Sharks fly-half Andy Goode has made a headline-grabbing start to his Super Rugby career © Getty Images

I was never the greatest fan of Andy Goode when he was plying his trade in the Premiership for Leicester Tigers and Saracens, in the Top 14 for Brive or on those occasions 17 occasions he was handed the England No.10 shirt but I have found myself wanting to fight the under-fire fly-half's corner since his shock switch to the Super 14's Sharks.

His surprise short-term move came in the wake of personnel crisis at the Durban-based franchise that had seen them lose Argentine playmaker Juan Martin Hernandez to injury and fellow fly-half Steve Meyer into retirement. Eyebrows were immediately raised at coach John Plumtree's decision to sign Goode despite his international credentials because he is not in the same crowd-pleasing class as Hernandez or his predecessor, the equally flamboyant Frenchman Frederic Michalak.

Goode did not help himself by getting sin-binned on his debut against the Crusaders last weekend just a few minutes after coming off the bench in Christchurch. His high tackle on opposite number Dan Carter drew scorn from New Zealand commentators who could not resist the "Andy wasn't very good" pun.

Goode was the subject of more ridicule on his first start for the Sharks on Saturday with the Waratahs providing the opposition in Sydney. The Fox Sports commentary team (including Rod Kafer who was Goode's rival for the Tigers and Sarries No.10 shirt) delighted in mocking his hair ("the only comb-over in the Super 14") and his approach to the game ("something tells me his is not a running fly-half") but Goode himself offered them more ammunition by collecting his second yellow card in as many weeks for a silly ruck infringement that he immediately regretted.

However, Goode did offer a timely reminder of what he can do with a long range drop goal in the opening minutes - a technique no doubt refined in the drop goal-loving Top 14. Despite a key penalty miss in the second half, he did enough to suggest he will retain the No.10 shirt next week for next leg of his five-week Super Rugby sojourn. But things will not get any easier in Canberra where the Brumbies and Wallabies fly-half Matt Giteau await.

Goode would accept that he has never been the most dynamic of No.10s and he has never had the ability to ghost through defences with the apparent ease of the likes of Carter and Giteau. But his lofty position in the Premiership's all-time points scorers list and his similar status in the Top 14 in the last couple of seasons tells you that he will always keep the scoreboard ticking over.

I'm still not a fan but object to the way he is being treated and ridiculed as if he is the flag-bearer for the northern hemisphere in the Super 14 - partly because he is not the best we can offer (they may get a shock is they think Danny Cipriani is from the same mould). I don't want him to take flak from a southern hemisphere rugby community that is still angry about not getting their way over the ELVs.

A little later this year the soon-to-be 30-year-old will find himself back on the Premiership stage with Worcester and Warriors fans can rest assured that Goode will be a better player for his Super Rugby experience and he may well have the last laugh.