For all of their cash, it doesn't look like the Saarks nor the bull can manage any decent wins right now. The Stormers continue to set the bar of what to do with scrapped together players where the Boools and Saarks are spoiled for choice. 

The Saarks, just can't hang onto their talent right now. Roos, Sbu, Nohamba, Libbok etc all players that were rejected by the Saarks, not to mention Marius Louw. 

On the other hand you have the boools trying to poach players, they had Simalane, but no idea where he is actually playing. The got Sbu and bought some big players like Goosen who are yet again MIA. 

Jake's game plan looks stale and they can't seem to come up with a creative way of playing and neither does their defence hold up. 

Then you have Jacque Fourie running down the touch line to keep the lions focus. That team is even worse, with has been players like Wilem Alberts and no name brand players who are not even 23 yet. But they held firm and won. 

So where to now, I was thinking that the bools and saaarks would be sitting at the top but now they are struggling to finish in the top 3. 

Maybe the European cup is too much for them

Thank goodness for the quality Stormers side. Saaarkies s and boools letting us down again. 

That’s the thing….on Paper most of the Stormers players are no Stars, but sure as hell looks like it….you have to give Dobbo and his Crew a lot of credit for creating a winning culture….where the players are happy and have heaps of Self believe….look at Blonmetjies for example, excelling in his role and putting some critics to bed….something is of by the bulls….they have lost the drive and the leader in Marcelle Coetzee….Jake is going thru a low patch trying to figure out what to do next….but I am sure the Bulls will be back, maybe just a bit to late…..You can have all the super stars money can buy like the Sharks, but without a settled coach things lose structure Fast…let’s hope the boys can be back soon, as Talent there is a Plenty in Shark County.

Stormers next game at the end of month?

Fri 24 th of March against Leinster and I also just Read on Supersport, that John Plumtree might be back in charge of the Sharks…now we talking :)

Why the long break?

URC matches are not suppose to take place on weekends when the 6 Nations is on.

No Idea….maybe some of teams play champions cup now ?? Confusing this whole European Love Story : )

Thanks Stav

It’s useless Jake with him returning Similane to 15 when he was looking good at 13 then we have David Kriel back at 12 when he is a 15

Dylan Smith at 1 and Mornay Smith at 3 - come on

Jake following his usual patten of crap selections

Some of those selections and sending B Teams to games where you should be going full strength, does not make sense yes…But last season Jake and the team seemed to be Gelling?? They played much more focused direct Rugby….can’t be selections alone.

Mpower

I think there is a huge difference between the Stormrs, the Bulls and the Sharks.   The Stormers are playing 15 man rugby and the Bulls play Jake Ball.    The Bulls' backline play when it comes to backline attacking was atrocious and their defense was problematic as well.    I do think the selection of players like Morne and Hendricks cause the backline malfunctioning. -  Morne never really was a pivot that could launch backline play and Hendricks used to eb a good wing - but now he is an atrocious center.    Another problem White is not a backline playing coach.   He was always poor in backline coaching and that has not changed at all.     

The Sharks for the past 18 months have been substandard and despite purchases of players the Etzebeth and Van Rensburg the problem was basically that the players were not gelling as a team.   The Sharks earlier this year changed the coach - but that did not solve the problem.     Van Rensburg in fact was not functioning well enough in respect of backline attacking play and his defense was at best problematic   He played like Frans Steyn played at center - playing individual rugby that died when he is carrying balls into traffic with virtually all alternative attacking methodology absent.    Using his physical strength as virtually the sole attacking mechanism in the backline never really worked out thus far.   One hope that the matter will change - but I do not see that as happening this season.   It will take time to get an alternative option in place and one can only hope the Sharks will perform better - but I do not expect real improvement this season.

15 Man Rugby is the way to go, but to get to the point where everything is in cohesion, is a difficult task….. few coaches get that balance right and even fewer get to maintain it….RJVR can be more than a Steam Roller, but given the chance, that Power gets him over the line….rather have him on my side, then not….Morne in his day could definitely spark some attack, but given it’s not his strong suit….Jake should invest in some fresh fly half stock as Goose is most probably rested for the Boks?? and mostly MIA…And with Plumtree maybe coming back, the sharks might just get the stability and consistency they need.

Why rest so many players when the fixtures allow for some 3 week breaks between games?

They are forced to rest the Bokke now .

Dassie?

Don't forget that this is probably the longest Jake stayed at one team, normally a one season hit wonder and then starts to unravel. 

Agree with all of these position switches, it's nonsense and does more damage. Why on earth pushing for utility players. 

Maybe you need 1 or 2 that can help out in a pinch but Simalane is a 13, need to push Am and compete against Henco. 

"Dassie?"

No, I think it goes beyond him right to the top of SA Rugby...and I think they picked the time around the 6 Nations to lessen the impact of the missing Bokke on their franchises...the Northern franchises will also be without their internationals. ... remember this is a RWC year, so a full schedule for the Bokke...they deserve a break.

The fact is there is a lot of preparatory work as to training be done over the next two months - the  Rugby Championship is in June - followed by a few preparatory games before the WC.   It is not the time to risk injury of key players on franchise and club level gamers at present.   

I agree with the Boks getting a break, good timing. I wrote about it a while back 

Next round vital for Munster vs Glasgow in top 4 positions.Sharks and Bulls just below on ladder. 

I just won't like the Stormers ending up playing  SA side in the Quarters...our unbeaten run against SA sides won't last forever...

The Boks should Rest, but not to the point of losing there match Fitness…

Mpower

The biggest mistake ever by the Sharks was to fire Plumtree as coach in 2013.   The problem the Sharks had in 2013 was the unnatural high number of players injured and the fact that the hugely overweight Frans Steyn was malfunctiong at center.   After four games in that position Plumtree removed him because of slow pace and unfitness.   He said it is clear Fransie is no Center at all and he was usure in what position he would be usable.   From being runners-up in 2012 the Sharks did not make the play-offs in 2013.

The appointment of Jake White was a disaster and although the Sharks made the semifinal in 2014 - the team they played in the quarterfinal was the Highlanders who beat them with double figures in the earlier match.    With most of the players back from injury -  Plumtree would have done much better in 2014 than White did.

Where did you hear the rumor about Plumtree co ming back to coach the Sharks?    

Hi Mike. I read it on Super Sport….all it said is that Plumtree is Sharks First choice and Announcement will be made soon….Plumtree is poised to be Appointed.

Mpower

That would be a huge improvement in coaching.   As far as I know Plumtree's wife is a South African and not entire enamored by life in NZ.    He actually like SA a lot and his appointment would be quite possible.          

Duplication

Starting to understand things, slowly, slowly.

People have left their consumption of rugby define their life and changes in rugby games are perceived as an assault on their life.

Reading games on a weekly basis is a pointless performance for a competition like URC unless it aims at figuring out what calculation plans teams are running.

Teams schedule their season over financial objectives and structure a plan to play fully as few games as possible.

The table is such: this game yes, this game no, this game no, this game yes etc

Losses mean nothing toward a supposed team level. The expectation that games are played fully week in week out are baseless. Teams pick the games that match their road map and do not show up for the others.

If anything, one must learn to figure out what games teams are likely to show up. It might give a decent rugby game. In the other cases, it usually is a landslide for one side as the opponent does not bother to play fully.

You right Mike it would make A Huge Difference….what would be interesting to me, is how our Boks in the Sharks squad will improve under the tutelage of a Experienced campaigner like Plumtree.