What is wrong with the Sharks backline

After Round 2 Plumtree was asked what went wrong with the Sharks backline -since they could not score tries like they did last year.   Plumtree said they know about the deficiency and they are working on it.   One would really not know what the problem is without regard to what happened subsequently.

Lets look at the different players whose rolls changed during theis year or came in new into the team and see what happened over the past three rounds:-

Reinach

He was good in the game against the Cheetahs and his service to the backline was crisp and his covr defence very good.   In the second game he was under severe pressure from the Stormers - but he still got the ball out to the flyhalf accurately and quickly enough.   He made to silly knock-on mistakes and after a fine break he gave a forward pass.   The other aspects of his game was acceptable and Plumtree kept him on the field of play up to minute minute 71 - so ne must assume he was not really the problem.  He is likely to be retained as scrummie this coming week.

Lambie

Lambie did move from full back to flyhalf this season after expressing a wish to play in that position.   He was solid in the games thus far - but personally I think he is not enterprising enough and is adhering to the instructions of Meyer as how to play.  That cuts out innovation of any kind - and he produced dull and uninspiring performance as to the isue of attacking backline play is concerned.  However, there is no real indication that he is really the problem and I do not think his position in the team is under threat.

Steyn

Steyn was reasonably satisfying in performance against the Cheetahs - but he was below par in the game against the Stormers - and the Sharks stopped scoring tries or being threatening with their backline.   After that followed Plumtree's comments about deficiencies in backline performance.   Come along the Kings game and the elements of dead backline play - so evident against the Stormers game - was even more noticeable.   Bearing in mind the fact that Plumtree subbed hi at minute 60 - I think showed that Steyn was the main problem in the Sharks backline.   After being replaced by Bosman - the Sharks backline did show more life and that confirms my suspicion as to who the real probem was - it was really Steyn who was the problem i destroying attacking backline play.

I suspect that Steyn will be replaced by Bosman in the game against the Brumbies. 

What do you people think. 

Lambie

They have played some tough defenses - both the Cheetahs and Bulls this week showed they have good defenses capable of shutting down a back line and the Kings in my opinion have an under-rated defense, especially at home so some of the credit for the Sharks backline not scoring needs to go to the teams that they have played so far. 

The going doesn't get much easier against the Brumbies, but I suspect the Sharks will find their rhythm against the Rebels and Crusaders after the bye

Mike, dont lie Bosman added nothing to the Sharks attack and is a bog ordinary player.

The issue with the Sharks backs is that Jordaan is not running the lines of a support runner, Lambie is playing his rugby like Morne does, JP has lost his mojo this year and is not looking for work or joining the line on an angle run and Ludik adds no attacking clout from the back.

The Sharks backs will start firing if Lambie is given the freedom to play his naturally attacking game.....I see far too much kicking from Lambie and he never looks to break like we know he can.

Saffex

As per normal with you everyone - but the real scoundrel - is guilty.  You mention every other player that does wrong things - but not Francois Steyn - who thus far has done F#ck all about anything.   He is ded wood.

You must b blind not to see the improvement in the Shatrk backline after the departure of Steyn.   I am not lieing about it - it was there for all to see.    I can lay a bet that Plumtree also saw the improvement and he is going to take action about it.

I have a suggestion take off your blinkers and start looking at what really happen in games.  

Frans has been the best of the Sharks backs along with Mvovo in the first 2 games.

Frans was not good or bad in the game against the Kings, but then again none of the Sharks players were either.

Reinach, Lambie, Frans and Mvovo have had two good games each. Jordaan has been disappointing throughout and JP has not been poor, but we expect so much more from him. Ludik is just boringly solid at the back. These are the facts about the Sharks backs.

The responsibility to ignite the Sharks backs starts with Lambie and he is playing conservative rugby - FACT

Saffex

The more I read about what you say the more you become a puzzle to me - I think that you know rugby - but manage to misinterpret eveything badly, because you are not objective in what you write on this Board, but is guided by prejudice and not really what happeed on the field of play.   When a player does constructive things - you criticize him by ignoring the constructive things he did.

Now lets get back to this topic.   During last week Plumtree said that the Sharks backline is not functioning properly - but they are working on it.     They must have tried to correct problems - but the same problems that showed in the Sharks - Stormers game were back in force in the Sharks - Kings game.   Matter of fact the deficienies showed up already in the Sharks Cheetahs game and was slightly worse in the Sharks - Stormers game.   Even after the team working on it - the lowest point was reached in the game on Saturday.

It was evident that the problem was not solved and then came the replacement by Steyn - the captain - at around minute 60.   Why was Steyn replaced if he was not the problem.   If the problem was Lambie - Bosman could come in at flyhalf.   If the problem was Jordaan - Bosman could take his place.   But Bosman came in to replace Steyn - leading me to suspect that Plumtree is of the opinion that Steyn was the reason why the backline misfired once again.   He replaced Reinach for the last 10 minutes of the game - showing that he had faith in him despite the two knock-ons early in the game.  

The problem was that despite your blinkered opinion the Shark backline did function better after Steyn left and that was the proof that Steyn was the disruptive element.   Plumtree would not have subbed Steyn if he was any good - but he was not - end of story.  As I said elsewhere - I believe that Plumtree is so miffed by what Steyn produces - he is going to give him the boot from the team,

You hate stats because it does not support your theory on performance by players.   There are yardsticks that indicate how players perform on the field of play.  Those include both positive and negative things.  A good player does things that is really positive for his team - like scoring tries,  assist with the scoring of tries, making line breaks, getting turnovers in possession, carry the balls. make tackles.etc.   On the negative side there are tackles missed, losing possession of the ball and giving away penalties.   Do you look at the above issues wen you assess player performances?   I doubt it very much - because every time you say a player had a good performance the above issues are apparently ignored.

No Mike just because Frans got subbed does not mean he is a problem - coaches make those decisions often prior to a game. You really dont understand the dynamics of rugby do you?

How often do we hear commentators question why a player who has been playing well, is taken off. We saw this with Brussouw coming on for the Cheetahs with 30 min to go, it was pre planned.

Plum has a plan and he has a squad that needs game time. Bosman is a 12, he is not a 10 or 13. Plum would have targeted the Kings as one of their weakest oposition and an opportunity to give bench players a run.

There is no way a coach would pull his captain from the field other than if it had been planned in advance. No coach would undermine his captain like that. It would have been agreed before the game that Bosman was going to play 20 min against the Kings.

You really do have so much to learn. Hell Frans was named the best 12 in the whole comp in week 3 and you think his coach would pull him off in the next match and blame him for the Sharks average performance - get real Mike and wake up to the real world.

Saffex

Really?  The match was on a knife edge when Steyn was subbed.  They would not have agreed on a sub of  Steyn in advance - and he was really the hell in when he was subbed.   You could see it from looking at his face as he came off the field of play.   In any event a captain of a team is rarely subbed - it may happen very late in the game when the result is not in question.

Steyn was subbed because he did not meet requirements  and that is a fact of life.  Bosman has played at 10, 12 and 13 in the past and would be a good stopgap measure at 10 or 13 - if things really went wrong - he was on the bench to cover those three positions. 

I obviously do not know the inside story - neither do you - but my suspicions based on the sequence of events mentioned indicated that Plumtree got miffed by the constant failures of Steyn - hence the substitution.   

Crap it was not on a knifes edge the Sharks knew they were in control as the Kings offered nothing on attack and were great defensively.

Frans was pissed off as he had not had a good game and nor had his team mates.

You are one stupid prick if you think all of a sudden after all these years, Frans suddenly does not meet the requirements. Bosman has tried 10 a good few times as was a complete flop, he only ever plays as a 12 these days and is pretty useless. Dont think I have ever seen him at 13, he is far too slow.

Frans being the captain and an established test star will have been subbed as per a plan.

Plum knows Frans is going to have to play most of the games this year, especially with Whitehead injured, so he needs to rest his captain as much as possible and give his fringe players game time against the weaker sides.

Saffex

You are really pissed if you believe what you write on this Board.     Talking about slow - Steyn is easily the slowest backline player for the Sharks.   Bosman is a star compared to him in that Department.  

Lets analyse the following quote from you:-

"You are one stupid prick if you think all of a sudden after all these years, Frans suddenly does not meet the requirements"

Steyn was a good center two years ago - he was totally inept in 2012 and showed nothing in the seven games he played before injury.  The good years you referred to are long gone.  

And as to the subbing to cater for all the games he has to play this year = bullshit.

We will over the next three weeks see whehter Steyn will retain the number 12 jersey,   I think his chances is somewhere between 1 and 10% of that.

Sorry - duplication 

Damn right I believe what I write about Frans at 12, I share the same opinions as those 6 writers on Rugby365 in week 3 and hell Frans was even better than that in week 2.

The only thing that will keep Frans out of the Shark and Bok starting side is injury - FACT

ive been less impressed with f Steyn for a while now! HE COmes with the rep as being the best no.12 in the country but hasnt lived up to that lately.He tried to do too much in the first 2 weeks and then last week decided to pass a lot more and im sure he stunned the rest of the backline as they seemed totally lost in ideas, showed no creativeness.The backline seems to have no attacking moves, no angle running, no dummy runners just straight crashball and spread it wide.

Mike and Saffex you both have interesting opinions but personal attacks on one another is not helpfull.

Im not a fan of Steyn at 12 or 10 as he needs more time and space in decision making .Hes a fullback through and through. However as he was made captain i doubt he will be dropped or moved unless Ludic gets injured or is moved to wing.

I feel the Sharks Backline are close to coming right.

When your team has won three from three, you don't wring your hands and bleat about what's wrong with the backline, you tell them to keep doing what it is that they're doing!

Shaaaaaaaaarks!!!

Rooi, funny thing is, Mike is a Shark - go figure

Mrdebbs, you sound a little clueless have you taken your tablets.

Frans Steyn is a class act, if you cant see that, then my I suggest a different sport for your pleasure

Saffex

Becaue I am a Shark supporter I hate to see it that Shark players buggers up.  That is the reason why I am so critical of Steyn.   He really has shown NOTHING in the first three rounds the Sharks played in - and I am satisfied that he is the reason why the Sharks do not score tries.   He was average in the game against the Cheetahs - poor against the Stormers and diabolic against the Kings.    

So Mike if Frans is that poor how does he make team of the week in week 3, the week after the performance where he played so well - where he executed those mini breaks and offloads to perfection. He was better in week 2 than he was in week 3, but still made the S15 side of the week in week 3.

So given these facts you are speaking complete and utter shit and your ignorance on the subject is apparent - but hey ho, who cares. Frans is here to stay thank goodness both for Sharks and Boks at 12

Saffex

You only in the world talk about mini-breaks - what is a mini-break?    Is a mini-break where he gets tackled by the first person he runs into ad he falls foward   during the tackle?   That is all he did - he never once made a proper line break.

Which week are you talking about?  I assumne the game between the Sharks and the Stormers - he was selected for that week based on repoutation - it could never have been on merit. He carried the ball forward 3 times, made no line breaks, made 5 tackles and caught one ball when covering a offebsuve kick bt the opposition, That is not indicative of an acceptable center.  

You have never heard of a mini-break and you call yourself a rugby follower - oh boy.

And your best counter is that the 6 writers decided that they would select Frans based on reputation - you really are an idiot.

Seb

Have a look at the analysis I did about Steyn elsewhere - I was shocked out of my wits about what I found.  Statiistically Steyn is the worst center in Super 15.   Please comments on th findings.

Saffex

Since you refuse to give an explanation what you mean by mini-breaks - I assume that my explanation is correct.   Meantime mini-breaks is not recognized statistically as a plus in a player and is never recorded as of any value to teams.   If you mean he off loads balls in tackle situations - he did one off-load in 3 games and that is really a disaster as well. 

Mike your analysis on Frans is a load of shit and I have not even read it - for its not worth my time. Sas my advice is not to bother for as nice a chat as Mike is, his take on rugby and in particular centre play is laughable and makes little sense.

Mini break is a term used by every coach, coaching the game - it forms part of the level 1, 2 & 3 coaching manual.

Its so obvious what it is that I am not going to bother explaining it, for if you cant work it out, its obviously beyond you.

Saffex

Minibreaks - please wise man - quote what it says it is  so that we can learn and then watch out for it in games and evaluate the outcomes of the breaks more carefully.

Why is it that it is not statistically used by anybody as being of advantage to teams?

Finally I am now moe than ever convinced that the only way the Sharks backline will improve is  if Steyn is shown the door - he is destructive insofar as performances  of all backline players are concerned.

.  

A mini break is when you take a long weekend into the woods to go find yourself.

As for Frans, yeah I can just see Plum showing his skipper the door after performances winning him the best 12 in the S15 in week 3 and best SA 12 in week 2 - good one Mike