Davidson: Sharks in prime position
24 Jan 2006
Sharks scrumhalf Craig Davidson has cited the widespread belief that the Durbanites will be the South African side relegated from the Super 14 as reason for immense optimism.
Davidson, who impressed after recovering from injury late last year, told keo.co.za that the pressure has been entirely lifted.
“Out of all the South African sides, I think we are in the best position,” Davidson said. “Everyone thinks we’re out already, and that’s fine by us. We’re obviously determined to prove everyone wrong. We had a good start against the Leopards on Friday, and momentum is building.”
Davidson does not deny that the threat of relegation has added an urgency to the preparations.
“No-one speaks about relegation, but I think it’s fair to say that everyone is thinking about it. What we have to do is start off well. We want to beat the Chiefs at home in Durban, and then the Cheetahs before we go on tour. A couple of away wins and we’ll be right in their for a semi-final spot. We are not just going into this competition trying to survive. We want to do well and be in contention for a home sem-final.”
Davidson will miss the Sharks’ warm-up fixtures with the Bulls at Sun City on Saturday, but is in no danger of missing the Super 14 kick-off against the Chiefs.
“I have a bit of a stomach muscle problem at the moment. It’s a Grade 1 tear, just a niggle really, but it’s right on my hip so it’s very irritating. I’m obviously confident I’ll be fit the competition, hopefully I’ll be selected to play some part of the first game.”
81 Comments
24 Jan 2006, 16:23 pm
Sharks to be relegated in S14… Definitely!!!
24 Jan 2006, 16:23 pm
ja boet. the semi’s are defnitly in sight.
24 Jan 2006, 16:25 pm
mmmm… This ou is a useless wannabe…
24 Jan 2006, 16:34 pm
Sounds like womens logic to me.
24 Jan 2006, 16:34 pm
wpw – you’re just saying that to get back at me…
24 Jan 2006, 16:35 pm
Ja, Craig the only way the Sharks will be on top of the S14 log is by turning the TV upside down!
24 Jan 2006, 16:35 pm
I tend to agree with him to an extent.
I personally feel that all 5 SA teams could very easily find themselves in the relegation zone.
All it takes is a horrible run of games and it’s game over.
Nobody is safe here inclding the Bulls and Stormers
24 Jan 2006, 16:36 pm
Hey Coffee. Sup, boet?
24 Jan 2006, 16:38 pm
How can the shartks be in the best position? I’d say they are in the worse position.No optimism there.They’re definitely going on holiday in 2007.
24 Jan 2006, 16:39 pm
The Sharks will be the team that gets relegated.
24 Jan 2006, 16:39 pm
sharks always punch above their weight in this competition. last year was an abnormality created by putts leadership.
sharks wont go down. its got to be the cats. or maybe the cheetas.
24 Jan 2006, 16:40 pm
Great Whites don’t survive in captivity: the Sharks as a franchise are no different, when they are boxed in and the pressure is applied they choke. Like in 2004 when they needed a couple of bonus points to reach the semis after touring well, then they came back and lost all their home games.
24 Jan 2006, 16:40 pm
yeah, stormersfan30. Based on what, though? Care to substantiate that? Can you? Do you have a brain?
Stupid twat.
24 Jan 2006, 16:43 pm
Howzit Rob, you have a good break?
24 Jan 2006, 16:44 pm
Just look at the past two years.Did you forget so quick?Stop with the names.
24 Jan 2006, 16:45 pm
Break was good, but had a **** development on the family front earlier this month. Anyway, life goes on. How’s Holland?
24 Jan 2006, 16:45 pm
robdylan anyone who supports a union that is more interested in producing bumper stickers & marketing themselves every F&*%ing week on supersport has no brain… Sharks are so kuk…
Stormersfan 30 is 100% correct… Sharks have the best odds to play Vodacom Cup in 2007
24 Jan 2006, 16:47 pm
Robd.
Oh, and the stormers, in that kak black outfit of theirs are not marketing themselves? Where is your brain?
And they stole their image from a friggin Holywood movie. Grow up son. You should know by now that the movies are not real.
24 Jan 2006, 16:47 pm
sf30 – it’s this bullshit that you guys all pull “Sharks are kak” – not based on any arguements, susbtantiations, or anything. It’s just stated as a fact.
Face it, buddy – once you actually look into it, your team is equally ****. I wouldn’t be complacent about being relegated if I were you. Even your “saviour” Nick Mallett seems worried…
24 Jan 2006, 16:48 pm
Thanks BIGG
24 Jan 2006, 16:48 pm
Robd… that comment was aimed at bigg.
24 Jan 2006, 16:48 pm
TS – I gather that was directed at biggmouth? I agree with you.
24 Jan 2006, 16:49 pm
Robd, dont stress boet. We will all know whats what come the end of the comp.
24 Jan 2006, 16:50 pm
I still believe the Cats are going down. We haven’t seen them play without the Cheetahs yet and neither have they.
I’ll put money on the kitties going down. Ooops, I already have.
24 Jan 2006, 16:50 pm
true. I shouldn’t let these morons get to me.
See y’all around
24 Jan 2006, 16:50 pm
RobD – losing your temper wont maake the sharks a better team you know. Just relaaaax. They’re all entitled to their opinions just as you are w.r.t the Stormers being relegated.
At the end of the day though, we all know it’ll be the Cats.
24 Jan 2006, 16:50 pm
However I bet the stormers fans will still be in denial.
24 Jan 2006, 16:51 pm
ROB Everybody is can give his view and that is mine like you got yours.I think the SHARKS is SA’s worst team.
24 Jan 2006, 16:52 pm
I would love to comment but then wpw will accuse me of being arrogant.
24 Jan 2006, 16:52 pm
What has happened in KZN over the last couple of years. First they (through bad man manegement) chase away two of our brightest stars (K.Pietersen and C.Rathbone) and now they are fighting for survival in both cricket and rugby?
I think the administrators took their eyes off the ball, worried more about political agendas and slaughtered the goose that lays the golden eggs.
24 Jan 2006, 16:53 pm
stormersfan
75 – 14 is also maar “KUK”
Eish now I open a can of worms.
Give me the stats boys.
24 Jan 2006, 16:53 pm
Imagine if the Stormers go down?
this site would be deader than a morgue.
lol
all the bullshitters will be hiding for a couple years.
24 Jan 2006, 16:54 pm
who ever gets relegated will be going on Holiday.
So, who ever does get relegated.I say good on them.
24 Jan 2006, 16:55 pm
strange how the bulls with one, yes one, successful season is suddenly excluded from all this…
and their good season was largely thanks to a great run at home.
interesting that.
24 Jan 2006, 16:56 pm
Jondood
75-15 and 39-3 is soooo last season.
This season it is 44-13 again…at Newlands…pak slae again!!!
pain again!!!
these Captonians MUST be into sadomasicsm.
24 Jan 2006, 16:56 pm
PissAnt
Let me be the 1st from the Bulls fans to thank the Stormers for such easy wins.
24 Jan 2006, 16:57 pm
I’ll be the second…
FU Stormer fans!!!
24 Jan 2006, 16:57 pm
Reasons to suggest why the Sharks will be relegated:
1)They came last last year in the Super 12 and didn’t make the Curry Cup semi’s.
2)One of their lonely 3 current springboks is injured and under a ban, he also happens to be their captain.
3)Mediocre lineout.
4)Mediocre scrum.
5)They give away far too many turnovers.
6)They make too many basic mistakes.
7)Too many holes in the backline’s defence.
8)Rudolf Straueli is their Director of Rugby, which suggests poor decision-making in management.
9)While the sharks have been upbeat about their signings Percy Montgomery, Tony Brown and the Samoan, as well as the return from injury of AJ Venter, Butch James and Craig Davidson one has the feeling that they are a bit thin should injury strike them in key positions.
24 Jan 2006, 16:57 pm
every SA team, has the potential to fold this year, pressure does strange things to teams.
and the occasional brainfart and arrogance also plays a part.
24 Jan 2006, 16:58 pm
Harlequin
So what you actually trying to say is that they are “KUK”.
No need for all 9 points.
24 Jan 2006, 16:59 pm
I love winding the Sharks fans up, it works every time… I do however think the Sharks are really kuk but their fans are not so bad…
24 Jan 2006, 16:59 pm
hehe,
pleasure jondood. i think ig must re-post that article of Ollie again – where he said, and was vindicated after the game – that arrogance cost the blue bulls last year, and their lack of respect by both players and fans.
after the cricket against the same province effectively, you guys must seriously be really good at getting corks back into champagne bottles.
24 Jan 2006, 17:01 pm
PissAnt
Dont mention Ollie.
It hurts.
24 Jan 2006, 17:03 pm
PissAnt totally agree, I for one think that the guys thinking it’s between the cats and sharks for the drop are in for a suprise or 2.
24 Jan 2006, 17:04 pm
CoffeeshopBok
You are so right.
We both know that the Stormers are capable of being relegated.
24 Jan 2006, 17:04 pm
sorry jondood,
please dont mention gus again and we will have a deal….
24 Jan 2006, 17:07 pm
Lets not bluff ouselves here, the Sharks are in for a riller of a season, it takes balls to push in so many youngsters and they are rather quickly going to sink or swim, as a BIG BULL surporter I wish you all the best, aspecialy with a **** at the helm, and dont even get met started on Kamp Staal Straulie
24 Jan 2006, 17:09 pm
wpw,
Ek sal nie so baie oor die Sperm Whales praat as ek jy is nie. Jou bende Nataniel Nekbyters loop nou nie self oor van selfvertroue nie..
2 Beserings en julle bevind julself in Zuma en Vinnige Vingers se posisie.
24 Jan 2006, 17:11 pm
picture the final game of the s14, featuring 2 SA teams for the drop and it comes down to this final match….Shudder it will get messy regardless on which team it is.
24 Jan 2006, 17:16 pm
Coffeeshop you are so right – it will be worse than the 2003 match Eng vs SA at Twickers… No red cards at all in that match
24 Jan 2006, 17:16 pm
howzit lennel. wazup?
24 Jan 2006, 17:33 pm
It won’t be the Cats boys… It just won’t.
24 Jan 2006, 17:39 pm
Harlequin
1) We came last in last years S12, so by that logic we are ready to play in the final! Last season is last season, it is only the Stormers who are carrying last seasons from forward.
2) J Smit will miss 2 games big deal! 11 (+ semi & final) more to go!
3) Lineout will be better with AJ back & in Albert, we have perhaps the 2nd best lineout jumper in the country!
4)Scrum, we handed the Bulls their *** in the curry cuo!
5, 6 & 7) What! stats please!
8) Guilty
9) I think we are good actually, besides the centers we have experience in all the right places & ok cover. E.g. flyhalf we will have access to Butch, Brown, Percy, Russle & Riaan.
Don’t worry about the Sharks, we will be competitive this year, my money is on the fragile Cheeta temprament & soft stormers side fighting it out for short time wages.
24 Jan 2006, 17:47 pm
The Bill, If the Sharks win as many as 2 games this season I will be very surprised, you are risking way to much with a young squad and a coach with an ego as big as Table Mountain, good luck, youre going to need it…
24 Jan 2006, 17:52 pm
Bully, how do you have an issue with ****? The only thing contrevrsial about him is his name!
Come on now, last year we were the geriatrics, this year we are the toddlers, come on ladies a bit of consistency.
You have to be fair, look at our experience, we have more than enough there! Perhapse we have a perfect mix of young & old!
Admin team, you got any stats on squads in terms of number of S12 games played etc?
Come on feed us!
Bully, you not getting a bit nervous to play us in the warm up? Scared we might give you the flu like the stormers gave you the mumps!
24 Jan 2006, 18:01 pm
Guys, it wasn’t until Butch got injured that the Sharks played badly, and with a bit more cover now (Tony and Percy), hopefully the Sharks will bite a bit harder and for longer. I recall that it was against the Stormers that Butch got hurt, and Sharks were winning until then, so wpw, be careful as I think we will shock a lot of teams.
24 Jan 2006, 18:03 pm
The Bill, not nervous, just carefull… the dangerous thing about a bunch of young guys are that they are hungry to prove them selves, sometimes a bad thing, mostly a big weapon if used correctly, a bull in salty is a easy target but out in the bosveld you are going down brother, good luck any way…
24 Jan 2006, 18:04 pm
now I am seeing things – wpw – meant stormersfan and bigg – anyway, let’s hope all the unions do well and give SARU a real headache about the relegation. ;-o
24 Jan 2006, 18:04 pm
Bill
1)I don’t follow your logic for 1.
3) Albert van den Berg is overrated as a lineout lock, but Venter coming back is, I admit, a big plus.
4)First you say what happened last year happened last year, then you say you murdered the bulls in the scrum LAST YEAR. And by the way the only time I remember the Sharks beating the Bulls scrum is when the Bulls rested most of their first team players in the weekend before the semi – they had already secured a home semi and a home final (if they won the semi).
If you need stats to tell you 5,6 and 7, you either weren’t watching last year’s curry cup or you are just not a very good at analysing rugby play.
9) Time will tell.
24 Jan 2006, 18:05 pm
aaarrrggggghhhhh ;-0 dammit – a list – please!!!!
24 Jan 2006, 18:05 pm
oh crud!
24 Jan 2006, 18:24 pm
Quin (Medicene Woman)
1) The last time we finnished 12th in the S12, didn’t we make a dazzling comeback & make the final. Fine, not logical, but you cannot judge our form on that of last season!
3) Albert will do for us in the lineout he is GOOD, we will be compettive with every side in lineouts, including the Bulls.
4) Fine about not talking about last year, but we have a decent front row, some real strong props in BJ & co, + Smitty is a big strong lad! I think we will handle ourselves.
Stats) You could say that about any side, unsubstantiated.
9) Look forward to it.
Another point to note, the Sharks have contracted the Springbok fitness & conditioning coach for S14, so we will have players that are going to be in better physical condition than last year & probably better than any SA side in the S14.
24 Jan 2006, 19:06 pm
another
24 Jan 2006, 19:07 pm
try these
:p
:artist:
:bowling:
:dizzy:
:nono:
:eyepatch:
:sick:
:uhh:
:wacko:
:yinyang:
:frog:
24 Jan 2006, 19:11 pm
again (delete the asterisk from the text to give the smilie)
24 Jan 2006, 19:29 pm
nnn ‘:-p’ :-p
‘:mad:’
24 Jan 2006, 19:31 pm
In Denial as always. Stubbornnes won’t work this time round.
24 Jan 2006, 20:33 pm
okes it doesn’t need a rocket scientist to realise that the team that gets relegated has little to do with their squads. what it has got everything to do is that there is always one SA team that ends up unluckiest with crucial injuries. and there will be one.
take flyhalf for instance. every team with exeption to the bulls would be pretty much f*cked if their first choice no.10 gets moered.
and when sicknote gets injured for the stormers, and he will, who will they play at fullback? ditto with roets for the bulls. or centre for the cheetahs…. the list is endless.
still, can’t wait for the derbies this year!
kak for the players, but good value for the spectators!
25 Jan 2006, 00:53 am
Only a fool would write off the Sharks before the comp has even begun. The Stormers are known for their choking and considering the dismal season they had last year, they may just fight out the relegation spot with the Cats or Cheetah’s.
While the Sharks may seem the most vulnerable, in terms of past performances, they have a new coach, some new players and will pull out a few surprises this year. Out of the SA teams, expect them to finish second or third!
As for the Stormers, who knows. They’re a bit like the French-they blow hot and cold, though more cold lately.
25 Jan 2006, 06:53 am
I hope it’s not the Sharks – they have the best looking girls!
25 Jan 2006, 08:06 am
I think the Stomers will go down.
They started there warmups as kak as they finished the last season
25 Jan 2006, 08:10 am
“We had a good start against the Leopards…” Bwaa ha ha ha ha….
Go ahead Davidson, measure yourself against the LEOPARDS of all teams!!!
25 Jan 2006, 08:45 am
OK
25 Jan 2006, 08:57 am
Ahhhh the last time he opened his mouth he blew his chances of bok selection…..
25 Jan 2006, 09:04 am
OK, Imagine this…highly unlikely, but hypothetically speaking…
ALL FOUR of our teams reach the semi finals…
Then one of them will be relegated to make way for the Spears.
Not sure whats funnier the prospect of all our teams making the semi’s or a semi finalist been relegated to make way for the Spears?
What y’all think?
25 Jan 2006, 09:19 am
I just laugh at all this relegation speculation. Face it chaps this is a new competition with new squads and new players. Last years form in S12 and CC means diddly squat.
As a Sharks fan I love it. The only way for us is up and every win we get will be a surprise for the rest of you. AND I will bet half my expat salary you will get a lot of surprises this year!!
Davidsons attitude is the right one – don’t talk about relegation because if you aim to make the Semis and get there – well then there won’t be any concern about relegation!!;)
25 Jan 2006, 10:45 am
Tony – there are 5 SA teams, not four.
25 Jan 2006, 11:02 am
Come on sharkies, nobody is expecting anything from you so there is no pressure. Please dont be relegated, leave that for the Kitty Cats…..
25 Jan 2006, 11:15 am
“a couple of away wins and we’ll be right in there for a semi-final spot.”
Yeh right – a little too much of that Durban poison in the off season Craig?
25 Jan 2006, 11:44 am
ok, rob, me forgets, so lets make it top 5 positions then
25 Jan 2006, 12:58 pm
Ya boet da stuff from da bluff
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