Ace axis
15 Jun 2011
RYAN VREDE writes the 10-12 combination of Frederic Michalak and Pat Lambie could infuse life into the Sharks’ stuttering back division.
Rugby being a game of cause and effect, means the Sharks’ backline’s failure to fire is not the root of their struggles. Their forwards have lacked the physicality to trouble the tournament’s elite teams at the gainline, and questionable selections, like the omission of Bismarck du Plessis against the Lions last week, as well as injuries to key players, most notably Willem Alberts and Jean Deysel, have further undermined their cause.
With a play-off berth hinging on the result of their match against the Bulls at Loftus on Saturday, it is imperative that their pack fronts in a manner they have not done since the early rounds of the tournament. The Bulls have struggled to impose themselves on attack against the tournament’s best, but have rediscovered the defensive punch that made them a formidable opponent in recent years.
It is a testament to Pat Lambie’s prodigious talent that he still managed to have an influence on matches playing behind a group of forwards who have struggled of late. There was, however, little he could do about the impotency of his midfield pair, Meyer Bosman and Stefan Terblanche. Their outside backs struggled as a result, and had winger JP Pietersen not showed glimpses of his best form recently, the Sharks would have had posed little threat in the wide channels.
Lambie could galvanise the midfield, where he has been deployed to good effect in the past, and would form a potentially potent 10-12 axis with Michalak.
The Frenchman was inspirational when he was introduced with the Sharks in dire need of creativity, invention and experience against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. He varies his play well, creating an air of unpredictability around him, and uncertainty in the opposition’s defensive line. He also has the capacity to change the course of a match with a moment of sublime skill. Lambie will benefit from this. He has he been saddled with the creative burden for too long.
It is also important to note that Michalak has never played in a Sharks side that has lost to the Bulls, winning three of the matches he has been involved in, including the Currie Cup final in 2008. He undoubtedly has respect for their players, but isn’t scarred by having lost to them as regularly as some of his team-mates have. That mental edge, in a high-pressure match of this ilk, is invaluable.
I will reiterate the importance of gain line and set phase dominance for the Sharks against the defending champions. But beyond that they need something special, something that would demand the attention of Bulls’ defenders, potential match winners. The Michalak-Lambie combination would offer them that.
38 Comments
15 Jun 2011, 12:25 pm
Have they signed Michalak as a scrumhalf or flyhalf?
Oh and dragons…
15 Jun 2011, 12:26 pm
Because whenever I’ve seen him play Top 14/Heineken Cup the last few years he’s been at 9…
15 Jun 2011, 12:39 pm
@The_Don(The_Don)-2: he was signed on as 9/10.
15 Jun 2011, 12:45 pm
Interesting one, Ryan.
Lambie does attack the advantage line from close quarters proficiently enough for 12, he is deceptively strong in contact.
Also, Michalak does tend to attack the advantage line more often than other 10s, if only because of his opportunistic instincts. This will lead to Lambie being the first receiver on second phase more often than not.
The problem here is that Michalak, because of his unpredictability, often goes into contact without adequate support on his shoulders. The Sharks should therefore take extra care with their ruck protection at the first phase. You probably need to employ Daniel on the openside who has the centre of gravity and speed to do this.
15 Jun 2011, 12:45 pm
Big ask… but go the Sharks!!! I must say that the Bulls are hitting their straps and if they do win this weekend they are a better prospect for the title than The Stormers IMHO… I really hope the Bumbles can beat the Tahs – then hopefully 3 teams through for SA.
15 Jun 2011, 12:57 pm
ag, Plum is a conservative bloke he won’t upset his established combo of lambie & turnstile.
15 Jun 2011, 13:19 pm
Everyone goes on about Bakkies Botha and Danie Russouw being the strong men in the Bulls pack but I think the difference between the Sharks and Bulls in their previous meeting in Durban was Dean Greyling, that guy seems to be everywhere and is such a powerful defender who consistently put our boys on the back foot.
Regardless of who plays 9/10/12 for the Sharks, if the pack doesn’t control the collisions and neutralize those forwards the game will be a difficult one to win.
Go Sharks!
15 Jun 2011, 13:23 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-6:
I think the Sharks have missed a trick not employing a midfielder such as Riaan S. next to Lambie.
He would have given them more grunt across the gain line and quicker ruck ball.
15 Jun 2011, 13:33 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-6: “turnstyle” couldn’t have found a better name for Meyer Bosman. One of the worst to ever wear the bok jersey, the guy has NO talent (no strength, no speed, no skills to speak of), all he ever did was catch a ball that bounced badly and then got selected to play against France at flyhalf (lol Jake was nuts…and an idiot). TERRIBLE SIGNING.
15 Jun 2011, 13:49 pm
HEAD TO HEAD:
Zane Kirchner vs Louis Ludick – even
Gerhard van den Heever vs Mvovo – Mvovo (both need to look 4 work)
Jaco Pretorius vs Stefan Terblanche – even
Wynand Olivier vs Meyer Bosman – Meisiekind
Bjorn Basson vs JP Pietersen – on form even
Morne Steyn vs Patrick Lambie – on form even
Francois Hougaard vs Charl Mcleod – Hougaard
Pierre Spies vs Ryan Kankowski – Even
Dewald Potgieter vs Jean Deysel – Deysel
Deon Stegmann vs Keegan Daniel – Daniel for his energy
Victor Matfield vs Alistair Hargreaves – Big Vic dominates
Bakkies Botha vs Gerhard Mostert – Bakkies sneaks it on form
Werner Kruger vs Tendai Beast Mtawarira – Beast alround
Chiliboy Ralepelle vs Bismark Duplessis – Bissie going to huge
Dean Greyling vs Eugene Van Staden – Greyling shades it
John Smit might start at Loosehead though.
I think that if the Sharks can come out guns blazing and play territory in the 2nd half then we will take it. But it is a huge ask and our midfield will have to be solid.
Ill be very tempted to play
10. Michalak
12. Lambie
13. Adi Jacobs
15. Stefan Terblanche – Captain
15 Jun 2011, 13:56 pm
Nice article Ryan
To win on Saturday the sharks will have to do something different, something big and something to surprise.
If i was coach and if ian mac might still have been around. This would be my team to start.
15. Stefan
14. JP
13. Craig Burden/Adi Jacobs
12. Patrick Lambie
11. Mvovo
10. Michalak
09. Mcleod
08. Kanko
07. Deysel
06. Daniel
05. Alberts
04. Mostert
03. Eugene Van Staden
02. Bissie
01. Beast
This team could surprise and be mobile and phsical where it matters.
Dont forget Burden started at 11 and then 13.
Just wish the coaches can go Balls to the wall
15 Jun 2011, 13:58 pm
And Mvovo… or did Cardinelli just forget?
15 Jun 2011, 14:11 pm
@motomouse(motomouse)-7: Sharks pack should be more beefy with a loose trio of Deysel, Alberts, Kanko. Jannie also might be back. IMO the forwards should be:
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis (if ift)
4. Gerhard Mostert
5. Alistair Hargreaves
6. Jean Deysel
7. Willem Alberts
8. Ryan Kankowski
15 Jun 2011, 14:14 pm
@chucky(chucky)-11: Ja Burden could be good at 13 (since he was at wing previously). But Willem at lock could be asking a bit much. I’d go with the pack I mention at 13.
15 Jun 2011, 14:18 pm
ACE AXIS???
Wtf are you Durbanites thinking about? Surely a better heading should be
‘Sharks are desperate due to their misfiring back line so should really take a massive gamble and try an untested combination in their most important game of the season.’
I don’t know what goes on in your heads up there. Is it the humidity steaming your brains or the bananas up your arsses? You guys are seriously deluded if you can say ‘ace axis’ without even trying it out. Based on what exactly is it an ‘ace axis’.
Afternoon HG
15 Jun 2011, 14:18 pm
@chucky(chucky)-11: along the same lines I’d go for:
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis (if fit)
4. Gerhard Mostert
5. Alistair Hargreaves
6. Jean Deysel
7. Willem Alberts
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Frederic Michalak
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Patrick Lambie
13. Craig Burden
14. JP Pietersen
15. Stefan Terblanche
15 Jun 2011, 14:18 pm
@foreverrugga(foreverrugga)-14: Willem has played lock before for the Sharks.
I just feel the sharks need to fight fire with fire in this game and then get our backs on front foot and they can dominate their counterparts.
dont see Hargreaves there as he is failing in his primary job of winning line out ball.
15 Jun 2011, 14:21 pm
@chucky(chucky)-17: I didn’t realize that, when did he play at lock?
Look at the pack I’ve got should be sufficient (Mostert at 4 with a big loose trio could combat the Bulls forwards). you could be right re Hargreaves.
15 Jun 2011, 14:27 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-15: easy son, Vrede axis doesn’t write for all Sharks. From what I’ve heard CT folk lurv bananas and other things up their a$$es so don’t start with that one.
15 Jun 2011, 14:30 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-15: hehehe what a post
15 Jun 2011, 14:40 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-15:
Err numnuts… Ryan ‘Gatsby’ Vrede ain’t no Durbanite…
15 Jun 2011, 14:47 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-15: Classic
15 Jun 2011, 14:52 pm
Good to see some of you getting the joke.
I was posting in the HG stylee for a while. It’s not much fun
15 Jun 2011, 15:05 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-23: it is amusing though
15 Jun 2011, 15:10 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-24:
Lol, but completely f.cking ridiculous. I feel like a real twatt for posting that, but some folks do it every day on here and are SERIOUS about it
15 Jun 2011, 15:16 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-25: hahahaha eish, please don’t talk about ET in his absence
15 Jun 2011, 15:21 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-25:
Don’t worry.
None of us thought you a twat.
Not even for a moment
15 Jun 2011, 15:22 pm
Ryan could elaborate on Lambie being “saddled with the creative burden for too long”? The kid’s still fresh off the boat!
15 Jun 2011, 16:14 pm
hmmmm….I am starting to get a feeling about this weekends game….Watched the replay of Stormers vs. Bulls again, and……well lets wait and see. I think there is way too much early celebration going on in Pretoria. It could turn out to be a very sour weekend….
15 Jun 2011, 16:17 pm
bulls were kak
stormers were a little bit more kak
sharks to stun tnem bulls
15 Jun 2011, 16:47 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-29: ja could be an upset on the way, I watched that game again also and saw that they struggled. Plum must just pick the right team, no more stubborn picks FFS.
15 Jun 2011, 17:00 pm
@grant10(grant10)-30:
you sound a little worried Grant?
15 Jun 2011, 17:13 pm
Add Adi Jacobs at 13, Mvovs and JPP on the wings and Ludik at the back, they could be bloody awesome.
15 Jun 2011, 19:16 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-15:
Twat!
15 Jun 2011, 19:52 pm
Bulls killed the Sharks in the Tank …… @ Loftus Bulls by 18+!!!
16 Jun 2011, 00:21 am
@grant10(grant10)-30: Excuse me for taking your prediction at face value. After your “I’m more scared of Rebels than Bulls”, I’m a bit sceptical.
16 Jun 2011, 04:54 am
French flair or french defense???? Whats with the has beens???? Why not invest in the future and play some newbies. The Bulls are going to knock you out so its too late. Not even Barney can save you now.
16 Jun 2011, 05:00 am
Sorry us as I am a Shoiks convert.
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