Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Frederic Michalak's first ever Super 14 try
French international flyhalf Frederic Michalak scored his first ever Super 14 try this weekend for the Sharks. Michalak was on the end of a sweeping move that saw great hands put him away in the corner against the Bulls at Loftus.
Michalak has slotted into the number 10 role nicely at the Sharks, and since making his debut two weeks ago has shown glimpses of the brilliance he's known for. Sneaky crosskicks, one or two flamboyant passes, and one try saving tackle in particular, have meant that Michalak is fast becoming a new Sharks hero. He's also proving to be a more than adequate replacement for Butch James, who is now plying his trade with Bath in the UK.
Freddie has been known to on occasion blow hot and cold, so the rest of the season will be a true test of the mans worth. If he continues the way he has been, slowly improving, I have no doubt he'll make the position his own in a team that boasts many players who can cover the flyhalf slot.
Something a lot of you may not realise is that there aren't many Northern Hemisphere players in the Super 14, it's quite rare in fact. So for the French fans out there, your boy's doing well. We'll continue to cover his progress throughout the season to see if he can live up to the hype that's surrounded him since arriving in Durban.
Final Score: 29-15 to the Sharks
Posted at 9:16 am | 32 comments
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Viewing 32 comments
Wasp1 March 05, 2008 10:09 am
Pull your socks up man!Who do you think you are....?Mike CattWhich other NH players have made it into super rugby then?Is it a money thing or are those good enough generally involved in the international set up for their respective countries?
slowkocoko March 05, 2008 11:15 am
Christian Califano played for the Aucland Blues.
Sharky March 05, 2008 11:45 am
Wasp.. huh?? Not sure what the Mike Catt comment means.. It's a money thing. Why would NH guys go down south when they'll be taking a pay cut? I bet the Sharks coughed up for Michalak, and he's probably in it for the experience, as were other Frenchies before him - Theirry Lacrouix and Olivier Roumat played there in the nineties, which much success.
Eric March 05, 2008 1:15 pm
It certainly is a money thing, though i'd like to see a heineken cup winner play the winner of the super14... that would be a damned nice match to see
Anonymous March 05, 2008 1:36 pm
Thank you Rugbydump,you rule! good to see michalak, i hope he'll make a good season...can't wait to see him again in XV de France
Rugbydump March 05, 2008 1:54 pm
Eric, your english is fine mate. :)Gregor Townsend actually played for the Sharks too.. and so did New Zealander Tony Brown. Apparently Brown is now with the Stormers and will be playing for them on their NZ leg of the tour. Actually now that I think of it, Federico Mendez played a little in South Africa too, as did Samoan hooker Trevor Leota.
Kurt March 05, 2008 3:47 pm
I heard Michalak was making more money playing for Toulouse than how much he's making now at the Sharks. He moved there for the experience is all. Nice to see him doing well. We'll see how long before he blows cold as you said. Also noticed he isn't goal kicking either.
Cheyanqu March 05, 2008 5:58 pm
Federico Mendez played for Natal after RWC 1995. In 1996, he played on the 2nd-place Sharks, and won a Currie Cup that same year.Patricio Noriega played for ACT after representing Argentina.He then qualified to kit up for the Wallabies after three years (this was before the ruling locking players down).He was the last decent prop Australia ever had.
Cheyanqu March 05, 2008 5:59 pm
second place Sharks meaning they lost the Super 12 final that year.Natal Sharks won Currie Cup
Totor March 05, 2008 9:53 pm
Hey Eric you re wrong! Michalak came to the shark for having experience and discover a new culture. Actually Toulouse offered him much more money for staying than the shark did. Thanks Rugby dump for this video, hope Freddie will do good in the super 14.
barry D March 05, 2008 10:28 pm
wonder why players arent payed as much in super14....if rugby is like a religion round there? i mean the northern hemisphere you have your soccer premiership and champions league crap...rugby would only be the second sport? and down south its no.1...and they dont get paid as much? (assuming peoples info bout sharks not paying as much is correct) :)
Axel March 05, 2008 11:18 pm
yeah, actually he was paid about 30 % more back when he still played for the stade toulousain, look it up. so it certainly isn't a money thing.
G-unit March 05, 2008 11:48 pm
ahhh, i agree with Eric! would love to see the S14 champ vs Heineken cup champ! would be a great game! Like superclub in league! I can't believe the Rhino's beat Storm...anyhow moving on! Of course its exchange rates as well, a $400,000 NZ compared to 400,000 pounds...convert to NZ dollars... that's 1.2mill NZD.... maybe the same with the SA rand too...and the Euro is worth about Double the NZD! So even if players get Paid the SAME in amounts, they still earn more comparatively up North... smaller population 4mill NZ fill less stadiums, less revenues, etc...
ronnie March 05, 2008 11:54 pm
Michalak is an incredible player and great to watch.I'll be keeping a close eye on him in the upcoming shark games.
Asterix March 06, 2008 3:59 am
Rugbydump..."Your boy is doing good"Your grammar is slipping bru.
Rugbydump March 06, 2008 6:32 am
haha cheers for that Asterix. Just a bit of casual slang sneaking in there. I'll fix it for you.. boet :)
Anonymous March 06, 2008 8:49 am
Its not a money thing....Michalak has one French and Northern Hemisphere titles and just needed to change his surroundings...he just admitted in various interviews that he has recieved a much smaller pay check in durban with the sharks...
jay March 06, 2008 1:59 pm
Not a money issue that is for sure (you guys have salary caps that we don't have in France if I am not mistaken). I think this is a "do or die" for Michalak as the league is probably tougher physically and more pragmatic, so if he does succeed in that register, this combined with the french flair might make him an undeniable fly-half for France. And yet, he's had a few physical problems so let's hope that he doesn't get crushed there.
Anonymous March 06, 2008 11:16 pm
Peter Clohessy played for the Queensland Reds in the eary days of super rugby.....could even have been when it was Super 10's
ClayOne March 07, 2008 5:35 am
Freddy Mendez played for WP about 2 seasons ago until he injured his neck and Trevor Leota as well as his brother Junior are playing their club rugby in Cape Town for SK Walmers
Anonymous March 12, 2008 2:35 am
I was in France in November of 2007, and Michalak said in an interview that he went to play Super 14 because it was like playing basketball in the NBA - the level of play is that high.
Anonymous March 20, 2008 12:48 am
From the way Gavin Henson was talking about the Super 14 when he admitted that he wanted to play there, it sounded like they didnt want NH players on principle, or because (I'm probably assuming this) they have more talented players, so signing NH players who are probably greedy by their standards wasnt advantageous.I'm hoping that in the not too distant future Wales will produce enough quality players that we wudnt have any need to worry about sending some of our better players down to the SH to play rugby.
Anonymous March 23, 2008 5:39 pm
I understand that it is money thing (why southern hemisphere players move north and why it doesn't take place in reverse) but I really don't understand how it works out. If you take, for instance, the stormers. They own their stadium, so they don't have to rent it, the upkeep isn't that much, they have a rabid fan base so advertising revenue should be high, the stadium is pretty big and when they are doing alright it gets pretty full (around 30000 or more) and yet they still don't have that much money. Most European stadiums seat like 15000 or something.
Anonymous April 03, 2008 4:20 pm
Who do you think you are? He always played like that with socks down. He didn't wait to come to NH to do it...
Anonymous April 03, 2008 4:24 pm
If it was a money things he wouldn't come... Should I remind you thn Matfield, Gregan, Umaga are playing in French second division? Why do you think that South Africa is the second nation in number of players in France?If Michalak wanted to do monney he would stayed in France.... I can't understand that some of you are so narrow minded. Super 14 appears to us (European) to be a great championship, it is attractive from the sport point of view... Some of you would really need to learn more on rugby.Sorry for my English
Anonymous April 05, 2008 2:56 pm
Gentlemen please, there has been much debate over the "money issue", and many comments above have misunderstood the situation. From what I've read noone had said that Freddy moved south for the money. The reason players in the southern hemisphere don't make as much money as those in the north is because the countries in the north are far richer. |Cost of living in Europe is far higher than in the rugby playing southern hemisphere. Not saying that players in france need the high wages in order to survive, but it is inevitable that with fame comes fortune and it is proportionately eqal with th southern hemisphere in that respect.
DFR April 30, 2008 4:07 am
Love Michalak, glad he reached his goal of playing the SUPER 14 and so sad to hear of his injury this past wkend leaving him out for 6 months? GOOD LORD!
Benhy May 01, 2008 8:03 am
Fantasic hands from Stefan Terblanche,Francois Steyn,Adrian Jacobs and Jean Daysel for the first ever super 14 try scored by Frederic Michalak.
aeddanberry July 14, 2008 1:29 am
hi anonymous-just responding to ur comment bout how u dont understand why SH teams are poorer even though they have good crouds ect ect.-NH teams are much richer because even though in England rugby is not as popular as soccer it is the preserve of the upperclass who are rolling in the money-therefore for example teams like saracens who dont draw very good crouds and are not very successfull are still financially powerfull because of super rich owners. another example (sorry to be long winded)is that of the clubs in Wales where rugby is the number 1 sport but the regions are poorer than their english compatriots even with good crouds and good marketing quite simply because the english clubs have wealthy benefactors and also because the english in general are rich bastards!lol-poorer countries like SA,NZ,Wales where rugby is mainstream just dont have the finances to compete with super rich nations like France nd England.does that make sense? carry on with the good work RD!grt vids-more in welsh please(is the Top 14 final on here?-or pro D2 final on here?)thnks
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