I’m far more inclined, given what we’ve seen of late, to agree with the Peter de Villiers school of thought when it comes to specialisation over versatility. The Sharks backs are suffering through inconsistency in selection and through under-specialisation in their primary positions.
Running through the names we have in our backline, every single player bar Rory Kockott has been tried in more than one position in the past. Chief culprit (or is that victim?) is Francois Steyn, who has played at flyhalf, outside centre, wing and fullback for the Sharks under Dick Muir, as well as inside center, flyhalf, wing and fullback at national level under Jake White. Not far behind are Ruan Pienaar (scrumhalf, flyhalf, wing and fullback) and Adi Jacobs (flyhalf, both centres and wing) while each of the other players has played in at least two jerseys: Barritt (flyhalf and inside centre), Murray (inside centre and wing), Terblanche, Pietersen, Mentz and Ndungage (all have played both wing and fullback). Fred Michalak has played at scrumhalf as well as flyhalf in his career, although to date the Sharks have only used him at pivot.
While experience in a variety of positions is no doubt good for a player’s personal development (to an extent) as he accumulates a wider variety of skills and becomes more useful, it does nothing for the cohesion of the team and particularly the effectiveness of the line on attack and defence. The essence of successful backline play, to my mind, is combinations; guys playing together in a well-rehearsed pattern that can feed off each others’ brilliance – as well as compensating for each others’ weaknesses.
These combinations start with having the best guys – the identified specialists – chosen in each of the positions. Once the mix is right, the combinations need time to settle; to play together as much as possible, to learn how each other thinks and reacts in a wide variety of different circumstances. Each player is free to concentrate on the unique demands of his chosen position; the position in which he is a specialist. He doesn’t need to worry about the man inside or outside of him not knowing what to do, because that guy would be a specialist too.
To my mind, the Sharks need to have a good sit down and think about this and come out of that exercise with a list of 14 names. Those names need to be the number 1 and number 2 player in each of the 7 positions in the backline; no name may appear twice. Once we have picked the 7 that are considered best in each position, we pick the best generalists from the remainder to serve as the backline replacements. Should one of the 7 fall out through injury or serious loss of form, he will be replaces by his nominated backup. Nobody else will change position as a result.
My first stab at such a list would look like this:
Scrumhalf: Kockott (1), Macleod (2)
Flyhalf: Michalak (1), Pienaar (2)
Left Wing: Pietersen (1), Mentz (2)
Inside Centre: Barritt (1), Steyn (2)
Outside Centre: Murray(1), Jacobs (2)
Right Wing: Ndungane (1), Mvovo (2)
Fullback: Terblanche (1), Dames(2)
Following the “best utlity” theory, the bench for the Sharks would comprise Pienaar, Steyn and Jacobs as they offer the most utility cover.
I’m sure many will disagree with the allocation above, but what do you think about the principle?
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so yes – I think we should drop Frans.
That should get KSA nice and sweaty 😉
hey i think thats very true but wen it comes to someone like steyn u can’t afford to have him on the bench just for incase there are 2 minutes left in the game and u have a penalty 53m out. thats wen he can win ur game for u! and if he has a good game then he is unstopable! ruan i wouldn’t mind on then bench now though lol
Except Steyn only kicks about 25% of the long range shots he lines up anyway
Rob, when is your next podcast due?
I have a suggestion for an interview with the Rugby Voice
Ollie – about that 😳
The next episode is due about a month ago now… you picking up what I’m putting down? I’m just feeling that what people get out of it isn’t really worth the amount of effort I need to put in.
Things like that will always start slow. I don’t know if it is possible but why don’t you do something along the lines of Lug Radio, just use Skype or some other voip to get people around the world to chat
It could be real fun to participate if all you have is a couple of items on the agenda to chat about and then let the guys/gals free reign on the topic.
sounds good
rob i think that there are good and bad points to moving the guys around. In the past it has helped us. in 2006 it worked, in 2007 percy even played flyhalf for the first few games. we have been lucky with injuries this season but if we lost 2 main backline players our backline would still look good and we would see the dividends of this philosophy. hell we could lose two in the same position (okay, not 12) and still be alright.
that said, this moving of frans around all the time is going a bit far. if you think about it most of the guys have only really moved between 2 positions, and they are always positions that complement one another.
barritt: flyhalf, inside centre
ruan: scrummy, flyhalf
murray: wing, outside centre
JP: fullback, wing
etc. etc. except jacobs who has played 10, 13 and wing, although he only played 10 in cc.
but with frans it is getting a bit crazy. thing is dick also can’t really drop him now, cos he knew he was taking a chance moving him so much and he has to give frans some slack for that, frans is mostly human after all.
also, we are thin at 12, that is where frans should be playing if this truly is a rotation type thing. but he isn’t, so it all seems a bit unorganised to me which is worrying.
but then again, we haven’t lost a game, gotta keep reminding myself. sharks forever.
my 2c worth.
problem is, Barritt is the leader of the backline… The Sharks don’t name a vice captain, but if they did, you can be sure that BB would be that guy.
You reckon Frans has the maturity to take on that role? He’s naturally talented, sure, but he doesn’t have a level head on his shoulders like Brad does.
then again – I do have a bit of a soft spot for the youngster 😉
yap, this is complicated, but if steyn can come into the bok team in the place of one of our backline stalwarts (de villiers) and win a wc, then i reckon he has proven himself there, just let him settle, even if he plays off the bench. all of this said, i still have faith in dick and i am sure he knows better than us.
he does. He told me as much 🙂
Drop Frans
ARE YOU FOOKING MAD?????????????
FJ!!!!!!!!!!
ELN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
okay i’m back. 🙄
Been a tough day. i am off to bed. See you in the morning for the matches.
Ksa! You left out the ‘doos’ part! Honestly
Why is it JP plays on the left wing when he is on the right wing for the Boks?
I think cos Habana has left wing sown up. There’s some scientific difference, but I’m never sure what it is
Yeah exactly… more position switchin by Dick…
Good morning everyone. Thank goodness it is Friday – it’s funny how when you get back from leave the first week back is a nightmare.
morninh ness! how u doing? Anyone else feeling the nervous bug about tomorrows game or is it just me shitting myself lol ❓
Morning Ness and everyone else!!
Funny enough – I am not nervous about tomorrow’s game. Think we are going to kick some serious ass!
Are the Reds Force game not on now?
good morning
in an hr its the Sader’s game then Reds game…
GO REDS!
Oh – no worries – seems Superbru have got the times wrong again… 🙁
Ness – yu going to Monsoon?
hey ice baby! u stil remember me from the sharks blog? i used to chat there a whole while back. now i live in pretoria so i really need to chat to shark supporters so i’m back lol
i pray that somehow the dam chief can kick some kiwi ass today ❗
Yes I am – I promised Debs I would go. Are you going?
I think the Reds game is at 9.35.
Monsoon? What’s happening there?
Debs has organised for the Sharks supporters to go and watch the game there. She did it last year and it was a nice venue but we didn’t have a lot of people. Hope we will have more this year.
So – if there are any Jhb Sharks supporters wanting to come and watch the game tomorrow – please join us.
By the way it is at Emperor’s Palace – Monsoon Lagoon.
Ness, write up an invite and mail it to me. I’ll put it up
Okie dokie – will do that.
hey ness hook me up with transport from pretoria and i’ll come join u all lol. one lonely shark supporter here 😆
Hey Watarota – off course I remember you – what a rota!! I am sure you are more than welcome to join us at monsoon as well!
Ness – its a 99,9% yes…its sometimes difficult to get D to agree!! 😉
Ness – you gonna do a quick writre -up? if you dont have time just let me know – will do it quickly…
The more the merrier!
Watarota – ag no man, would have loved to have seen you again.
Thanks Ice – just copied your posting from the Sharks Blog about the function and sent it to Rob. Tell D his favourite girl Ness will be there – that should get him there. 😉
ness u say u would love to see me again? have u seen me before?
#’& Sounds like a Suzanne Vega song 😆
#41 😳
hahaha 😆
Sorry Watarota – had a blonde moment there (sorry Ice). Will try and find out if anyone from Pretoria will be coming through.
Ollie – what keyboard are you using?
ness ollie wants me to sing u a song. are u ready for a song that would reburst mullers eardrum? 😆
A lady is always ready for a song. 😉
43 –
Rob – how do i get the hash / nr sign – my keyboard is diff to others (Mac) on “3” its shows hash but give me a £ sign if I press it… 🙁
Will do Ness – i am sure we will see you!
Okay Ice – Neen is sulking because she has to work.
go to ur language settings and change ur keyboard from US to UK