Bulls to measure Michalak

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

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 at 6:49 am and is filed under Currie Cup. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

151. Sniper Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:28 am

#145 Ek sê my sê, ek sê: Now that is called positive thinking. The mind is very powerful. Flip it doesn’t work for me though…

152. Ek sê my sê, ek sê Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:29 am

#146 WP Till I Die:

Are you serious? I thought it would be Mujati.

153. Sniper Reply to this comment

#150 WP Till I Die:

154. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

#148 Ek sê my sê, ek sê:

you must suiffer from Watson syndrome

I am rainbow…it is sad poeople always think NTvl blueblood are racist bexcaus ethey from, North or police or correctional.

times have changed my friend

155. gunther Reply to this comment

#132 greatest13gerber: attention, security alert.. suspected shoplifters in aisle 4 DVDs and electronics…please proceed over…..advise when situation under control and culprits in custody over…later G13G

156. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am

u do not know Police speak since you are from CT.

I am from old school of hardmen.

157. Ek sê my sê, ek sê Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am

#154 greatest13gerber:

You sound like “I AM SAM” or you are a imposter. Think the latter.

158. Staal Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am

Hierdie tarentale gaat bos hier langs die huis…. mens sou dink hul is bang virrie boerboele…. ek weet van beter….hulle soek mielies….kan jy glo! Die goed het al vergeet wat dit is om “wild” te wees want hul word gevoer!

159. WP Till I Die Reply to this comment

“poeople” – is that like a juxtapositioning of people and poepholle?

160. Dawn

#144 greatest13gerber:

How could I be so stupid!!!

161. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am

#155 gunther:

I do not wokr in supermarket.

162. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:35 am

Hellooooooooooo RUGBY muppits !

Enough of the Round ball sh!!!!ttttttttt already !

163. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:36 am

I am stil geting use to using KU990

#157 Ek sê my sê, ek sê:

and you name is??..

164. Sniper Reply to this comment

#159 WP Till I Die: You are killing me.

165. gunther Reply to this comment

#161 greatest13gerber: are you a tailgunner???

166. Staal Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:37 am

hehehehehe…. cheers.

Keo het n paar opstokers hier… wonder of hulle nie almal maar net Keo is nie?

167. Sniper Reply to this comment

#162 grootblousmile: GBS – looking forward to the game?

168. WP Till I Die Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am

Hmmm, I think you’re stuck in a Rolling Stones song.

He comes in colours everywhere, he combs his hair, he’s like a rainbow, coming colours in the air, oh everywhere, he comes in colours…

169. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:39 am

Micharak, Steyn, Jacobs, Pienaar

these wil be dangermen. The game for natal depend on thes men.

NTvl wil back self to attac Natal lineout and employ pickup and go tactics

170. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

#167 Sniper: Yip… but not looking forward to my brother’s farrrrrkinggggggg wedding that is taking place during the final……. eishhhhhhh !

171. WP Till I Die Reply to this comment

#165 gunther:

Only behind closed doors.

172. the peanut gallery Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:40 am

#161 greatest13gerber: i hear pak’n save are looking for security guards. they’ve got much nicer uniforms than you guys.

173. Sniper Reply to this comment

#169 greatest13gerber: pickup and go tactics – no that is after the game. Point street I think.

174. Sniper Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:41 am

#170 grootblousmile: You gotta be kidding me.

175. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

#170 grootblousmile:

so brother wedding wil be all women affair??

176. WP Till I Die Reply to this comment

#169 greatest13gerber:

“Micharak” – if that’s how you pronounce it, I’m beginning to think you are part-Japanese.

Engrish is not your speciarity?

177. Sniper Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:42 am

#175 greatest13gerber: You are so good with your word choice.

178. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

#172 the peanut gallery:

small nuts, I am Senior survelliance officer.

179. Sniper Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:43 am

#178 greatest13gerber: Small nuts and you tell everyone as well. There are certain things you keep to yourself.

180. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am

#174 Sniper: Yeah…….. seems he missed something in his upbringing…. or maybe I moerred him too hard, too many times !

I’m not farking kidding, wedding starts at freegin 14:30…… so say the bride walks into church at 14:45 (15 minutes fashionably late)… then the services should be over before 16:00…. then they’ll go take photos….. so maybe we can watch the first half……… eishhhhhhhh !

181. Staal Reply to this comment

#178 greatest13gerber: LMAO.. got to give it to you….that was brilliant!

182. greatest13gerber Reply to this comment

I see talkin rugby with children is hard

183. WP Till I Die Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:46 am

#179 Sniper:

Farking smilies

184. the peanut gallery Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:48 am

#178 greatest13gerber: they got those too at pak’n save. they get a special red ribbon to put on their cap – just so everyone knows they’re important. also, for every three shoplifters you catch, you get a free life-size daniel carter talking doll (batteries not included)

185. the peanut gallery Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:49 am

#181 Staal: you’re being sarcastic, right?

186. the peanut gallery Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am

#180 grootblousmile: what time is the game?

187. Sniper Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am

#180 grootblousmile: Shame man. Set your PVR bro.

188. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:54 am

#186 the peanut gallery: I heard something about them starting at 16:00…. maybe that’s just the lead-up to the game though…. will check…. because the PVR Recorder is now ALL IMPORTANT for me !

For me it’s going to be a rather short wedding party after the initial speeches…. serves my brother right !

189. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:55 am

#187 Sniper: Can you believe it, GBS’s brother is not a rugby fan…. eishhhhhhhhh

190. Dawn

#178 greatest13gerber:

Have you got those night vision binocs that turn everything green?

191. the peanut gallery Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:56 am

#188 grootblousmile: you might just catch johan muller receiving the trophy.

192. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am

#191 the peanut gallery: Woe the farkerrr that gives me a single score of the game during the wedding…….. I want to watch the game and still be surprised, whatever the outcome !

193. Schalk Burger Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 9:59 am

I think, should we lose the final, I will blame Luke Watson!!!

194. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am

#193 Schalk Burger: More, kyk wat het die kat hier ingedra !

195. Schalk Burger Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:03 am

#194 grootblousmile: Dagse ou Bees, nog so blou soos altyd?

196. grootblousmile Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am

#195 Schalk Burger: Natuurrrrrrrlik, hoe dan nou anders ??

197. Ek sê my sê, ek sê Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:07 am

In ‘n onlangse studie deur Wits is bevind die gemiddelde Suid-Afrikaner stap omtrent 1200 kilometer per jaar.

Intussen is in ‘n studie deur die SA Mediese Vereniging bevind Suid-Afrikaners drink gemiddeld sowat 50 liter alkohol per jaar.

Dit beteken Suid-Afrikaners kry gemiddeld sowat 24 kilometer op ‘n liter……!

Dit maak mens mos trots Suid-Afrikaans !!

198. Slappes Reply to this comment

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am

Morning all,
Just some Keo info – Simon has resigned. He needed new challenges (at another publication). I know the publication and I dont blame him – what with all the swimsuit models there…
Anyways enjoy Simon and everything of the best mate.

199. Dawn

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am

#182 greatest13gerber:

Listen greatest13 Mr Senior Surveillance Officer Sir.

Jy sal opgemerk het dat een van Keo se joernaliste totaal verdwyn het.

Is dit moontlik dat jy hom kan opspoor.

200. Dawn

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October 21st, 2008 at 10:10 am

#198 Slappes:

Nou hoe het jy geweet.