Muller void must be filled
2 Feb 2010
The Sharks are facing a second row and leadership crisis when Johann Muller leaves for Ulster.
Ironically, on the day the Bulls secured the signature of impressive lock Juandre Kruger to boost their second row, news broke that their closest rivals in recent times were heading in the opposite way.
Muller’s move hasn’t yet been confirmed but it is set to be ratified by the Sharks’ board next month. Even if he isn’t allowed to depart after the Super 14 as his contract only expires at the end of the year, the Bok lock has requested the move and is in all likelihood gone – whether it’s in the middle of the year or at the end.
With his departure the player drain – that has seen the likes of Brad Barritt, BJ Botha, and Frans Steyn among others leave – continues at the union, with few adequate signings replacing the big names who have left before reaching their potential. The Sharks’ backline depth has been severely effected in recent times, and the second row is now looking like another area with insufficient quality to compete at the highest level.
With Gerhard Mostert, Steven Sykes, and Alistair Hargreaves as the remaining locks left after Muller moves to Belfast, the class simply isn’t there if the Sharks hope to claim an elusive Super Rugby title in future. Mostert has potential but is injury-prone and hasn’t completed a full season in recent times, while 36-year-old Albert Van den Bergh also departed for Japan last year.
After Muller leaves, the Sharks will have to buy quality second-rowers – which is easier said than done – otherwise they’re merely an injury or two away from a second row crisis.
Hargreaves has been earmarked as Muller’s direct replacement as lineout linchpin, and although he came with big wraps after leading the country at age-group level, at 23 he hasn’t yet delivered on his potential. Hargreaves’ age suggests he does have time on his side on a personal level, but from the Sharks’ perspective John Plumtree and co will be hoping 2010 is the year he delivers as he makes his way through the senior ranks.
The Sharks will realise locks can, and need to be bought to replace Muller. However, what is more difficult to acquire is leadership, which is one of Muller’s greatest strengths.
John Smit is current captain of the side, with Muller and Stefan Terblanche his deputies. With the senior Boks set to be rested for the Currie Cup, that rules Smit out, and at 34 Terblanche is also in the twilight years of his career.
In the remainder of the squad, there are no real leaders, and all championship winning teams are characterised by influential captains and senior players. If the Sharks don’t move quickly and these problem areas aren’t rectified there is no reason why the Sharks won’t suffer severely in the near future.
By Grant Ball
141 Comments
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2 Feb 2010, 17:56 pm
@rangerman: That is good news Ranger. Also heard he is a big strong player like Butchie. We always done well with big strong FHs. With Butch and Honiball.
2 Feb 2010, 17:57 pm
@justrugby: yeah…thanks…you should paste it here boet
2 Feb 2010, 17:59 pm
@rangerman: 93 – Ranger that was just very, very daft of the Sharks to not give Butch that 2 year contract. We sure could do with him now.
2 Feb 2010, 17:59 pm
@Puma:
Yip, not much to go on since the u21′s….but the Cape Times reported that the Sharks are in negotiation with him to play for them in the S14, I will “watch this space” as they say !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:01 pm
there are more headlines i want to see…
Smit reverts to 2 ….calls it a day at 3……..
BJ heads to stormers
CJ heads to Bulls
JDV back to Cape Town
Frans Steyn heads to Joburg…
France and England to tighten up on foreign players….
Joe van Niekerk heads to Joburg
Ronnie Cooke to bolster sharks
Marius Joubert to lend sharks a hand…dreams are good friends
2 Feb 2010, 18:02 pm
@grant10:
I would not give Ratel the satisfaction……let him believe what he wants !!
Next I will be accused of “doctoring” newspsper reports !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:02 pm
@grant10: 92 – Grant mate, Don’t think any Sharks will want LW back mate. There was trouble at the Sharks when he was there.
I feel good for him playing overseas now. Best for him. Think his dad had a huge influence over him too. Getting away from SA was a good thing for him mate.
2 Feb 2010, 18:04 pm
@grant10:
LOL, well not impossible !!
Add…….. Butch ends sharks FH woes !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:05 pm
@Puma: well i wish him all the best….great player…hardly ever injured….a true warrior…..
Very proud that we had him here ….
2 Feb 2010, 18:06 pm
@justrugby: may very well happen that ….wouldnt be surprised at all if butch heads home….my favorite that oke…
2 Feb 2010, 18:06 pm
@justrugby: 104 – Maybe there is no-one else. I would play Meyer there for now. See how he does. Heard he is a big oke too. Good hands and defence. Sharks play well with a FH like that. I really would just give Meyer the time there see what he can do.
2 Feb 2010, 18:07 pm
cheers …till later
2 Feb 2010, 18:07 pm
@Puma: 111
agree
2 Feb 2010, 18:08 pm
@justrugby:
Nah !!!! change that to…….. Butch ends Stormers FH woes
2 Feb 2010, 18:09 pm
This is due to the national coach ignoring Muller as a player and a leader.
2 Feb 2010, 18:09 pm
@justrugby:
Wishful thinking…hehe.
2 Feb 2010, 18:10 pm
@Puma:
He certainly deserves a chance to prove himself, absolutely !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:11 pm
@grant10: 109 – He was a good player Grant and probably still is. Just good for him to get out of SA for now. Do him the world of good really.
2 Feb 2010, 18:11 pm
@Puma:
LOL !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:13 pm
@justrugby: 117 – I hope he is our answer to FH. Think that is where we will struggle once again this year. Remember Ruan got injured last year and Fransie had to play there. Fransie really no FH but awesome inside centre and FB. Such a pity Sharks let him go. HUGE pity really for SA rugby too.
2 Feb 2010, 18:15 pm
@race of tan:
I tend to agree, I somehow think Muller is going to leave a bigger hole than many Sharks fans think, a year or two ago Muller was playing great rugby, he will be more missed at the Sharks than for the Boks though !!
He just did not seem the same player over the last year…..digruntled is a word that comes to mind !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:17 pm
Listen guys don’t tell anybody but I am a bit of a Binnelanders and Egoli fan………. so till later !!
2 Feb 2010, 18:27 pm
@justrugby: 122 – JR, Okay then
2 Feb 2010, 18:29 pm
Cheers all out of here.
2 Feb 2010, 20:24 pm
@justrugby: I would say injured rather than disgruntled. He spent last year in the gym and not on the field.
He is realising that PDV & co are overlooking him so why not go and make some real money.
2 Feb 2010, 20:49 pm
@Oubaas2009: Gots to agree with disgruntled, how many players and staff have the Sharks, and, are the Sharks in process of loosing, rumours are picking up over the Duppies brothers seeking greener pastures, Frans Steyn left (which idiot allowed that to happen), how was Jacques Fourie not signed for the Sharks, Plumtree seems to be getting out, the list is growing quite rapidly……I blame one man for all this.
2 Feb 2010, 22:10 pm
Great. Now the Guppies will be forced to find a lock that actually works on the field. Their shocking performance at the rucks and inability to get gop-forward can be directly attributed to Muller I believe. Ditto for teh boks when he played for them.
2 Feb 2010, 22:12 pm
@FireStraeuli: You ar probably not too far wrong – gee Straueli managing badly – who would have thought? What a surprise!!
3 Feb 2010, 07:50 am
What about Deysel? Is he tall enough and will mean more mobile and Keegan Daniel can be accommodated.
Jaques Botes has captained the side before.
3 Feb 2010, 09:10 am
Iagine if the NRU had Criag Jameson in Dinosaur van Zyl’s chair and **** Muir as his deputy.
All that’s missing is a Natal coach and Sharks academy youngsters to fill the gaps left by the foreign imports and Freestate inbreds that only want to play in Dirtbin for the money.
The Sharks are lacking fire and purpose. Get rid of the fencesitters and mercenaries and start nurturing our homegrown talent.
3 Feb 2010, 09:10 am
Imagine if the NRU had Craig Jameson in Dinosaur van Zyl’s chair and **** Muir as his deputy.
All that’s missing is a Natal coach and Sharks academy youngsters to fill the gaps left by the foreign imports and Freestate inbreds that only want to play in Dirtbin for the money.
The Sharks are lacking fire and purpose. Get rid of the fencesitters and mercenaries and start nurturing our homegrown talent.
3 Feb 2010, 09:17 am
@Predawn: I Wouldnt write them off Predawn….a lot of quality there still…and pride.
Super 14 not won in Jan …
3 Feb 2010, 09:22 am
@grant10:
Would be nice to see more KZN youngsters. The Bulls are a South African success story and they pride themselves on their homegrown knuckledragging little Bulls. Good for them I say.
I saw Waylon Murray in CNA at the Pavilion in December and he’s looking fit. Hope the rest did him some good.
3 Feb 2010, 09:25 am
@Predawn: waylon looks in great shape…
W Alberts and Smit look a month away from full fitness still
I still rate sharks chances…..hope they pleasantly surprise.
Agree about the home talent….need to trust there boys from the academy a bit more.
3 Feb 2010, 09:29 am
A change of leadership is just the medicine The Sharks need.
We don’t want the NRU to become another eThekwini Municipality…
3 Feb 2010, 09:56 am
@Predawn: Yes, lets start by putting pressure on the Sharks management to get rid of straeuli, he should have been sent to robin island after ‘kamp staaldraad’, how can he have such a hold on the Sharks, every year he’s in a different position with more and more pull, and the higher his position the more senior players and staff we loose….I blame all SA problems on straeuli and eskom. They should merge.
3 Feb 2010, 12:21 pm
@FireStraeuli: I hear Straulli is trying to sign Dollie for Super 14,must be desperate…
3 Feb 2010, 12:24 pm
Blah blah blah, Sharkies gonna surprise people this year.
3 Feb 2010, 12:24 pm
@Storm outta hell: …maybe he’ll do better to ask for ER from the Lions,can treat it as a swap then like Chavanga for Mossie
3 Feb 2010, 15:30 pm
@Predawn: The Pavilon? Do people still go there? I thought Gateway was the next big thing!
3 Feb 2010, 15:34 pm
@grant10: To blame losing those players on the Sharks is unfair! Bj saw Euro signs, so did Butch, while Barritt is a glory hunter who wants to be in a national side so much he’d happily sell his soul to play for the Poms and Frans Steyn had no reason when he is on the verge of greatness as Bok 15, he’s just a greedy bugger!
In that case should we blame Rassie for JdV going? Quit your Sharks bashing, I’m getting sick of it!
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