Sharks’ season unacceptable
17 May 2010
Despite an impressive end to their campaign, the Sharks’ season was a failure as they employed the incorrect game in the opening stages.
The Sharks may have ended with seven wins in their last eight matches which showed real courage, but ending ninth on the log highlighted how they’ve underachieved yet again. This year was in direct contrast to their 2009 campaign. They started well in 2009 but lost four of their final five matches last year, The pattern was reversed in 2010 but the outcome was the same.
For a side with the luxury of fielding numerous internationals every week, not making the play-offs is a disappointment. Being knocked out of the competition with two weeks to go is unacceptable.
Coach John Plumtree has constantly lamented their five opening losses. A lot was spoken about the new breakdown interpretations prior to the season, and it was all about which sides would adapt quickest. The interpretations allowed attacking sides to keep ball in hand with confidence, but the fact is teams still had to play rugby in the correct areas, something the Sharks didn’t do.
They also adopted a frantic approach to matches, which didn’t suit their strengths. The outcome was the worst attacking record in the competition as the Sharks only scored 23 tries, while Friday’s match against the Force told the story of the season. They had the Perth side on the ropes, but in the final half hour they couldn’t score the fourth try, and ended up holding on for a win when the result should never have been in doubt.
The Sharks scored just one bonus point in the entire season, but this must also be viewed in context as it was against the Lions – who gifted nine bonus-point wins during their own campaign.
The Sharks’ Bok-laden pack also didn’t fire in those opening rounds due to the rotation system in place. That only served to negate the abilities of the players as they couldn’t forge combinations, hampering the individuals and unit as a whole. By the end of the season where players had extended runs in one position, the team benefited as the Sharks’ pack began to outplay their opponents.
The Sharks should be disappointed not to have made the play-offs, but the quality and depth in the backline was never going to be good enough to win the competition. There’s nothing much coming through the Vodacom Cup side, it just depends where they buy from in future, as that is the Sharks’ way.
Home losses are unforgivable in the Super 14, and the couple of defeats to the Chiefs and Cheetahs effectively ended the Sharks’ season. After the 35-6 massacre against the Crusaders, the way the side rebounded against the Waratahs was impressive. Although much was said about Paul Marks’s officiating in the aftermath of the defeat, the fact is the Sharks’ discipline let them down again, just like it did in the opening fortnight.
Whether Marks made the right decision in not awarding a penalty try to the visitors in the final minute is not the point. Earlier in the match Jannie du Plessis and Andy Goode were both deservedly yellow-carded. If that hadn’t happened, they would have put the Tahs out of the game much earlier and wouldn’t have had to rely on a refereeing decision.
Their indiscipline was one of their main shortcomings in the opening weeks and although everyone in the Sharks’ camp did their best to deny it, there was something amiss. Five yellow cards in the opening four matches proved that.
The Sharks rectified that and their other problems to a degree as the season went on, but it was too little too late. The campaign has been described as one of ‘what could have been’. Living on that premise shouldn’t be good enough for the union.
By Grant Ball
61 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
17 May 2010, 14:58 pm
the sharks did not have a bad season at all, very respectable, esp the character they showed in coming back.
its a very tough comp, ask the bulls what happened after they won it on 2008, and then ask any of the other SA who;d only be too thrilled to end where the sharks have.
17 May 2010, 15:13 pm
rory kockett hasn’t been capped…
17 May 2010, 15:48 pm
Many people have said that Waylon Murray has not shown the form that he showed since being capped in 2007.
It is my sincere belief that a large part of waylon’s spectacular form that year had to do with him playing outside of a certain Brad Barritt. Barritt had that rare ability to make the players around him play like champs. With Barritt there the Sharks backlike would shine.
17 May 2010, 16:18 pm
@50
Very funny HEAVENS..
He’s about to be welcomed in the Ulster jersey….
17 May 2010, 17:16 pm
I’d say there were a few issues at the start of the season, losing a number 10 or 2 wasn’t easy and no one planned for the 2 Lions’ imports to get injured. That’s 4 major players.
Also, with Smit bulking for duty at TH and perhaps focusing on books rather than rugby, there was a loss of focus.
We still need some centres, but the rest of the team has come right, Barney is putting in the hits and leading and we found 2 amazing talents this year.
It can only get better. Refs and bounces do count, I am sure the Saders would have preferred a home semi and then most probably another trophy, it can make a huge difference.
Not sure about the backline coaches either.
Still, looking good for Currie Cup.
Good respectable job Sharks.
17 May 2010, 18:17 pm
@PaulLondon(PaulLondon)-54: Kockott wit an emerald green jumper. Bejaysus
17 May 2010, 18:23 pm
Very dissapionting season, because me as a shark supporter want the best 4 my team, yes when barrit playd , murrey looked a classy player, the same can be said about jacobs, he playd his best rugby of his life 2 seasons ago with the boks whith de villiers on his inside, sharks need a inside centre desperately, and a flyhalf, don’t know why they didn’t sign lionel cronje who eventually went to stormers. I heard ebersohn are going to durban, oh yes want people to remember this boys name, paul jordaan. Playd sa schools last year in grade 11 and now again playing inside centre for grey college, pure class. Sharks signed him he is joining them next season.because he is still in gr12
17 May 2010, 19:56 pm
@HEAVENS 56
It’s no wind up.. Ulster will be making an anouncement next week and will be introducing a high profile Shark… My sources tell me it’s Kockott and not Ruan,to replace Boss at 9. With Ruan , aiming for a place in the Bok 2011 WC squad they were unable to prize him away until after 2011.
That is the why I asked if Kockott has been capped.
17 May 2010, 20:40 pm
Sharks should have played Kanko, Deysel and Alberts as their loose trio throughout, and then Janie at 3, Smit/Bizzy at 2 and Smit/Beast at 1 throughout (not Smit at 3). They should have gotten themselves a local no.10 and put Lambie in at 15 way earlier, the war vet was kicking away far too much possession at 15.
18 May 2010, 02:42 am
kak season from Sharks
Plum is an avg coach with little vision.always talking about “boys fronting up” BS.since Campo left Sharks back play has bn dogsh*t.and with Reece-Edwards coming in as CC head coach( he is reason Terblanche at 13 and Strauss contender at 12)expect more heartache.
Fire Plum and staff.
Get John Mitchell
Play Smit at 2
Play Deysel/Alberts/Kanko loose trio
Play Kockott 9, Pienaar 10- if not get a 10
Get JdV at 12,play Adi 13
Play Mvovo/JPP/Lambie back3
Sharks 2010
1.Beast
2.Smit
3.JdP
4.Mostert
5.Sykes
6.Deysel
7.Alberts
8.Kanko
9.Kockott/McCleod
10.Pienaar
11.Mvovo/Ndungane
12.JDV
13.Jacobs/Murray
14.JPP
15.Lambie/Ludik
18 May 2010, 10:34 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)(londonshark)-11: I’ve been saying this from day one. If we had a backline like the Bulls or the Stormers we would’ve been killing teams out there. A Deysel, Alberts, Kanko loose trio is ferocious and again it was a loose trio I wanted from day one. Why did we buy a 15 (Ludik) we knew was recovering from a very serious injury? Why did we not invest in a new 12 and 13? Why did we waste money on a has-been ‘down-on-his-luck’ 10 when Kockott and Pienaar would’ve done the job at 9 and 10. Only in hollywood movies do useless losers like Goode lift their performance to super-human levels because some bird with big knockers fancies them and tells them they have something worth fighting for.
In real life it all goes to hond kak. We only started winning matches when we started making full use of our ‘own’ player resources! Plumtree, HRE, Ndugane, Terrible Blanche, Strauss out. In Mitchell (who else is there?), someone who about backline play, a real 12, a real 13, a real 14 (back up to Mvovo).
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.