Hi guys – apologies for the lateness of this message, but the season sort of snuck up on me this year and before I knew it, I was deep into the holiday period and spending much-needed time away from the daily grind.
I hope you and your families all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and allow me to wish you nothing but happiness and prosperity for 2017. We’ll catch up with more rugby news early in the new year.
Thanks as always for the fantastic support throughout this rather shitty year! Onwards and upwards.
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Wishing you and family a Merry Christmas blessed with love, laughter and joy. May you have a prosperous 2017 and an even better Sharks year. Rob once again thanks for all your hard work and dedication
thanks rob, you’ve mentioned before that its been a rough year, but all in all I dont think it was too bad from a sharks perspective, and yes it was even tougher from a bok stand point but I believe things are looking up and I never expect change over night.
the thing I enjoy most about this site is the sparing of insights into rugby topic and news, really miss that over the last few weeks.
for example iv been amazed at how well tuate has played since he got to munster, its like a new lease on life for him, im not saying his all of a sudden world class, I believe it likely because the speed in europe is slower and rassie and the munster staff as using him to his strengths, iys clear wp dont want him back and would rather move on, latest news is that munster have spoken to wp and are trying to get a extended stay for tuate through the very strict irish league, likely by saying taute is a fullback.
has anyone watched tank over there ?
must say vincent koch hasnt really stood out thus far at the sarries, early days I guess
@revolverocelot (Comment 2) : don’t think Taute will get cleared to play as a fullback as Zane Kirchner is already playing in Ireland.
Thanx Rob! Had a wonderful Christmas with family!
Yes 2016 was a long hard year full of tears and sorrows but by the grace and strength of God we will get through the last bit of it!
We would also like to wish you (and your loved ones) and all the other friends here a good last bit of 2016 and a blessed 2017!!!
@JD (Comment 3) : Taute playing as a centre there
@SheldonK (Comment 5) : yes I know but revolverocelot said Munster might try to say he’s a fullback so I just said that will not work as Zane is already contracted as a fullback in Ireland.
@JD (Comment 6) : Yeh it also becomes interesting as Charles Piatau is also contracted there as a centre/fullback apparently.
@JD (Comment 3) : I agree, the fb thing I just mentioned as rassie was quoted saying jaco has played nearly 90 first class games at fullback, and munster have many backline injuries now, so I figure munster hope they can one day get tuate long term but for now they are going to put together a good argument to persuade them to allow him to stay
both piatau and zain have played fb/outside centre/wing since getting to ireland. tuates ability to play every position in the backline besides 9 and ten counts in his favour, I must say he gave me many laughs in that finals stormers game against the chiefs lol, to lose like that infront of your mom, dad, wife and mistress that really shut up the loud mouth stormers supporters
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : @revolverocelot (Comment 8) : yes seemingly teams don’t have to play a foreign player in his nominated position.
Hi all. I wish you guys and gals a splendid, better 2017!
Christmas was wonderful…and right now I am very excited about the fact that it is just 3 more sleeps to go until a much-needed holiday! Only one wedding and two church services to go…
Thanks for everything, Rob!
@JD (Comment 9) : interesting, they could always fill out the paper work and put tuate down as a loose forward 😉
but jokes aside his really impressed me with his performance over there, the games I watched he was at 12
Ho, Ho, Ho, yesshhh Merry Fetishvness to all of you out there.
@pastorshark (Comment 10) : enjoy the break Pastor. My break started today! For the rest of this year I’m on holiday only working again next year!!!
@revolverocelot (Comment 11) : interesting to hear he’s playing 12!? Maybe they can extend his contact a bit if they have injury problems?
Always rated him as a player but seemed to be one that would never fulfill those expectations! Really hope for his sake he found a place where he can do so even if it’s not in SA!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : take it you’re still busy enjoying the “eggnog” that was left over from Christmas!?!?!? 😉
Anyway same to you and your loved ones!
😆 Noooo, sampling Champers for the new year, you know I need to know what to fill that nice trophy with on 05 August 2017.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 16) : hahaha positive thinking I like that!
@JD (Comment 17) : Not only are we going to win it but it will be with attractive, free flowing rugby coupled with a fine tuned scrum and line out and a defence that is never found wanting. Now where did I leave the Paarl Perle..
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 18) : think it might be next to the empty bottles of mampoer!
Happy New Year everyone! Hope it’s a goodie…
Happy New year everyone. May 2017 bring you lots of joy and happiness. A special thank you to Rob for all the time and effort you put in on this site.
Happy New Year guys! Back at work tomorrow and will start the articles flowing again, I promise.
@robdylan (Comment 22) : nice one sir.
New years eve I was working at a festival on the outer fields outside gate 1 at kings park, I saw sbura and odwa and snuck in to stadium looked like they were doing a gym session. Anyway greeted them and asked sbura if he is playing centre this year and he said no he is focusing on being a wing (to my dismay) 🙁 :'(
@Poisy (Comment 24) : great to hear the guys are committed and practicing and ja also a bit sad that Sbura is focusing on only wing but makes sense with Am and Ward in Durbs.
@robdylan (Comment 22) : same to you and your loved ones!
@robdylan (Comment 22) : Happy new year to you Rob, your entire family, and all the Sharksworld folks here. Thank you Rob for your many years of delivering Sharks news to so many living all around the world, may this wonderfully successful endeavour last for many more years to come. 🙂
@Poisy (Comment 24) : It is really positive to see the focus and intensity in individuals training. It does sadden me that Sbu does not focus on centre, or is told not to focus on that. In all honesty, he has always had oodles of talent, but has never set the world alight at wing. His best period of play was at centre, and remember he even got a look at by the Boks by being invited to a camp. My personal opinion is that he is a weak defender on the wing, he does not use the touchline to his advantage, and plays too close to the touchline on defence. Having someone outside him when defending at 13, really seemed to help him as he held his line well and he is so strong, that when given a chance, hits hard in the tackle. Again, just my opinion, and disappointment that he likely will never get that shot at centre that I think he deserves.
@dancing bear, if he moves to cheetahs or lions he might get a chance! I mean mnisi plays centre at super rugby level mnisi! Sbura is so much better but he doesn’t play there often enough for us to see progress. There was another guy with them but didn’t recognise him must be a junior player
@Poisy (Comment 29) : My point was “a shot at centre (for the Sharks)”
😉 😛
@Poisy (Comment 29) : Ilunga Mukendi, probably
@rob what position does he play? Looked small
@Poisy (Comment 32) : llunga Mukendi is a wing, fairly tall guy but has filled out a lot it seems. Played u19s last year. He showed serious potential when at Glenwood so interesting to see if he can make the step up
@sheldonK looked small to me lol guess I’m fat now
@Poisy (Comment 34) : Ive only seen him in photos of late so hard to really judge from that. U really should consider yourself well rounded 🙂