Moving Ruan Pienaar to scrumhalf and Andy Goode to flyhalf won’t solve the Sharks’ attacking problems.
One try in three matches. From a side that regularly fields over 10 Springboks, it’s pitiful. And the worst of it all is, the Sharks aren’t creating much either.
Coach John Plumtree is faced with a serious conundrum. He’s stated that Pienaar adds an extra dimension to Rory Kockott at No 9, but with Juan Martin Hernandez in Argentina and Steve Meyer who knows where, Plumtree’s got no one to take advantage of this.
It’s futile to state Goode’s case to start at 10, as the Englishman has none. From third-choice pivot at mid-table Top 14 side Brive, he may only be with the Sharks for their Australasian tour as he has problems with a work permit. He’ll be a short-term ‘fix’, at best. Even if his documentation is sorted, he’ll add little to no value to the Sharks, and if they select him, it will just go to show how desperate they are and will be an indictment on South African rugby.
Plumtree has said Pienaar’s fluent and lengthy passing game will be advantageous to the way the Sharks are trying to play. But against the Crusaders, and at times the Cheetahs, this lateral approach didn’t look like working as they have no variation in attack. The Sharks don’t breach the advantage line often enough, and if they do, it’s from the wrong areas of the field.
With a strong wind at their backs at the AMI Stadium, the Sharks rarely chose to play for territory in the first half. The new law interpretations may favour sides keeping ball in hand, but only when that’s off rare turnover ball or when in opposition territory – the basics of the game haven’t changed.
The Sharks’ backs also won’t have any hope of troubling the Waratahs if their scrum isn’t settled. Again, a conundrum for Plumtree. Bismarck du Plessis was abrasive all over the park against the Saders, but John Smit’s leadership is invaluable. No matter what anyone says or how many stats the Bok coaching staff produce, Smit is getting schooled at virtually every scrum by below-par looseheads such as Sona Taumalolo and Wyatt Crockett.
The scrum is still an attacking platform, and with Smit at tighthead, the Sharks won’t have one. Benn Robinson also awaits this weekend, and if Smit is to play, it will be at hooker.
But that still doesn’t solve the Pienaar problem, as his body language is the most worrying aspect from the last two weekends. He clearly doesn’t want to play flyhalf, even though that’s where his side needs him most. His attitude is somewhat understandable as he’s been messed around by various coaches, but in a team sport, that isn’t good enough, and only Pumtree, Smit and the player himself can sort that out.
Pienaar has coaches from Eddie Jones to Peter de Villiers backing his ability at No 10, but his success in the position starts with believing in himself.
