I might have a few Natal Sharks supporters upset after this but I, being a former Sharks supporter, am fed up with the Sharks' poor performances being sugar-coated. Often when I criticise the Sharks, someone will bring up the fact that the Sharks won the 2008 ABSA Currie-Cup, and made the final of the 2007 Super14. If you really watch the Sharks' games you will see that neither were deserved. The worst factor about the Sharks' rugby, is their almost complete incapability of scoring a four-try bonus point. Nearly every single game the Sharks scrape a win by a couple of points, failing to secure a bonus point against teams like the Lions and the Cheetas. We do alright in the Currie-Cup, but when it comes to the Super14, watching the Sharks is like watching a Kevin Federline rap video - it's pathetic and just makes you mad. I get incredibly annoyed when the commentators say how well we played when we beat teams like the Golden Lions by about 10 points without securing a bonus point. A "world-class" team like the Sharks should stampede over a team like the Golden Lions. But there are many factors that make this the case. It needs to be said, he's an alright player, but Johan Muller has got to be the worst captain in the history of rugby. With no leadership skills and positively ghastly decision making, Johan Muller has reduced the Sharks' amount of tries dramatically. It is unacceptable how he makes Rory Kockott kick for posts from out of his range, instead of going for the try. I love Rory Kockott but let's be honest, His maximum range is about 40 - 43 metres, and even then it's a slim-chance of him slotting the kick. But skipper Johan Muller insists on kicking for goal, 50m out into the wind. It just seems like he doesn't care about the bonus-point, but as the 2009 Super14 proved, constant wins without bonus points will end up being as good as losses as the elusive bonus-point victory was the reason why the Sharks didn't reach the semis. The Sharks tried their best to get the bonus-point try against the Bulls in that crucial match, and succeeded, and did deserve to win. They were unlucky. My point being, that if they played with this attitude against the inferior teams, they would achieve far greater results in the Super14. But to be honest, I now find myself a Bulls supporter. The Sharks' boring approach to the game has driven me, a once crazy Sharks fan, to lose interest in the team. They keep this up and I know many Sharks-lovers will feel the exact way I do. Another poor quality the Sharks have is that awful train wreck they call a back-line. It starts off well, with Rory Kockott at Scrumhalf. He is excellent and is great to watch. Then number 10 - Ruan Pienaar. He is regarded as a world class player. I quite frankly do not believe it. Flyhalve's ball-handling skills are supposed to be superb, but really, I don't think any player has more career knock-ons than Pienaar. I don't rate him whatsoever as he isn't greatly quick, poor handling and passing, average kicking, revolting goal kicking and every game he misses about two or three tackles. The Sharks need to get Michalak back. JP Pieterson comes in at wing. His problem is that one stage he's in the form of his life, then a couple of weeks later he can't score a try against Natal Under13C. Frans Steyn clocks in at inside centre. After terrific form in 2007, Frans hasn't done anything helpful since the World Cup. I can see he has talent, but he doesn't have the mind for rugby and needs to work on his mental game. To be honest, I definitely don't see it as a big blow for the Sharks that he's off to France. as far as I'm concerned, GOOD RIDDENS! Adi Jacobs used to seem like one of the worst players we had all ever seen. It is great how he's come back strong and is now one of the best South African players at the moment. Odwa Ndungane is on the right-wing and I genuinely don't believe he's made the Bok squad, let alone the Sharks. He scored 2 tries in the 2009 Super14. That's unacceptable for a Country-Representing winger. Stefan Terblanche at fullback is one of the best players I've ever seen. He's one of the very few Sharks who uses his head and doesn't make rash decisions. A player I want to comment on is Bismarck DuPlessis. Somehow he has accumulated a reputation as the best hooker in the country. With nearly as many knock-ons as Pienaar, zero line-out throwing ability and just a general buzz-killing way of playing, Bismarck Duplessis is the most over-rated player in the world. I just want to comment that I love Ryan Kankowski. He is one of the most simply outstanding forwards to ever play the game. As far as I'm concerned, South Africa has the 2 fastest forwards in the world in Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski. He very rarely makes mistakes and often sets up an amazing try for JP Pietersen to finish off and take all the credit for. When the Sharks make some changes and start scoring some bonus-points, I'll maybe start wearing black and white again. But as for now, my blood is blue!
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