Bulls to measure Michalak
21 Oct 2008
Blue Bulls backline coach Pieter Rossouw believes nullifying the influence of Sharks flyhalf Frederic Michalak begins with cutting down his space and time.
Michalak has been an influential figure in the Sharks’ campaign since returning from a knee injury which ended his Super 14. Given a consistent run of matches and the chance to grow in combination with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and inside centre Frans Steyn, the Frenchman has thrived.
A good performance from him will be central to the success of the Sharks in the Absa Currie Cup final. The Bulls are acutely aware of this and have developed a strategy aimed at ensuring his influence is blunted.
“Any player is vulnerable under pressure and Michalak is no different,” Rossouw told keo.co.za.
“I’ve been really impressed by him this season and we’ll have to put him under pressure to make sure he doesn’t take control of the final because when he gets momentum he is almost impossible to stop. He loves to run, so our defensive organisation will have to be very good.
“I also don’t buy the criticism that he is mentally vulnerable,” he added when probed on Michalak’s ability to cope in pressure matches.
“Perhaps that was the case earlier in his career, but he has 50 caps for France and lots of experience for Toulouse and the Sharks [in the Super 14]. He won’t struggle mentally. That’s not an issue.”
Rossouw did, however, stress that to focus on an individual in a talent-laden Sharks backline would be an error. He highlighted Michalak’s partnership with Pienaar and Steyn, explaining that their differing strengths complemented each other and was part of their success.
“Both Ruan and Frans have good kicking games, where that’s not a strength of Michalak’s,” he explained.
“So they take the pressure off him in that regard and that allows him to focus on his primary strength, which is running at defences and creating opportunities for those around him.
“That’s not to say that Ruan and Frans are limited because they’ve shown in the past that they’re gamebreakers of the highest quality. That makes them so dangerous, they’re so unpredictable.”
No backline can play without a quality platform and eliminating the threat of the above mentioned players will start with gaining the ascendancy at the set phases and breakdown.
The Bulls have performed well in both these facets of play throughout their campaign and Rossouw emphasized how crucial this would be to their goal of winning the title.
“No backline can play without quality ball and while the Sharks have a superb backline they’re no different,” he said.
“If you cut their supply, of which Michalak is a vital part, you win a big part of the battle. That’s our aim.”
By Ryan Vrede
226 Comments
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21 Oct 2008, 08:26 am
#45 WP Till I Die:
I hate prosletyzing.
But it’s a lekker, 50 buck word.
21 Oct 2008, 08:27 am
#44 the peanut gallery:
She was apparently preaching Christianity to the people she was helping, that’s why they took her out. One hell of a message, that’s for sure.
21 Oct 2008, 08:27 am
#10 King Shark: eish.. i can’t remember that?
the only reason i would have given you “feedback” would have been if you “predicted” a Sharkie win in 07! 
But this year you can go ahead. They are looking like worldbeaters!
#11 King Shark:
I won’t be in front of a TV this weekend…i’ll be painting my geyser.
21 Oct 2008, 08:27 am
#47 Wezwp:
He probably will – I’m surprised they haven’t shamelessly milked the financial possibilities of a soccer portion yet
21 Oct 2008, 08:28 am
#47 Wezwp: Go google ilaaikfootball…keo only caters for proper sport!
21 Oct 2008, 08:28 am
Damn, this is a forgotten war in a forgotten country.
But it’s so interesting.
21 Oct 2008, 08:29 am
#46 Richie_7:
Sundowns are tinkerbelles
21 Oct 2008, 08:29 am
Has anyone seen the movie.. Kite Runner?
21 Oct 2008, 08:30 am
#55 Dawn:
Well, it’s life and death on a daily basis over there.
I am working on my Pashtun at the moment, want to be able to blend in well with the locals.
21 Oct 2008, 08:30 am
#51 WP Till I Die:
Just read the whole story.
The death toll must be astronomical.
These are just a couple of isolated incidents. Where did you get that story from.
21 Oct 2008, 08:32 am
#57 Staal:
Yip.
21 Oct 2008, 08:32 am
#58 WP Till I Die:
If they know prosletyzing is forbidden why do it?
21 Oct 2008, 08:33 am
#60 WP Till I Die:
Which website is the story from?
21 Oct 2008, 08:34 am
#58 WP Till I Die: you may have to change your nic to WP Till 2009
21 Oct 2008, 08:35 am
There’s a show on Discovery I’ve started watching … Ross Kemp in Afghanistan.
21 Oct 2008, 08:35 am
#56 WP Till I Die: AJAX is an advert for estrogen
21 Oct 2008, 08:36 am
#59 Dawn:
Associated Press.
21 Oct 2008, 08:36 am
#63 the peanut gallery:
No, it will remain WP Till I Die, only thing is that death might be sooner than we think…
21 Oct 2008, 08:37 am
#60 WP Till I Die: Daai is wild!
21 Oct 2008, 08:37 am
#47 Wezwp:
We don’t have a soccer team though…
21 Oct 2008, 08:38 am
Hmmm, at the current exchange rate I will be earning almost R500,000 a year deployed in Afghanistan.
21 Oct 2008, 08:39 am
Aussie were klapped by India this morning! Sieriaaaaasly klapped!
21 Oct 2008, 08:40 am
Don’t get me wrong keo should keep rugby no1 because that’s why i’m here, for the rugby. But a soccer column now and then won’t hurt(columns about the sa national team only not the worthless amakhosi).
21 Oct 2008, 08:40 am
#67 WP Till I Die: my point exactly.#70 WP Till I Die: you’re assuming you’ll be there for a year.
21 Oct 2008, 08:43 am
#58 WP Till I Die:
Actually I should rather learn Farsi. 80% of Afghans and almost all Iranians speak it…
21 Oct 2008, 08:46 am
?? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?????
21 Oct 2008, 08:47 am
#75 WP Till I Die:
****, it does not allow Arabic letters.
Fine.
Let’s transliterate:
Man az zaban e farsi khosham miayad.
21 Oct 2008, 08:49 am
Slow day today at keo.
21 Oct 2008, 08:50 am
?????? ??????
21 Oct 2008, 08:51 am
Read somewhere that only in Afghanistan or Irak does more people die violently than in SA?
21 Oct 2008, 08:53 am
yes
The influence of this unpredictable frog is strong. We must nullify his space and limit his possession in order limit his effect.
This playmakller is dangerous when on game.
21 Oct 2008, 08:53 am
All i can say is that the Bulls will have to stay in Sharks half if they want to win this CC. It’s going to be a hard one. Sure they going to use steyn alot for drop goals. Morne will have to have his kicking boats on that’s for sure.
21 Oct 2008, 08:55 am
#79 Staal: more people may die in Iraq, but I am sure they die more violently in SA
21 Oct 2008, 08:56 am
Interesting that the Bulls feel that they have to target certain players. The sharks luckely don’t have to target any individual player.
21 Oct 2008, 08:57 am
Unpredictable frogs are one of the largest threats to mankind.
21 Oct 2008, 08:57 am
#80 greatest13gerber: i think we should start surveillence on him..
21 Oct 2008, 08:58 am
#76 WP Till I Die:
What does it mean?
21 Oct 2008, 08:58 am
Roll on Final! Just seems so dead before a final. The hype is not up there. Is it only me feeling this way?
21 Oct 2008, 08:58 am
#80 greatest13gerber:
Is it an Afghan frog?
21 Oct 2008, 08:58 am
#83 Ek sê my sê, ek sê: interesting to me that you believe all that you read in the media……
21 Oct 2008, 08:59 am
#83 Ek sê my sê, ek sê: thats because all the bulls are wolrd class…
21 Oct 2008, 08:59 am
#87 Sniper: might be dead for you Wp supporters…
21 Oct 2008, 09:00 am
#80 greatest13gerber:
This poisonous toad should be shot at dawn.
21 Oct 2008, 09:00 am
#85 gunther:
farking smilies
21 Oct 2008, 09:00 am
#91 Staal: True – but the vibe was so much better in the past.
21 Oct 2008, 09:01 am
#84 WP Till I Die:
yes. the kiwis know this bettter then anyone esle
21 Oct 2008, 09:01 am
#89 Staal:
I do, there is a tape, there is a soiled shirt somewhere and the bulls are targeting a frog.
21 Oct 2008, 09:02 am
#93 WP Till I Die: maybe some chilli powder in his jock strap….another old favorite..
21 Oct 2008, 09:02 am
how you coach the french anyway???
is it impossible task??
do you just let them loose??
genius one moment, madman next??
hero then villian in same gamr?
this is frog rugb y for yoiu
21 Oct 2008, 09:02 am
#91 Staal: I live in Blue Bull country and it is dead here. No vibe at all.
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