Shaky Sharks must change tack
16 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the time has come for the hit-and-miss Sharks to adopt a more balanced approach.
If there is one thing consistent about the Sharks of 2012 it’s that they are inconsistent. The fact is reflected in their win/loss record as well as the way they play. When they win, they win big, but when they lose, it’s the same old problems that detract from their game.
John Plumtree may be satisfied with a tour scorecard that reads played four, won two. The Sharks picked up 11 out of possible 20 points in Australasia, and the coach may feel that while they lost to the Waratahs and Hurricanes, the 11 log points denote success.
I would argue that the Sharks need to change tack. Their current game plan is too hit-and-miss, and this is why at the halfway stage they are still yet to produce a convincing 80-minute performance.
They’ve won four out of eight games. They’ve scored 21 tries, which sees them second to only the Hurricanes and Bulls (who have both scored 26), but have leaked 19. They’ve conceded a total of 200 points which places them in the bottom defensive bracket along with the Cheetahs, Lions and Force.
The Sharks are a side of extremes. Three of their four wins have been achieved with a four-try bonus point, a fact which may suggest that they are playing the right game. But when you look at the matches they have lost, to the Bulls, Stormers, Waratahs and Hurricanes, they have been outplayed up front and not allowed to play a more cavalier game.
Handling errors and breakdown inaccuracies have limited their potency, and these mistakes have provided opponents with counter-attacking opportunities. Defence has been an issue throughout the season, although they managed to survive a Blues fightback last Friday.
Again, the match in Auckland was an example of their inconsistency. Their defence created try-scoring opportunities, the two intercept tries the product of great defensive pressure, but then they relinquished a 15-0 lead.
It is something they need to address if they still hope to qualify for the play-offs. As the log will confirm, every side bar the Lions is stronger than the Blues.
This week will see them battling the log-leading Chiefs, a side with a reputation for sweeping counter-attacks. The Sharks would be foolish to force the tempo in this match, as the Chiefs have the defence to stand up to the Sharks attack and the counter-attack to turn those characteristic Sharks errors into seven-pointers.
The Sharks can no more attack for 80 minutes than they can defend for the entire game. They need to strike a balance, and it is here where Pat Lambie will be key.
The young Springbok flyhalf did a fine job in his first game back from injury last week. If he continues to vary his play, that is mix it between playing for territory and bringing his outside backs into the game, the Sharks can beat the Chiefs. If his forwards meet the Chiefs’ challenge, Lambie is capable of making the decisions that could win the game.
The Sharks are entering a crucial stage of their season. They will be drained after returning from New Zealand but play-off contenders cannot afford to lose at home. They will enjoy a bye after the Chiefs match, so they need to invest absolutely everything into winning this Saturday.
Following the bye, the Sharks will play five matches on the trot before the Super Rugby competition takes a break for the June Tests. The Sharks will then enjoy their second bye right after the break before playing their last two league games.
Six of their remaining eight matches will be played in Durban, and this will be an advantage. But unless they adopt a more balanced approach that will allow them to perform consistently, they may find themselves outside the top six come the end of July, bonus points or not.
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24 Comments
16 Apr 2012, 05:05 am
Yip, shaky DRAGONS need to score more points than the opposition…for starters.
16 Apr 2012, 05:40 am
Jon They are the SA only team that won ?
Well besides Bulls
16 Apr 2012, 06:32 am
Ouch, the Sharks would have played nine games in a row before their first bye. They must be sore and tired at this point.
16 Apr 2012, 07:03 am
While it might not look to great for the Sharks, they are still in the competition, with mostly home games. They will see the return of some players as well.
They can still end well. Their only away games are the Lions and the Cheetahs, and two byes to come. Free 8 logpoints.
16 Apr 2012, 07:12 am
@greentea(greentea)-976:
for good reason, china.
you and most of the rest of your islands inhabitants are disgusting, boorish, arrogant beer can throwing trollbits (a cross between a hobbit and a troll) who deserve to be told off for what you are, from time to time.
that neither you nor cane had the decency to admit the bottling incident let alone try to explain/excuse/apologise…. or at the least condemn it without feeling you were in some way losing pride (or whatever it is that keeps you from doing so) speaks the usual volumes of you as a people…..yes….you are a disgusting lot of filthy cheats, bottle throwers, cheap shotters, low, dirty unscrupulous liars and self delusional deceivers…..
you guys need to sort yourselves out…simple really….
then the world might actually start to like like you.
16 Apr 2012, 07:29 am
Yep, pretty much spot on.
16 Apr 2012, 07:46 am
Sharks defense looked much better, or at least more inspired against the blues. The rush defense worked much better than the flat, allowing the team to break the advantage line with eeze approach they’ve had most of the season.
Loving whitehead and Jp in the midfield!!
16 Apr 2012, 07:54 am
all good points, but i cant see the change needed to happen so soon, though i do hope it comes, they need to realise JP is not a center, and viljoen needs to get his act together, he has look out of sorts over the last 2 weeks after starting to look as if he was hitting form, lets hope for a massive turn around
16 Apr 2012, 08:10 am
Im sure a couple of home games will help them to get better… Have played 6 away and only 2 at home…
16 Apr 2012, 08:38 am
And up their defence!!
16 Apr 2012, 10:36 am
The headline is not going to sit well with one-eyed guppy supporters.
16 Apr 2012, 10:54 am
“The Sharks would be foolish to force the tempo in this match, as the Chiefs have the defence to stand up to the Sharks attack and the counter-attack to turn those characteristic Sharks errors into seven-pointers.”
- Why the fark not up the tempo?
- Why go back to dumbfck nasty booting kick and chase that belongs with NTvl circa 1980′s and that is where it should stay?
- Why copy the dreary 2007 style of the Breezers when they have been found out just this weekend?
- Why play into the Chiefs hands by retreating into the typical mindnumbing conservative mindset so characteristically part of SA rugby when the chips are down?
No I say the Sharks should take a leaf out of the Cheetahs book in terms of the first 20 mins of the 2nd half against the Chiefs…
Charge the barricades!
Cavalier rugby to the fore!
Move the ball and keep it as long as possible!
ATTACK!
The best form of defence…
Relentless attack. And possession!
Fark the verkrampte conventional wisdom of SA rugby – their coaches and fans… This is cowardice.
Be brave Sharks!!
16 Apr 2012, 11:09 am
windmills charge?
16 Apr 2012, 11:24 am
The Sharks have a game plan?
could you give it to us Sharks fans please!
16 Apr 2012, 11:34 am
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-13: Call it what you will, but if the Cheetahs started playing like they did for 20 mins into the 2nd half they would have beaten the Chiefs.
Sharks must do similar but also more hardcore around the breakdown edges…
Sharks also have better players to do Cavalier rugby…
16 Apr 2012, 12:40 pm
Inconsistency is the Sharks’ middle name. Just look at their tournament history for the last circa 8 years in terms of performing / not performing one half of the season, then experiencing a different fortune the other half.
A few points to note though:
They are well positioned on the log for a play-off finish, considering the return of some stalwarts and their remaining fixtures, mostly at the Shark Tank.
They have only really played poorly in one game – against the Canes. They have performed admirably in all the other fixtures to date.
JPP’s move back to 13 has been a revelation. Many people forget that he is a converted winger who played 13 as a schoolboy. He is currently my pick for Bok 13.
The Sharks are a dark horse for 2012 champions.
16 Apr 2012, 12:45 pm
I am so sick of this biased **** reporting from the Western Cape. ,try playing 9 games in a row,the only team that will have to do so,
try playing 6 of those games away from home, the only team that has had to do so.
Now with all that you win 50% of your games and score 6 bonus points ,so that in 2 of your wins you scored 4 trys and in 4 of your losses you are with in 7 points.
And this journalist complains about the team being inconsistent.
The only thing that is inconsistent is the structure of the draw.
If the Sharks win with a bonus point on Saturday and the Stormers loose again with out a bonus point .
Guess what ,Sharks move up 9 points on the Stormers in one afternoon,and hey guess what most of the rest of our games are in the Tank where we probably have a better home record than most,and hey guess what most of the Staormers games are away from home.
16 Apr 2012, 13:02 pm
Inconsistant Sharks will get creamed by far better Chiefs team this weekend,kick at their peril to Chiefs back three and watch them score from their own 22.Chiefs gonna do a Hurricane on sad sharkies in their own back yard,bound to end in tears.
16 Apr 2012, 14:04 pm
another season where Natal starts with much hype but no substance
this be truth
16 Apr 2012, 14:13 pm
@greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-19: what rubbish since when were the Sharks hyped this season? at least stick to the facts! We last all our captains, our experienced locks (playing with two new locks) lost our first choice Loosehead and JP at centre with a bevy of youngsters starting. NO One hyped the Sharks!
16 Apr 2012, 23:23 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-17: love your post!
16 Apr 2012, 23:23 pm
@willievz(willievz)-16: love your post too!
16 Apr 2012, 23:25 pm
@skyewalker(skyewalker)-18: saved your post along with all your others where you cream in your pants dreaming for a Sharks loss, you arrogant Stompie. Will catch up with you on the weekend sour pus.s.
17 Apr 2012, 12:15 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-23:
Chiefs just a far superior team to shaky sharks once again.
Hahaha you just being a typical no hope loser shark supporter.SBW gonna confuse the cr*p outta 3rd rate whitehead and makeshift Pieterson in the midfield.Watch and weep loser.
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