Muir praises Smit, AJ
18 Apr 2006
Sharks coach Dick Muir has applauded the calming influence of captain John Smit and AJ Venter for his side’s impeccable discipline against the Calamity Cats on Saturday.
Muir told the Mercury’s Mike Greenaway that the Cats tactics of attempting to intimidate the Sharks and bring them down to their level through niggle was expected, but still it was a major challenge not to respond to kind.
“I think there was a lot of frustration in the way the Cats played. When a team is struggling, they often opt for intimidation as a tactic. It is something we anticipated and we were determined not to get sucked into the mentality of a typical SA rugby derby,” Muir said.
“I cannot praise the leaders in the team enough for their success in keeping the guys focused.”
Despite the Sharks’ comfortable victory, Muir stated that he was not satisfied with the performance.
“I think we got a bit carried away with our desire to score points. The guys were geared up for a massive match and sometimes tried too hard to make things happen. We created so many opportunities but did not finish most of them off because of overeagerness. I suppose we should be happy, though, that we did create those opportunities,” Muir said, before dismissing suggestions that minds in Durban were now turning to an improbably semi final appearance.
“We are not getting involved in any speculation about the outside chance of a semi-finals,” he said. “If we keep on playing the rugby we want to play, the results will come automatically and then we’ll see where we are on the log at the end. It’s important, though, that we continue showing a weekly improvement, and there is tons of room for improvement.”
The Sharks take on the Blues in the Shark Tank on Saturday, and Muir predicts a cracker.
“There has always been something special about matches between these teams,” he said. “There have been some ding-ding battles and I know the Sharks players have always loved the challenge of playing against the Aucklanders. I reckon this is going to be an excellent match because both teams are on an upward trend.”
25 Comments
18 Apr 2006, 06:54 am
Shouldn’t it be “respond in kind” Chris?
18 Apr 2006, 07:01 am
Wizard, yes it probably was….but who cares, we all know what it was meant to be!! Maybe comment on the subject rather than simple grammatical errors.
Come on Sharks!!
18 Apr 2006, 07:31 am
Point taken Scootbok. Apologies for being so pedantic. And yes, may the Sharks go from strength to strength.
18 Apr 2006, 07:58 am
Hahaha, didn’t the Cats get help from Jake White, himself.
18 Apr 2006, 08:11 am
This is the difference between our cricket and rugby team. Both has a Smit as a captain. The is one afrikaans and the other one english. The one plays, leads by example and do very little talking. The other one talks, make excuses and generally makes his name and the teams name gat.
18 Apr 2006, 08:29 am
Stan
As ek reg onthou is beide John Smit en Graham Smith engels.
Cheers
18 Apr 2006, 08:40 am
I applaud Muir for his simplistic approach to this rungby. He has got the best players in their best positions and he has got them focussing on doing the basics right. The forward give the good balls to the backs who have got the skill to attack the space and calm heads.
18 Apr 2006, 08:50 am
methos,
John het in pretoria skoolgegaan by Boois haai, maar ek dink sy huistaal is Afr.
18 Apr 2006, 08:51 am
Stan, you make me laugh ……..
18 Apr 2006, 09:00 am
Bonganer,
Anything to brigthen your day….
18 Apr 2006, 09:12 am
No stan, besides it not being John Smit’s fault he was born in Pretoria and we should not hold this against him, I also think Smit is a through and through soutie.
18 Apr 2006, 09:45 am
The only reason why the Sharks are doing so well, are all the Boere in the team.
BJ
AJ
Pienaar
Acker
mentz
Muller
etc….
18 Apr 2006, 10:03 am
absolutely awesome job by JS and AJ. the leaders like these two are sorely missed in the bulls team after Leonard’s retierment and Cheatahs after they lost Juan. No one even the greatest leader of all time will help Stormers and Cats.
18 Apr 2006, 10:34 am
glad to see AJ back and on fire. As good as our loose trio was in his absence last year, I think this guy is an absolute must for the boks.
18 Apr 2006, 10:58 am
Hey Stan
i whent to Boois Haai as you call it, trust me old chap, John Smit is more english than “clutch plate”.
18 Apr 2006, 10:59 am
sharks are looking good, have a good chance of making the semi, but the match at loftus could see some fireworks.
AJ is brilliant, if he and Juan and Schalk are fit should make for a helluva loose trio.
18 Apr 2006, 11:04 am
and what is a clutchplate?
18 Apr 2006, 11:25 am
Clucth plate is Pretoria slang for an afrikaans speaking person.
18 Apr 2006, 11:34 am
If clutchlpate sounds to formal, “clutchie” is also acceptable.
18 Apr 2006, 11:37 am
Mmmm, weet julle 2 wat is n PK?
18 Apr 2006, 11:53 am
YA thats a “Powerfull Klap” remember we can not say “P*&S” on the web.
Sorry if clutchplate offended you Stan, i can always use the name “PLANK” instead.
18 Apr 2006, 12:05 pm
Well,go to Loftus and call the faithfull over there planks, rockspiders,boneheads clutch plates or whatever and you will be introduced to the true meaning of a PK.
18 Apr 2006, 12:23 pm
I missed most of the Bulls game against the Reds, but did see them taking a bit of a rogering up front. This from the same Reds pack that was scrummed into the ground by the Sharks.
Lets hope that the Sharks give the Bulls a hiding of note in Pretoria. I think these 2 new young Bulls props are not up to scratch. Maybe a few more seasons to develop?
Everyone is complementing **** and Campo for getting the backs going, but whoever is coaching the Sharks pack (I think it is Balie Swart), needs to take a bow.
18 Apr 2006, 12:57 pm
Sorry Stan but only a complete idiot will go to loftus and call the 1,2,3 briggade by anything that could be interpreted as an insult. They are blinkered one eyed neanderthals with no sense of humor. When their bulls are losing they are a dangerous species to be around.
19 Apr 2006, 09:40 am
i demand they drop Smit as bok captain and put Gary Botha in instead. He is a much better hooker.
Bbbbbwwwwwaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaa..
sorry could’nt help myself.
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.