Rugby Asteroid

Available on eBay soon.

The Sharks’ chances of earning a home semi have taken a battering over the past ten days with back-to-back losses to the Brumbies and the Waratahs. Making things that little bit worse comes today’s news that Frederic Michalak, a French model and occasional rugby-player, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday’s game ruling him out, perhaps, forever.

Although we wish him well, I can’t say I’m altogether sorry that Freddie’s done for the season. You see, importing Freddie was all part of a cunning plan enacted by the Sharks’ management to defeat the Crusaders this coming Friday night. (Currie Cup watchers will no doubt be familiar with the Sharks habit of importing French talent to help them win games. Can’t anyone play rugby in Durban?)

What’s so special about Freddie? Ask any Kiwi and you’ll hear how his substitution into a particular game played in Wales last November was immediately followed by a bursting-run, a forward pass, and a try that knocked the All Blacks out of RWC07.

Freddie personifies that mercurial streak often seen when Les Bleus are playing the All Blacks. What Freddie did in 2007 was no different to Christophe Dominici in 1999. Talented backs like that give All Black fans the shivers.

So what was shaping up to be a bun-fight at AMI Stadium should now be une pure formalité for the tournament-leading Crusaders. Freddie’s already back in France while the Sharks are a long way from home without their secret weapon.