Francois Steyn is set to play inside centre for the Sharks in their Super 14 round-11 match against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, the first occasion he has started a match in his favoured position since the Rugby World Cup final in France last October.
Mike Greenaway reports for Daily News that Bradley Barritt is Dick Muir’s preferred No 12 but he is almost certainly out of the match because of the shoulder injury that forced him from the field in the 27-21 loss to the Brumbies in Canberra.
Muir said Steyn and Waylon Murray would be the likely centre pairing for the match, with Murray taking over from Steyn at 13.
In another forced change, AJ Venter could well be starting his first match for some time. Venter is tipped to take over from injured lock Steven Sykes. The latter has injured ankle ligaments and a decision will be taken this evening on whether or not to send him home and on a possible replacement to be flown over.
The Sharks conclude their five-match tour with a match against the Crusaders in Christchurch next week.
This morning the squad held a meeting to review what went wrong in Canberra and Muir said the players were frank in their appraisal of their performance.
“Two things came out of the review that the players themselves identified as needing urgent fixing: the discipline and the tendency of some players to play as individuals instead of trusting the team systems and the player next to them.”
Muir said the players had addressed the issue of the two yellow cards that went a long way to costing the Sharks the match.
“We have team protocols that deal with yellow and red cards. The senior players look at the offences and if the culprits have been negligent and reckless, they can be fined.
“It was decided that Ryan (Kankowski) and Frans (Steyn) should not be fined for their offences (not staying on their feet at the breakdown).
“However, it was felt by the group that the pair’s reaction to getting their cards was not good. Whatever the merit of the referee’s decision, he is not going to change his mind and the players know they have to just accept it and get on with it.”
Captain Johann Muller said the cards had fatally hurt his team.
“They scored most of their points when we were down to 14 men (for 20 minutes of the second half),” he said. “More than any other team the Brumbies make you pay when you have a player in the bin because they are the best at keeping the ball through multiple phases.
“They can take the ball through 15 to 20 phases, no problem, and if you are a man down you get found out. If you are playing a team that does not take it beyond three or so phases, it is not so bad.”
Muller said the players had spent Sunday in mourning but had resolved to start the week in a positive frame of mind.
“As of 7am on Monday, the Brumbies defeat is a thing of the past,” he said.
“To take a small positive out of the big negative, maybe losing our unbeaten status can be a liberating experience for us.
“Maybe we can play with less inhibition now that we are not worrying all the time about keeping that unbeaten status
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Well if this is correct then it will be the Sharks’ watershed weekend.
Steyn can prove us all right or he can prove us all wrong.
Let’s hope he proves us right, coz i believe if we stumble this weekend then our fate is out of our hands.
Now it is official.
Sharksworld has just become VerstaanWorld.
Or FransWorld.co.za
❓ 😆
well, if needs must.
My concern is that our backline will suffer with Barritt as the general. I guess only time will tell, though.
Bad luck for Sykes. Looks like we’re going to have Deysel on the bench
“Maybe we can play with less inhibition now that we are not worrying all the time about keeping that unbeaten status”
There is something about this statement that excites me..as long as it’s done with some level of sportmanship and discipline.
Which means imo that Rory needs to start again at 9 w/ Fred at 10 and Ruan on the bench as a 9/10 end of the game sub.
How poorly does Kocky have to play before all his fans realize that Ruan has been playing better in the past two games? And Kocky’s kicking this Super 14 has not been any better than Ruan’s. Not sure why all of a sudden Ruan is in so many Shark’s supporters’ poor graces.
Hiya DB. Ruan isn’t on sh*tlist, I know he’s talented in the right circumstances. I just think Rory/Fred personalities combined are more explosive which is what our guys need at the moment. Even off the field, I’ve seen pictures of each pair together in ‘down’ moments and the body language between Rory/Fred shows a closer connection then Ruan & Fred
Hiya Millissa, to be quite honest, your reasoning for including Kocky over Ruan makes more sense to me than anything else I have heard. I do see your point, and I don’t necessarily disagree that their chemistry may be better. However, at this stage in the season, we need consistency, not flair, we need a scrummie that will always be behind the scrum to clear, not making sniping runs more than half the time. Ruan used to be the worst culprit at this, often isolating himself, and leaving the Sharks with a ruck/maul and nobody to clear. Ruan has improved on this, and the last two games he was a much better scrumhalf than Kocky (whom I rate highly and think will be a great in the future). Kocky has to become more consistent. Quite honestly, I don’t think that Freddie is our best bet at 10 right now either. We need a more consistent 10, in the form of Butch or Peter Grant, consistent, intelligent decision maker, and leave the flair of Freddie for later in the match. The problem now is the Sharks don’t have a solid, consistent 10, so perhaps Ruan should be at 10 with Kocky at 9 and Freddie on the bench. I am not at all happy with the 9/10 axis for the Sharks at this point in the season. (by the way, I have huge respect for Freddie and think he is a great player, but right now the Sharks don’t need flair, they need a solid consistent distributer).
I know Rory shows inconsistency on the pitch but I think more of that is him just taking advantage of being off the bench, I think if he started more we’d see him buckle down.
I admit that I see Fred is struggling a bit as well but at the same time it amazes me consistently how his style of play has changed. I wouldn’t mind seeing Rory at 9, Ruan at 10 w/ Fred on the bench as a 9/10 super sub.
In the end though you’re right it all comes down to what all of us have been saying. There needs to be some consistency with the squad that Dick starts every week..with players in their own positions and shuffling happening only due to an injury.
The anti Frans guys seem to be full of Freudian slips today.
My concern is that our backline will suffer with Barritt as the general. I guess only time will tell, though.
Bad luck for Sykes. Looks like we’re going to have Deysel on the bench
Comment 4 of 8, posted at 21.04.08 15:30:02 by robdylan (Sharks Forever!) Edit
I also happen to think that Kocky is a better bet off the bench when the game needs some livening up. Assuming I had a 10 I was happy with (Butch), I would start with Ruan at 9, with Kocky and Freddie on the bench. They are both awesome impact players and with the opposition somewhat tired, they will tear them apart. For the first 3/4 of the game though, the Sharks need consistency and Ruan and Butch (were he still here) are the better at this. We really are hurt not having a solid consistent 10 in the form of a Butch James or Grant.
Anyone see the KZN schools results… so much for Campese turning Northwood’s fortunes around…
Hilton vs Northwood, 81-0
Allow me to slip in here amongst all the back-slapping… Sorry lads, I can’t buy into all this silver-lining rhetoric. I wonder if this kind of culture of acceptance-of-mediocrity is the reason that the Kings park cupboard has been bare since before Felicia Mabuzza-Suttle got her boob-job?
Like I told Rob, I am not too fussed about the loss – this is the S14 and all the teams can beat any other. Well, all the teams except the Lions. But rather than concentrating on the result, I am looking at the reason – and that is what concerns me.
Firstly, the coaches have done nothing to address out problems at 12 – and please don’t give me this story about Brad running the backs. The flyhalf barely speaks English – who else but the 12 would be the logical alternative? I don’t mind Frans getting a chance, although he hasn’t really inspired confidence. Brilliant one moment, awful the next – Frans giveth, and Frans taketh away.
However, surely its long past time we tried something at 12 – we are getting no impetus there. I know most people will go on about Adi’s defence, but I think he deserves a chance based on his contribution to making the backs click. He isn’t as destructive as Frans or Brad, but he is less of a glory-boy then the former, and a lot more innovative than the latter.
I have no idea what dropping JP was supposed to achieve, but he had another great game, although one must wonder if he will again cop flack for not scoring a try when presented with no opportunities.
Seems to me that we crap on a guy like JP or Daniel quite readily, but Ruan, Frans or Brad are afforded a surfeit of excuses – lets be objective here; 9 and 12 are not working for us; by comparison, the Stormers are striding ahead thanks to plenty of impetus in thos positions.
Sharks need to face reality and adapt, or we will fade fast against the tough opposition ahead. And I will remind people of my comment last year and last week about the Stormers – there is design there, and Rassie is addressing issues with harsh reality rather than railing against the weather. I feel little better knowing that a change was finally made due to injury.
Time for us to step up!
Ag no man BF I can’t concentrate for more than 12 lines how am i supposed to read that whole thing 😉
Hows the new graft?
Its ok KSA – I know you tend to keep your activities to short periods only.
All good – just a busy rat here.
Had to sneak in a little comment after getting up early on Saturday for that abortion. 😉
Okay I actually read that.
BF
How can you or anyone now that there is FINALLY a chance of Steyn playing where he belongs want to push someone ELSE in there yet again?
At this point in his career, Steyn may “belong” on the bench! The kid needs a wake up call. I am not upset about his “attitude” when yellow carded, but he takes far too many risks. He needs to learn when to show the flair and when to play simple rugby. He is so good that I am sure by now he thinks he will start every single match regardless, and this is not good. He needs to be brought down to earth. And before anyone gets up in arms, I think Frans is incredibly talented and can, and will be a great rugby player, although he is not one yet.
We have nobody at 10 that can calm things down.
I’m not saying that KSA – I will gladly afford Frans the chance to make the spot his own – Brad has been singularly unimpressive in my opinion.
That being said, I haven’t been too charmed by Frans either (I know, I know, he hasn’t been played in position according to you – although the latest SA Rugby has a Cover-page article claiming that Frans issued an ultimatum stating he wants to play at flyhalf).
What I am saying is that my choice would have been Adi at this stage – but I am happy enough to see Frans there. My other concern is that change is injury-enforced; otherwise would Brad still be there till he turns 40?
BF, there were two articles, one said he insisted on playing 10, the other said that 12 was his favourite position and that is where he wanted to play. Reason to not believe whatever one reads.
Fair enough DB; I wished that Frans would be the Messianic flyhalf SA rugby has been looking for since Honiball, but he hasn’t impressed lately – I tend to agree with your sentiments regarding him- plenty of potential, but maybe not quite ripe yet.
Ola Fishpaste
im out peoples
safe
Laters Claytie.
I’m also bouncing.
Cheers people!
Like Kocky, Steyn is not quite ripe yet. I still believe that both have huge futures in SA rugby.
Agree with the Steyn needs a bench on his arse to calm him down sentiment, but just feel we need him to much right now.
KSA, the problem is if Steyn is not straightened out now, he will hurt the Sharks much more when it counts (playoffs). We will need him more then, so now is the time to bench him. The problem by saying we need him too much is that you are feeding right into his problem, making him think that he is irreplaceable. As long as he feels that, he will continue to do stupid things because “Hey I am Frans Steyn, the greatest Rugby player in SA, I am irreplaceable so can do whatever I wish without worrying about losing my spot.”
i see what you mean but feel if barrit was there we could bench him. I would be a little concerned with a Jacobs Murray Midfield.
No need for concern BTW, Luke Watson is the #1 player in SA. 😉
Luke Watson was born the number 1 player in SA. How long have I been saying that both Barritt and Steyn need some time on the bench? Now it is too late because we waited for one of them to get hurt. If Muir had been following his own rotation policy for these two players, this issue would have been resolved long ago. But now because he (Muir) did not deal with the situation with Steyn and Barritt when he should have, we are now in this unsatisfactory position.
Also, if we were to lose because Steyn is on the bench, then the Sharks are not nearly as good a team as we originally thought.
Agree with the first part ENTIRELY but not entirely with the 2nd part.
If we benched Steyn and barrit was fit i would agree. But to take out barrit and Steyn and expect us to beat the Tahs is a bit heavy.
Just like we would have battled big time this last weekend if we lost both Daniel and Muller. We could have dealt with losing ONE of them but not both, fortunately we lost neither. Same with Steyn and Barrit.
KSA, the problem is you are making the ‘tahs game more important than the playoffs. I believe that sacrificing the ‘tahs game to have a Steyn at his best in the playoffs is worth it. I also don’t believe that leaving Steyn out is sacrificing the ‘tahs game, in fact, a centre pairing of Adi and Murray may be exactly what the Sharks need.
DB
I don’t know hey, Next week we have the Crusaders and after that the Chiefs and the Cheetahs.
And when I say I don’t know, I REALLY don’t know. I agree he needs a rest but when is the difficult decision. And when i say rest i mean it at a euphimism for hitting him on the arse with a bench
Every game at this point is critical KSA, which is why I am so upset that Dick left it this long and didn’t rest these guys earlier in the season. Now we are in a difficult situation where every game is important and probably not the time for a “lesson to be learned” by Steyn. 👿 🙁
Problem now is if Steyn plays well at 12, then he will have every reason to continue believing he is God’s gift to the Sharks and Rugby and his attitude will be even worse. Eish…..Dick, you have put the Sharks in a very bad situation with your refusal to rotate Steyntjie and Barritt. I really have to say that is by far the biggest coaching blunder Dick has made since being with the Sharks (2nd to his “squad rotation” game against the Griquas in the 2006 CC.
We can’t afford to lose two more games. We need a win against the tahs. For us, the playoffs start this weekend
once again i agree.
Dick has rotated Steyn all around the park instead of with barrit.
barrit has started every game this season and is/was due to break down at some time and now we are stuck.
RobD, then I am afraid that the Sharks will lose in the semi-finals if we make it that far. Sorry, but unless Steyn is straightened out now, he will be a liability in the playoffs, and he should be a game winner, not a liability. I suppose if getting to the playoffs is more important than winning the playoffs, then this game becomes more important, but honestly, we should be able to beat the ‘tahs with or without Barritt and Steyn. If those two are so important to the Sharks, then the rest of the team is not nearly as good as we have all been saying.
Either way i will be on the edge of this seat for the WHOLE match on Saturday.
You know something else has just come to mind that doesn’t make things any easier.
PA has been saying all along that Dick will be fielding a “rotated” side against the Saders. IF Dick does do that and one of the “rotated” players is Steyn then it won’t do his mental state any good. It will be a “we are resting the A side for this match” attitude which will not help in anyway.
Agree 100% KSA, which is even more reason why Steyn should be dropped for the ‘tahs match.
Also, if Dick was planning a rotated side for the Crusaders, surely that plan changed with the loss to the Brumbies. We can no longer afford to throw the ‘saders game away, whereas if we had beaten both the Brumbies and ‘tahs, we could afford to throw away the ‘saders game. That being said, I never believe that is a good idea to give a game away like that. The team should go into every single game expecting to win and doing everything within the team’s and the squad’s power to win every game.
At the stage that i was discussing it with PA the side he suggested was by NO MEANS a B side and at the time I commented on being blessed with depth.
Now with an injury, a Suspension and a suspected ego problem we are in a bit of trouble.
KSA,
I reckon you will see the following changes…
Terblanche out or wing, Steyn 15
Jacobs center
AJ lock in place of Sykes
Kockett in
Expect at least 4 changes to the team taking on the Saders with Dick sighting ‘rotation’
Comment 438 of 523, posted at 11.04.08 11:34:36 by MorneN Edit
This was the changes that PA suggested/suspected.
It is from
http://www.sharksworld.co.za/2008/04/11/s14-game-53-highlanders-vs-sharks/
Kocky starting is not a change. AJ should have been starting at lock in my opinion over Sykes anyway. Jacobs should always start off the bench no matter what (he is just too good off the bench). So sure Steyn at 15 and that is really only one change in my opinion.
KSA, we are missing Butch, we need a 10 that can settle things down and we have nobody that can do that. Michalak is too wild and full of flair, and will never succeed at “settling things down.”
just Glad my name is not Dick Muir.
I rate him as a coach, but his selections this season have had me climbing the walls on occasion.
I rate Dick highly as a coach, but I think he has a blind spot with respect to Barritt and Steyn.
Oh and before RobD gets all upset with me, I still think that Barritt is a superb 12 and will still get better, he is just not playing his best right now, and in my opinion, needs a break to get his head together.
Shit, just thought of this, how about Freddie at 9 and Ruan at 10 for the next game? Freddie has played at 9 for France before, and perhaps he will not confuse his teammates as much playing at 9 as opposed to 10.
Damn, I like this idea, and then after 60 minutes, bring on Kocky at 9, move Freddie to 10.
I have said this a few times.
Steyn is the incumbent Bok 12. Muir is the new Bok Backline coach.
WTF is he going to do when he coaches the bok backline?
That is a good idea and combo for the inside backs but what do we do with the midfield? 😉
Bonsoir tous le monde
Am a bit jetlagged so gone to throw my comment out there & duck for now.
I agree 100% with everything Dancing Bear has posted above. Worst comment was the crock about picking Rockett cause he “gels better with Michalak”…
So far its looking like another trophyless season for the Sharks. Sure we were unbeaten but I have to say that we were very lucky to have kept that clean slate for so long. In the games I have watched, the Sharks have generally underperformed for most if not the entire game. Sure we can attribute the early games to rustiness, but barring the Blues & Bulls games…?
Dick is turning into a Proteas selector with his selections – playing Barritt to death, no Frans at 12, it’s all been said. And then there is the continuing indiscipline. Sharks should have beaten the Canes, their semi-capitulation was abysmal. Should have lost the game roo – saved by the ref that day. Perhaps Bryce Lawrence’s performance last weekend was all in the name of reffing karma?
Brumbies should have been an easier game than the Tahs & definitely the Crusaders, that was a missed opportunity – much like all the bonus points that have gone to waste. Hell, look where the Strompies are sitting thanks to all their bonus points. That alone is inexcusable, how is it that we are so rigid in play – unlike last season?
Yes I’m a bit negative, who wouldn’t be after a 12 years barren of trophies. If the Sharks are serious about winning – anything – this year, we have to see it this weekend.
hey Quinny Hope you enjoyed thailand.
get a good tan?
get wet on the new year? 😆
WTF is he going to do when he coaches the bok backline?
Comment 48 of 51, posted at 21.04.08 20:19:21 by KSA Shark © (FJ!ELN!)
Play JdV at 12! 😉
And Bench Steyn? Eventually? 😆
That is a good idea and combo for the inside backs but what do we do with the midfield? 😉
Comment 49 of 52, posted at 21.04.08 20:20:31 by KSA Shark © (FJ!ELN!)
For the ‘tahs game I start Steyn at 12 with Murray at 13, and tell Steyn that he is not playing against the ‘saders. Bring Barritt at 12 for the ‘saders, play the best possible team and bench Steyn for that game. This way I think we have our best possible team for both games and are able to try to straighten out young Frans’ attitude.
That’d work for me.
I hope Barrit is okay by next week.
lol KSA, sorry I missed you – things were a bit hectic before I left for Thailand. Then I had my luggage go missing en route to O.R. Tambo…got it back a week later to find a lot of stuff missing. The Sharks’ sponsors will be pleased to know that their stuff was favoured by the OR Tambo favourers in lieu of the more expensive stuff!!!
Thailand was an experience, was nearly scammed in Bangkok, lol. Must have been to much of a shark myself to flush out their scam. Got a great tan – am going to be the envy of all the “fanta orangers” on Mud Island.
Was in Phi Phi for Songkran. Got wet. Very very wet.
Et tu?
👿
meant OR Tambo PILFERERS!
Comment 54 of 57, posted at 21.04.08 20:31:16 by Dancing Bear
Agree 100% with that. Give Steyn a shot at 12 now that Barritt is crocked, but now is the time for man management. That is probably a huge contributant to the Steyn dilemma – I doubt he is being correctly managed. A bloke as talented – and young – as he needs as much guidance & mentoring as possible. However it’s clear that the World Cup adulation & a possible bracketing as a uninhibited maverick has allowed the negatives to overshadow his potential.
So give him a game to perform at his favoured 12, but sit him down Dick & explain to him why he needs to be benched…
Right on Quinny!
By the way, is your new name a play on Le Renard Subtil?
nope, a requin is a Shark is french….& I get to keep the Quinny bit
nope, a requin is a Shark is french….& I get to keep the Quinny bit
Comment 60 of 60, posted at 21.04.08 21:13:06 by Le Requinny
NICE!