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The Sharks will look to expand their attacking horizons when they start their Super 14 campaign against the Chiefs in Durban on Saturday, writes Jan de Koning for www.rugby365.com
Ulster-bound Springbok lock Johann Muller admitted that “scoring more tries” is a priority for the men from Durban this year.
The two-time and defending champion Bulls aside, the Sharks have been the most successful South African side in Super Rugby – runners-up three times and beaten semifinalists on another three occasions.
But as they look to finally claim some silverware in the toughest provincial competition in the world, they realise that they can’t afford to repeat the errors of the past.
“Yes, I do think so,” Muller told rugby365.com, when asked if there will be “something different” from the Sharks this year.
“Last year, despite winning all those early games, we only got a try-scoring bonus point a couple of times,” he said of a campaign that saw them win seven of their first eight matches, but still ended three points short of a play-off spot.
The Sharks were roundly criticised for a conservative approach in 2009 and now they look to be more adventurous.
“It may sound odd after we have played two [pre-season] games and having only scored one try in [those] two games, but we do really want to give the ball a lot more air,” Muller told rugby365.com.
“We want to play a bit more rugby and chase those bonus points,” he said, adding: “In the process you will probably lose one or two games, but if you look at our last game in the Super 14 last year, when we played the Bulls, that is the kind of rugby that people want to see and it is also what we as players want.
“That was certainly one of the better Super 14 games and was a really entertaining game that everybody enjoyed as spectators and we as players also enjoyed the type of rugby we played.
“We are certainly going to try and play a more exciting brand of rugby this year, if the situation and circumstances allow us.
“As I said, we still have some work to do, but we are certainly not going to be as conservative as last year.”
Muller admitted that the two pre-season games – a 0-26 loss to the Western Force and a 14-29 defeat at the hands of the Stormers – showed that hard work awaits, but they are confident they are on the right track.
“If you look at our last game against the Stormers, physically we were exactly where we wanted to be,” Muller said.
“The urgency was great, we really put them under pressure at the breakdowns. You can’t win any tournament without that, if you don’t have the mongrel and the intensity at the breakdowns you won’t get anywhere.
“We obviously still have some work to do in terms of our game plan.
“The most disappointing aspect for us would have been our defence.
“We’ve always been a team that prides itself on its defence and these last two games we conceded a few too many tries [0-4 try-count against the Force and one-three try-count against the Stormers], but then again, we also haven’t put that much work into our defensive systems and there are a few new guys who are not yet familiar with our defensive systems.
“But those are all small things we can work at training.”
this is good news to me!
not if rory isn’t reined in and the backline players fined if they kick away good ball. so i won’t get excited until i see them practice what they preach.
i obviously don’t expect them to get 4 try bp’s in the first two games, but if they aren’t starting to go for the try line by game 3 then they might as well give up.
@try time (Comment 3) : first two games are crucial. if the sharks dont win those two we will have major problems on tour, it is quite possibly the worst tour. ever.
so the sharks need to be playing well and have momentum, we take on the crusaders without them having mccaw, history in the making? i certainly hope so
i like the sound of this, the sharks want to play helter skelter, this will suit the Chiefs perfectly. Plus with their defence as porous as it is, Kahui, Mils & Lelia Masaga will be sure to rip it to shreds… Chiefs by 15 points
Sharks to attack more in 2010 Super 14
I’ll believe it when I see it.
I didn’t really see much attacking during the warmups.
@war1 (Comment 4) : the good thing is the sharks will still be fresh when they hit their tour. saturday is not going to be a beautiful game and i don’t expect many tries. durban is ridiculously hot and expect record breaking knock ons in the game. the good thing is the chiefs haven’t been training in this, the sharks have. as for the crusaders, they start slow, and the sharks have trained likewise, if the sharks can walk away with one point here it will be a victory. but then the fun should start, and by game 3 we should know if ludik and alberts are available.
rob love the new edit feature
oom bj and oom strools messed up, the willem alberts and louis ludik contract situation should have been sorted out long ago, their dragging of heels may cost the players game time!
@war1 (Comment 10) : with you on this one. but isn’t this what we have come to expect from adolf. imagine plums fustration, he knows he will need bulk for the first game cos of the weather conditions, but he is short alberts. also the cost of having to fly the guys seperately overseas and send guys back.
GO SHARKS !!!
@Megatron (Comment 6) : well then its a good thing that masaga and mils isnt playing that game….jackass
@willa (Comment 13) : easy with the personal attacks there, kemosabe
@robdylan (Comment 14) :
@robdylan (Comment 14) : ha ha in a far side cartoon a retired lone ranger goes through an apache dictionery to find out that kemosabe means horses butt. which means you insulted willa.
@robdylan (Comment 14) : Ah, Rob, be gentle, it’s difficult to restrain one’s self when megatron is involved
@Greg (Comment 17) : trust me… I am as guilty as any other.
Unfortunately, though, the same rules need to apply to everyone. I berated Megatron himself this weekend for a personal attack, so can you imagine the reaction if I didn’t do the same the other way?
He’s a troll of note, though. I get the feeling he’s supporting the Chiefs against the Sharks, which is all well and good, if that’s what he wants to do. I just wish he’d tell us who he’s supporting in the Super 14 so we can repay the favour
@try time (Comment 16) : was thinking of that as I typed it
@try time (Comment 11) : not a good situation
HAPPY Bday Walter
@robdylan (Comment 19) : hehe – remember we have editing option now
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Actually I don’t think he really supports any team, he just seems to get some perverse satisfaction in stirring the pot.
On another note, you ‘Last Man Standing’ rules state the winner needs to consent to the publishing of a ’suitable’ picture. Should I happen to win, would the picture of me in a Lion’s shirt be considered suitable?
the big guns of the kiwi sides are missing the opening 3 rounds, hope that affects their momentum
@robdylan (Comment 18) :
But it takes balls to nail your colours to the mast – what makes you think that he has these?
@Greg (Comment 17) : Agreed.
@robdylan (Comment 18) : so can you imagine the reaction if I didn’t do the same the other way?
Such protestations against hypocrisy go largely ignored on this site. I speak from experience…
@robdylan (Comment 18) : The Valke don’t play Super rugby last time I checked…
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
i thought it may have been too coincidental.
@war1 (Comment 20) : it must mess a coaches planning around. like injuries. all we can hope is that this situation is sorted out before the injuries start.
@war1 (Comment 24) : It really stuffs up Fantasy league though…..hey Rob how about some free trades after round 3??
@war1 (Comment 24) : plays into the sharks hands, as we play the two top teams. at least there is something to smile about.
@war1 (Comment 24) : why nobody told me. surely you are not too afraid I will win this thing
@willa (Comment 13) : masaga was passed fit last week for his shoulder injury but if he didn’t make the touring team the Foster is being cautious…still though…kahui, sivivatu and sweeney are capable of carving the sharks up.
@Greg (Comment 23) : dude… if you’re still willing to be seen in a Lions jersey after the Super 14, then by all means
@robdylan (Comment 18) : robdylan you are a troll yourself.
@Megatron (Comment 36) : why would I troll on my own site? Need to go back to your bridge and rethink that one, pal.
good morning to all sharks fans…and megatron . Question:why not just play willem alberts anyway?what repurcussions will there be if the case ends in favour of the sharks?
brian van zyl said in an interview in natal witness (6 feb) that sharks are not looking at contracting isma-eel dollie .they were looking at a few flyhalves but have decided on steve meyer(2year contract).
@bergshark (Comment 39) : thanks for that.
@robdylan (Comment 35) : Rob, I ran the bar at the Gauteng Sharks Supporters club for 18 months. On match days, I used to serve drinks behind the bar in my Lions Shirt. My colours are well and truly nailed to the mast, will always be willing to wear a Lions Jersey
@Greg (Comment 41) : and good on you!
Which supporters club? The one in Northcliff?
@robdylan (Comment 42) : That’s the one
@robdylan (Comment 37) : did i say on this site.
@Megatron (Comment 44) : LAME!!
@Greg (Comment 43) : nice one. Good bunch of guys
@robdylan (Comment 46) : I assume you have been there? When last? Don’t go there anymore, not since I stopped running the bar, but made a lot of friends during my tenure!
@Greg (Comment 47) : haven’t been myself, but have heard via the grapevine that they are solid and offer good value for money. There’s another crowd operating out of Sandton that are somewhat less scrupulous.
@Greg (Comment 47) : their clubhouse is only 5 minutes from my mom-in-law’s place, though, which is the closest thing I have left to a base in SA. Next time in Joburg I’ll be sure to pop in. With my Sharksworld flyers
Does anyone have a clue what the Chiefs team would look like? Specifically Masaga and Luaki are they starting? I don`t know what to expect here at all.
@robdylan (Comment 48) : Well I believe the bar offers good value for money now, not when I ran it, all the club profits came from the bar then
Yeah, the Sandton crowd were not a pleasant lot, the chairman there is well known as a bit of a rip-off artist.
Next time you are in Joburg, and if you go to the club, let me know, will pop in too, with a Lions jersey
@Original Pierre (Comment 50) : masaga not coming to durban…, foster likely to play sweeney or nanai-williams in masaga’s place. Lauaki to captain the side in the absence of Mils
@Original Pierre (Comment 50) : CHIEFS TOURING SQUAD
Ben Afeaki, Colin Bourke, Luke Braid, Callum Bruce, Craig Clarke, Aled de Malmanche, Mike Delany, Stephen Donald, Hika Elliot, Jason Hona, Jarrad Hoeata, Richard Kahui, Tanerau Latimer, Sione Lauaki (c), Brendon Leonard, James McGougan, Liam Messam, Tim Nanai-Williams, Kevin O’Neill, Junior Poluleuligaga, Culum Retallick, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dwayne Sweeney, Sona Taumalolo, Nathan White, Jackson Willison.
@Greg (Comment 51) : Lofty? Yes, I know all about him and his merry men
@Megatron (Comment 53) : mmmm so we get them without Mils and Masaga . . . this is not impossible guys.
@Original Pierre (Comment 55) : nothing’s impossible.
@Megatron (Comment 53) : Very good individuals in that side. Too bad rugby is a team sport.
@rhineshark (Comment 57) : well it’s not as if the Sharks are a well-oiled unit themselves, your preferred halfback combination has not played a second of competitive rugby together! Waylon & Swannie are not dynamic duo either.
The sharks also have a lot of individuals in their team!
@Megatron (Comment 58) : Yes, but we don’t have guys like Lauaki or Sivivatu, which is why I think we will be better as a team. We know we can’t rely on a handful of game-breakers to pull us through, which should be a strong point for us.
@Megatron (Comment 58) : so just to get this straight – are you a Chiefs supporter?
@rhineshark (Comment 59) : lol, i’m not sure i get the logic in your last statement, are you suggesting the Crusaders would be a better team sans brilliant individuals like Richie Mc Caw & Daniel Carter? Try another story boet.
@robdylan: dewet barry is up for grabs .. Maybe sharks should look at using him,still a very abrasive ,direct player. And he has some experience.
@bergshark (Comment 62) : sorry – he’s never been anything but a cart-horse in my books.
@robdylan:there are no genuine race horses in the sharks backlin
might as well put a sledgehammer next to those 3 flyhalves ..
@bergshark (Comment 64) : ja, but does Swannie offer anything less than Barry?
@robdylan:barry is more aggresive -in all phases of the game.had a bit of a reputation as an enforcer when he played for the bokke.think our backline needs a hitman..someone who runs onto the field not looking to take any prisoners .
@robdylan (Comment 60) : look @ my photograph and see what team i support!
@Megatron (Comment 61) : No, other than the Chiefs (and to a lesser extent the Sharks) the Crusaders have perfected the art of the team dynamic. They can perform with or without their star players, which is why they have been so successful. Simples.
@rhineshark (Comment 68) : you’re really scraping the barrel to be seen as underdogs, what happened to kankowski being a star? Are the Boks in your team not illustrious enough?
@robdylan: if the sharks were awarded that penalty try(from a scrum,remember that incident with mark lawrence the ref?) ,would we be saying the sharks need to change their game plan?would the sharks be saying the same ?and if terblanche didnt misjudge that fly-hack into touch vs waratahs,then i’m positive sharks wouldn’t have tampered to much with their game plan . Just a thought …
@Megatron (Comment 69) : No they’re not and my perception is that they became arrogant and need to earn back their reputations
@robdylan: scrum incident vs crusaders
@Megatron (Comment 69) : Who said anything about underdogs? I said we would beat the Chiefs. And who cares about illustrious? We’re industrious enough to have won 2 RWC’s. Nuff said.
@bergshark (Comment 64) :
The irony in this post is that Sledgehammer was one of South Africa’s really great racehorses in days gone buy. Appropriate that the word is used in a posting about analogies of our centres and racehorses
The Sharks must learn this year to run with the ball and stop trying to do unsuccessful drop kicks, the currie cup semi final against the Cheetahs proved that.
@dawnwallenkamp (Comment 75) : Nobody tries to do unsuccessful drop kicks.
@dawnwallenkamp (Comment 75) : but what I think KSA meant to say was ‘welcome to the site!’
@robdylan (Comment 77) :
That as well.