Muir’s the magician, says AJ
28 Mar 2006
AJ Venter has heaped praise on Sharks coach Dick Muir, saying he has rejuvenated the region’s rugby.
“It is so different this season,” Venter told Keo.co.za on the team’s return from New Zealand and Australia. “He’s made it different. He’s instilled the kind of culture that the great Sharks teams of the early 1990s — the teams he was a part of — had. Our results, one from five, may not suggest it, but our tour was a lot better than that. We finished the five weeks strongly and we start the home campaign excited about the remainder of the competition. The attitude comes from the coach. He sets the tone and you really have to be a part of the squad to know the impact he has had on our thinking.
“Guys play for him. That’s why we were so shattered to lose the way we did against the Hurricanes. I’d rather we copped a 20 to 30 point hiding than to go down through two handling errors.”
Venter, one of the outstanding contributors of the Sharks campaign, said that the organisation of the tour to Australasia was the best he had experienced with the Sharks.
“I’ve been on a few tours, some where we have had more wins and others where we haven’t had a win, but this one beats them all in terms of what we achieved as a squad and the strides made under Dick. Initially all of us were apprehensive about five matches away from home. It had never been done before. Dick refused to see it as a hurdle. He encouraged us to challenge ourselves in each match, both individually and as a team unit. The guys felt they had let him down in Wellington. It was an awful ending to what had been an exciting final two weeks.”
Venter knows the dangers associated with expectation and is aware that the Sharks, having promised so much on tour, must now deliver at home.
“There will be expectation and rightfully so. The pressure is on us because we are a team that has shown we can play attractive and effective rugby. On tour we were the underdogs but at home the role is reversed. The message to the team, from each other, was that we have to turn the near misses into wins. Dick and his support team have done an amazing job with the squad, but now the players must reward what has been put in place for them.
“I am convinced we will,” said Venter, adding that it would take a good team playing very good rugby to beat the Sharks in Durban.
31 Comments
28 Mar 2006, 06:57 am
If it’s the true that the spirit and attitude the guys had in the 90′s is returning… I’m near tears and I’m phoning kulula. Kings Park here I come!
28 Mar 2006, 07:07 am
Well done and kudos to the whole team. From the coach to the fullback, it was truly a commendable effort. Now let’s see some *** kicking in the tank!
28 Mar 2006, 07:08 am
You dont win trophies by good team spirit and losing narrowly.looking at all their handling mistakes on saturday where are all the campo groupies now?
28 Mar 2006, 07:10 am
funny, glory days when you win 4 CC’s
siestog ouens!
But do me a favour and beat the Stormers
28 Mar 2006, 07:41 am
Must hand it to Muir, he has done well. Before the S14 everyone was saying the Sharks were going to be whipped, regulated etc. Muir has really impressed. Maybe The Meyer of Pretoria can use him somehow up North. AJ is also making a huge contribution.
I think the Sharks are going to be tough to beat at the tank, and I hope they get the support they deserve.
28 Mar 2006, 08:08 am
bloubulsd
you are only as good as your last game … and the Force mad your team look rather average.
Say what you want … the Sharks are scoring tries in every match, and many of them constructed tries. Can’t say that for the other teams, so yes bliksem, **** and Campo must be doing something right.
28 Mar 2006, 08:14 am
The Sharks at least look the part this year. **** has made a massive difference. Here’s hoping the rest of the season rocks for them.
28 Mar 2006, 08:44 am
I’ve been reading this site for a couple of years now and from time to time I notice that there are some well balanced individuals posting their comments here. They have a chip on BOTH shoulders, but we won’t mention any names will we Bliksem.
The Sharks have scored the most tries by a SA team so far, 16 then the bulls on 13, cheetahs on 11, stromers on 10 and cats on 6. Campo must be doing something right. These tries are also coming from structured play.
You are right, team spirit does’nt win the games on it’s own, but a team with good team spirit play for each other and the coach and that is what wins games.
**** is doing a fantastic job here and I think he deserves all the credit he gets.
28 Mar 2006, 08:44 am
I see nobody has apologised for all their rude remarks made when **** started off as a coach last year.
28 Mar 2006, 08:49 am
You have to congratulate Muir he learn’t his coaching trade at club rugby level (pirates, tukkies etc). Unlike some former bok colleagues he has given himself every opportunity to succeed at coaching by having a good grounding at club level before moving up.
I hope current players and future coaches take a leaf out of his book, it is very rare that a player stops playing and immediately becomes a successful coach. I can only think of Rassie, are there any others?
28 Mar 2006, 08:52 am
I have a strong feeling that the Sharks are going to run rampant over the Reds and score 4+ tries and add 5 points to the log. The Reds hoodoo will be crushed and the whole of Natal will have a moerse babbelas.
28 Mar 2006, 08:58 am
His first few games were a bit wobbelie, but now they almost look the best SA side. well in fact they do look the best SA side in terms of playing rugby.Bulls have still to travel and after last weeks match me thinks they will end this season very close if not below the shakrs on the ranks. (hope not though lol)
28 Mar 2006, 09:33 am
Here’s to you Groen en Goud! May I join in that babbelas!
28 Mar 2006, 09:37 am
put aside your provincial goggles all you who question **** Muir.
As a dyed in the wool Blues supporter – 2006 is going from shite to God knows what!
I have lessened my ongoing pain by finding another team to shout for as a pseudo comfort blanket. No decisions yet, but there are two that catch my eye, one is the Hurricanes. The other is the Sharks.
The difference between the two teams is one has had a Leprechaun sitting on the bench, the other has not. Other than that they have been equally impressive!
28 Mar 2006, 09:42 am
True ’bout that darn Leprechaun. ‘Canes had so many last minute victories compared to sharks’ last minute defeats…
28 Mar 2006, 10:48 am
To think that the Lions had the opportunity to involve **** in their junior or senior teams while he was coaching Pirates. Instead we have the likes of Ludeke and Goodwin running our teams into the ground.What a shame.
28 Mar 2006, 10:49 am
yes, were are those detractors that labelled us “clownfish” — losers etc. This includes you KEO. We may not get to the semi’s but this squad certainly will make an impact next year, especially that we could hardly expect a similar draw to this year. [ smells of a set up]
And what about the Wildebeest — soon to be TOP of the log, what a move up the “corporate” ladder, they normally prop up the middle of the Vodocom cup log — well done to the coaching staff & thanks all the players who now put out thewir best for a coach they appreciate = **** MUIR. Long Live ****.[future Bok coach?]
28 Mar 2006, 11:11 am
Wildebeest yes – Clownfish no – too inconsistent. All the rose coloured spectacles in the world can only give **** an A as a motivator, but not as a tactician. I think Rassie outshines **** in most departments, especially end game & tactics.
Good luck Sharks, you’re at least on the way up.
28 Mar 2006, 11:16 am
I have said it before and will say it again, **** is the business. As was said earlier, **** has come through the club ranks, and proved his worth. **** has EARNED the right to coach the Sharks, and the team WILL go from strength to strength under him.
I predict that **** will coach the Springboks in the future.
28 Mar 2006, 11:23 am
another clever player who has become a clever coach. He and Rassie are both very sharp.
glad the sharks are doing so well, lets hope they get a few wins at home, there’s no reason why they should not, its a very very good pack.
28 Mar 2006, 11:33 am
AJ is just being loyal. The truth is that it is AJ himself – along with Smittie and Percy – who are the magicians. **** is just a ****.
28 Mar 2006, 11:38 am
sarky,
name those departments … other than the prop subs.
Tell me that you think the Cheetahs backline is good as a unit and i’ll piss myself laughing …
28 Mar 2006, 11:48 am
a strong sharks outfit can only benefit SA rugby. I am specially excited by the way **** has created depth in the team, by blooding and believing in talented youngsters, most of whom have not let him down.
28 Mar 2006, 12:23 pm
I said it at the beginning that the Sharks would not be relegated and surprise evryone.
I believe that they will come off this tour the better for it, and will be a big danger to any local sides they play.
any touring side that has been in Joe cools in th week leading up to the game will also get a smack.
I have Spoken
28 Mar 2006, 12:49 pm
Kevin Putt.
He’s the one who kept calling for calm, saying the youngsters are coming through the ranks. The team just needs time to mature.
**** has been exceptional in bringing them through, even though the Sharks Academy has brough out the BIG cheque book to do the job. (Just like the Blue Bulls did 4/5 years ago buying up every young star in SA….) All bodes well for the sharks in the next few years.
28 Mar 2006, 13:06 pm
Tsotsi,
Do you know murph by any chance?
PS: Have you seen the movie, apparantly it won an oscar, i’ll have to see it, the trailer looks pretty good with the joburg skyline.
28 Mar 2006, 15:12 pm
Now there’s a place I can call home..Joe Cools.
28 Mar 2006, 15:17 pm
pierre with a team like the Stormers as your hero’s I’d be a bit embarrassed to call other team’s coaches childish names.
28 Mar 2006, 17:07 pm
.
28 Mar 2006, 17:09 pm
Cab
he he
I have seen it , its good quite moving.
28 Mar 2006, 17:23 pm
Tricky Dicky for the next Bok coach!
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