Jake White: Sharks are going to win Super Rugby’

• 22 Nov 2013

Jake White has had a 'hectic' first week with the Sharks

New Sharks director of rugby Jake White has told his players to believe that they can lift the Sanzar trophy for the first time.

The Sharks have reached the final on four occasions – 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2012 – but have never been able to go all the way.

White, who took the Brumbies to this year's final, wants to make that happen for the Durban-based franchise.

'I have told them they are going to win Super Rugby,' he told the Sharks website.

 'If they don’t believe it then it is not going to happen.'

White said he'd had a 'hectic' first week in the job.

'I get here early at 7 in the morning and leave at 6 at night. That’s just because there's such a lot of stuff to do. I probably haven’t settled as I’d like to yet, but when you start in a new environment you’ve got to make sure everything is in place.'

White also outlined the Sharks' coaching structure going forward.

'Paul Anthony is the forwards coach, Brad Macleod-Henderson will be the technical analyst, who will also work with players on individual skills and breakdown work, looking after those specialised areas, Sean Everitt will take the backs and I’ll head up the defence. But I’ll have consultants who will work with us on all areas of our game.

'I will try get a couple of guys who I respect as coaches to come in and up-skill some of our coaches in some of the areas that I think we need to be up-skilled in, whether we get a kicking, lineout or scrum guy. It just helps in terms of the personal development of the coaches we have here.'

The Sharks have one hell of a squad, so no reason why they cant win it. A side of:

15. SP Marais 14. Mvovo 13. Whitehead/Fisher/Esterhuizen/H.Williams 12. Frans 11. Jordaan/Sithole 10. Lambie/Swiel 9. Reinach/McLeod 1. Beast/Chadwick 2. Bismark/Cooper 3. Jannie/Adriaanse/ Herbst 4. P.Marais/Bresler/E.Oosthuizen 5. Steph du Toit/Lewies 6. Daniel 7. Alberts/Deysel 8. Coetzee/Mtembu

Jake setting goals for the Boys. Good ! ( no joke ). A positive attitude has been the missing component over the past 5 years in Durban, the squads have always been very strong , but the belief has been in short supply.

@Saffex , Williams and Esterhuizen are 12's I wouldn't be looking at putting either at 13.

also you have left out Adriaanse from the team, which worries me are you not familiar with the Player.

And Timo Swiel at 10, the boy has had no experience at a true senior level, you cant just drop him in and cut the throat of Fred .

Yes, I know both Esterhuizen and Williams are 12's, but it would be worth having a look at them at 13 as Frans should dominate the 12 spot.

I forgot Adriaanse had moved to the Sharks, yes he is a definite to back-up Jannie.

Swiel is a far better talent than Fred, but Fred should have made my list  

I said early on that the Sharks will be  the Super 15 champions this year.   White has a few problem areas to sort out - such as 12.   The problem is that Francois Steyn was not up to standard at 12 since his return from France and one wonders how White is going to handle that one. 

If I was White - I would have him on an extremely severe diet to get his weight down to 106 kgs and have him train every day in the gym and on the field to get his speed up to a reasonable level.   If Steyn does not react positively to the required regime - he is bound to be a goner - White will not put up with rubbish only because his name is Francois Steyn and he was a WC winning player.   Let hope he reacts positively, performs a heck of a lot better than he did this year and he can make it at 12.   If not - it is likely that Whitehead will take that position and Jordaan the no 13 position.

Remember Pietersen will be back to play for the Sharks from approximately mid-March as well,

All-in-all a very good attacking backline and very solid up front.     

Sharkbok

There are two requirements for a 13 - namely speed and good defence.   This year Steyn showed neither of the 2 and unless White can manage to change those two aspects around - he will be a dead loss at 13.   At this stage to my mind  it depends on Steyn to get himself back into contention.   Whatever happened 5 years ago is not going to be of any help in 2014.

 My comments were aimed at getting the standard response and it worked!!!!!!!!!!!

There were quite a number of shuttling around of players - but I do not th ink that any team was particularly strengthened - maybe the Chiefs a bit.   For the rest I can see at most 2 NZ teams reaching the play-off stage and the semi's - with maybe one in the final.

Lets wait and see what happens - but my Super 15 fantasy selections has already suffered a blow.  I was bargaining on Carter as a banker - and that seems to have gone out of the window.     Luckily McCaw is not on my shortlist - because he will have another injury early on in Super 15.   The elderly should not stay beyond their "sell-by" date  in any event.