Boring rugby will not draw the crowds
THE messy way in which the replacement of long-serving Sharks chief executive, Brian van Zyl, and the appointment without advertising of John Smit, was handled, does not augur well. It also certainly does not address the crunch issue: how to play in front of a full, rather than half empty, stadium ?
Given his laudable rugby achievements, John Smit is better equipped to be a manager, or forwards coach, rather than a chief executive, whereas it is clearly new coaching, especially backline coaching, which the Sharks urgently need.
Tries yield bonus points which secure home play-offs, larger crowds, and much needed increased revenue. It is tries scored as a result of enterprising and running backline play – as opposed to rolling mauls and umpteen phases – which excites and therefore attracts more spectators, with the proviso that they are safe after the game as well.
Of course, winning is very important, but so is how you win. Expecting spectators to pay hundreds, if not thousands, to watch penalties being kicked, and backs reduced to kick-chasers, will not fill stadiums –as Heyneke Meyer and Saru will soon learn with the June tests.
The Sharks have now not scored a single try in five of their Super Rugby games this season, yet they continue to select players out of position – Lambie at flyhalf when he is better suited to fullback, Bosman at centre when he is a flyhalf, and the less said about Frans Steyn, in any position, the better.
So a new set of backline coaches and recruiters is a priority. If the new Sharks board wants to usher in a new, and more prosperous, era, then playing in a more comfortable and larger capacity stadium should surely be seriously considered. Money and exciting rugby is the name of the game. ROB HASWELL Pietermaritzburg