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.
March 4th, 2010 at 16:21 SAST
Bye Puma am also going to leave nownow
March 4th, 2010 at 16:22 SAST
Is it not time for Hugh Reese-Edwards to make a come back?
March 4th, 2010 at 16:22 SAST
He he he @ Loosehead…
March 4th, 2010 at 16:24 SAST
Loosehead you cant be serious about HRE.
March 4th, 2010 at 16:25 SAST
…. or get a fresh Oke in like Teichman…. he has’nt coached but he certainly understands the dynamics…
March 4th, 2010 at 16:25 SAST
Havent we had him before helping with the coaching and it was a flop, we want to win not just get by.
March 4th, 2010 at 16:27 SAST
Blouste, boet help me out here with some coaching suggestions for the Tjarks.
Paris Hilton?
March 4th, 2010 at 16:28 SAST
Ok guys i am out of here, lovely chatting, but all of you that are not Sharks want us to take someone like Chester Williams and that is so
WE WILL BE BACK (arnie voice)
SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
March 4th, 2010 at 16:29 SAST
Loosehead hahahahahahahahahahahahahahha
March 4th, 2010 at 16:31 SAST
Fukken Sharks will probably poach Naka.
March 4th, 2010 at 16:32 SAST
At the end of the S14 Muir will be able to move back to the Tjarks.
March 4th, 2010 at 16:36 SAST
@ 110
Then they’ll probably be in deeper shyte !!!
March 4th, 2010 at 16:37 SAST
111 – Loosehead had to log back on. Thought of this one.
Keep Plum on as Forward Coach ( he is a good forwards coach)
Bring back Campo for back line. (arrogant but will put Straueli in his place) Sharks were good when we had Campo.
Then get Os in for our Srcum Coach. We love to poach from the Free State
Cheers now out of here
March 4th, 2010 at 16:41 SAST
@ 111
And then the Lions will sit with less shyte
March 4th, 2010 at 16:42 SAST
Smaak my ou Ashley is sommer vroeg kareoke toe vanmiddag…
March 4th, 2010 at 16:55 SAST
blouste @ 115
hehehe
jaaaaaaa boet!!
naaaaah busy as always. wont be able to make it tonight!!
…………………………………………………
busy as a bee. busy busy busy
March 4th, 2010 at 16:56 SAST
anyway guys
i’m out
will hopefully be able to chat a bit more tomorrow!!
…
bloody hell, i still need to make my picks!!
f*ck!!
March 4th, 2010 at 17:03 SAST
jeez
nearly forgot to make my pics!!
not
that i’m good at it anyway!!
March 4th, 2010 at 17:03 SAST
1996
March 4th, 2010 at 17:03 SAST
1997
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1998
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1999
March 4th, 2010 at 17:04 SAST
2000 comments
at f*ckin last!!!