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The ongoing issues surrounding Andy Goode’s work permit and Ruan Pienaar’s positional dilemma might hopefully end up forcing John Plumtree’s hand in the near future. My view is that, when it comes to the Sharks number 10 jersey, Pat Lambie is the clear long-term solution and we may as well pick him there right now.
For those not quite up to speed on the latest developments, it appears as though Goode has yet to be granted a work permit that will allow him to represent the Sharks back on South African soil. There’s been a fair bit of attention given to this subject of late and I for one would not be too surprised if Goode fails to qualify on the basis of lack of “specialist skills” – anyone watching his performance against the Highlanders would have all the evidence needed to come to the same conclusion! Whatever the case, Goode is at stopgap at best and was never meant to be a long-term solution.
Pienaar, on the other hand, does not want to play flyhalf. I’m not sure how this fact has been missed, since it’s come up a number of times of the pat few years (in fact, far too many to list). You can go on for pages about how Pienaar should be willing to “take one for the team”, “put the needs of the country first”, or whatever, but the reality of the situation is that his lack of self-confidence is always going to be a massive hindrance in the pivot position. Ruan Pienaar is not the Sharks’ answer at flyhalf and the sooner we all come to grips with that and move on, the better.
There is, of course, the ongoing Butch James saga but to me, that smacks more of wishful thinking (and sheer desperation) than any sort of rational thought. The Sharks have developed a nasty habit of paying top dollar for crocked players of late, but if they somehow managed to afford the frankly outrageous sum that Bath want to release Butch, they would top themselves in spectacular fashion. Don’t get me wrong – I love Butch, but his time has come and gone. A great player, but his knees don’t have any more Super Rugby in them – mark my words.
So that brings us back to Lambie. The youngster showed on Saturday that he has the appetite and the temperament for big rugby. He has the boot and the tactical acumen to play flyhalf and has done so at age-group level. He is, quite frankly, simply destined to be the Sharks’ saviour at flyhalf, so why, I ask, do we not just cut through all the nonsense and play him there now? Accept that he is going to have bad games along the way, but that if we back him, he will develop and will perform. It’s time for the Sharks to start reaping the rewards of a youth system that has not been allowed to deliver on its promise, because the players it develops are simply never given the opportunity to establish themselves.
Fact is, we need a flyhalf and the Academy has delivered us a bloody good one. Let’s play him.
Rob, you say he played at age group level? Grade 8 and 9 boet.
Grade 10 he was injured and then came back and play SA Schools at 15 for Grade 11 and 12.
I would keep him at fullback. Oom Stef’s time has come and gone.
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 1) : sorry – you are right. I meant to say school level.
But look – I see flyhalf as a far more important thing to sort out than fullback. We have others who can make the fifteen jersey their own
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 1) :
I agree.
He should stay at 15. Maybe give Steve Meyer a call???
Monty Dumond anyone???
@robdylan (Comment 2) : Ja, I know where you are coming from on the flyhalf debate. We need some back up. Just don’t want to see us cock around another young player by ‘changing’ his position.
Number 10 is a serious pressure cooker, just look at how Frans Steyn crumbled whenever he was pushed into 10.
But that said I am not sure of the other options the Sharks have…
@wpw (Comment 3) : Anyone? Anyone out there?
When is Guy Cronje back from injury?
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 4) : maybe I’m wrong about this, but I just have a feeling that Lambie has the temperament to come right at 10. Steyn never did.
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 1) :
Agree
Arent the Sharks long term plans at flyhalf based around one of the Cronje twins.
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 5) : he’s going to be out for a long time, I believe. I heard it might be the whole season
I saw that Lambie received the ball at 10 at least once on Saturday…was it intentional or did he just happen to be there at the time?? It’s worth a try though I think.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Shizen. No Meyer, No Cronje, Ruan doesn’t want it, Andy’s not Goode for a work permit, Butch is in negotiations (and has dodgy knees), Monty clearly doesn’t have the backing of the coach?
Running out of options here! I am sure Oom Rudolph’s chequebook is going to do some talking.
Jacques Louis Potgeiter is being wasted on the Bulls bench. Sharks should have got him last season.
Well me don’t know much about this rugby thing but me i would keep lambie at 15 and get somebody else to do the 10 yep give it to the twins one of them should be available or anybody else, we should bring more of the youngster in the sharks team the other guys are getting old like some of us we need more young players
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 10) :
not another bull on lend please got to come up with something else just now well here its about nearly a bulls team shame poor sharks 
I wouldn’t mind having JL Potgieter. Probably the 2nd best 10 in SA and getting no gametime and he can play 12 as well
and apart from the problem the Sharks have at 10 I think we have a equally big problem at 12.
@Pokkel (Comment 13) : if so buy for the sharks team just not on lend please
The Sharks should have got Burton Francis on their books
@Charlie (Comment 16) : What team does he play for
pat lambie played against the highlanders guys, not the crusaders, not the blue bulls and not even the stormers…i hope he plays again this week against the canes..
@Megatron (Comment 18) : So do I
@Megatron (Comment 18) : At least Lambie can catch a high ball which is more than can be said of most New Zealand teams
@Megatron (Comment 18) : give him time he’ll be a 2nd steyn i think good player
@Chaz (Comment 21) : What is all this 2nd Steyn nonsense, Fransie leaving Sharks was for the better
@Chaz (Comment 17) : Does not matter, he’s a class act
@Charlie (Comment 22) : Yep i agree with that
but give time lambie will deliver the same type of game that steyn did don’t you think that young guy has it in him to what is needed 
@Charlie (Comment 22) :
Frans is/was a decent player for the Sharks and would have certainly helped your fortunes had he not left!!
Just my opinion of course!!!
@Chaz (Comment 24) : Naah, Lambie pass the ball at least
@wpw (Comment 25) : Like jy sy kicking style of goldie locks
@robdylan (Comment 2) : read that the sharks are keen to sign the ebersohn twins – and sias ebersohn is a flyhalf ..perhaps an indication that the sharks are acknowledging the fact that the cronje twins just don`t have what it takes ..sias not that impressive either ,but believe they want to play for the same union ,so they must be signed as a combo deal.. and please,no comments about the last combo deal the sharks made with brothers from the free state lol
@Pokkel (Comment 20) : good gracious!!! Alapati Leuia & David Smith were an embarrasment! they made me naar…if colin cooper starts with tyson keats again and leaves him there (piri weepu is too dikgat & slow) and the canes forwards dominate the tackle area like they did against the bulls, it will be a steep hill for the sharks…
@wpw (Comment 25) : it was for the better for him it will give diff ways and experence with other teams from o seas
for me and personally i would of kept him with the sharks we would of not had so many looses but that my apinion 
@Pokkel (Comment 13) : did the sharks perhaps not try and lure him to the tank ? don`t think every player we approach signs with the team.. maybe the fact that he has family in pta swayed him ..and that most probably in his heart he still is a blue bull..
@Megatron (Comment 18) : What’s that meant to mean ….. he is obviously a kid with some potential. Just as Robbie Robinson is for the Highlanders who was also on Saturday starting his first Super match at Fly half.
How can Plumtree not pick him this week
However he is no James O’Connor…. how good is that kid…will be nice to see him up against the mighty Bulls this weekend !
@Oubaas2009 (Comment 1) : Only reason he moved to fullback was to accomodate guy cronje in high school. He was already a super star at fly. Knowing him since he was 14 should tell you that i might know a bit. He has the skills and temperament to play fly, but yes it should take some time to grow into the position again. Ludik, when fit should go 15.
@Charlie (Comment 26) : thats also true steyn for me keeped the ball to himself sometimes
@Megatron (Comment 29) : The Canes won’t be easy by any means but the travelling could be to the Sharks advantage
@Charlie (Comment 27) : and got the points on the board with that long kick of his
@Chaz (Comment 21) : after one game, i’m not calling this kid anything either than a young player showing potential…it seems most sharks fans are too eager to scream “prodigious genius” on any of their players to ward off claims that their academy is shyte
@Chaz (Comment 34) :
@Chaz (Comment 30) : agree with you – i shed a few tears (figuratively) when i heard the news that fransie was leaving the sharks
.. almost phoned his parents to ask them if it was true.. hope he comes back to the sharks ..he is one of ours !!!!
okay ,back to the real problem at the tank (well,one of them
) : have we found a backline coach with a cv to match the aspirations of the fans?
@Megatron (Comment 37) : Plummo held this kid back to long, it would be just more credit to his name being a rookie and playing for a team struggling, and he still produced the goods
@Megatron (Comment 37) : are on it again look at all the other teams that give the young players the hips up and you think our young guys are only good for one game then you an’t seen nothing yet my friend in a couple of years if saders ever get to play a final and hope it will be against the sharks on our field that is looking much better than the bulls field will give you a game that you never seen before and then well will talk again about our young guys they have hmmif in them they want to play and win and only will you say gee young guys didn’t see that one coming
@bergshark (Comment 40) : who
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Frans for President!
@Charlie (Comment 22) :
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 32) : Give him time and he will bet better…
@Just a Fan (Comment 44) : i second that
@Just a Fan (Comment 45) : Just the reaction I wanted
@bergshark (Comment 28) : the Ebersohn story has been doing the rounds for a while now. Personally, I think they’re overrated, particularly Sias. He’s never done anything to make me think he’s a better flyhalf than Guy Cronje
@Chaz (Comment 43) : exactly
@Chaz (Comment 42) : lol, that is funny Chaz hahaha
can’t wait for the sharks boys to klap the saders hehehe 
@Just a Fan (Comment 44) : @bergshark (Comment 47) : He won’t beat Malema
@bergshark (Comment 50) :
@Charlie (Comment 52) :
HEY!!!
@Megatron (Comment 51) : aahhh you might just get a plastic cup my friend
@robdylan (Comment 49) : if jean is heading back to tha cape ,and with de jongh there plus morgan freeman ..shold we not put in a bid for this whitehead guy? personally,don`t rate either cronje twins or sias ..but i do rate robert ..and that decides it for me..
No Rob, don’t agree. Let us not shift players out of position. I know Lambie played FH I think at U15 but he is now a FB. Made a spectacular debut on Saturday. Leave him there he will be a superb FB.
Hope he starts this week too.
@bergshark (Comment 47) : @Just a Fan (Comment 46) : Better than James O’Connor…..subjective obviously but ….no chance …however looks a good little player the emphasis however on the ‘little’ !
@Charlie (Comment 52) : not at the polls ,no..but one-on-one..most definitely
@bergshark (Comment 56) : Morgan Freeman? Maybe a bit old, don’t you think?
Whitehead is good… I like him.
@bergshark (Comment 56) : but I’m also not convinced that Jean is heading back to the Cape.
@bergshark (Comment 56) :
How about you guys start giving your OWN players a chance instead of getting out the check book???
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 58) : don`t rate fransie as a fh -but obviouslyfransie does
..12 or 15 ,is where he belongs..hopefully his french sojourn makes this clear to him ..
@robdylan (Comment 61) : well,just hope he isn`t heading our way
will cost us loads of money and play how many games 
but maybe smittie might be whispering a few words in some hears ..though i doubt they are the right ones 
@bergshark (Comment 63) : he has stated that he wants to play centre. He is doing quite well for Racing at 12. He still makes some really dumb mistakes and too often holds on instead of passing but he does do some brilliant things too.
@wpw (Comment 62) : you mean habana ? or jaque fourie ? or vermeulen ? de waal or peter grant ? or maybe you meant joe pietersen ?or was it tiaan liebenberg?brok harris ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 58) :
Pat Lambie – 177cms and 89kgs / James O’Connor 180cms and 84kgs..
It’s okay if you want to delude yourself….we still won on Saturday..
@robdylan (Comment 49) : I watched those ebersohn brothers win the craven wk final against wp 50-3. They were sublime and have been following them ever since. They are both small so will take time to mature but their passing and running skills are sublime. Sias’s kicking needs some work but they are the real deal no doubt about it.
francois steyn is, was, will never be a flyhalf, he lacks the brain capacity to play fh…comparing lambie to o’connor is laughable at this stage…
After finally getting to see the full game, I think Lambie had a great debut, he is definitely one to watch in the future.
One thing I want to know is what was Adi thinking when he tried to kick away possession at the end when the bonus point was on offer?? Apart from his try he didn’t have the greatest game.
@bergshark (Comment 66) : by the way ,i`m mad at the sharks for not cornering joe pietersen
..vryheid boykie schooled at grey bloem ..then to the maties .. 
@lostfish (Comment 70) : Swannie hasn’t been good either…
@lostfish (Comment 70) : adi`s passing game is shocking !!!!!!!!
@lostfish (Comment 65) : Redundant comment…ALL rugby players make dumb mistakes…but Frans has been awesome at Racing….12 definitely suiting his style….rugby isnt just about passing the ball, you have to take defenders out of the equation too. …He has alot to do with RM92 success this year.
http://www.combatbok.com/2010/01/player-tributes.html
i`m losing it here ..just sent a post to myself
@zenrugby (Comment 68) : he will only get better ,though ,if he gets quality coaching ..and where are the quality backline coaches at the sharks ? robert is a footballer ..and that was some grey bloem team that year ..
@bergshark (Comment 66) :
Pietersen, Harris, Whitehead, Burger, Duvenage, Blaauw, Fourie, Bekker, De Kock Steenkamp, F Louw, De Jongh, Aplon
All these players are currently part of the first choice 22 and each and every one of them are either from CT or have come through the ranks at WP.
Peter Grant was NOT poached by WP. He moved to the Cape to further his studies!!!
@Pokkel (Comment 72) : no backline coach ,so it is all about bashing it up ..head for contact ..no working on deft touches ..running off the ball ..
@Just a Fan (Comment 67) : Do you really believe Lambie is 89 kg’s…..who’s deluding themselves now.
…and do really believe he is a better player the JC…
And yes you did win on Saturday and a deserved win it was
@Megatron (Comment 69) : steyn is 23 yrs old and I think the fact he has gone overseas to improve both his rugby skills and his lifeskills counteract your argument. He might just mature into a damn fine flyhalf. His issue isn’t lack of thought process its refining his decision making process.something experience usually rectifies
@Megatron (Comment 69) : Agreed
@wpw (Comment 77) : brok harris from pukke ..pietersen from vryheid schooled at bloem ,poached by maties.. and peter grant moved to maties to study and experience student life ..but you say he went there without a rugby bursary ?
@bergshark (Comment 73) :
I thought he played well…
Anyway, at least he is trying to make things happen unlike his midfield partner who has been rather average since he came into the side!!
@zenrugby (Comment 80) : agreed
How old is Lambie my i ask
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 79) :
Hey dude!!
Dont get me started on those ‘stats’
According to Supersport Francois Louw weighs 110kgs whereas Duane Vermeulen is in the lower 90′s.
A few weeks ago, they had WP Nel at 90 odd kgs, this week he was over 110kgs!!
@bergshark (Comment 76) :they were unbelievable to watch! I’m a big fan of both of them as they have serious rugby intellect which is something often missing in our game. Robert had a big role in the 7s boks winning last year too
@wpw (Comment 77) : in the end ,this does not matter .. all that matters is to identify the best players and contract them at the best price for the union (hopefully)
@zenrugby (Comment 87) : some clown on superrugby tried to belittle robert`s pass to meyer ( cheetahs try ) as just sheer luck ..the fool obviously has never heard of peripheral vision ..
@bergshark (Comment 82) :
Dude, please dont get me started on this!!
How do you know Pietersen was ‘poached’
Do you have facts to back this up??
As for Grant, in a recent interview he stated that his sister recommended that he moved to Stellies!!!
@wpw (Comment 86) : At the end of the day they have got to weigh something…and lets face it, we all know JP Nel is not 90 kgs …..however we can all tell Lambie is not 89kg…is he
@Just a Fan (Comment 74) : Agreed all rugby players make dumb mistakes – I was just trying to state that he is still a work in progress. I
I do think he is developing into a well rounded player and it is just frustrating to watch tries go begging because he is trying to go for the line when there are unmarked players next to him. He does make some scything runs up the midfield and has made some excellent long distance kicks too.
@wpw (Comment 86) : creatine
@bergshark (Comment 88) :
Ok. Lets just move on!!
Please ignore my previous comment (#90)
@wpw (Comment 90) : dude ,go check out my posts ..wrote before the s14 even started that he went to stellies because his sister said it would be nice for him to experience student life and another culture ..saw him play at craven week 2002 ..and know that the maties were after him ..and ikeys..
ok i’m out till later
@zenrugby (Comment 87) : just wish we had him already .. but what is wrong with schools` rugby in kzn
i think it might just be the coaches ..
@wpw (Comment 94) : sure ,lets bury the keyboard .. in the end ,all that matters is winning ..no matter where who comes from ..
@wpw (Comment 3) : don`t hope monty disappears .. who has news on steve meyer ? rob ,any inside info ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 79) : yes I believe that he is 89kgs or heavier…that dude is not small…and..I said “give him time” and he will be better than JC…this is James second season in S14 already….and is only Pat’s first…
@Just a Fan (Comment 100) : OMG or heavier….well you are entitled to your opinion…i have never met the bloke in person….to me he looked the smallest player on the field on Saturday…by some way.
…….there must be something wrong with my TV !
…and yes unfair to compare with JC , would be interesting to compare there ages….?
JC versus the Bulls in Perth, the highlight of the coming round for me !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 101) : the official SA Rugby stats have him at 86 and I reckon even that is optimistic.
@robdylan (Comment 102) : Well i guess the real point is how good is he ?
….this is a big call but he reminded me a little of Jeff Wilson when he was a boy…..the thing i liked about him was his lack of hesitancy and lack of mistakes.
…looks bound for Fly half …and soon !
get butch….best 10 in SA….
@grant10 (Comment 104) : true but like everyone was saying those knees are getting old
@grant10 (Comment 104) : based on what? He’s not even IN SA…
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 103) : one doesn’t want to get carried away here, but I think Lambie is really really good.
@robdylan (Comment 106) : i second on that one he’s great
and if sharks dont want him….be warned…stormers are keen….and so are the boks….we need back up to M Steyn…no one stands out….give me Butch every day of the week….now that oke has all the attributes….WC star in 2007….by all accounts fitter than ever and in great shape…knees are not the issue…he has a shoulder injury and is well on way back….dont be crazy sharks…if you can, make this happen….
butch could be a great mentor to Lambie…who is a damn fine prospect…
get butch.
@robdylan (Comment 106) : Should be given the opportunity now until the end of the season to bed in…..won’t be easy for the Sharks in the coming weeks….Canes Reds, Lions (away), Blues, Bulls, Stormers,…if he can get a run in those fixtures we will have a much better gauge on how good he is…….and why wouldn’t he play Sharks have nothing left to play for …..unless they win every game !
Goode is a massive step backwards ! Embarrassing !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 110) : looks like Goode’s done a hammie – although how you would be able to tell is anyone’s guess.
Methink it’s back to Pienaar at 10 this weekend, with no halfback cover AT ALL on the bench.
@robdylan (Comment 111) : Canes like the Highlanders there for the taking…..Canes however have a lot more fire power in the backs…..more difficult side to squeeze.
Canes wilso be conscience they have the Crusaders at home next week !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 110) : lets not forget goode`s goal kicking against the `tahs and brumbies ..he kept us in the picture..
@grant10 (Comment 108) : and what if butch injures himself 5 min into his first match ????? there is plenty of money involved here by the sound of it ..
@robdylan (Comment 102) :
Lambie is the real deal, plain for anybody to see. Who cares what he weighs, only in South Africa do we have such a fixation with a rugby players weight.
@Bump (Comment 115) : agree,agree,agree .. we place such a huge emphasis on size at the expense of skill ..our teams lose and then everyone goes on about “how physical it was ” .. our teams lost ..what does the “physicality” matter ???
@bergshark (Comment 113) : True ….he is an excellent player once the whistle has gone !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 117) : So what is your take on the scrums this past weekend? I expected the Highlanders to be all over the Sharks scrum especially with Smit in an unfamiliar position
In the endless words of ADI (aka Charlie)…..’GO SHARKS!!!’
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
I don’t think you are wrong at all. I think you are 100% spot on. The majority of my Northern favorite players are all either 9s or 10s so I’ve seen the multiple types of men that are successful there, now compare that to what I saw in the past game I think Lambie given the chance and the support could make the flyhalf position his own.
Does that make any sense? I’m operating on about twelve hours sleep since Saturday. My future rugby player is teething and 2 am US time seems to be his favorite time to wake up screaming at the moment.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 119) :
Of course. Better words have not been spoken. Well maybe go Boks..or go France. Unless they are playing each other, then I just pray that no one gets injured.
@bergshark (Comment 113) : …but I really, really wanted to forget.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 79) : Hello Hertford, If you live in NZ they you will be in bed now. Sorry going to answer this anyhow.
Just looked on Sharksrugby and the players profile. See Lambie is 1.77m and weighs 92kg. That what it says there.
He was superb under the high ball and I feel he should just stay at FB.
Stormers had Aplon playing FB on Saturday and he is even smaller than Lambie and Aplon was brilliant. Size does not always count. It is the talent you have and what you do with it. Just a thought buddy.
@Puma (Comment 123) : Totally agree with your comments….
PS ….not in New Zealand ….Yet ?
have noticed there is a huge Fijian wearing Aplons jersey these days however !
Just a thought !
@Pokkel (Comment 118) : My call is usually the destructive scrummaging come s from Loosehead….and personally i think Jannie was brilliant…Mackintosh is no slouch.
and Smit was really solid at loosehead he did well….
Unsung hero jannie…great game !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 125) : ‘Unsung hero jannie…great game !’ This won’t be a very popular thing to say on this site. I said before the game last week that Jannie and Bismarck will have good games and I didn’t have much support and I think they both delivered the goods this past week. The Beast might just start warming the bench if he doesn’t watch out.
@Bump (Comment 115) : agree 1000%
@Pokkel (Comment 126) : They had to have good games – thinking that they would have been lynched by shark fans if they misbehaved one more time.
@Pokkel (Comment 126) :
I agreed with you or maybe I did in my head but didn’t get around to post said agreeance.
I totally think the brothers DuP are quite capable and will have good to great games when they are playing in the conditions they like best, which isn’t always necessarily the best for the team as a whole.
@Milissa (Comment 129) : I think you did post your agreement…..1 out of 2 I think
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 124) : Aplon was great at 14 and FB. He is tiny for a player, really crafty can slip through defence easy. Fast and can tackle well.
Ja, that huge Fijian, is playing well this year. Don’t think many WP supporters wanted him to stay after they mess up in the final min of the cc semi ..
He is back to playing great rugby this year though.
Where you live? Here in SA?
If the front row stays the same this weekend will be happy with that. Only let John take the throwing in.
Bissy was terrible with that on Sat.
@Puma (Comment 132) : not sure Bis would allow that!
@Puma (Comment 132) :
I don’t think that is an option on the list of DuP brothers favourable conditions.
@wpw (Comment 25) : amen wpw steyn is the biggest loss to the sharks ever
add to that butch , barritt and bj
imagin those 4 back in the sharks team
plus a j fourie that had approached the sharks
@sharks_lover (Comment 135) : Yes, we are yet to replace Steyn’s gigantic EGO.
Aah, another day, another FH solution…..all in a days work if you’re a seasoned/veteran Sharks supporter.
@robdylan (Comment 133) : Don’t think it’s up to Bis to decide.
@Puma (Comment 131) : I’m in the UK……Suffer the Guinness Premiership week in week out….it’s a tough life ! have got 4 games of Super Rugby this weekend that i’m looking forward to especially the Force v Bulls….might be interesting !
@FireTheLooser (Comment 138) : I hope he agrees
andy goode shouldn’t get a work permit! He doesn’t have any extra-ordinary skills that are scarce to south africa!
@robdylan (Comment 140) : Luckily I won’t heave to tell him.
@Megatron (Comment 141) : Harsh but true !
@sharks_lover (Comment 135) : Barritt was a massive loss, possibly more so than Steyn. Barritt was the general in the Sharks backline and it was seen when he left that the backline was rather stagnant. Barritt was also a good attacking player and had great distribution.
@Megatron (Comment 141) : that is so harsh but so true, I would rather play a young up and coming Shark than give the old “skullet” the position is which he is well below average. His only saving grace is his goal kicking.
@lostfish (Comment 145) : @Hertford Highlander (Comment 143) : how is it harsh? We can’t just have 3rd grade English players waltzing into our premier competition!
Look, for a football player to play in the english premiership, they need to have played something like 75% of their national teams games, that is one of the prerequisites from the uk government before they grant a work permit! Now why should we deny our young players an opportunity to earn a living, since we’ve heard that the lowest amount a s14 player can earn is R29 500 a month.
The “skullet” must go home to relegation threatened Worcester
@Megatron (Comment 146) : It’s harsh in a funny way because he was so crap for Brive that they virtually shoved him out the door. It’s even sadder that the Sharks are paying the “skullet” money to play. It is seriously worrying that the Sharks scraped the bottom of the barrel for flyhalves and then looked under it to find one.
@Megatron (Comment 146) : Your a hard man…..so what is your view on the Rebels ‘ what restrictions have SAZAR put on them are they allow 30 foreigners………. a set number or what …….will be interesting how Cip’s goes down there ?
@Megatron (Comment 146) : you and I are 10000% in agreement. I think it’s the first time ever
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 148) : I think it will probably be good for Cipriani away from the media and his glamour boy lifestyle.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 148) : it’s not SANZAR – its the ARU who has imposed (or, in fact, relaxed) the restrictions. They are allowed up to 10 non-Aussie-eligible players in the first season, but that number will reduce every year.
@robdylan (Comment 151) : Joke
@robdylan (Comment 151): They will get absolutely smashed…..it’s a shame that the Force have been unable to hold onto Mitchell, Giteau, Valentine, etc for a little longer.
However keeps the comp fresh …how long will it be before we are flying to Argentina
@lostfish (Comment 150) : What a great lifestyle….similar in many ways to Rob’s
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 154) : lol, He should have come to France. In the south west rugby is like a religion and they treat the players like gods. He would enjoy that.
@lostfish (Comment 155) : Who Rob ?
who else
@robdylan (Comment 149) : hehehe, well does that mean you’ll stop calling me a troll just because we often don’t agree?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 148) : i haven’t seen a lot of cipriani in all honesty, the boy to me was just tooo hyped for my liking and when that happens i immidiately switch off…
on a different note, what team does that ben foden play for? He looked live against the frogs & a little windgat after scoring…
Sounds the place to be ….do you live there
@robdylan (Comment 133) : Rob, he has no choice, has to listen the captain and the captain is next to him in the front row
John should take the throw ins.
@sharks_lover (Comment 135) : Sharky, Agree with you. Frans Steyn was our biggest loss. So daft to have let him go. Barritt mate, he would have gone no matter what. He wanted to play for the Boks and was never getting selected. That was the biggest reason he left. Pity. Sharks has lost some real talent. Now we must not lose Lambie.
@Megatron (Comment 158) : Foden plays for Northampton use to be a scrum half good player up here has the right mentally approach….run it…dont kick it
It makes you stand out up here…..exciting player to watch !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 139) : Well hope you enjoy it over in the UK.
Bulls / Force that wont be much of a game, think Bulls should win that one easy. Then sometimes the easy ones turn out to be tough. So need to see. FdP is also injured for this game on Saturday. Hougaard will play scrummie. He is really good too, so don’t think Bulls will worry too much with this game. Just hope FdP is back when Bulls face the Blues the next week.
@Puma (Comment 162) : FdP only rate him on the veldt when his box kicks and bombs are coming down from 50 storeys …that approach won’t cut it on tour…….
Force match will be interesting we know we will a great comp when top vs bottom excites
Blues will be tough….then Chiefs will be tough….then Reds will be tough…..or have i got that wrong ?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 163) : hahahah. You a funny oke. Yip, Blues, Chiefs and Reds will be tough on their home turf. Think especially Chiefs that they were humiliated in the final by Bulls last year. They will be laying in wait I think, well maybe. Reds did beat the Chiefs on home soil!! So not too sure of them to be honest. Blues I think you never know who will turn up. So that makes them a dangerous side.
Stormers with their injuries. Not sure now how many wins they will pick up on the road. Also think they will get at least 2.
Aplon though tiny is a superb player so not too worried they lost Joe, but Blaauw is a big loss.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 163) : FdP with the Boks in NZ was superb last year. So I rate him for sure. No matter if he is playing up on the highveld or at the coast or on wet grounds.
This week against the Force Hougaard will play. Fourie is rested due to a rolled ankle. Should be ready for the Blues game.
@Puma (Comment 164) : I agree they won’t miss Joe too much…..Blaauw from what i hear is a huge loss….that on tour will only be a factor against the Blues i think !
@Puma (Comment 165) : Agreed FdP quality !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 167) : Hertford, I am more worried about the Sharks game this weekend than the Bulls. Bulls have a really very good side this year. Sharks are missing some good players. For a start we don’t have a FH. We miss Frans Steyn huge. I would have had him in a second still at the Sharks playing inside centre.
Canes will be hurting from losing all their games in SA. Now they go home and who do they face? Their 4th saffa team in a row. Think they will want to take it out on us………hahahaha. Just hope Sharks are ready. We had better play far better than last week. Canes are a very good side, much better than what they played here.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 167) : Hertford, Good chatting to you. I am out of here now.
Catch up tomorrow. Cheers.