John Smit on Sharks' Powell-Everitt dynamic: 'I don't think either of them have big egos'

Former Sharks and Springbok captain John Smit believes how the Neil Powell-Sean Everitt working relationship unfolds will be critical to whether they can get their "all-star" cast singing.

Former Blitzbok coach Powell is the Sharks’ new director of rugby, a position that sits above current head coach Sean Everitt, who guided them to an underwhelming quarter-finals finish during last year's United Rugby Championship (URC).

It remains unclear how the pair will navigate their duties but Everitt is currently still coaching the side, who are so far unbeaten on their European tour after two matches.

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Smit is well-versed in tough executive decisions after he sacked John Plumtree when he took over as CEO of his former franchise in 2013, a decision he later said was a "colossal stuff-up".

"Plum" had taken the Sharks to the 2012 Super Rugby final but the 2013 season was a disappointment. Smit then appointed his former Bok mentor, Jake White, with whom he won the 2007 Rugby World Cup, as the director of rugby.

Need each other

That appointment also lasted just the 2014 Super Rugby season, with White calling it quits after guiding the Sharks to the semi-finals.

Smit said Powell and Everitt didn’t strike him as coaches with big egos but their relationship was critical to the ambitions of the American-owned franchise.

"It's going to be pretty critical how this unfolds," Smit said during a URC roundtable discussion.

"The most dangerous thing in the world is a man’s ego and that’s the sort of thing that blocks most progress.

"I don't think either of them have big egos, so I think this relationship has the potential to work.

"I don't think the two of them will