From time to time, we need to take a bit of a step back from the detailed goings on and appreciate the big picture, I reckon. What with all the to and fro debate stemming form a less-than-perfect performance in Melbourne, we’ve yet to reflect on the Sharks Australian tour as a whole.
Let’s not beat around the bush here. Regardless of the manner or margin of victory in Melbourne, the Sharks have done utterly superbly in Australia – the first time a Sharks team has ever remained unbeaten on a tour of that country. The fact that the team has managed to secure a flawless haul of 10 points is something that, in years gone by, we could only have dreamed of. Sure, we didn’t face the strongest of the Aussie outfits on this tour, but the way the Rebels went about their task, one may be forgiven for thinking otherwise! The Sharks also, in scoring 9 tries, equalled their own record for most tries scored on a tour of Australia, although that record was set in 2007 when all 9 tries were scored in one match against the then-woeful Reds. The other match on that tour, against the Force, was lost.
In fact, the Sharks have never returned from an Antipodean tour with more than 13 total points before – that feat was achieved in 2009 when the Sharks won three form four and beat the Chiefs, Blues and Force. With two matchs still to go on this tour and ten points safely in the bag, the Sharks must surely be looking at returning with at least 15 – or do we even hope for one or two more?
The temptation, I guess, is to look at a tour in terms of a total points target and then start to relax based on a good start. To my mind, the Sharks should be particularly wary of the complacence that this sort of thinking can lead to. They would do well to block the Australian portion of the trip, successful as it has been, from their minds and look to the Chiefs as a completely new challenge; a match against an infinitely-beatable foe at a venue where they have prevailed in the past. Fact is, the Chiefs are not on form and if the Sharks can recapture the sort of form they displayed against the Force in the opening tour game, they should put themselves in a great position to win and perhaps even secure another bonus point.
Going into a game against the Crusaders, wherever that may be, safe in the knowledge that we already have 14 or 15 points in the bag from our tour would be an enviable position indeed. That, however, is a problem for another day. The Sharks have arrived safely in New Zealand and have based themselves in Auckland for the time being, ahead of a move to Hamilton later in the week. While the team have certainly done a good job so far, that hard work will all be undone to an extent if they allow themselves to be distracted, either by what has already happened, or by what is yet to come, and put in a substandard performance against the Chiefs.
Right now, Operation Australia has been shelved and Operation Hamilton is the only thing that matters.
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I’ve got a feeling, woohoo, that Friday is gonna be a good day, Friday is gonna be a good good day. š
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 1) : I think so too
@robdylan (Comment 2) : I got a feeling in 1995 and then again in 2007 and I got it again whilst reading the thread. š
I’d rather not say I think they will win, just now Bergshark put some words in my mouth again! š
The Chiefs are beatable as we have seen this season but it will be anything but easy and the close shave against the Rebels may be a good wake up call.
@Ice (Comment 4) : Ice:
Ain’t about the uh Cha-ching, cha-ching
Ain’t about the yeah Ba-Bling Ba-Bling
Wanna make the Sharksworld dance
Forget about the price tag
Good read Rob..
Good to see something positive and without the emotion we have seen lately.
Sharks should take this game, the Chiefs are horribly off form at the moment.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : I’d consider it a failing if we don’t beat the Chiefs on current form. Seriously. We need to forget that we already have 10 points and play this one on its merits.
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Every game is a new challenge..
We need to score at least 4 points from every single game we play!
If you had given me 10 points from the tour i would have taken it and returned home.. The chiefs are class and class is permanent.. we will have to play extremely well to beat a hungry chiefs side..
@mikey (Comment 10) : nah, I would’ve thought we should expect 10 points from Aus…
I mean, based on history, of course, you wouldn’t, but based on today’s form, you should be looking at that as expected.
I think if we beat the Chiefs,we should give jlp and ch a start.And all the reserves.
yes the sharks have done very well. they may have dropped some tries due to impatience, but they are doing well. i think many fans just want them to score as many points as they can before they go through their trade mark collapse. but looking at the depth of this squad i think we may not see a major slump this year. too many players after a starting spot for players to lose focus.
@Honey Badger (Comment 12) : nah, you don’t learn anything by doing wholesale changes. changes should be made gradually. bring in jlp. then another player. but throwing a new team onto the field is a suicide move. a maximum of three players could probably be made without messing up combinations. look at the chaos in the lions defence last year because dick muir would do wholesale changes week in week out.
So rob..u looking forward to the game at twickenham….are u gonna go?
@shaniboi (Comment 15) : I’ll think about it… maybe I’ll go if I can’t think of anything better to do š