The Sharks

2004 Preview

Once they swam strongly and endangered all opposition. Now the Sharks' "pretty teeth" are dulled and the "scarlet billows" that Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and co. sang about, are diminishing patches and of a more pallid hue.

In 1996 the Sharks - as Natal - were beaten Finalists and in 1997 and 1998 they were beaten semi-finalists, In 1999 they were seventh, in 2000 12th. In 2001 they soared back and were again beaten finalists before sinking down to 10th in 2002 and 11th in 2003.

Since then they have lost and acquired players. André Snyman and Brad-MacLeod Henderson have gone in search of a northern pension. Justin Swart has hung up his boots. Hooker Lukas van Biljon has gone into the hinterland and Gary Botha, on draft last year, has returned to the Bulls.
 
They have made youthful gains - Chumani Booi, BJ Botha, Nico Breedt, Sam Gerber, Adrian Jacobs, lively Noël Oelschig and Skipper Badenhorst, But they are not all young. Up step mighty Johan Ackermann, eager Russel Winter and super veteran Gregor Townsend, all the way from Scotland, once of Gala and then of many places, his head bearing 82 Scottish caps plus two Lions' caps, brainy, experienced and 30 years of age.

The Sharks have the hardest set of fixtures in Super 12 - five away matches on the trot. They start in bruising Pretoria before heading for Sydney, Canberra, Dunedin, witty inhospitable Carisbrook, and then relatively genteel Wellington. They then limp home, and by then much of their Super 12 fate will have been sealed. They used to be able to handle tough touring better than other South African teams. They will need to this year.

Coach: Lively, loquacious, dedicated Kevin Putt is the coach. He was one of the icons of the best days of Natal rugby, bobbing about at the base of his forwards, playing with 100 percent concentration. A Springbok tourist, he did not get onto the Test field where Joost van der Westhuizen was enthroned.

Captain: The skipper is John Smit, the hooker/prop, freely tipped to be the new Springbok captain, an impressive player whom injuries have given a tough time. He has played in 26 for the Tests for the Springboks, even though he has missed many opportunities through injury and is only 25 years of age. He could bring a lot of class to the role of captain. The other natural leader in the squad is loose forward Shaun Sowerby. He will be out for a while as he recovers from a groin injury. Sharks success will depend in no small measure on how the leaders can meld the senior players with new talent.

Player(s) to watch: You will watch Gregor Townsend, not just to see if his vet's frame can keep up with the hard fields of Super 12, but to see if he can extract Somme creativity out of the Sharks' backs. He will have Rudi Keil, Trevor Halstead and Butch James as centres - all good men. Can he make them creative players who can give their wings and fullbacks chances to run clear. Bashers we know they are. Can they become artists? A lively flank who made great strides last year is Solly Tyibilika, who comes to Durban from Port Elizabeth via Kimberley. And will Brent Russell get the chance to be a free spirit?

Planet Rugby verdict: They could battle. A lot ...

The squad: Johan Ackermann, Skipper Badenhorst, Chumani Booi, BJ Botha, Nico Breedt, Stephen Brink, Deon Carstens, Eduard Coetzee, Craig Davidson, Sam Gerber, Trevor Halstead, Adrian Jacobs, Butch James, Deon Kayser, Rudi Keil, Ricardo Loubscher, Henno Mentz, Johann Muller, Noël Oelschig, Brent Russell, Lawrence Sephaka, John Smit (captain), Shaun Sowerby, Gregor Townsend, Solly Tyibilika, Albert van den Berg, Charl van Rensburg, AJ Venter, Luke Watson, Russel Winter.