Allow me to conduct a bit of a “thought experiment” here, if you will. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the overall configuration of the Sharks backline on Friday evening and reckon it’s time for an overhaul.
Now, I’m not suggesting wholesale changes to the personnel in the back line – we don’t really have enough depth or options to try that – but I wonder if doing a wee bit of shuffling of positions might not give us the best result. We are the Sharks, after all and playing players out of their regular positions is kind of “our thing” 
Firstly, we need to find a proper outside centre. I thought that Odwa Ndungane, simply by virtue of his willingness to always get involved, coupled with the outstanding strength he showed in scoring his try, could be a pretty solid option in the number 13 jersey. He is widely acknowledged to be a little on the slow side for wing these days, but I’m sure he is quick enough to play one position in.
Stef Terblanche is not the answer at fullback either – we know this, since we made huge strides forward ever since we first moved him away from that position. He’s no centre either and since he’s destined to stay in the team as the captain, I would seriously consider picking him on the right wing. That leaves a spot open at fullback, which could obviously be filled by Louis Ludik if he’s fit. That wouldn’t be nearly radical enough for me, though, so let’s see if we can find somebody else to fill that tricky number 15 shirt.
Somebody with great defence, the ability to counter attack and link up with other players, who is safe under the high ball and has a decent tactical boot. If he was a reliable goal kicker, that would be so much better, because we could then take some pressure off Pat Lambie and allow him to develop the rest of his game. Gee now, if only we had such a player in the set up…
Oh wait, we do! He’s looking grumpy on the bench wearing the number 20 shirt. What do you guys think?
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hmmm Rob, i have to say, kockett at fullback could be a interesting choice. good boot, good attacking game, his temper could be a great assett at 15 too i thinks. the only thing tho, do you think he would be up to the idea of playing that position?
@richzed (Comment 1) : I reckon 15 > 20
Not 2 sure odwa has the greatest hands and defense for 13. Kockett would b interesting tho
Solid under the high ball is one thing, positional sense for fullback is another, not a good idea
@robdylan (Comment 2) : true! game time is the key factor!! now where would ludik play tho?
@war1 (Comment 4) : i recon he has the positional play requried to be a full back. it is worth a try!!
@RuckingFun (Comment 3) : odwa has shown he is more than capable of putting in the defencive effort that would be required by a No.13. in terms of handling, i have great confidence that odwa will notbe such a bad play at 13.
I have been saying for a while that I think Kockett would make a better 10 than 9. I also think he would make a better 15 than 9.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 6) : I reckon, if I have to be honest with myself, I have no major issues with Rory’s overall game.
I DO, however, have a problem with his game at scrummie.
You got a UK number yet?
I like it Rob and this will give one of the talented young 9′s waiting in the wings a bit of a run on the bench…
Kockett is a really talented player, but not suited to 9, I would like to see him on the field though and a positional change might just be exactly what he needs, I think he’ll be up for anything right now!!!
Kockott would be a great 10 oi tell ya!
Hmm, he isn’t afraid to attack the line all on his lonesome either…
I reckon it could work, but it’s never going to happen, and rightly so (as Owen Nkumane would say). Rory Kockott is a specialist scrumhalf, we don’t want to ruin another talented number 9. It could possibly work, but it’s a bridge too far.
If I was given carte blanche to cock about and experiment, I’d try:
Swannie @ 6 (Right size, low-center of gravity, strength, pace, mixes it up with the forwards anyway!)
Odwa @ 15 (solid under the high ball, reliable, has a kicking game and works his socks off)
Kankowski @ 13 (for the hell of it! fast, strong, runs great lines, steps like a demon, strong on defense, frees up a spot in the back row for Deysel AND Alberts to work in tandem).
Silly? Or inspired?
Would love to see Lindeque or Vulindlu getting a crack at that Number 13 jersey. Maybe Zuks on the bench to cover wing and outside center.
For the game against the Cheetahs:
9.Kockott (Give McLeod a breather)
10.Lambie
11.Mvovo
12.Swanepoel
13.Vulindlu
14.Ndungane
15.Ludik
20.McLeod
21.Pretorius
22.Terblanche
@MerckZ (Comment 11) :
Odwa at 15, only if Stephan/Ludick can’t play or need a rest! I rate him as fb but only after the afore mentioned. However we CANNOT leave our capt. on the bench.
Leave Kanko at 8…all he needs is game time to get his confidence up again.
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 13) : Oh, I know
I’d never do it either, but if they’d been put in those positions earlier in their careers I think they would have done a good job for us.
On the Stefan captaincy front, he is the consumate professional, but Alistair Hargreaves is there too – give the guy some more responsibility, he’ll thrive. Plus, Oom Stef’s old bones deserve a week on the wood.
Interesting thoughts…
I love the idea of Kanko at 13, he would have been devastating! But he would go right down on the handle count, and would battle to get his hands on it.
Rob, I reckon you know something that might be in the pipeline
Is Ludik injured again???
This is about as radical as suggesting that since Usain Bolt has such pace, he should run the Comrades.
Nah, this one is just speculation. Not based on any inside info
@Rob
Ever the conspiracy theorist?! Hehe..
@robdylan (Comment 18) : Didn’t coaches get shouted down for suggesting that Ruan Pienaar was a good fullback? or flyhalf? Or wing? And then played him there and messed him up to the extent that he’s left the country on the eve of a RWC and quite probably written off his immediate Bok chances.
I think you have got this one completely wrong. If a player is in a bad mental place, to shift him out of position and expect good things (when we all know how individualistic he is plus doesn’t possess pace) is completely whacky.
Kockett at 12 perhaps?
@vanmartin (Comment 21) :
Someone that thinks along the same lines as me.
Me thinks Rob has inside info…
@Pink Ice (Comment 23) : no – definitely not on this occasion!
I will stick my hand up and admit that I knew about Lambie’s move to 12 before it happened, but I think there is a less than 0% chance of Plum using Kockott anywhere other than (reserve) scrumhalf