Former Springbok centre Adrian Jacobs believes the Sharks will pose a greater attacking threat by getting Ethan Hooker more involved.
Jacobs, who represented the Sharks from 2004 to 2011, says the team’s current approach has value, but feels there is untapped potential further out.
“Look, I sometimes get a little frustrated with all the kicking from the South African teams, but for the Sharks it’s working at the moment,” Jacobs told Netwerk24.
“I just feel like we need to try to get the ball to Ethan Hooker at outside centre a little more, by playing less directly and not asking Andre Esterhuizen to carry the ball into midfield all the time.”
ALSO: Hatton confident Sharks can rise in Europe
Jacobs acknowledged that the Sharks’ game plan has been shaped by circumstances, particularly following the appointment of JP Pietersen as interim head coach.
“Look, I think everyone knew it wasn’t going to be easy for him to take over [from John Plumtree] after the team had already lost six of its previous seven matches in the URC,” Jacobs explained.
“And I could tell from their game plan in that [Champions Cup] victory over Saracens that he didn’t try to make too many big changes to their way of playing. In that game it was very clear to me that his message to the guys was to make Sharks fans proud of their team again.
ALSO: Sale fired up by Sharks owner’s ‘tuna’ taunt
“Currently, the plan is to put opponents under pressure with high hanging kicks and play directly when they get close to the tryline.
“It also helps when you have two of the best scrumhalves in the country in Grant Williams and Jaden Hendrikse to launch those bombs for Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi.
“That’s the plan they want to play according to now, but with time I believe JP will start to work on creating other threats.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
