You’ve got to hand it to the marketing team behind new Sharks target Isma-eel Dollie. If anything, they’re very much into “Rugby 2.0” technology.
I’m referring to a reasonably slick set of “player prospectus” clips that I found on YouTube, highlighting the player’s achievements to date and pointing out some noteworthy aspects of his play. You’ve got to admire the approach here, even if the content itself leaves you scratching your head a little.
Although the young flyhalf has undoubtedly done some beautiful things so far in his short career, I wonder if his creative team shouldn’t have rather gone with a “less is more” attitude here; after all, footage of a regulation catch and pass from a flyhalf is hardly worthy of praise – much less inclusion in a section entitled “the General”!
See the videos for yourself and tell me what you think. Has this kid got the goods, or will he be just another also-ran?

wow – there’s even a section entitled “Who said he can’t tackle!” 🙂
That first 2 minutes of the first clip makes Bolla and de Jongh look like the heroes!
Who’s that hobbit in the number 10 jersey???.
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 2) : well, perhaps the mark of a good flyhalf is that he makes those around him look better? Who knows…
Certainly a lot of the tries that he scores in the first clip were the work of other players… he was just on hand to finish off.
Saw him last year at a WP game in at City Park(with Ashfak in tow funny enough) and he seems to have bulked up a bit.
If those are his career highlights, I would hate to see the Dollie bloopers clip. The dude is just too small. Imagine Nonu running at him?
🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 😐
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 5) : I think he still weighs a mammoth 80kgs. Is there a scrumhalf in the Super 14 who weighs 80kgs?
damn fine distibutor….lovely delayed and weighted passes….i like him.
@deanoelsch (Comment 8) : Giteau weighs 85… reckon we get Issy on the bunny-chow diet and he’ll pick up those extra five in no time 🙂
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 5) : you know Ashfak?
@robdylan (Comment 10) : I’d be able to point him out in a lineup
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 11) : ok, I’ve added him on FaceBook. Want to get to the bottom of this Dollie story.
The player himself has yet to accept my invite. He will learn that resistance is futile.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : You and Wes are stalkers of note
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 13) : please. Wes is a mere pup compared to me. A babe in arms
where are the steven meyer youtube clips? The sharks fans need to have closer look at him!
@Megatron (Comment 15) : there are none.
Nobody’s put clips of Meyer up because he hasn’t really accomplished anything meaningful yet. See where I’m going with this?
I think you’re getting a bit carried away, though. Of course we, as Sharks fans, will be sceptical about Dollie because, to be perfectly honest, he’s a player that just seems a little overhyped. We keep hearing these stories from the Cape about how fantastic he is, but never actually see any evidence of it. That said, if Dollie DOES become a Shark, you can rest assured that he will immediately and unequivocally enjoy our full backing. It goes with the jersey, really.
Did his mom put these together? 🙂
@Morné (Comment 17) : I did wonder that 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 16) : carried away you say? Is steve meyer more accomplished than say, monty dumond?
@Megatron (Comment 19) : what’s your beef with Meyer? They brought him in because they needed options. It’s bloody foolish to go into the Super 14 with only 1 fit flyhalf, who, by the way, has approximately 60 minutes Super rugby exposure in total… Shit dude, you are arguing yourself up your own hole at the moment!
@robdylan (Comment 20) : the melodrama that is the latter part of you post you can shove through your piehole. If you didn’t have an answer to my question you could have just shut up!
Morne or anybody else that blogs here, does anyone have information in steven meyer’s pedigree, form? Because after 30minutes against the stormers everyone (without even as much as a sensible reason) are punting this meyer oke…?
@Megatron (Comment 21) : are we “punting” him or are we saying that in the absence of too many other recognised options, he may be the best we have?
There’s a big difference.
For the record, I still think that, given a chance to establish himself, Monty Dumond will do well. I feel the same way about Meyer. I do feel that, based on the evidence I saw, the backline looked sharper and more threatening with Meyer at pivot. But I concede that it’s an opinion made after watching each player for only half an hour.
Shit, dude, I can only form an opinion based on what I’ve seen. Not really sure what you’re expecting?
@Megatron (Comment 21) :
Dont know too much about him apart from the odd French top 14 game and last week’s one.
Seemed solid but nothing spectacular.
He does come with Top 14 experience in a team who are defending champs, which could prove very valuable but the proof is going to be in the pudding.
@Megatron (Comment 21) :
Meyer until 2 weeks ago was playing for USAP (Perpignan).
They were the 2008/09 French top 14 champions.
I am NOT a stalker!! 👿
Is it too early in the season to expect some Flasher Girl pics on here?
Oh for 2003 when they still brought out calendars . . . sigh
Next week this time we`re all hitting the shops guys.
Stock up all the necessary stock for the big Opening Weekend!!
@wpw (Comment 25) : you wish you were a stalker
@Salmonoid (Comment 24) : was he first choice there? Cos Dan Carter got that achilles in injury in February last year already, so someone else was the preferred 10 a Perpignan, was it Meyer?
@Megatron (Comment 28) : admittedly, it wasn’t. It was another Saffa, Gavin Hume
I liked what i saw of Meyer. He brought pace to the backline when he came on.
@wpw (Comment 30) : he was getting superb ball from McLeod too… not like Monty who was being a little stifled by Rory
@Megatron (Comment 28) :
In a perfect world, would Bismack / Jon be first choice at the Sharks.
I do get your point though, fact is though that a club that won the French top 14 saw enough in him to contract him.
@Salmonoid (Comment 32) : and he also had bad luck with injury.
Same as Gerhard Mostert, really…
From the footage, this kid looks like the Messaiah…Could they put a Butch James piece together and have a section named “Abrahams Tank”?
@zimshark (Comment 34) : and the tackling bit would be called “you shall not pass!” 🙂
man, I miss Butch. Maybe he can come back and coach the Sharks with John
@Salmonoid (Comment 32) : how long has he been at Perpignan? Did they contract him only last year?
@robdylan (Comment 36) : are you guys maritzburg college old boys? Your soft spot for butch is OTT
@Megatron (Comment 38) : you love to throw stones, dude. Why don’t you tell us who YOU rate better than Butch, then we can at least have a debate about it…
Chris Rossouw is better than Butch. Butch never won a CC title. Rossouw won 2.
@robdylan (Comment 39) : did i say i rate anyone better than butch? i’m looking forward to the halfback match ups of brendon leonard, stephen donald vs rory kockott, steven meyer, should be a juicy affair.
all blacks vs kockott/meyer hhmm?
@Megatron (Comment 37) :
Morning Mes
Since late 2006.
@Salmonoid (Comment 42) :
mes = meg
@Salmonoid (Comment 43) : howzit Celluloid, one more week to go & the S14 is here! No more speculation, no more pre-season excuses. 😀
@Megatron (Comment 44) :
I can~na wait. 😎
@Salmonoid (Comment 45) : why does he call you Celluloid ?
@Megatron (Comment 41) : so you support the Chiefs? Is that it?
Finding it really hard to work out where you’re coming from. You seem to just be here because you DON’T like the Sharks. That’s a bit like trolling, isn’t it?
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
Well said….
Megatron is obviously having his period – because he is just being antagonistic!
Seriously this dude is pissing me off…
How on EARTH are you supposed to replace old worn out bodies without bringing in the younger generation….everyone has to start off somewhere. Francois Steyn didn’t have “pedigree” when he played against WP..yet it was obvious that he would be a super star….
Come chap, grow up!
@Original Pierre (Comment 26) :
Hee hee…sorry for you lads…I am looking forward to Flasher Boys…..
The General? Bwhahahahahahhahaa Maybe at Primary school.
Clips v Cheetahs and v Griquas.
No Clips of his S14 achievements or against the bigger Bulls? 🙄