts seem to be fine
20@ superBul:I wonder what ‘suffered cuts to his arm in what the franchise has described as a “freak accident”’ means? a fight? attacked by a thorn bush? Sounds very suspect to say the least!
Knights 3 down for 39 now, Bailey up for a big fine, I fear, showing dissent when given out for a catch. Told the ump, in no uncertain terms, it came off his arm. Silly boy
John Smit Captains for Saracans today
These young guys want to have a normal life outside of rugby, and then again the union invest so much into a player. One never know were the line must be drawn.
……at prop, of course!!!!!
Commenting on the setback, Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke said he felt for Potgieter, who just returned from an ankle injury.
“Dewald worked very hard to get back in shape and ready for Super Rugby, so it is a setback to him and to the team. He was going to be an important cog in our loose trio combinations, but we are blessed to have some good depth in that position.”
he wisdoms you get on Facebook
If you cross the North Korean Border illegally you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian Border illegally you are detained indefinitely.
If you cross the Afghan Border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian Border illegally you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese Border illegally you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan Border illegally you will be branded a spy & your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Cuban Border illegally you will be thrown into political prison to rot.
HOWEVER If you cross the South African Border illegally you get ✍ a
job, ✍ a
drivers license, ✍
a pension card, ✍
welfare, ✍
credit cards, ✍
subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house, ✍ a
free education & ✍ free health care.
Perks include ✍ weapons of your choice. & in South Africa you can. ✍ murder, ✍ use drugs, ✍ drink and drive, ✍ steal, ✍ rape
BUT PLEASE South Africans DON’T SMOKE – in public it is illegal!!!!!! =))
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