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The Sharks lost against Province on Saturday because we got certain selections wrong up front – but more so because the guys that were picked didn’t front up to the massive physical challenge that the WP pack mounted. Trying to blame rookie flyhalf Guy Cronjé is frankly nonsensical and smacks of the politics of desperation.
I don’t think anyone anticipated how much of an impact Chris Jack and Anton van Zyl would have in the Province engine room. To say that they were utterly superb on the day and under the conditions would be a gross understatement. The underrated Province loose forwards also played out of their skins and the Sharks pack, as a whole, simply weren’t in it. This, mind you, is a unit containing a pair of Bok props and a pair of locks who only last week were in the Springbok 22. To say that the Sharks pack should have performed better is again stating the obvious.
Once again, the Botes-Daniel combination was shown up in a tight game and in hindsight, perhaps Skipper Badenhorst should have started in a game that was going to be more about grunt than it was about pace and finesse. Steven Sykes worked hard while Deysel erred on the side of trying to be a one-man show. The rest of the pack was anonymous and Jannie du Plessis, in particular, needs the riot act read in no uncertain terms. Is he incapable of putting in a decent performance without his little brother there to hold his hand?
Joe Muller too seems to have lost his mojo in a big way. Perhaps he needs some rest after a number of seasons without a break. Well, he got the break on Saturday, in more ways than one and we’ll struggle to replace him. That said, I hope he comes back full of his old fire and reignites a pack that is currently playing on reputation alone.
Let’s get back to poor bloody Guy Cronjé though. Did anyone actually see him touch the ball in the first half? If you’re going to develop the player, then pick him and let him run the game the way he’s supposed to, for goodness sake! Don’t keep shuffling him around the backline to wherever you feel he’ll do the least damage while letting Oom Stefan and Riaan Swanepoel take turns at pretending to be the flyhalf. I understand Plum then went on afterwards about he was only picked because there was nobody else, which is quite different to what he was saying before the game.
Developing a flyhalf is a process and the first step is empowering the player and giving him continuity in the position. Let Cronjé settle and don’t shield him from the realities of the game he’s decided to play for a living. After five matches, we’ll know whether he has what it takes or not.
Then again, as we saw last weekend in Joburg, even hte great Morné Steyn looks pretty ordinary behind a pack that’s getting whipped. Sort the forwards, Sharks. You can’t play 10-man rugby without a pack.
Even more indicative when one considers how a very young Steyn (who just broke onto the scene) was allowed (being played there and entrusted in the position) ripped WP apart a couple of years back in pouring rain in Durbs…
@Morné (Comment 1) : exactly… I posted that exact message on Cronje’s facebook wall last week.
Look, the kid doesn’t have a huge boot like Steyn does and Willem de Waal is a great exponent of wet weather rugby… one feels, though, that the Sharks kind of threw in the towel before the game even started, though.
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
I thought they were one-trick ponies to be honest.
They came with seemingly no plan. Perhaps this is showing Plum to be a one trick pony too?
Dunno.
WP you could see had a definite plan however, they knew what they wanted to do.
I remember Plum and the Sharks saying after the S14 game earlier this year that he just told his team to hang on because he knew the Stormers will tire out and basically hand them the game.
I thought this statement a bit stupid at the time, tha basically means you are not doing anything on your own to win the game and as it happened, some injuries (JDV) conspired and they got the result then.
They seemed to ‘wait’ on Saturday again and not really try anything to put WP under any pressure.
@Morné (Comment 3) : I agree with you… afraid Plum is not filling me with huge amounts of confidence right now.
I don’t think he understands anything about coaching attack… thus, he doesn’t bother. It’s not that the Sharks don’t want to play attacking rugby. It’s that they don’t know how to!
@robdylan (Comment 4) : I agree…there just doesn’t seem to be any plan…at all and it’s been like that for a while now.
We can do with the experience of a guy like Hernandez…this is not blaming Guy…it’s just the reality. If the team doesn’t have confidence and keep trying to protect Cronje he will never learn.
@Morné (Comment 3) : Me and you need to fight
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 6) :
Nah bru, blame WP rugby who only gives us one accreditation.
And dont blame me if my boet makes you pissed!
Steven Sykes worked hard while Deysel erred on the side of trying to be a one-man show
im sure it would be better if the rest of the forward actualy tried to support him,that turn over that they scored from, was because there were 3 wp players and no sharks!
@Morné (Comment 7) :
Nah, its something else, I believe you had a hookup with a certain restaurant that happens to be my favourite.
@Morné (Comment 7) : Your boets a legend, forget you
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
Or not alloed too…
@Prof. Ice (Comment 11) :
I’m with you here Ice.
The Sharks know how to play attacking rugby – the coach doesn’t have the confidence to let them play though… He didn’t have it in the Super 14 and I don’t think he’ll start now with 10plus players out…
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
So then Jon Smit probably coached the Sharks for their S14 game against the Bulls earlier this year.
My view, forget this game, the weather was plane and simple crap. Up until Daniel got binned (dose anyone know what for?) the Sharks were hanging in there and those 10 points they scored in that period was just too much to come back from. Write this game off as a bad loss but dont get in a frenzy about it,if they dish up the same in dry conditions then start worrying.
Did anyone see the u21 game, Sharkies went down 14-0 in the same conditions. The result in no way shows the complete dominance the Sharks had over the young Province team but again they just could not breach the defences in miserable conditions.
Come now guys, its one game at the start of the campaign.
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : Snap
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : The weather was worse for the u/21 game
According to Plum himself…
“The process of signing Hernandez is ongoing. There are certain processes in place to secure his signature and hopefully we’ll move forward with that in the next few days. “
You think we got problems at fly half…. Did anyone see the Bulls kicking
@Salmonoid (Comment 13) : Daniel got binned for something Botes did… only conclusion I’ve managed to come to.
I must admit i was surprised by the make up of your backline, the Tjorks seriously look to be lacking depth….Where is Waylon, has Brad head back to the UK? Losing Pienaar and Steyn and JP is a pretty big blow to your resources….
I do look forward to seeing Vundu fellow in dry condtions – looks like he has potential.
@blackshark (Comment 12) :
We defnitely have it – I refer to the last game against the Bulls…that was spectacular!!
@willa (Comment 8) : Agreed with you! Rob did you see on Saturday my point about Bismarck? 1. We saw what happened to the SBs when Bismarck was not in the front row, same props, same locks (okai Muller behind John) and same loosies they were going backwards until Bissie came on! Same as Saturday, when Skipper came on. If Scrumming is part of a hookers job, then , Craig is just not a hooker I am sorry!
2. The only guy in the Sharks that was effecting any turnover ball at all was Deysel, and was hardly ever supported, Bismarck makes as many steals as any loosie.
3. Jannie cannot prop if he does not have little brother there holding him up
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 22) : so we need to pick Deysel at openside and a BIG ball carrier at blindside. Let Keegan and Jacques fight over the remaining spot – but since Keegan is going to be captain…
@Rahul (Comment 17) :
Juan Martin Hernandez
I can understand why this is an ongoing process…long signature.
All and all a terrible performance by the forwards( whom I thought should dominate) and coupled with an inexperienced backline with no gameplan….we were lucky to get the 15 points.
Rory had a shocker IMO ( thank goodness he can kick ) how many penalties did he concede?? and I’m not even talking about the charge down. It’s time for Rory to start playing like one of the senior players that he is.
And what happened to Botes lately? He is not at all the player that I used to admire.
Who is our backup lock?? Will the Sharks start with AvdB or will he continue to be an impact player.
I wonder when the last time was that AvdB played 80 min of rugby
@blackshark (Comment 24) :
@blackshark (Comment 24) : you really think it’s going to make that much difference signing one marquee player? Does he even hablo ingles?
@Pokkel (Comment 26) : in Witbank last Friday night… I hear he was awful.
@Pokkel (Comment 25) : Agree wiff Rory comments and have to add, he looks like he wants to fight (like a true scrummie) instead of playing rugby
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Exactly! I prefer Jacques personally he is more industrious and doesn’t get yellow carded as often if ever! But yep if he is the Captain then I guess we will need him on, and who would be the other Loosie? Downey only came in when the Sharks had already thrown in the towl couldn’t see much! and at lock? Surely not geriatric Albert! if that is our option then lets rather call Johan back out of retirement
@Pokkel (Comment 25) : I reckon JB needs some bench time, to be honest
@robdylan (Comment 28) : I think he will. Fowards dont need to protect the flyhalf, scrummie doesnt have to kick everything, maybe the centres will get to touch the ball!
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 9) :
Oh ja! Small world – who knew!
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 22) :
Jannie is becoming a badprop.
@robdylan (Comment 23) :
Isn’t Jacques Botes next in command after Muller?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 31) : not really fair to judge Justin on 20 minutes out of position anyway…. but I still thought he did well. Saved a try within a minute of coming into the field.
@robdylan (Comment 28) : I think he will….I’ve seen it time and time again….you can’t play rugby without a decent flyhalf….just look at how the AB’s are struggeling without Carter….and their 2nd choice flyhalf isn’t half bad.
@Rahul (Comment 33) : the only way to get more ball to the flyhalf with Kockott in the team is to make Kockott the flyahlf.
@blackshark (Comment 35) : he blew his chance in the 2007 Currie Cup
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 22) :
For once someone agrees what I have been saying all along about Dr. Jannie…
@robdylan (Comment 36) : That is exactly the problem….if Cronje’s team mates don’t have confidence in him and won’t trust him then he is in effect not the right guy for the job.( I’m NOT saying he is a bad player, but I’m sure they wouldn’t have protected Hernandez in that way)
If they are going to play Cronje then treat him like you would any other flyhalf.
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
I kinda did throw in half a towel when I was told about the rain…so I suppose you are right about the players too…
@Pokkel (Comment 40) : they should pick Len Olivier… I doubt he’d be protected by the team
@blackshark (Comment 41) : Cuz, if you don’t believe you’re good enough to win, then why play?
@Morné (Comment 34) : Yep, and its worse when Bismarck is away!! WP played really well, and all credit to them! The performance from our “experienced” lot really gets my goat. Not even a losing Bonus point!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 36) : Sorry that Is what I meant. I couldn’t judge him ’cause he came on late in the match also when the remainder of the team had already given up!
Spot on Rob. geez to expect him to step up successfull in that wet is a bit unfair. The bit pill he recieved he did not cock up and Cocky sure did not gave him enough to dominate. If you compare Duvenhage (some of his passes end up with our 13).
@Prof. Ice (Comment 39) :
Have you seen how awkward he looks when he runs?
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
Helping the guy out – a la FdP is one thing – but doing everything so that you take out the rest of the backline is just not good enough…
Can we succeed with 9 – man rugby and a weakened pack?
@Prof. Ice (Comment 39) : As far as JDP I have always agreed with you Prof
Naas Botha got protected his whole career, Ruan gets protected to a certain extent, its not ideal but this was his first game on the big stage in the most trying of conditions. As of next week the holiday is over.
@blackshark (Comment 47) : so what do you think of Morras’s suggestion to give Kocky a run at 10? Since he’s determined to run the show all on his own anyway?
@Salmonoid (Comment 49) : Naas was protected on defence… other made his tackles for him. But they never shied away from giving him the ball and letting him dictate the game… it’s kind of what he was famous for…
@robdylan (Comment 43) :
Stupid thing to do – especially when rain has always been on the cards.
What has Plum done with the team since that glorious day in Durban?
@blackshark (Comment 52) : they’ve gone backwards, all right… most worrying is the way that they all seem to be playing as individuals these days
@robdylan (Comment 42) :
Ok time to expand on that one.
@blackshark (Comment 52) : Gone to the Seychelles
@Salmonoid (Comment 54) : I can’t.
@robdylan (Comment 50) :
I suppose 10-man rugby is a step-up from 9 -man rugby.
But my answer is NO.
To steal from PdV…that would be like demolishing the whole house to make one room bigger…instead of bringing down a wall or two…
Kockott was not like this in the beginning – I still believe he is being coached this way. So my solution…un-coach this silly behaviour…
@blackshark (Comment 57) : how? Our coach seems a little clueless at the moment.
@Salmonoid (Comment 54) : @robdylan (Comment 56) :
i agree and i demand…
@robdylan (Comment 51) :
Exactly, many regard him as the greatest and he still got protection. Yes things were different then but he always had a scrummie that could pass the ball miles and a dominant pack – not conditions that young Cronje had on Saturday.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 59) :
And when Ice demands, hooo boy, you better deliver.
RobD from your comment it doesnt seem like he is too well loved by his teammates. I also found it strange Plum emphatically saying that he had no other choice but to play young Cronje.
@Salmonoid (Comment 61) :
You betcha!!
The Cronje Twins are Hansie nephews.
@Salmonoid (Comment 61) : Sammy, that particular comment rankled with me as well.
For two reasons… 1 being that he spent all of last week mouthing off in the press about how great Cronje was… and then afterwards he says “I only picked him cos there was nobody else”. That’s a bit of a Mallet thing to do. BUT – we need to remember that saying “I picked him because there was nobody else” only appeared in the Voldy article. I’m not sure Plum actually used those exact words in the presser.
As for reason 2, well, yes… Len was another option.
@PaarlBok (Comment 63) : are you serious? Wow… And we lost both matches. Could it run in the family?
@PaarlBok (Comment 63) :
Really, they obviouly dont share the hair colour gene.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : They did two years ago…
@PaarlBok (Comment 63) : Frans’ kids? Hmmm. You sure about that?
@robdylan (Comment 64) :
Agreed, that statement seems too crass for Plum.
Rob you’ve got some pleasantly raunchy advertising going on here.
Gotta love those randomised adserver selections.
@klempie (Comment 70) : cpmadvisor selections.
@klempie (Comment 70) : for eg?
@robdylan (Comment 72) : While just now there were a string of about 7 video frames. Boobs and bum everywhere.
@klempie (Comment 73) : Put TT’s efforst to shame.
@klempie (Comment 73) : Well *
The ref was simply awful on saturday, and unfortunately johan Muller didn’t manage to pull the guys together. Lots of inexperience in our team, and no synergy….but have faith. Our boys will come back.
Its a bit tuff comparing anyone to Frans Steyn – he is such a huge talent that comes along once in a lifetime….
@klempie (Comment 73) : serious? Naked boobs?
Ok…
1.Cheetahs and Griquas…
Something wrong with the Cheetahs or something right with the Griquas…or a bit of both?
2.Based on the evidence from the 1st round of matches – does anyone else (besides Klemps) think that the Bulls are the team to beat?
@robdylan (Comment 77) : No.
@Just a Fan (Comment 76) : in his own mind, at least
@blackshark (Comment 78) : I think BS has a vendetta against me.
@klempie (Comment 79) : well – I don’t want to have offensive ads, that’s for sure… but I also don’t want to cut off the only little bit of revenue I have coming into this place. Double-edged sword.
@klempie (Comment 81) : he’s just one of the crew
@robdylan (Comment 82) : I’m not complaining. What I WILL complain about is the fact that it hasn’t resurfaced.
@klempie (Comment 81) :
Do you have sensor that notifies you when someone makes a comment about you?
But seriously – this is your chance to back up the statement you made earlier.
@robdylan (Comment 83) : Seems I am the SW pinata.
@blackshark (Comment 85) : I programmed a small plugin that watches the threads and looks for “klemp” instance.
@klempie (Comment 87) : Must remember to extend that to “klamp” too…
@klempie (Comment 88) :
Nicely done, sirrah
@klempie (Comment 88) : Ja Klempie…..-activate plugin- hoe gaan dit bra….die Sharks het maar bra kak gespeel Saterdag.
@Pokkel (Comment 90) : Hulle moet hulle bras uit trek voor hulle uit gaan. miskien sal hulle dan beter speel.
@klempie (Comment 91) : Hulle het te koud gekry
@Pokkel (Comment 92) :
Hulle het maar bra koud gekry..