Technical advisor Brendan Venter says the Sharks youth system is in tatters and to rebuild‚ director of rugby Gary Gold must start from the roots.
The Sharks’ calamitous Super Rugby season has shone the spotlight on a number of frailties at the union‚ as seasons without coaching continuity continue to bear shrivelled fruits.
Adding to their woes are the departures of influential figures Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis as well as Willem Alberts to clubs in France. To replace them‚ the Sharks did what they’ve always done: they bought ready-made‚ finished products — mostly from the Cheetahs.
Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen and Willie le Roux will go to Durban after the World Cup‚ so too will Joe Pietersen‚ while combative flanker Jacques Potgieter joins from the Waratahs.
The senior team’s Currie Cup wins in 2013 and topping the SA Super Rugby conference last year provided the perfect illusion‚ hiding what was really going on at the union‚ according to Venter.
“If you look at the Sharks as an organisation from a rugby point of view‚ it is not as healthy as it looks when seen from the outside‚” said Venter.
“Their main team was always functioning. Even in 2013‚ after Plum [John Plumtree] had left‚ they still won the Currie Cup and they won the SA Conference last year.
“But they need to rebuild their whole system. Their under-19s and under-21s never make a [Currie Cup age group] final. So‚ where do they have to start?
“If they really want to be a powerhouse‚ they must start there. The first step is getting Gary Gold running the rugby side of things. The Sharks need longevity in their coaching department‚ so they can build a strong side over five years.”
It’s true the Sharks youth teams are nowhere in the Currie Cup age group winners’ roll. Since 2005‚ only their under-19 team of 2008 has brought home a trophy. In ten years‚ the under-21s have twice been beaten in finals.
The Blue Bulls have won a combined nine under-19 and under-21 titles in the same period‚ while Western Province have won seven.
The year Springbok Patrick Lambie was the Sharks under-21 fullback‚ in 2009‚ they were beaten by a Free State team that had Trevor Nyakane and Sias Ebersohn.
“The Sharks system is in tatters‚” said Venter.
With so many Springboks in their ranks‚ the Sharks’ woes have also trickled onto the national team‚ which is filled with wounded players and a whole lot low on morale.
The Sharks front row — Beast Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers — which is also the incumbent Springbok front row‚ lacked traction‚ let alone grunt‚ all season.
It’s now up to Bok coach Heyneke Meyer to pick up the pieces.
“Meyer’s biggest job in the next coming weeks and months is to rebuild the team’s confidence‚” Venter said.
“The Super 15 teams didn’t perform well and you can’t wish that away. The next five Bok matches are critical in getting that confidence back. Confidence is linked to form. If you’re playing well and winning rugby games‚ then you’ll have it.”
Venter: ‘Sharks system is in tatters’
Technical advisor Brendan Venter says the Sharks youth system is in tatters and to rebuild‚ director of rugby Gary Gold must start from the roots.
The Sharks’ calamitous Super Rugby season has shone the spotlight on a number of frailties at the union‚ as seasons without coaching continuity continue to bear shrivelled fruits.
Adding to their woes are the departures of influential figures Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis as well as Willem Alberts to clubs in France. To replace them‚ the Sharks did what they’ve always done: they bought ready-made‚ finished products — mostly from the Cheetahs.
Springboks Coenie Oosthuizen and Willie le Roux will go to Durban after the World Cup‚ so too will Joe Pietersen‚ while combative flanker Jacques Potgieter joins from the Waratahs.
The senior team’s Currie Cup wins in 2013 and topping the SA Super Rugby conference last year provided the perfect illusion‚ hiding what was really going on at the union‚ according to Venter.
“If you look at the Sharks as an organisation from a rugby point of view‚ it is not as healthy as it looks when seen from the outside‚” said Venter.
“Their main team was always functioning. Even in 2013‚ after Plum [John Plumtree] had left‚ they still won the Currie Cup and they won the SA Conference last year.
“But they need to rebuild their whole system. Their under-19s and under-21s never make a [Currie Cup age group] final. So‚ where do they have to start?
“If they really want to be a powerhouse‚ they must start there. The first step is getting Gary Gold running the rugby side of things. The Sharks need longevity in their coaching department‚ so they can build a strong side over five years.”
It’s true the Sharks youth teams are nowhere in the Currie Cup age group winners’ roll. Since 2005‚ only their under-19 team of 2008 has brought home a trophy. In ten years‚ the under-21s have twice been beaten in finals.
The Blue Bulls have won a combined nine under-19 and under-21 titles in the same period‚ while Western Province have won seven.
The year Springbok Patrick Lambie was the Sharks under-21 fullback‚ in 2009‚ they were beaten by a Free State team that had Trevor Nyakane and Sias Ebersohn.
“The Sharks system is in tatters‚” said Venter.
With so many Springboks in their ranks‚ the Sharks’ woes have also trickled onto the national team‚ which is filled with wounded players and a whole lot low on morale.
The Sharks front row — Beast Mtawarira and the Du Plessis brothers — which is also the incumbent Springbok front row‚ lacked traction‚ let alone grunt‚ all season.
It’s now up to Bok coach Heyneke Meyer to pick up the pieces.
“Meyer’s biggest job in the next coming weeks and months is to rebuild the team’s confidence‚” Venter said.
“The Super 15 teams didn’t perform well and you can’t wish that away. The next five Bok matches are critical in getting that confidence back. Confidence is linked to form. If you’re playing well and winning rugby games‚ then you’ll have it.”
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