The Sharks is a much-loved brand by their supporters and many fans’ ‘second team’ because of a style of rugby that embraces power up front and an attacking mindset that is sure to raise a cheer.
By Michael Marnewick
But four unsuccessful Super Rugby Final appearances in 1996, 2001, 2007 and 2012 cannot class them in the same breath as the likes of the Blues and Bulls (three titles each), the Brumbies and Chiefs with two apiece and the competition’s most outstanding club and a clear winner in this small select group, the Crusaders with seven titles in nine final appearances.
Clearly they have been doing something ‘almost’ right, but not quite. Three of those finals were in New Zealand or Australia and the travel factor proved too much (as was the quality of the opposition in all fairness), with the heart-breaking 2007 final at Kings Park where Bryan Habana stole the win in the dying seconds of the game with a mesmerising run for the Bulls.
A good run from CEO Brian van Zyl came to an end last year. His leadership and business acumen had produced a profitable franchise in an industry where many battle to keep afloat, thanks only to their stipends and assistance from SA Rugby.
And along came John Smit.
He hung up his considerable boots and swapped the rugby field for the boardroom in the blink of an eye, the challenge to change from sportsman to rugby administrator of one of the game’s biggest clubs overnight.
He brought in Brendan Venter from his old club Saracens in the UK who had impressed him that much, and the Director of Rugby divided his time between the Sharks in Durban, Saracens in London and his family and medical practice in the Cape. Despite five or six flights a week, he managed to take the Sharks to the final and plotted the downfall of Western Province – in their own back yard.
But it was a short term plan and after three months, the wedding was over. Not in acrimonious terms mind you, but enter one former Springbok coach, 2007 Rugby World Cup winning coach Jake White who Venter chatted to on a plane trip and convinced him that Durban and The Sharks was the most exciting place in rugby to be.
White’s aspirations of coaching Australia had just been dashed with the appointment of Ewen McKenzie (White was expected to be named Wallaby coach after his successful stint taking a no-name brand of Brumbies to the Super Rugby final) and Canberra is too cold. Mighty cold in winter.
Jake arrived on the scene and suddenly with World Cup captain and coach in charge, a new energy and excitement starts to build. These are not just highly-respected rugby people. They are leaders and winners. They know success intimately and they know what it takes.
White has stated in no uncertain terms that he wants to win. He’s told the players to believe it. They have Dr Sherylle Calder now on their books, brought the very successful Bulls age group coach Paul Anthony to Durban and yesterday announced the signing of former Kearsney College old boy and England international Matt Stevens, a massive coup.
He will be available from the Currie Cup which goes to show that it is not only about winning Super Rugby, but winning everything. Winners attract support. Support leads to active supporters – ‘bums in seats’ and they buy the replica jerseys to show off their allegiance.
The team attracts sponsors (Cell C, BLK, Kyocera, MICROmega to name just four recently-added) and they are able to buy big name players. A win-win situation.
And if you are a young talent not sure of which offer to take up – do you go to the Bulls, the Stormers or the Sharks? – would it not seal the deal to have John Smit or Jake White (or both) pop in to meet with you and your parents and sell the Sharks’ philosophy to you?
The Sharks have been bubbling away for years now. The heat has been turned up and we can expect not just victory, but sustained success.
