2013 Season Preview: Sharks

by Paul Cook –

If there were a prize for endeavour in Super Rugby, the 2012 award would surely have gone to South Africa’s Sharks. Admittedly, they could have made life a whole lot easier for themselves by getting off to a better start but when they did get going, they were an almost unstoppable force that rolled from mid-table into the play-offs and on into the final where they ultimately came up short against a rampant Chiefs side.

The fact that they had to travel half way around the world and back twice in three weekends made their achievement all the more remarkable as they upset the reigning champion Reds on their own turf in week one of the finals, travelled back to Cape Town, where they outmuscled the table topping Stormers in he semi-final before jetting across the Indian Ocean once more for Hamilton, New Zealand and their final disappointment.

The racking up of a significant amount of air miles was no consolation for a team that has now been bridesmaid four times in a Super Rugby final but never the bride. After their inconsistent start to 2012, nobody expected them to get as far as they did but after their globetrotting exploits, all eyes will be on them in 2013 and when you look at their squad, there’s no reason why they can’t be heavily in the mix again.

An all Springbok front row containing the du Plessis brothers and ‘the Beast’ Mtawarira is complemented further by an all Springbok backrow of Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts and captain, Keegan Daniel. Add in Francois Steyn and Patrick Lambie at 10 and 12 and a back three that can choose from JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Louis Ludik, Odwa Ndungane and Riaan Viljoen and you have plenty of reasons to believe that they should pushing hard for top spot in the South African conference. After all, a home final would make a nice change.

Rugby News chatted to utility back Louis Ludik recently, as he looked back at his first season in Durban and ahead to the chances of being a part of the Sharks’ inaugural Super Rugby winning squad.

Looking back at 2012 briefly, was finishing as losing finalists – especially considering the travel involved to achieve it – considered a success or still an underachievement with the targets you had set pre-season?

Utility back Louis Ludik helped the Sharks to the 2012 final in his first year in Durban

Louis Ludik: “There were a couple of games that we felt we threw away and slipped to make home finals possible, so we made it very difficult for ourselves, but in the end we felt satisfied with the wins in the quarter and semi finals. I think the Chiefs were just too good for us on the day.”

Has that been the team’s main motivation in the off-season – to go one better?

LL: “The Sharks’ goal is to be the best union in the world and the coaches and management have that goal in mind so everything we do is striving towards that. The pre season has been tough but necessary to try and achieve that goal.”

The Sharks have now reached more Super Rugby finals than any other South African side – only the Crusaders & Brumbies have reached more – but are yet to lift the coveted trophy. Does that statistic bring added pressure to the team – trying to get that monkey off the back?

LL: “No, I don’t think it puts extra pressure on us but there expectations to reach the finals and to try an make it a home final and then its anyone’s game.”

You won eight of your last nine games in 2012 to reach the final, knocking off the Stormers (twice), Bulls and the Reds in the process but only four of the first nine games. The quality is obviously there, is it just a question of getting that consistency across the season?

LL: “Yes, it’s such a blessing to play with such talented players and those games we lost is just inconsistency kicking in. That’s one of the key things we would like to correct this year.”

Four of your first six games this season are at King’s Park, a chance to get off to a good start, which is crucial in this competition?

LL: “Getting off to a good start is very important, especially if most of your games are at home, most definitely. However, in this competition, it doesn’t matter what time of the season it is, we must always be on top of our game.”

On a personal level, this will be your second season in Durban since leaving the Lions, has it been an enjoyable experience so far?

LL: “Yes, I’ve been loving it thanks, the whole set-up at the Sharks is great, we have an awesome bunch of players and the lifestyle is great. It’s always tough because of the fact that there is always someone knocking on the door but it keeps you on your toes.”

2013 Sharks Ins & Outs

Obviously, success for the Sharks is first and foremost in 2013 but what are your personal goals – do you still harbour ambitions of wearing a Springbok jersey?

LL: “Yes, that’s one of my ultimate goals. If I’m fortunate enough for God to bless me with the opportunity, I wouldn’t say no.”

The South African Conference will be closely fought again with the Stormers and Bulls looking to improve on their impressive form of recent years and the Cheetahs aiming to turn their improvement into a genuine threat. Who is the team to beat in 2013?

LL: “Fortunately or unfortunately, it doesn’t matter who you play in Super Rugby, if you are ‘off’ on the day you have a good chance of losing, but I think the Stormers will once again be the team to beat.”

How do you think the Southern Kings will fare in their debut season – will they be genuinely competitive?

LL: “I think the Kings will definitely have their work cut out for them. I personally think they might struggle with depth, especially later in the season when the injuries start to creep in.”

How about the across the competition generally – who do you like the look of in New Zealand and Australia?

LL: “I have a lot of respect for a team like the Crusaders, year-in-year-out they are always one of the top teams. They must have a very good system in place.”

The Sharks were one of the more entertaining sides to watch in 2012 – can supporters and the rugby public expect that to continue in 2013?

LL: “We love playing an entertaining brand of rugby, but sometimes we are too ambitious and put ourselves under pressure. I think it would be clever to play a more balanced type of game and when the opportunity is there to attack, we take it and take advantage of it.”