While Sharks coach John Plumtree has been quick to point to his strong squad, with plenty of competition for places, as one of the reasons behind the team’s recent resurgence, there’s one position in particular where a lack of depth is starting to become very worrying indeed.
With the likes of Riaan Viljoen, Odwa Ndungane, Dale Chadwick, Marius Joubert and Willem Alberts currently unable to even make the match 22, it’s fair to say that most areas are well covered indeed and with names like that waiting in the wings, you can bet whatever you have left over at the end of the month that none of the incumbents is likely to do much “resting on laurels”, in case a poor performance or two sees the coach summarily whip out a replacement of equal calibre.
The dearth of a quality replacement at scrumhalf, though, seems to be having exactly the opposite effect on Charl McLeod and while we’re sure the plucky ex-Wonderboomer is trying his very hardest to rediscover his spark, the reality is that he’s currently a weak link in the side and if Plumtree actually had someone to replace him with, I’m sure he would now do that. The problem is, though – there isn’t anyone. The Sharks tried using Fred Michalak at scrummie earlier in the year and it didn’t work. Likewise, the spate of injuries that have conspired to rob poor Conrad Hoffmann of any chance to establish himself as a form player continued in 2012, with the former WP man ruling himself out of contention ahead of a Super Rugby season that was meant to be his big opportunity. The current incarnation of Conrad Hoffmann struggled to assert himself playing off the bench for the Vodacom Cup side and cannot honestly be seen as a realistic contender to usurp McLeod at this stage.
That leaves Cobus Reinach, a player of immense potential, but who of course still has a fair few rough edges, as one would expect from a player of his youth and inexperience in senior rugby terms. Reinach was pulled in for a handful of games in the Currie Cup last year, but didn’t get anywhere near enough game time to be able to show what he can do, making it quite risky indeed to throw him straight into the Super Rugby cauldron. The reality, though, is that with McLeod the only usable scrumhalf in the current squad, it seems foolish indeed to carry on without at least starting the process of blooding Reinach at this level. What happens if Charl gets injured, for instance? An even better scenario for the Sharks would see Reinach entrusted with a bench spot in Super Rugby now, where he can perhaps add some magic with his formidable (and hereditary) pace late in the game. What’s more, with just a little bit more pressure on his position, we may just start to see the sort of Charl McLeod that we did in 2010.
Remember back then that he was being picked ahead of Rory Kockott and needed to produce a performance each week to justify that selection.
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a while ago he was one of the few scrummies that didn’t question the ref at every ruck and just pass the ball, but now at every ruck he just put up his hands and shout at the ref, instead of doing what a scrummie should and clean the ball. i know he can do better than this and that leaves me with the question why nobody at the coaching staff pick this up and have a chat with him.we have the ability to score a huge amount of tries, but he is holding us back at the moment
I say again – Plum just need to implement the new 5 second ruck rule early for the Sharks. Will do wonders for our game
now if only we had some depth in the coaching position.
I agree with you Rob, Charl’s best game this season was the one where he came back after 3 or 4 games, with Mich being preferred at the start.
i’ve never rated mcleod, never will. he just oozes mediocre.
@Megatron (Comment 5) : He should go play for the Kings then?
“What happens if Charl gets injured, for instance?”
The unfortunate answer to that is that Fred Michalak will play 9 again..
Why was Hoffmann flown over to Aus if he cannot even get close to the Super Squad back at home?
In an ideal world, Ruan Pienaar would be winning games for the Sharks now and not Ulster…
@Die Kriek (Comment 6) : 😆
@Die Kriek (Comment 6) : nope! you already palmed off mr mediocre himself Monty Dumond to us, so thanks but no thanks! 😆
@Megatron (Comment 10) : Can’t argue with that one!
Sooooo goood to be back!…….. 😎
@Megatron (Comment 10) : that was a master stroke from Oom Staal
I actually recall a worse flyhalf for the Sharks than Monty – a French sounding surname – De Marigny or something?
@Poisy (Comment 12) : sawubona Poisy sbali, uyaphila? 😛
@Poisy (Comment 12) :
Where have you been?
@Bokhoring (Comment 2) : was thinking the same when I watched the game last night!
Our bench is worrying me..was just saying to Rob – Lambie was replaced by Fred, if Mcleod needed to go off, Fred would move to 9 and Bosman to 10. What happens if one of the centres gets injured?? Move JPP to centre and Burden to wing?? Bit worrying..
@Ice (Comment 17) : But on the other hand, what other team is able to do that?
@<a [email protected]Pokkel (Comment 15) : studying bro varsity has been killing me “#comment-396052”>Megatron (Comment 14) : hehehe kunjani? Yebo ngiyaphila
@Poisy (Comment 19) :
Good to see you have your priorities right! 😎
@Poisy (Comment 19) : siyazama nathi, akusizi ukukhala!
Hoffman is a shadow of what he looked up to 2 seasons back. I have serious concerns about Reinach’s ability to control a game, and his kicking ability.
As mentioned, he is still young and has time on his hands, but IMO not close to ready for SR just yet.
@jovner (Comment 1) : I would like to know why EVERY SINGLE scrumhalf who manages to make a name for himself just HAS to start flapping hands like a chicken trying to fly. The way FDP did it for the last few years with the Boks reduces me to uttering things I normally would not even think of. 👿
@Megatron (Comment 21) : ngisacabanga nje izinto owawuzisho ngingekho ngesikathi ama sharks eshawa
Have to say, scrumhalf remains my single biggest concern at the Sharks (if we exclude back room staff from the discussion, that is). Charl did well in 2010 when he focused on providinbg Lambie with quick, clean quality ball. Once he started deviating from that, his other limitations became apparent, and since then it seems he’s even been battling to replicate his ability to do the basics that brought him to prominence.
Hoffman may be talented, but his showings in the CC final last year, and more recently in the Vodacom cup does not engender faith in his abilities.
Reinach is untested and unpolished, but we’d better start investing in his development, or go on a recruitment drive, because the cupboard is looking pretty bare.
What I would give to have Hougaard playing for us!
@Culling Song (Comment 25) : good news… we bought 3 under 19 scrumhalves for this year 🙂
@Poisy (Comment 24) : hawu! sowuyangisukela ke manje!
ubabuze nje abo-Rob ngihlala ngisho izinto ezintle nje ngamaSharks 😛
AmaSharks adlubhedu! 😆
Actually where have all the decent SA scrumhalves gone? The year that we are starting to see some talented flyhalves popping up all over the place, the 9 cupboard seems bare overall
@robdylan (Comment 26) : And…? Are they worth getting excited over, in your opinion?
@Megatron (Comment 27) : ahem amanga! Uphi umuzi? Noma usashawa ibabalaza ngoba ama bulls esihlula
Someone aprove my new pic plz
@Poisy (Comment 31) :
Done
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 32) : thanks long time man
@Poisy (Comment 33) :
Yeah, its been a while..
Studies going well?
@Poisy (Comment 30) : eish, indaba kaMuzi angiyazi, ngimgcine ngalela langa beba announcer amaBaby Boks, uyazi ke indlela bekajabule ngakhona kunabadlali abawu 7 abasuka kumaBulls 😆
kuyekwabakhona ukungazwani no-Rob wathi ke yena uyahamba uyaku_Twitter
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 34) : yup awesome 6months left and. Have my law degree
@Poisy (Comment 36) :
Congratulations dude!!
@Megatron (Comment 35) : hawu! Kanjalo nje wahamba? Ey cha abantu! Kodwa naye uyashesha ukuduba
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 37) : baai dankie 😎
@Poisy (Comment 36) : kuhlala kunabo-cherrie abashisayo kuma avatar wakho, ublind ndoda! 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : like
@Megatron (Comment 40) : lmfao amacherrie engisebenza nawo ngangisiza umngani wami lo osesitombeni naye ,sebeze bajola unyaka wonke
We still need more depth and talent at 9. McLeod at the moment is no where good enough and even if he plays like he did in 2010 he is still only an average scrumhalf. We need a scumhalf with a bit of x-factor with a more rounded game.
@lostfish (Comment 43) : At the moment I think he should just concentrate on providing crisp decent service to first receiver, and forget about all the other stuff. Take a snipe when it is on, but if he stops with the box kicking for a while I would not be unhappy – it does not seem to work anyway
@Bokhoring (Comment 44) : His kicking isn’t great. A lot of the time he is trying to play the ref by flapping his arms about and offering advice to the ref. Like you said he should just concentrate on his game and give decent service and get the ball out of the ruck ASAP.
@lostfish (Comment 45) : Yip – unless the flapping allows him to fly over the defensive line 😈 – he really needs to stop that
@lostfish (Comment 45) : @Bokhoring (Comment 46) : The unwritten rule of scrumhalf play should be the same as the unwriten rule of male dancing – no hands above shoulder height (unless you’re gay)
@Culling Song (Comment 47) : hahahaha, well according to a very reliable source, McLeod describes himself as a Mirl.
What about Fred Zeilinga? Know he has played 9 a few games.
Or am I being totally stupid here?
He has the kicking ability, the head, composure and potential to be a great 9. Don’t think with Pat and Bosman there that he would have a chance as 10.
Who is that other laaitie that can play 9 or 10 that also played baby bokke? He performed well during the warm up games.
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 49) : Hah, yeah, that guy.