Advertisement
With the November tests firmly behind us, the rugby rumour mill has sparked back to life. There are plenty of murmurings going around, most of which concern two clubs with mascots bearing pointy fins and sharp teeth… that’s right, its Rugby Review’s Shark Week!
The defeat away to Toulouse was John Plumtree’s last game in charge of the Sharks. It was announced last month that the head coach was to ‘move into an advisory role’ and a ‘coaching consultant’ was being sought with urgency following a dreadful start to the URC season.
Upon this news, speculation immediately started that the newly available Jake White – who had been ousted at the Bulls – would be the man the Durban based franchise would turn to. In the past week, it was reported that the two parties had indeed met. However, it is understood that a job offer for White was not forthcoming. For now, Currie Cup coach JP Peitersen will step up.
Rating: 1/10 they met but no job offer has been made.
Meanwhile, it seems whoever the long-term coach ends up being will have to make do without two of the Sharks’ biggest Springbok starts. Both inspirational captain Siya Kolisi and scrum-half Grant Williams have been linked with moves abroad, with Japan being the most likely destination.
These rumours came hot on the heels of news that Lukanyo Am is returning to Japan. Is it a sign that the Sharks are starting to refresh the squad and bring through some younger talent? That remains to be seen.
Rating: 6/10 early days but a shake-up looks likely.
Now to the Sharks of the north west of England – Sale. Sale have already attempted and failed to sign several high profile England internationals this year such as Chandler Cunningham-South and George Martin, both of whom will play in London next season. Alex Mitchell was also reportedly a target but, according to Sale coach Alex Sanderson, players were ‘taking the p*ss’ with wage demands. Cunningham-South in particular was asking for a ‘ridiculous’ amount of money according to the coach.
Sanderson probably didn’t help his own cause when, a few weeks ago, he proudly announced that he had the budget for ‘4 or 5 world class players’ available to spend. In the meantime, one player he has been able to bring in is England centre/wing Joe Marchant who has been playing for Stade Francais in France since the 2023 World Cup. Nicky Smith, the Welsh loosehead, is also set to join the north western team.
Rating: 9/10 Marchant is a done deal and there is sure to be more - probably in the second row.
One player who could fit the bill for Sale is former England 2nd row Alex Moon, who is widely reported to be leaving Bayonne. The player is still highly thought of back home, but Sale would face serious competition from European Champions UBB who are said to have already offered him a 2 year deal.
From Bayonne’s point of view, they are rumoured to be in talks with Springboks 2nd row Jean Kleyn – currently plying his trade at Munster – as a replacement for Moon. With multiple non-Irish qualified front rowers expected to be joining the Munstermen for next season, Kleyn making way does make some sense (even considering how much the fans love him).
Rating: 2/10 for Moon to Sale but 6/10 for Kleyn to Bayonne.
Under the same roof, however, Sale women have been far more successful in tempting in new players. No fewer than 11 internationals have joined the sharks this season so far with Canada’s Asia Hogan-Rochester and Ireland’s Brittany Hogan being the latest to come aboard. The Sharks got a points deduction for fielding too many foreign players last season, so signing 9 more will have their fans sweating!
The Sharks has struggled in the PWR in recent seasons, having finished either bottom or 2nd bottom in the last 2 terms, but are showing signs of slight improvement this year. It always takes time for new combinations to gel but their squad is surely now good enough to pull clear of the rat race at the bottom and start being competitive. Maybe they will sign Ilona Maher after all…
Rating: 8/10 (if we are grading their signings so far, that is…)