So another Super Rugby season has come (and gone, for all intents), and despite the fact that every possible factor worked in our favour, the Sharks have once again, frustratingly, failed to lay their hands on any silverware (excluding the conference trophy, which right-minded people everywhere – excluding the folks down in the Cape, obviously – see as utterly meaningless).
Posts written by: (Big Fish)
Last Exit to Bronkhorstspruit Vol. 4: The Abide Guide
30 Jul 14 14:17 by (Big Fish) | 77 Comments
Tread lightly, Smitty, for foes abound
12 Jun 13 09:36 by (Big Fish) | 45 Comments
Incoming Sharks CEO John Smit probably summed up his day yesterday in the best possible way, in telling Ballz Radio’s Darren Scott that he was having “the worst holiday ever”. As the dust begins to settle on a truly momentous day in Sharks history, Smit must, I’m sure, already be wondering what exactly he’s got himself into. [...]
The bonecollector makes his return!
6 May 13 14:21 by (Big Fish) | 45 Comments
The Sharks, already severely decimated by injury, suffered the further setback of losing the resurgent Francois Steyn to injury during the loss to the Highlanders this past weekend.
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Sharks make some interesting changes
2 May 13 11:00 by (Big Fish) | 150 Comments
The Sharks have announced the team to face the Highlanders on Saturday morning, with some welcome changes in the backline, and some less obviously pleasing ones in the pack. [...]
Is there still place for Alberts?
30 Apr 13 11:43 by (Big Fish) | 42 Comments
A chat I had with a well-respected rugby guru and socialite raised an interesting question; given the amount of time that Willem Alberts spends on the sidelines, is there value is extending his contract?
The centre cannot hold
16 Apr 13 11:41 by (Big Fish) | 18 Comments
Turning and turning in the widening gyre; The falcon cannot hear the falconer;Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.
A change is gonna come
11 Apr 13 11:41 by (Big Fish) | 23 Comments
In the modern world dominated by businessmen and a focus on the bottom-line, the distinction between success (the accomplishment of an aim or purpose)and progress (forward or onward movement toward a destination) has largely been forgotten.
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Play what’s in front of you
26 Mar 13 10:26 by (Big Fish) | 20 Comments
After a drubbing like the Sharks handed to the Rebels this weekend, it’s hard to make an objective assessment on where the team stands.
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Then we will fight in the shade
4 Jul 12 22:49 by (Big Fish) | 79 Comments
Back in the days before Rob created the enlightened rugby blog that is now Sharksworld, we used to hang out on another site filled with some interesting folks. Before each Springbok match, there used to be a piece written by one author in a pseudo-epic style which was used to rile up the fans for the game. There were lots of “beholds” and “hearkens” in the piece, and I rather enjoyed it. [...]
Someone fetch Plumtree a beer
11 Apr 12 10:25 by (Big Fish) | 42 Comments
In ancient Greece, a philosopher by the name of Zeno once founded a school of thought (Stoicism) that held that personal virtue was sufficient for happiness – that a well-developed and balanced mind would lead to a person being indifferent or invulnerable to the slings and arrows of misfortune. As a means of strengthening their spiritual strength, some stories hold that stoics daily challenged themselves to meet and endure difficult people and circumstances. [...]
SW CAPE TOWN BLOW-OUT
2 Aug 11 12:02 by (Big Fish) | 50 Comments
So, the time is almost upon us for the SW “Rock the Cape” party. We call upon all our comrades and cadres to join us in revolutionising the city of Cape Town with some good ole fashioned SW raucousness. [...]
Sharks huff and puff to victory over the Cheetahs
4 Jun 11 19:44 by (Big Fish) | 151 Comments
Coaches often talk about “winning ugly” as a euphemism for victories won by sheer bloody-mindedness and sticking to the basics – leaving complex backline moves and fancy skills out the game. In that case, the Sharks’ display was reminiscent of Cinderella’s step-sisters today!
Look out: here comes Magic Johnson!
30 May 11 15:29 by (Big Fish) | 34 Comments
Amidst all the existing loose forward talent in SA, it almost seems superfluous to mention the mop-haired Ashley Johnson. After all, this WP Craven Week player, who also captained Paarl Gimnasium as a junior, was overlooked by his home province, languished playing for the Griffons for a while, and first came to light at the Cheetahs when selected as a hooker by Naka Drotske, who thought him too short and heavy to play 8th man.
Living up to the (Sonny) Bill
16 May 11 11:16 by (Big Fish) | 64 Comments
Sports 24 reports that Dr Brendan Venter, once a very influential inside centre, then a very astute coach and notable interviewee at Heineken Rugby games, worked with his old Vrystaat mates (who also played and coached under him at Saracens), Naka Drotske and Michael Horak (Cheetahs defence coach), in nullifying Sonny Boy Williams’ influence in their famous win against the Crusaders. [...]
How the game was lost and where it got us
2 May 11 11:59 by (Big Fish) | 46 Comments
Rugby is a game of small margins played by big men on a big field. It doesn’t always take a gulf in quality to translate into a drubbing on the scoreboard, and neither does it always take a complete change of personnel or game plan to change winning into losing. [...]