New-look Force to be reckoned with

[James]

Shepherd looked like he was running fairly comfortably on a news report of Force training.

[Thequeerone]

oddly enough Cummins is one player I'm hoping will shine this year - Sheps spent most of this year limping so hopefully now he has had this op he will get back to where hee shhould be which is Wallabies 15 - although I preferr him on the wing - DHP will get time this year to show what he has got

[James]

Nah Hernandez is going back to Racing-Metro. Agreed on Francois Steyn too. They started out great last year but they just feel apart completely towards the end of the season. Ruan Pienaar hasn't been in flash form at 10 and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of options there.

Sorry Farva, I was mistaken there- it turns out Hernandez isn't going back to Metro until after the Super 14 BUT he now has a serious back injury and is out for the whole S14 so same thing really. It hits the Sharks super hard because Pienaar isn't fully recovered from his knee op and will miss at least a game or two of the Super 14 and Steyn is gone which leaves a couple of relative no-names battling out for the fly-half spot.

[zimeric]

with the depth of South African Rugby this is usually a good thing... there are a hundred no-names playing on the fringes that could be the next Botha or Stransky...

I say good luck to them!

[James]

with the depth of South African Rugby this is usually a good thing... there are a hundred no-names playing on the fringes that could be the next Botha or Stransky...

I say good luck to them!

What you really think that could be as good as Neil Botha or Tom Stransky? Big call.

[farva]

Just saw that about Hernandez as well.

Having said all that, the saffers never really play with a playmaking 10. That is normally there for just kicking (see Morne Steyn). Rory Krockett will be fine doing this job.
All they need for a flyhalf over there is someone who can kick, and there are plenty around who can do that. Im not copnvinced that Hernandez's game would suit the Sharks anyway as he is in reality a fullback, playing at flyhalf. His attacking talents might not be fully appreciated there.

[James]

Just saw that about Hernandez as well.

Having said all that, the saffers never really play with a playmaking 10. That is normally there for just kicking (see Morne Steyn). Rory Krockett will be fine doing this job.
All they need for a flyhalf over there is someone who can kick, and there are plenty around who can do that. Im not copnvinced that Hernandez's game would suit the Sharks anyway as he is in reality a fullback, playing at flyhalf. His attacking talents might not be fully appreciated there.

Yeah I think he's a fairly average fly-half personally. The Sharks don't really have the luxury that the Bulls have in their pack so much. They have some really good backs but would need someone to feed them to win games.