The year of the Sharks
16 Jan 2013
MARK KEOHANE is picking the Sharks, Reds and Canes as the 2013 Super Rugby conference winners.
It may appear madness to pick a winner of the tournament in January because this expanded version means so much can change post the June internationals, but my money is on the Sharks to finally win the competition that has taunted and teased their supporters but never pleased them.
My pick is the Sharks to take the South African conference and have the crucial advantage of hosting teams in the play-offs. Home ground advantage is usually the recipe for title success, although the Sharks have proven to be the exception. In 2007 they hosted the Bulls and lost in the last minute. In last year’s Currie Cup final a youthful Western Province thumped the hosts.
That’s history.
John Plumtree’s picked the most balanced squad among South African teams and the Sharks, in squad depth, are the strongest in the competition.
Player management and rotation is the key to success in this tournament, as is starting and finishing well.
The Sharks have a good home draw and they will make it count.
The Stormers will also be in the top six, but the Bulls are going to have to improve dramatically in terms of consistency to make the play-offs. Realistically, and don’t forget they are my favourite team, I think the quality of squad depth and starting player is more a top-eight than a top-four squad. The Cheetahs will always be a favourite to entertain and will always have the capability to knock over a top-four team, especially in Bloemfontein, on a one-off but the player depth has never been there to seriously challenge for the play-offs. The Cheetahs select from Griquas and the Free State Currie Cup Cheetahs, and while Griquas always show promise in the Currie Cup many of those players limitations are exposed over the course of a competition that now is the most demanding in terms of longevity, intensity and travel in the world. The Kings, in their debut season, will do well to win three matches.
The post-World Cup blues suffered by many teams is not a factor this year and 2013 and 2014 are the years in-between World Cups when Super Rugby is a priority. In 2015 it is a preparation to the game’s biggest prize, the World Cup.
Jake White’s Brumbies were an unknown in 2012 and they surprised many. White did a fantastic job in restoring rugby union pride in Canberra, but the second-season syndrome is something he will be all too aware of, especially with the Reds in a healthier position in terms of player availability.
The Tahs can’t be as awful as they were a year ago although they too look a year away from a play-off. I see them more mid-table.
In New Zealand the heat will be on the Chiefs to show last year was not a one-hit wonder. They’re good enough to make the play-offs as defending champions but they don’t command the same presence among the backs with no Sonny Bill Williams to occupy the minds of the opposition. The New Zealand conference is the toughest of the three, but there won’t be a miracle in year one from Blues coach John Kirwan. There will be hope and improved performances but the Blues are a three-year project more than a first season sensation. They will be the worst performing of the New Zealand sides in terms of league points even if they will show enough to be applauded more than condemned.
The Crusaders will be contenders, more so on history than on current strength but Dan Carter alone among the backs and Kieran Read, leader of the pack in Richie McCaw’s absence through a sabbatical, lack the support in numbers to speak of the Crusaders in awe.
The Highlanders will be good, potentially the second best among the Kiwi teams, and the team to beat in New Zealand will be Conrad Smith’s Hurricanes.
345 Comments
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16 Jan 2013, 18:48 pm
@nama1-299: What an accolade for the Sharks. You are so patently dumb that you dont even realize what you are saying. Thanks for the compliment idiot.
16 Jan 2013, 19:15 pm
“thick”
“dumb”
“brain dead”
“dumb @ss”
“Bone from the neck up”
“goldfish” (obvious reference to its short attention span)
“patently dumb”
“idiot”
That’s the kind of person that you engage with for more than an hour? Now I wonder, what does it say about you?
16 Jan 2013, 19:27 pm
Wasn’t so long ago – a couple of years maybe – that the Stormers were written off as no-hopers because of a lack of player depth. And lack of player rotation.
Oh well, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
16 Jan 2013, 19:33 pm
@Dusky-300:
Enjoy your “banter” for the rest of the night. Just remember, the Sharks will have to fight to end up in 6th position on the log.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Now good night, dom kont.
16 Jan 2013, 19:54 pm
@nama1-303:
The more people write off the Stormers, the more I sit back with my hands on my head and wait for the drama to unfold.
16 Jan 2013, 20:25 pm
Wouldn’t take these predictions too serious. Luckily, Allister Coetzee insisted on WP turning up for the CC final.
17 Jan 2013, 00:41 am
@@whistle@blower@-305: Luckily because after the fickle WP supporters were ready to lynch him after the Super 15 semi-final, the poor SOB must have been pretty desperate to win something.
His poephol must have pulled together so tightly – it inverted on itself when the Sharks made that last break for the tryline after the hooter.
17 Jan 2013, 00:44 am
@I am a stormer-304: Your hands on your head. Why ? The only drama that has happened is the conference winning Stormers getting dumped out of the tournament twice in a row in Cape Town. To be fair, both times it was by superior teams – but still.
So – if the Sharks inconsistency is to continue as suggested by the local rocket scientist, Nama – why should we expect the Stormers season to end any differently ? hmmmmm ?
Keep your hands on your head buddy – its where they will be when the chest beating over inflated mountain moffies get dumped from the tournament again by a team that can play rugby.
17 Jan 2013, 00:45 am
@I am a stormer-302: They have depth now ?
17 Jan 2013, 00:47 am
@nama1-303: That’s ok – we only need 6th to make the final apparently. Perhaps the Stormers should try end 6th.
17 Jan 2013, 01:58 am
Jeez Dusky, talk about chest beating and insecurities…………what is it with you Sharks boys that you keep on going on about g ays and brokeback? Your favourite movie perhaps?
Get off riding the sharkfin, its clouding your judgement!
heeeehaaaa!
17 Jan 2013, 06:27 am
@Dusky-308:
Dusky, in 2011 we went through about 8 flyhalves and in 2012 we utilised about 15 loose forwards ane were still competitive.
How would you define depth?
17 Jan 2013, 07:43 am
@I am a stormer-311: dusky is a bit of an expert on depth. He sinks to new ones regularly.
17 Jan 2013, 08:16 am
Ja,ja,ja…heard it all before.It’s always the year of the sharks,most balanced team blah,blah,blah.Sharks are perennial chokers.in fact no team has choked in more super rugby semi-finals and finals.Sharks are sure to retain chokers trophy,you can bet on it!
17 Jan 2013, 08:32 am
Go Dusky… You tell em.
Too right.
17 Jan 2013, 08:48 am
The fact is that some of these “average” Sharks were some of the best performers in their respective positions last year, yet missed out on Bok selection for no reason other than not coming from the “traditional powers” of SA Rugby… Or they were dropped post haste because they did not tick the “traditional” boxes in a certain position… Other “traditional” players from “traditional” powers were then favoured…
Ludik
Jordaan
McLeod
Reinach
Kanko
Daniel
Bresler
Mvovo
Coetzee
They continue where they ended before the S15 final, especially when they rogered the amazing Conference “Title Holders”, “unbeaten at home” six love at “Fortress” Newlands, then they should be happy at being average…
Not that anything more than average is needed to win under brokeback mountain skies… Obviously
17 Jan 2013, 08:53 am
But then again the Sharks side to face Cheetahs will not be average…
Probable:
15 Ludik/Viljoen
14 JPP
13 Jordaan/Whitehead
12 Steyn
11 Mvovo
10 Lambie
9 McLeod/Reinach
8 Kanko
7. Coetzee/Alberts
6. Daniel
5. Franco
4. Bresler/Du Toit
3. Doc/Redlinghuys
2. Cooper/Zulu
1. Beast
Schweet…
Bloem Boom…
17 Jan 2013, 09:50 am
Before the S15 rules were changed recently, the 5th and 6th placed teams would have been out, simply not good enough.
Am I right?
17 Jan 2013, 10:17 am
LOL , thanks Keo , you just killed off the Sharks chances !!!
17 Jan 2013, 10:33 am
As I said earlier, check out the epic tail spinning and wailing by the arme Storrrrmer fans who can’t take people saying another team is better than theirs…
Actually, I think the Storrrrmers are going to struggle this year. I can’t see them making the top 6 this year. The bubble has to burst some time. Their results over the last 2 years has been something of an anomaly, a fluke if you will. Their mediocre history confirms this.
The Sharks? They are always up there. The top performing SA side of all time. If they top the shittttty conference “title” and get home play offs they will go all the way this year. They deserve it, too.
17 Jan 2013, 10:35 am
@Stawm-317: hehehe and the rules have always said if you lose a semi, you’re out, no? Only have your own team to blame for losing a HOME semi hehehehe!
17 Jan 2013, 10:43 am
@Liewe Luiperd-319:
“The Sharks? They are always up there. The top performing SA side of all time. If they top the shittttty conference “title” and get home play offs they will go all the way this year. They deserve it, too.”
Beyootiful!
Music to ze ears…
Magnifique…
SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRKS FOREVER!
17 Jan 2013, 10:48 am
I can see it coming a few weeks before its even done…
Ruck…
Scrummy to Lambie, flat ball…
Lambie on advantage line, step to the inside of Goosen…
Goosen takes Lambie, spinning in the process…
But the ball is not there…
Flash…
JPP off the outside shoulder and under the uprights… Ball placed nonchalantly bisecting the posts…
Sparks…
Goosen still spinning…
Brussouw hands on hips with a WTF? look…
JPP turns arms raised…
BOOM!
17 Jan 2013, 10:54 am
I can see it coming a few weeks before its even done…
Lineout Cheetahs…
5 ball, catch and release to Free State scrummy…
Brussouw on the flat ball… Looking determined, move looking promising and he bears down on Pat…
The Wrecking Ball emerges from nowhere… Ratel blindsided… He does not even see the Coetzee Exocet… Scrumcap flies vertically and returns to the ground, next to a prostrate…
BOOM!
And Bone Collector on the bench smiles… Its his turn soon…
17 Jan 2013, 11:02 am
I can see it coming a few weeks before its even done…
Scrum, Sharks ball… Is it a bird is it a plain, no its Coenie… Free State tighthead learns to fly, taught by THE Beast…
Ball to Pat…
From Pat, flat and fast to Le Rocquet Boot taking the perfect line…
Right at the Goose…
A last moment step… and then daylight…
He’s through, looking for support… Whos there…
None but the little Lion… Daniel…
A shimmy here, a dummy there… And then a reverse 360 degree backflip pass in midair while 2 poor Cheetahs try and smash the Lionking of the Sharks to smithereens…
But the ball is with Lwazi… Sonic…
BOOM!
17 Jan 2013, 11:14 am
@Heavens Game-322: @Heavens Game-323: @Heavens Game-324: Sounds about right.The sharks have two teams that can win this SA conference mug!
17 Jan 2013, 11:46 am
@coma-325: Yes indeed… But the Breezers can keep the Mug… After all its SO important… to them.
Sharks want the Trophy…
The Super Rugby Winners Trophy 2013…
Nothing less.
17 Jan 2013, 13:26 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-143: Hello Lady Pedigree.Trust you are well.
I am trying to communicate with Dawn but it seems that she
is staying below the radar at present
I mentioned.that I never call her “my girl” for rea sons
that involved black and white and language issues.
There was nothing sinister in the post
At one stage i had +- 30 people across the language and
racial divide reporting to me
I greeted the women each morning with an “hello my girl’
This greeting was made with the utmost affection,,
yet the phrase caused disharmony amongst the groups
I mentioned so much so that I was disclipined
Soon after a certain poster referred to you as “my girly”
I apologise for this
My regret is abject Regards
17 Jan 2013, 13:30 pm
@ryecatcher-327:
hi rye…
good to see you back… are you well…?
you’ve been missed on keo…
17 Jan 2013, 13:36 pm
@ryecatcher-327: Howdy Rye
Missed you! As UFO says above. Many have been wondering where you have been. Helluvahappy you are back 
I have an uncle that calls every female he meets ‘my girl’ (young, old, fat, thin, black, white, pink…..they are all ‘his girl’.)
Now stick around please? The rugby banter is about to get ‘real’
(Just see a few of HG’s predictions)
@ufo-328: Hear Hear.
17 Jan 2013, 13:42 pm
@ufo-328: Hi ufo.I am well thanks.
Hope you are too
Seems that planned obsolescence setting in. Hospital monday to today.
Suspected spinal compression after fall.Totally sober.
Anyway all well.Delighted to be home and comunicating with you guys..
17 Jan 2013, 13:49 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-329: Thank you my lady.Can you find some way of
getting this message to DaWn.Tks
17 Jan 2013, 13:50 pm
@ryecatcher-330:
i just got a little ‘well-er’ to hear from you rye…!
i and we were seriously worried about you…
so sorry to hear about your spine rye…
yeah… the planned obsolescence catches us all in time… if nothing else does before that…
but very happy to hear you’re back at home…
take is easy and keep in touch… i’m sure i speak for a lot of us to say that we’re delighted to have you communicating with us again…
i know i am… and pedigree and dawn certainly will be…
17 Jan 2013, 16:30 pm
@Heavens Game-92: Enjoying your
predictions.Go Sharks
Please comment on
Bissy
Bekker
Juan
Schalk
and in all probability Eben
Why are all of our world class players being virtually injured out of the
game? Does not seem a s bad in Oz & NZ
Should we not be pla ying an A & B side?.Am saying too much rugby.
In a world cup year we should obviously.field best of A & B
What happens in interim does not matter.
17 Jan 2013, 19:50 pm
@Heavens Game-322: @Heavens Game-323: @Heavens Game-324:
SELL!!
18 Jan 2013, 08:47 am
The Sharks have one major weak spot – the line out. With Bismarck out till probably end of April Burden and Cooper will have to really step up in the first games.
18 Jan 2013, 08:49 am
@Bokhoring-335:
Two, they don’t know how to win finals rugby.
18 Jan 2013, 08:58 am
@NZINCHINA-336: Can’t really class last year’s final in that category as they were dead men walking by the time they got to the final.
But yes, brain farts by players and coaches as in 2007 final did do them in.
18 Jan 2013, 09:55 am
Thought I’d have a peep in for the first time in a few weeks and what’dyaknow….. Sharks fans moaning and whining about the Stormers….
Lol. In an ever changing world, it’s good to see that their inferiority complex will never change.
Sit booboo sit!!!
18 Jan 2013, 10:26 am
Lol. Only tail spinning and wailing from Storrrrmers fans going on here. They were the 2nd best SA team in Super rugby last year. And so are their fans on this thread.
18 Jan 2013, 10:36 am
I’m not much of a Cranberries fan, but I’m pretty sure they wrote this song for the Sharkies constant and continual inability to concentrate on anything outside of Cape Town….
In your head, in your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie,
Hey, hey, hey. What’s in your head,
In your head,
Zombie, zombie, zombie?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, oh, dou, dou, dou, dou, dou…
18 Jan 2013, 11:09 am
Storrrrmer fans can’t stop singing this one…
YOU KNOW ITS ALL ABOUT ME [X4]
D0NT HATE ME CAUSE I GOT IT GOIN ON
ITS JUST ME IM HOT AFTER COLD
I CAN ROCK IT ANY WAY THAT I CHOOSE
IM SO GOOD(0H YEAH)I MAKE UP ALL OF THE RULES
I CANT HELP IT IF I SET ALL THE TRENDS
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE MY BESTFRIEND
ITS INFECTIOUS SO DONT BE JEALOUS JUST JOIN IN THIS LOVEFEST YOU KNOW THAT
ITS ALL ABOUT ME
ITS ALL ABOUT ME [0H YEAH]
ME MYSELF AND I
ITS ALL ABOUT ME
ITS ALL ABOUT ME (ITS ALL BOUT ME)
ITS ALL ABOUT ME ME ME ME ME
EVERYBODY KNOWS ITS ALL ABOUT ME
It’s all about them….. can’t take it when it’s all about the SHARKS….
19 Jan 2013, 02:19 am
Happy New year aan al julle uitlanders,swendelaars hulle handlangers en gesante en,al die pajamadramas,die downtowndames die bad luck reisigers straight uit die hel,al die delwers en volstruisveer tannies en laastens die rondloperhingste wat kopspeel onder die geel kandelare met julle langhare en vinnige karre en die semels waarmee julle uithang.Moenie julle groot growwe goue ringe op die verkeerde perde verwed nie en mag die wat dit verdien bakbeen in mekaar se arms beland.
20 Jan 2013, 01:47 am
@Liewe Luiperd-339:
So you are saying that the SA team that ended in 3rd place in the SA conferens and 6th overall in the S15, was the best SA team in the S15 last year? Just because they won their last few matches during the league phase and two matches in the knock out phase of the competition.
That’s like saying that the team that win the FA Cup is the best team in England no matter where it ends up in he English premier league.
That’s just plain stupid, don’t you think?
20 Jan 2013, 01:54 am
@Liewe Luiperd-341: Thanks for the rendition ,wooden spoon .
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