Once again, we have to thank our intrepid reporter Maria, aka Letgo, for going to frankly ridiculous lengths to bring us coverage from Sharks games that don’t attract Supersport’s attention.
In addition to the most detailed match report of the Sharks’ warm-up against the Leoaprds that exists anywhere on the Internet, Maria has also uploaded video footage of most of the game to YouTube, for the benefit of those who didn’t get to see it.
Thanks, Maria! I’m sure all appreciate your efforts as much as I do!.
Here’s the game – in four parts.
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Sjoe – letgo – Thanks Girl!
Can I ask you a question – how did you experience Frans’s Captaincy roll in the game?
must say, the one thing that really stands out for me here is how flipping MASSIVE Steyn is
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Hy’t lyf, ja!
@robdylan (Comment 2) :
Agreed, he looks to be the same size as the loosies in the video.
@Bump (Comment 4) : well, he kind of is….
Steyn 1.91m 110kg
Deysel 1.91m 112kg
The other loosies on the park are all smaller than that
@Ice (Comment 1) : Well, it’s a pretty bias point of view from me, as I have always liked Steyn.
One thing I can say, even though I always liked his style of play, I still felt like he was a little immature and erratic for anything like a captaincy role. I would never even have considered it before. Then again they say the best way to tame a player is to give them that extra responsibility of being a leader and example for other players.
When Steyn spoke before his first game back for the Sharks in last years Super rugby in one of the final group stage matches he emphasized that the big difference for him in coming back to the Sharks was that there seemed to be a lot of younger and more inexperienced players around him that he needs to show the way for now, instead of being the young guy in the group.
One particular moment that I can point to during the PMB match that showed me that he was taking this opportunity seriously, was during half time when Plum was talking to all the players – Louis Ludik was fidgeting with something, a water bottle I think, just behind Steyn, who quickly just got Ludik’s attention back to the coach (you might see this if you watch through all the videos above). And this was in a warm-up game.
He also seemed way more relaxed and not so urgent to make something happen. He really, just from this games evidence, looked up for the job.
@Letgo (Comment 6) : “Then again they say the best way to tame a player is to give them that extra responsibility of being a leader and example for other players.” – that is exactly my theory too.
Thanks – appreciate you feedback!
It’s kinda strange watching without commentary.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Is that Steyn’s weight in good shape or is he still losing his French 15
@lostfish (Comment 9) : I think when he left here he was around 105 or so…. 110 is very heavy for a back, so I reckon he’s got a few to shed still.
@lostfish (Comment 8) : I considered adding my own commentary afterwards, then I thought better of it.
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Rob he was standing next to Deysel and they are like the same size
@Ice (Comment 7) : Look at AJ Venter, remember how bad he used to be lol
@Letgo (Comment 11) : It is nice to see the warm up game. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
Thanks Letgo – I just watched the whole match!
@Big Fish (Comment 15) : new job keeping you busy then?
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
Yup. Waaay behind after taking 2 weeks off. Will need to be strong.
Good job