Michalak to play Super Rugby
24 Dec 2011
Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal confirmed that Sharks halfback Frederic Michalak has made a verbal agreement with the French club, but only from July 2012.
Michalak expressed his desire to return to home shortly after the Currie Cup as he wishes to play his way back into French national squad under new coach Philippe Saint-Andre. Michalak last played for Le Bleus in 2010.
But it seems that move will only happen at the start of the next European season as Boudjellal said Toulon have verbally agreed a three-year deal with the 29-year-old. This means Michalak will feature for the Sharks in 2012′s Super Rugby campaign, which kicks off in February.
‘Nothing has been signed but there is a verbal agreement on a contract for three years,’ said Boudjellal.
‘I think he will be a Toulon player next season. He has been impressed by the chance to play with Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau. We need four to five players of a very high level and, if he signs, Fred will be the start of that.
‘He will come and play at scrumhalf [and] he knows that. His age and experience will help him in this position.’
37 Comments
24 Dec 2011, 12:28 pm
That’s right, the Dragon Frog to honour his contract with the guppies and play in the no. 10 jersey …. all season.
24 Dec 2011, 13:41 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-1:
Lonely?
Seems being a Lions supporter that goes hand in hand.
lol
24 Dec 2011, 14:22 pm
I feel he should play 9 for the Sharks as well. This would be a solid squad to play when he joins us…..
15. Riaan Viljoen.
14. J.P. Pieterson.
13. Marius Joubert.
12. Francois Steyn.
11. Lwazi Mvovo.
10. Patrick Lambie.
9. Frederic Michalak.
8. Ryan Kankowski.
7. Willem Alberts.
6. Jean Deysel.
5. Alistair Hargreaves.
4. Ross Skeate.
3. Jannie Du Plessis.
2. Bismark Du Plessis.
1. Tendai Mtawarira.
16. Eugene Van Staden.
17. Craig Burden.
18. Keegan Daniels.
19. Marcell Coetzee.
20. Charl Mc Leod.
21. Jacque-Louis Potgietor.
22. Meyer Bosman.
24 Dec 2011, 14:30 pm
@ShaunSwindon-3:
24 Dec 2011, 14:30 pm
@ShaunSwindon-3: That would be a almighty squad. Only probably Hargreaves will have to up his game. Skeate played well in the last part of the CC.
Would love to have Fransie back at the Sharks with Lambie at fh. Doubt it will happen but would be great.
Though with Freddie leaving I think we should now just get on with it and start one of our own at sh. Give McLeod a chance again. He was great in 2010 CC. Still not very sure of Hoffman. Though we have him until he leaves so if he does start then Freddie must play sh and NOT fh. Pat must be our first choice fh and always.
24 Dec 2011, 14:31 pm
@ShaunSwindon-3: Frankie Steyn?
Don’t think so.
12 -13 should be Bosman-Whitehead.
Or Lambie-Whitehead,
24 Dec 2011, 14:35 pm
@ShaunSwindon-3: Just had another look there. Can’t have Joubert at 13 he really has not impressed at all. Rather Mjekevu. See he is still with the Sharks training. So that is a good sign we may just give him a contract.
Though with Fransiea at 12 think for now it is only a dream. Read on all the blogs he will join the Cheetahs when he comes back in June. So think we should go with Jordaan then at 12 and Mjekevu at 13. Frans would always be first choice at 12 though if he ever came back to Sharks.
24 Dec 2011, 14:38 pm
@stormersboy-6: hahaha. Would be awesome to have Fransie back though. Doubt he will ever come back to the Sharks though. He is marrying a Durbs girl in June I read. So who knows he could change his mind…..lol.
For now would play Jordaan at 12 and Mjekevu at 13. Lambie must not be messed about with Freddie leaving or even if he was staying. Pat must be our number one fh and should be starting there all of the time. Freddie can be used wherever seeing he is leaving. Play him at sh this season. None of ours are performing well there.
24 Dec 2011, 14:53 pm
@Puma-7: Yeah I think any team would love to have him.
I think you got a good chap in Whitehead, he’ll come in useful at 12 (where he played for the Stormers) or at 13 (which is his preferred position).
Lionel has a lot of promise.
Who knows.
It’ll be interesting to see who the Sharks blood during that all prestigious Plascon whatever tournament pre – season
24 Dec 2011, 15:10 pm
@stormersboy-9: hahaha. Don’t really take the Plascon Cup serious…..haha. Think we mainly use it to get ready for S15. I almost forgot about us having Whitehead. Yeah he could start at 13 but really do like Mjekevu. I really hope we don’t have Bosman and Joubert starting, that is just a dread of mine. We have Jordaan, Mjekevu and Whitehead. I would go with any of those before Bosman and Joubert.
Lionel is still with the training squad too. If it was me I would have given Mjekevu a contract already. At least he is still in training with the Sharks so that is a good sign.
24 Dec 2011, 15:14 pm
@stormersboy-9: Steyn could chose which team he wants to play here in SA. Every team would want him. Really wish he would come back to the Sharks but doubt he will.
24 Dec 2011, 16:35 pm
@Puma-11: see a typo there. Chose = Choose
24 Dec 2011, 17:32 pm
Every other SA team would kill for a player of Michalak’s class. Sharks are fortunate.
24 Dec 2011, 19:08 pm
@wooden spoon-13:
The Stormers cannot afford to use a player like him because it will mean another of the many youngsters in CT will leave for greener pastures and then every Tom , D ick and Harry will be on the case of Rassie/Rob Wagner etc. for “not looking after local talent”.
As the Sharks got just about farkall local talent they do not have such problems
24 Dec 2011, 19:19 pm
Michalak is garbage.. on a slow boat down the chute and out the bottom of the pansy pie… anyone buying into these old finished has been’s offering anything worthwhile are sifting through shifting sands looking for a miraculous hand out to Hallelujah-ville..
24 Dec 2011, 20:12 pm
michalak is an over the hill player…end of story.come to think of it he just fits in rather nicely into the sharks old-age recruitment policy.
24 Dec 2011, 20:19 pm
Check all the excuses… all said rather unconvincingly…
24 Dec 2011, 20:45 pm
Over the hill at 29? Yeah right.
France could’ve used him in New Zealand. Seeing they dropped their 1st choice FH after the first game. One of Lievremont’s pearlers. Michalak is a decision maker. I’d rather have him in the side than not have him.
24 Dec 2011, 20:58 pm
@IAAS-18:
i’m pretty sure he would have nailed those kicks trin-duc missed.
24 Dec 2011, 21:39 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-19:
He promoted Yachvili to first choice goal kicker. Drops Trin-duc and shatters his confidence only to bring him back in the final. also as 1st choice goal kicker.
You’re right, Michalak would’ve nailed them. Why Lievremont dropped him, god only knows.
25 Dec 2011, 06:51 am
Happy Christmas and seasons greetings to all of you.
Hope you enjoy the time with your loved ones.
And spare a thought once again for the folk in Christchurch.
25 Dec 2011, 09:25 am
To those who like me and those who hate me … Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.
Be laid back and iree!
25 Dec 2011, 09:47 am
Freddie’s an over-the-hillbilly.
25 Dec 2011, 10:09 am
@.. Dawn…Big xmas hug 2 you.
25 Dec 2011, 10:14 am
Am glad Freddy is going 2 be with us a bit longer, think he has helped out at the Sharks when he was needed.
25 Dec 2011, 13:02 pm
@Dawn-22: merry xmas to you too sweetness.
25 Dec 2011, 16:51 pm
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. May your day, months and year be filled with love, happiness and joy. May 2012 be a great year for both the Stormers and the Boks…
Feliz Navedad…
26 Dec 2011, 05:28 am
Well I was hoping well rather wishing he would return to the province where he played some of his best Rugby. Frans Steyn that is
Regardless hope you all had a great Christmas and stay safe over New Years everyone.
26 Dec 2011, 14:06 pm
Forward Pass Freddie.
Does the money paid to Michalak……………………………………….do anything for SA Rugby.
You Okes flush money like we flush turds.
27 Dec 2011, 21:02 pm
Anyone on this site based in Durban ?….want to talk Sharks/Dolphins cricket??I am based USA side with no additional info……Who will make up the Sharks team? What does the batting and Bowling line up look like? Will the Sharks be “inviting guest Players”.
27 Dec 2011, 21:33 pm
still got beautiful quick hands, not many more creative flyhalves in world rugby on his day, not sure the rest of the sharks backline can keep up tho at 12 or 13.
27 Dec 2011, 21:40 pm
tho from a south african viewpoint it might be good to see lambie starting at 10, who will compete with goosen at freestate, jantjies at lions and morne at bulls – should be some decent competition for the Bok no 10 spot over the next few years, not sure SA have had that issue for quite a while, ebersohn brothers may also come on yet…
27 Dec 2011, 22:38 pm
@Bad Santa cane-29:
Aish….you Kiwis with your tiny budgets…not one Saffer or European has ever expressed an interest in playing for a New Zealand team…but they all seem to want to play in South Africa, Australia or Europe.
Even Sannie Boy Williams wants to go back to League.
1 Jan 2012, 01:12 am
Has Freddie got the legs to play scrummie at the pace Plumtree likes to the play the game? I’m not so sure. He’s getting on a bit. Flyhalf perhaps but in the energy- sapping role of scrumhalf I’m not so sure. Which leads in to the next question, will he be able to protect the base of the ruck adequately on defence for 80 mins?
4 Jan 2012, 17:01 pm
@Yetirat-34:
Personally I think the dynamic in The Sharks camp is sluggish all round.
6 Jan 2012, 10:11 am
As long as Lambie only plays 10 or 12, Ill be happy
8 Jan 2012, 11:51 am
@Bok fan-36: We`ll need Lambie to play @ 12. with Michalak @ 10.
If they go with Lambie and Bosman we might as well just forward the points and save the travelling money untill we can afford Frans Steyn.
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