Taking a look at the Super Rugby season for The Sharks thus far has been painful and regrettable, the uncertainty and anger of supporters as to “What just happened out there” or “Why? Who is to blame?” and naturally the first thing that is thrown around is “Dismiss the coaching staff!”.
The Sharks Super Rugby season fell flat from the start and why I say this has so many reasons, making it difficult to pin point as to why. One must also however take into account that as an outsider we are not privy to the underlying issues, so how much of what has been said or heard or read is true? How much of what is being said is true and is being swept under the carpet?
Reading most of the social media sites, the one thing that is very clear is that the majority of Sharks supporters seem angry and want change within the coaching structures.
The question one must ask however, is whether we as supporters are being fair, or whether they are justified in asking it? I have asked myself this question over and over as I sit after a match, angry at the loss, saying enough is enough and this cannot continue. Because of this I find myself sitting on the fence with two signs, one saying THERE MUST BE NEW COACHING STAFF and the other saying BUT WHAT OF ALL THE INJURIES AND PROBLEMS THAT THE COACHING STAFF HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH.
But let us start by looking at the first problem and that is the rumours of alleged problems between some of the players. Again there is the old saying of “There is my side of the story, their side of the story and then there is the truth” and my feeling here is that the players should sort this problem out between them as adults, as it does not seem to involve the coaching staff, again if rumours are to be believed.
What does involve the coaching staff in the above matter however is the strange man-management of Ryan Kankowski. This problem seems to be a long way from being resolved as the Springbok 8th man was again left out of the squad the past weekend, without explanation. Ryan Kankowski said on Twitter that he has flu, yet the following day he was playing Club Rugby, which makes one doubt that reasoning.
This brings the question of how much of a rift / problem has this issue cause in the team dynamics? Surely the team spirit is most important in a TEAM game and if there are rumblings amongst personnel things will always go wrong. Which other problems there are, one can only assume as these rumours abound. The Ryan Kankowski situation is still unresolved.
With all the injury problems that have decimated The Sharks and not having Ryan Kankowski there to play when needed, has left a very sour taste in the mouths of many Sharks supporters. His form, although not brilliant, was no worse than that of his fellow players and surely his experience could have been vital on tour, yet coach John Plumtree opted to play loan players from the Lions in his place.
The second problem of course is the serious run of injuries to players in The Sharks squad in this year’s Super Rugby tournament. I cannot recall any other Super Rugby team ever having had this kind of injury, even last year when there were around 12 Sharks players out injured at the start of the 2012 campaign and everyone then thought it could not get worse… well it did! In 2012 there was still some respite, as most injuries were of a less serious nature and players were not out of the games for such a very long period.
This year has been very different as the injury toll started around 10 players and grew to where it was around 20, as every match played resulted in 2 or 3 more players getting injured, most of which were long term injuries to boot.
The argument goes around that all teams have injuries and that one can only play with the players available to you, they say. Others will tell you that you must have enough depth and that is where it is going wrong. I am therefore sitting on the fence regarding The Sharks coaching staff.
Yes I know the first problem lays at the hands of John Plumtree and his cohorts but one has to stay objective and be realistic. If you took away a mechanic’s tools and then moaned that he did not fix the car, is he really to blame? Or if you blame the bus driver for not doing his trip, but there is no fuel in the tank, is it still his fault?
The Sharks coaching staff have, for most of the season, sat with at least 16 players out injured for every match played. This is more than the starting 15 on any given match day. The past weekend The Sharks still had 16 players out, so I went and did a little exercise for myself as it is not only about the amount of players out injured, but who these players are and what they mean to the team dynamics.
Of course one MUST also look at the players in the correct context and whether they are indeed first choice players. Would they normally be in the match day 22 and which positions positions are most effected. Many people do not realize that with many injuries come new combinations for a team and when this happens every week, things go wrong. With constant new combinations there is no continuity within the team and new players are constantly trying to learn and adapt to the playing moves and calls, which take time to drill in.
In The Sharks injury crises, not only was it necessary for players to rise from the lower leagues at The Sharks, some were also loaned from the Lions, which mean they were not privvy to the regular Sharks structures and culture and did not know The Sharks calls or playing moves or game plan at all. Yet we as supporters expect miracles from our team coaching staff and we refuse to accept the effect all these injuries would have had on the team.
The injury list follows for the season so far and yes, some players have now returned after long term injuries, but that is only recently. In this time of a few players returning there has been renewed injuries to other players, which again breaks down any progress made by the team.\
Forwards:
- Bismark du Plessis, Springbok hooker
- Beast Mtawarira, Springbok prop
- Ryan Chadwick, backup Loose head prop
- Anton Bresler, First choice lock
- Willem Alberts, Springbok Flank
- Jean Deysel, Springbok Flank
- Jacques Botes, Flank
- Keegan Daniel, Springbok flank and team captain
- Allan Dell, Junior Springbok prop
- Craig Burden, Springbok hooker
Backline:
- Francois Steyn, Springbok Center/Fullback
- Tim Whithead, center
- Kobus Reinach, Scrumhalf
- Louis Ludik, fullback
- JP Pietersen, Springbok wing
- Lwazi Mvovo, Springbok wing
- Butch James, Springbok flyhalf
- Paul Jordaan, Junior Springbok center/wing
- S’bura Sithole, Junior Springbok wing
- Andries Coetzee, Loan fullback / wing from the Lions
- Marius Joubert, Former Springbok center
Looking at this injury list, there are many critical positions hugely effected. Without using it as a total excuse or as the only reason why the team has underperformed, one also has to be realistic as to what these injuries have caused within a team’s dynamics.
Yes, players coming into the team now have a chance to show their class and show their worth, but again these things take time. Using Piet Lindeque as an example, in The Sharks vs Bulls match this past weekend, he gave his first fairly good performance in The Sharks jersey, this after already having played 5 matches for The Sharks.
Being a fringe player can and never will guarantee that the player will play at the same level as the player he has replaced. All one has to do is look at the performance in the scrums by Tendai “Beast” Mtwarira on the weekend (where he was superb). This was his first match in a few months and it was clear to see what a difference one first choice player makes for the team, so imagine what effect all the first choice team members who were out injured, would have made on the team as a whole.
Against the Bulls for example, 8 of the 9 currently on the injury list did not play and are still injured and of the 8 backs still out injured, 5 would probably have been in the starting 15, with another 2 on the bench.
Maybe another question that needs to be looked at, with that long injury list is whether the Sharks conditioning of the players are in order?
Is it not now the opportune time for John Plumtree to look more at youngsters to play Currie Cup later in the year? This might deepen the squad depth for the future and might give these players the opportunity to grow as players. We know a lot of senior squad members will be doing national duty with the Springboks or will still be on the injured list when the Currie Cup takes place.
The question is not IF there is a problem but HOW it will get resolved. No doubt there is a very daunting task awaiting incumbent CEO, John Smit, and the management staff and to just say that the coachingf staff need to be sacked, just to satisfy hysterical supporters, is not the way to go!
Eish my heart is sore as for my Sharks it is all about what could have been.
Dagse Rudi, hope you are well,
I wanted to add a Poll, but was not sure as to how to add it, if you think it would be a good idea? please help a man out when you have time.
dis ak die boere daar se skuld aldus keeeeeeeeegan.jaag die boere weg da problem solved
@ smallies:
😆 Smallies los daai pappegaai twak, want dit laat jou toe om te praat die KAK 😆
Didn’t the Sharks changed their pre-season conditioning to focus more on technique. I remember reading something like that. Wonder if there is any correlation between that and the number of injuries.
This is not simply a question whether the Coaches need to be fired, it is much more complex.
Questions which need to be answered:
Is the Sharks conditioning program on par?
Is their pre-season preparation correct?
Is the game plan The Sharks employ not condusive to causing more injuries?
Are The Sharks as a group and squad hampered by perrenially injured players?
Are the Sharks too quick to jump at the chance to use loaned players from elsewhere?
Do some of the older players need to be farmed out to pasture?
Do The Sharks as a Union contract cleverly enough, considering their abundance of players in certain positions and the lack thereof elsewhere?
Is there a proper succession plan in place to replace aging and often injured players?
Is this year’s heavy injury count pre-season and now not an inherited situation from 2012 and before?
How effective is player management applied and is rotation used correctly?
Is part of the problem a mental one?
Are there indeed some unhappiness issues prevalent?
Are the communication structures clear and solid?
Do The Sharks have the right medical and medical support staff?
I suppose there are some more pertinent questions to be raised, bar these and I suppose some of these questions will be answered in a very positive manner, but one needs to shake the whole cage and see the sum total one comes up with, and then react accordingly.
So, to simply say it’s Plum’s fault is reactive, not pro-active.
I think that Plumtree has reached the limit of his coaching ceiling. The team looks like an unhappy bunch of guys, playing a game that they are not suited to. Lamby is not a kicking 10, yet he is playing like Catkiller. Daniels is totally out of form, and is not a captain. Steyn has been treated like crap, so too Kanko and the Marais locks. Surely there are more than 4 props in KZN? Why import a France bound Lions prop? Surely there are more than two scrummies in KZN?
I don’t get it.
So nice to see positive posts from the bloggers who ask genuine questions, and that was my reason for the Article,
It matters not who you support, as these problems I am sure arise at all unions, and like Rudi said, it is now how things get resolved without outbursts of FIRE THEM ALL.
This is why I said so many unanswered questions, and the only people that can answer them is the Sharks union and their players and coaching staff
@ grootblousmile:
Agree with you 100% Rudi, and thus my sitting on the fence re this issue.
People get to emotional and go on a dismiss them rage.
I mean there is even a face book page to have plum fired 😯
For me John Smit has a huge task at hand, There needs to be a total relook at all systems and work from there.
Fire die hele beleddie spul en vat Coetzee van die WP en sy sirkus saam asb
Dankie vir die samewerking
jokes aside
Yes is very human like for passionate supporters that demand a total change when things go pear shape
But face it, new blood at the Sharks and Stormers can only be a good thing and I think it is time for fresh ideas, fresh management styles and a fresh future for both unions
A couple of weeks ago while watching the game Sharks against the Reds I made this remark to myself:
The Sharks is a team without fight.
Then the Daniel/language story broke.
Against the Bulls, in the last minute Pat Lambie kick for touch. Again an action of a team (not Lambie) without fight.
The Sharks must put the fight back and not point finger to injuries and the coach. Just like the Daniel/language story these are all smoke screens.
Look as much as I often troll the Sharks, it is very sad to see such a quality bunch of players just not performing.
Groot bleu is jy somewhere?
15 @ superBul:
Jaaaa, Groot Bla-bla-bla is hier…. hehehe
ek wou jou iets vra oor n network connection, maar ons het reg gekom
My dogter se laptop het ook opgepak maar sy like mos die local boykies, so laat sy maar self regkom.
Sy praat van n nuwe een koop vir R3999
weet glad nie wat hulle haar gaan gee daarvoor nie
17 & 18 @ superBul:
Vir R 4 000.00 kry mens maar die basics, bottom of the range.
Hopelik laai hulle darem so paar goedjies benewens Windows vir haar.
@ grootblousmile:
Ja jong expect a SOS soon
20 @ superBul:
Hehehehe
@ grootblousmile:
ek lees jul vurige debat oor HM en die Bokke en dink dat die hitte sal styg die oomblik as die span aangekondig word
Ek persoonlik wens dat HM die alewige ervaring verskoning los en nuwe spelers kies. Netnou kom ashley en se hy ploeg met Peter de Villiers se kalwers.
superBul wrote:
Kyk man ek en jy en meeste ander hier dink glad nie JdeV is die beste nie, nie meer nie. Dus hou hy n uiters talentvolle paar uit die geleentheid. Deesdae se jongklomp word al van dag een af in die geselskap groot, daar tussen die grootmense. Hulle word nie vir die eerste paar maande in n donker kamertjie gevoer nie. Dus is hulle vir geen grootmens bang nie. Netso op die Rugby veld
“This is definitely the biggest game of the season for us,” Strauss. “We know all three games that are left are important, but this is certainly the biggest for us and we want to keep the momentum we have been building on every week.
Watch it son, this is not that big, dont feel this is the end all. You will cry like the Stormers the last 2 years.
Ask Pierre Spies which is the biggest game
22 @ superBul:
Jong, jy weet mos ek het nie ‘n probleem as daar nie ‘n enkele Bulls speler in die span is nie, en / of as al die spelers Sharks, Cheetahs en Stormers is nie… wat ek wel wil hê is dat die beste 22 (as goeie kombinasies) gekies word vir die Bokke en die game plan en voorbereiding reg is met konsentrasie op die regte goed.
Wat my egter warm onder die kraag maak is wanneer mense net spelers van hulle eie Franchise raaksien en ophemel asof hulle die beste ding is sedert gesnyde brood.
Die feite is mos eenvoudig:
Sharks het ‘n sterk voorry, soos aangevul met Cheetahs Adriaan Strauss en Coenie die Boef
Die Bulls het fantastiese lynstaanslotte soos aangevul deur Etzebeth en Pieter-Steph du Toit
Die loosies moet ‘n goeie combo wees.. en na my mening moet hulle bestaan uit Flo Louw / Brussow (oopkant), Arno Botha / Kolisi / Alberts (blindekant), Pierre Spies / Alberts / Arno Botha (agsteman)
Skrummie moet na my mening Jano Vermaak / Piet van Zyl wees
Losskakels sal vir my Morné Steyn / Demetri Catrakilis wees
Binnesenters – Jan Serfontein / Robert Ebersohn
Buitesenters – JJ Engelbrecht / Jean de Villiers
Linkervleuel – Bryan Habana / Bjorn Basson
Regtervleuel – Willie le Roux / Gio Aplon
Heelagters – Willie le Roux / Pat Lambie / Zane Kirchner
Wie het ek ooglopend vergeet?
Sien nou die artikel, lyk my die Staat dink dis Saterdag die eindstryd
Well-known sports psychologist Henning Gericke says the Cheetahs should see their game against the Bulls as an opportunity, and not an obstacle.
Since they became a franchise in 2006, the men from Bloemfontein have never beaten the Bulls in Super Rugby, with their best effort a 23-25 loss in Bloemfontein in 2011. They also came close this year at Loftus Versfeld before losing 20-26.
However, Gericke, who assisted the Boks when they won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, said there were enough positives this season for the Cheetahs to overturn the record books.
“The Cheetahs team of 2013 is one that overcomes challenges,” he told the Volksblad website.
“I would compile a video of everything they’ve achieved this year. They won three out of four matches overseas, lost Johan Goosen and had to overcome other injuries.
“I always speak of the two O’s. The Cheetahs have to see the game as a massive opportunity, and not an obstacle.
Gericke also believes the Cheetahs have enough leadership and experience to help them overcome arguably their toughest test this season.
@ grootblousmile:
Ek hou mos van kombinasies, maar n paar grotes het erg platgeval die jaar. Ja dalk weens beserings maar dit het tog gebeur.
Dink Stormers se slotte
Dink die vorige Bulls skakelpaar
Agterste driehoek in tatters
Lostrio erg deurmekaar
27 @ superBul:
Ek dink ook kombinasies is dodelik belangrik!
Die 3 Bulls kombinasies wat vir my uitstaan die seisoen is die Bulls slotte Flip en Juandré, die Bulls skakelpaar van Jano Vermaak saam met Morné Steyn, die Bulls senters Jan Serfontein saam met JJ Engelbrecht
Wat die Sharks aanbetref, ons het Saterdag wat verby is die waarde van Beast en Doc Jannie as stutte duidelik in die skrums gesien.
Die losvoorspelers is vir my ‘n kombinasie, maar op ‘n ander manier.. ek kies hier 3 spelers wat 3 duidelik verskillende rolle kan vertolk – die fetcher, dodelike tackler en hande-van-goud man…. derhalwe kan ek nie 3 vind van een provinsie nie, maar het duidelik die rolspelers geidentifiseer wat sal nodig wees. Dis jammer Duane Vermeulen is beseer en dis ook jammer CJ Stander is van die Bulls af oorsee toe, so mens moet dan maar die onvolmaakte plaasvervanger in Spies as agsteman gebruik, op Nr 7 speel ek bittergraag vir Arno Botha bo Willem Alberts (van vorm af) en dis blerrie belangrik dat Flo Louw of Heinrich Brussow op oopkant na die bal toe kan gaan speel.
Die agterste driehoek pla my kwaai… baie kwaai… maar ek weet Willie le Roux MOET daar wees…
25: HM gaan Jan en JDV as sy senterpaar speel. Gebruik die Junie toetsreeks om die volgende geslag Bokke bloot te stel – Jan, PSDT, Ebersohn, Arno, Rhule. Maak Strauss of Spies kaptein.
Toekomstige bokspan ?
Willie
Rhule
JJE
Jan
Basson
Goosen/Pollard
Hougaard (as hy hopelik regkom)
Arno
Lappies
Brussow/Stegmann
Eben
Flip
Coenie
Strauss (k)
Beast
PSDT lyk nie na ‘n klassieke slot in die Bakkies Botha klas nie, eerder supersub soos Daniesourus, wat 7 en 4 kan speel.
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