Louis Ludik and Willem Alberts have both recently indicated that they want to move to the Sharks. Both of them have received offers from the Durban side, and have also now received counter offers from the Lions.
Recent news out of the camp is that both players are not as convinced of moving to the Sharks as they were a couple of weeks ago. Both have the same contracts as Jaque Fourie which was declared non-binding, only because the remuneration for 2010 was not specified. This also, apparently, on request of Fourie’s agent.
The question is, why do they want to move to the Sharks? Yes, they win more games, but in the last decade both the Lions and Sharks only have one Currie Cup to brag about, and neither side, has a Super trophy in the last decade. Is success measured on winning games but no titles? Since when?
Ludik will most likely ride the bench with Terreblanche wanting to play another season, and this can only do harm to his career. Same with Willem Alberts. There is no way in hell that he will be first choice ahead of Sharks’ lover boy Ryan Kankowski, and he is certainly no flank. He will probably ride the bench while Kanko features for the Sharks.
Why move to the Sharks where it is highly unlikely to be first choice in your positions, when you can stay with a much improved Lions side, under the coaching of Springbok-assistant Dick Muir? Which option would give them a better chance of featuring for the Boks? Personally, I think the appointment of Muir has made them reconsider their decisions.
It’s a fact that if there are any injuries in the Springbok camp, Ludik and Alberts will be considered due to them playing under Muir, as the coach will have full knowledge of the players’ abilities and limitations.
The other point is, that the Sharks under Plumtree, have definitely taken a step back compared to the side under Muir.
John Robbie recently wrote in his column in the independent, that the side to play for next year, is the Lions. I tend to agree with him. Dick Muir is a great coach, and this Lions side has some serious talent.
It would be wise for Ludik and Alberts to carefully consider their options. This might make or break their future Springbok aspirations.
Willa,
These guys appear almost desperate to leave. Why would that be?
fender, I think it was the uncertainty. After Loffie got sacked and Coetzee was appointed, a lot of guys thought that he was gonna be the Super 14 coach.
But Ludik himself said that he’s not too sure of going to the Sharks anymore. All the uncertainty has changed to expectancy and excitement. We have a decent coach for the first time since Laurie Mains.
With Burden having promised the Lions the he will come (not that it means much until a contract is signed), it’s already an indication that Muir may be a drawing card.
Willie
As Alberts wil Springbok word en op die EOYT gaan moet hy net bly waar hy is, by die Leeus.
Maar lyk my dis nou skielik n gier om see toe trek, wonder of die vroumense nie iets daarmee te doen het nie.
Soos my pa altyd se, as daar probleme is iewers, soek eerste vir n vroumens, hulle sit gewoonlik agter die probleme…
Willa, I really hope the guys stay then. And even as a WP supporter I’m not happy that Mossie and the Lions have gone their seperate ways. It could and should’ve been avoided, I reckon..
I really hope that things come together under the De Klerk administration now and that on the field the performances will match the hopefully renewed dedication of the top structures.
Om net by die inligting oor Ludik te las:
“Ek sal binne die volgende tien dae ’n besluit moet neem oor my toekoms,” sê hy.
Ek ondergaan elke dag rehabilitasie en fisioterapie. Die verwagting is dat ek eers in Januarie weer voluit sal kan hardloop en oefen.
“Ek sal ten minste die eerste twee weke van die Super14-seisoen moet misloop.
“Dis oneindig frustrerend om net so te moet sit en kyk hoe die ouens speel. Veral met Frans Steyn nie meer in die prentjie nie, is daar nie nou ’n gevestigde heelagter in die Springbok-opset nie en ek sou wat wou gee om my kleim te kon afsteek.
“Nou sien jy net hoe speel manne soos Joe Pietersen en Zane Kirchner goeie rugby en kan niks daaraan doen nie.”
Dié uitstaande jong speler sê hy sal selfs bereid wees om nog ’n seisoen in die skadu van die ervare oud-Bok Stefan Terblanche te speel.
“Ek was nogal bly toe ek nou die dag hoor hy sê hy gaan nog net volgende jaar speel. Ek kan beslis baie by hom leer – en dit sal my net baat om onder hom te kan speel en van die fyner kunsies by hom te leer,” sê Ludik.
Supa
Miskien ja, kan hy iets leer.
Stefan raak ook al 35, sal nie meer lank daar wees nie.
The simplest answer is that Kevin de Klerk as the new Lions President is a new broom who must not only sweep clean……………. but take a chainsaw to the deadwood, not in a few months but now.
It matters not if Dick Muir is the coach and there is a line up of talent, when there is no master business and marketing plan, to position the Lions and raise money.
There is a chaotic state of affairs in administration that you only get to see when this laundry is aired over player contracts that has cost the Golden Lions Rugby Union tens of Millions of rands and brought it financially to its knees. This is reckless and negligent trading and people have to be brought into account.
This has not been an event, but rather a slow corrosive process at the Lions and it is still not over.
Rugby is a business and the success or failure of a franchise starts and ends in the board room.
The Sharks are a successfull business.
Why would a player with any brains want to work for an unsuccessfull business?
Moving to the Sharks is like a promotion from a government department to a successfull private enterprise.
It is a very sensible thing to do.
#8 “The Sharks are a successfull business.” ?
Een CB in 12 jaar is nou nie eintlik wat ek ‘n sukses sou noem nie, en dit nog met ‘n groot ge-chokery met ‘n hoop vol bokke in hul geledere … 😉
The Sharks are a successfull business.
They make money and have a very well marketed brand that is recognized all over SA and internationally.
The fact that they are able to achieve this with the record that you point out is absolute proof of my point.
What happend with the Hans van Dyk biting issue?
#10 toemaar ou tighthead, net ‘n ou grap gemaak. Jy moet so nou en dan bietjie ‘n loosehead wees !
Ernstig: jy is reg, in terme van besigheid was en is die Sharks suksesvol. Behalwe laas saterdag, kry Durban gewoonlik vol pawiljoene met groot wedstryde.
My advice to Alberts would be to stay with the Lions for another year and see what De Klerk and Muir can do with the union.
My advice to the Sharks, don’t buy an ijured player.
No problem BDB.
I can laugh at myself as well!!
I will say this though, the Sharks have got a lot of thinking to do to keep the machine running!!
As you say, the crowd attendance for the semi was a disgrace.
14 The crowd do know their rugby though or rather the okes that stayed away!
what a lot of people are not aware of is that there were a few reason for bad attendance
1) yes some thought with arrogance its a forgone conclusion that sharks will play in final so rather saved money to go to final
2) with the new stadium and road works parking is now very scarce
3) at the same time as the rugby the following events were taking place right next to the stadium,
international swimming comepetion , with the likes of roland schoeman etc and an international field
international athletics event
and in durban itself durbans big cycle race
with the swiming and athletics right next to absa park and using the same parking as rugby normally does , i have no doubt it chased people away
Willa, jy sê sukses word gemeet aan bekers en nie wenne nie. Dan sê jy die Sharks is swakker vandat Plumtree by Muir oorgeneem het. Tog het Plum ‘n Currie Beker en Muir niks. Dit is nou wat ek nonsens noem.
Wel snoek willa is reg die sharks het 6 games in die super14 in n ry gewen en toe kon hulle nie eers die semis haal nie. Dm het dalk niks agter sy naam nie maar in sy kort tyd daar het hy hulle elke keer in n semi of finaal gekry dis meer as wat ek kan se van Plumtree. Dm is 1 van die beste afrigters in sa op die oomblik as nie die beste
Snoek, ek hoor wat jy se.
Wat ek bedoel is dat die Sharks stadig maar seker besig om agteruit te gan onder Plumtree, en baie Sharks ondersteuners stem saam. 2007 finaal gehaal, 2008 semi-gehaal, 2009 nie semi gehaal nie.
2008 CC gewen, 2009 tuis teen die Cheetahs in die semi verloor. Die Sharks hierdie jaar was BAIE swakker as laasjaar. Dis my punt.
Read that both these players may still be coming to the Sharks.
Now will just have to wait and see what happens.
Do feel for the Lions losing some of their players to other unions. I think though Muir will scout players from the U21’s He does like to bring in the youngsters just like he done when he took over at the Sharks. It sure did work very well.
Good luck to Muir and the Lions for next year.
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