News
Muir admits to conservative start
May 19 2008
Sharks coach Dick Muir has conceded that his side's conservative start to the season cost them a home semi-final as they head to Sydney to face the Waratahs in the Super 14 play-offs on Saturday.
After finishing the league phase of the tournament just one point behind their Australian hosts, and having scored only four bonus points in thirteen games, Muir acknowledged that his team would perhaps have been in a more comfortable position if they had played more expansive rugby.
"It just shows that maybe we were too conservative at times and I'll take the blame for our conservative style," he conceded on the Sharks website.
"Maybe we overplayed that card, that conditions did not warrant an exciting approach, but we certainly have a group of players that can play, and against the Chiefs, it was nice to see them scoring long distance tries. The passing and defence was outstanding as well."
The Sharks squad left for Sydney on Sunday with 24 players. Muir admitted that limited to only 24, it was tough to decide "whether to take 14 or 15 forwards, and 10 or 9 backs."
He confirmed there were no injuries arising out of the Chiefs' game but that Francois Steyn and BJ Botha would need further assessment to determine whether they had recovered from injury.
Against the Chiefs in their final pool match the Sharks did however play with the flair and clinical precision that took them to the Super 14 final last year
"I didn't feel the result was ever in question and it was good to see guys' attacking mindset," said Muir who added that his were out to get five points.
As the only South African side to make the top four, Muir conceded that "It would have been nice to see Stormers get through, but we are not in tears over them not making it after two years ago [when they capitulated against the Bulls to effectively knock the Sharks out of the semis], but no, it would have been nice for two South African sides to be in.
"They can be really proud of their season, they started poorly and got it together. But this is a wicked competition.
"You go through different phases and have to adapt, make bold calls and move on. I'm not embarrassed to say we were too conservative at times.
"We lost some really experienced personnel at the end of last season and the way we played probably didn't allow players to grow as well as we would have liked, but it was good to see their confidence in this match."
He paid tribute to Ruan Pienaar and Rory Kockott who have coped well with the absence of Frédéric Michalak due to injury.
"Ruan has come in and done an amazing job," said Muir.
"It's the quality of the player, he's so versatile and so dedicated making sure he gets the tackles in despite criticism over his defence. He has worked incredibly hard on his game.
"Rory is a nuggety player, and showed how difficult he is to play against."
The match against the Chiefs could very well have been Muir's last in change at Absa Stadium before handing the reigns over to John Plumtree.
"Looking back I am pleased that the whole group has grown," he said.
"We have an unbelievable management team and great players. I probably didn't give them enough respect in allowing them to express themselves, but for the group to continue to grow, this is the right time for Grant Bashford and John Plumtree to take over."
He sounded a warning to the Waratahs when he concluded, saying: "We have unfinished business; it will only be complete if we bring the silverware home."