Saturday, 10th February 2007 at 4:04 pm

Michalak signs for Sharks

At first, it would appear a little puzzling. The Sharks have Butch James in resurgent form, Francois Steyn as a precocious talent, and Brad Barritt as cover; why, then, sign mercurial French flyhalf Frederic Michalak? The Frenchman will head to Durban after the World Cup on a one-year contract, adding an option at number 10 that the Sharks don’t appear to need.

When you remember that Rudolf Straeuli is involved in Sharks management - he of the mass nudity at Kamp Staaldraad - and you then look at the photo (pictured) of Michalak with team-mate Clement Poitrenaud, taken for a French calendar, everything becomes a little clearer. Straeuli’s obviously identified a player quite happy to get his kit off, and will welcome the shared philosophy. Will it catch on Durban? The image of John Smit and AJ Venter reprising the Michalak-Poitrenaud shot is a little unlikely, but with Rudolf at the helm…