Sharks wait on master Michalak to surface
14 Oct 2008
The Sharks believe they’ll get a return on their investment in Frederic Michalak in the Currie Cup final.
The Frenchman was signed from Toulouse at the end of 2007 and was widely expected to thrive in the less structured (than European competitions) Super 14, given his flair and natural inclination to keep possession of the ball, ra
ther than boot it tactically.
However, Michalak suffered a serious knee injury midway through the Super 14 just as he was starting to adjust to the unique requirements of the southern hemisphere showpiece.
Despite signing a three-year deal with Toulouse after this year’s Super 14, Michalak opted to repay the faith the Sharks showed him in by negotiating a late return with the European champions. He’s succeeded in his mission, delivering a series of impressive performances in the team’s march to the final.
But one match stands between Michalak being remembered as a special member of a special team or whether he’ll form part of yet another Sharks side who failed to translate immense potential into on-field success.
The 50-cap international has drifted between the sublime and utterly ridiculous in major play-off matches for both Toulouse and the Tricolores. Sharks supporters will be hoping the former incarnation struts out at Kings park in a fortnight.
“We’ve been very pleased with the way Fred has come on. He’s been outstanding,” Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford told keo.co.za.
“It was a massive blow to lose him in the Super 14 because he was just starting to get close to his best form. But he’s come back from that brilliantly and has been everything we hoped he would.
“I know there are questions about his temperament in the big games, but as far as we’re concerned, those are unfounded. He’ll rise to the task.”
Bashford also scoffed at ongoing suggestions that Michalak’s slight frame (84kg, 1.82m) makes him a liability on defence.
“I’d like to think he’s proven comprehensively that that criticism is nonsense,” he said.
“It may of been an aspect of his game he needed to work on in the early stages of his career, but he’s been around for a while now and has learned how to circumvent his physical inferiority by boxing smart.
“He was never going to be a Butch James in terms of physicality but he’s done his part. Teams will always attack that channel, but we have no concerns about his defensive game. If there is a constant threat there it’s pretty easy to shore up that channel.”
There is, however, no clarity on who will replace Michalak when he departs for France after the Currie Cup.
With Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar seemingly entrenched at inside centre and scrumhalf respectively, and a host of flyhalves they’ve trialled in the early stages of the Currie Cup not looking anything close to Super Rugby quality, a position that was filled by some very gifted players in the past, will stand vacant.
By Ryan Vrede
160 Comments
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14 Oct 2008, 16:11 pm
Does anyone here notice that Schalk isnt as effective as everyone makes him out to be? I mean the boy has heart, determination and character. I just wish a coach will give him a bit of technique as well, reckon he could be 100 times better as a fetcher. Currently he just flops around like a headless chicken.
14 Oct 2008, 16:13 pm
#136 Puma: if it happens the way in 123, I’ll be happy. haha. But sure. According to me and the new truth out there… Spies has gotten better with literraly every game this year. They’re different players. We just haven’t seen the explosivenes of Spies back in his game yet.
14 Oct 2008, 16:13 pm
#142 Puma:
Hi Puma.
Allow me to enter the loosie debate.
The most important thing is the combination of loosies based on how you intend to play the game.
It is not just a case of comparing one number 8 with another, because it depends on the loosie combination they play with and how the coach wants them to play.
For example, the Sharks have Deysel, Botes and Kanko, of which only Kanko is a Bok, yet this is a very effective loose trio.
Reason being, is that in line with plumtree’s playing style, Deysel drives the ball up straight and hard over the advantage line.
Botes get’s to the breakdown first and contests on the ground.
Kanko feeds off these 2 players as a strike runner.
This is thinking rugby.
If we had a Bok coach who understood the importance of playing across the advantage line, then he may also employ similar tactics.
The advantage line is the single most important aspect of modern play, no matter what anybody says.
14 Oct 2008, 16:13 pm
#147 Skiballas: small compared to that tackle the Beast made
14 Oct 2008, 16:20 pm
#151 shooter: I know but we will see them play against each other, thats the best way to see who is the best. Agree they play a different game and both should be in the Bok squad for end of year without question.
#152 tight head: hello tight head. I agree there. We don’t have Plum though as our Bok coach though!! Mybe PdV would take notice watching the cc fianl or he may have been watching most of the Sharks and Bulls games as I think this is where he should be picking his Bok squad from.
14 Oct 2008, 16:27 pm
Cheers all out of here now.
14 Oct 2008, 17:33 pm
Schalk is too slow under the ELVs. You pretty much need 1.90m, 110kg, loose-forwards that run the 100m under 11s these days.
14 Oct 2008, 22:38 pm
Ruan is a better all round rugby player than Fourie du Preez. To be honest I would like to see Fourie du Preez at fly-half. The way he reads a game and his good tactical kicking in my opinion screams fly-half, but that experiment would never happen.
15 Oct 2008, 06:55 am
Even if Ruan and Steyn can cover 10, we still need an additional quality flyhalf. Having our first choice inside centre and first choice scrumhalf covering the position leaves us very vulnerable.
15 Oct 2008, 08:35 am
I still firmly beleive that Ruan needs to accept that he is a naturally gifted player and should ply his trade at Flyhalf, he could be among the best, and Frans should be at the back, Stefan won’t be around too much longer and he would be the ideal player for Frans to learn from. And like someone said earlier, who would want to kick the ball upfield to a guy that can drop from 60-odd metres out?
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