It seems that a rumour that we first picked up on 18 months ago may finally be coming to pass. Reports in today’s Burger suggest that the Sharks have succeeded in luring former Bok centre Marius Joubert back from France.
As we reported here, back towards the end of 2009, the Sharks have, apparently, long sought the former Boland, Western Province and Free State outside centre, who has been in great form for Clermont over the past few seasons. John Plumtree is understood to be particularly keen to have a man of Joubert’s ilk amongst his outside centre options.
According to the report, Joubert will join the Sharks on completion of the French domestic season and may even come into the equation towards the end of this year’s Super Rugby competition. It is more likely, however, that he will be looked at as an option for the Currie Cup. The same article mentions Brive centre Ronnie Cooke as another possible Sharks transfer target.
More on this once we have confirmation.
Same article in Beeld..
Interesting..
We seem to like our 30+ centres..
Possible replacement for Steff???
I’d take Joubert. Ronnie Cooke? Not so much.
Joubert is great player but 31 years old already. Shouldn’t we rather look internally or rather spend the money on Juan de Jongh? How old is Ronnie Cooke by the way?
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : My thoughts exactly. Cooke will last longer than Joubert but what about a player like Piet Lindeque who will last even LONGER than Cooke.
Ronnie Cooke is my age, born 1985..
Makes him 26 this year..
Is Jacobs leaving? If he wasn’t he must be thinking about it now.
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : Ronnie is 27. I don’t think there is much chance of of De Jongh coming to the Sharks, if spending a bit of money on him could get him, he would be at the Lions.
All I can say is I hope Ronnie Cook makes it to the Sharks, that guy can play!
As for Joubert, I was hoping it was Jouba making a comeback
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : I would not be surprised to see him go after the RWC.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : Thanks make me feel old
@war1 (Comment 9) : I don’t there’s much chance of Cooke coming to the Sharks. I heard a little birdie whisper to me that he was disgruntled with the Sharks when he broke through because both the Sharks and the Cheetahs had been interested in him. But the Sharks just didn’t come back to him after trying to contact them and he eventually signed with the Cheetahs.
BTW, Welcome Marius, we all wish you the best of luck and hope you make the Sharks proud.
@war1 (Comment 11) :
Leaving or retiring?
@Butchie34 (Comment 12) : Well I hope he reconsiders, I rate him very highly, or used to anyway before he left RS of A.
uuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhh. hopefully he is better than i think he will be. this just reminds me of halsteads return and snyman. players that needed a place to retire disgracefully.
@try time (Comment 16) : lol yes and sort of reminds me of WP…..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : i think ronnie is a good acquisition. still got some miles left in his tank. joubert though doesn’t inspire excitement in me.
@Uli (Comment 17) : lol. yes habana, januarie. know what you mean. and cj i like scrumming skew van de linde
I’m less that blown away by this, probably because I never really rated Joubert before.
Then again, as a Sharks player, he will be fine in my book so long as he gives his all for the black and white.
Cooke will come to the sharks if he is approuched , he has been punting the sharks brand of rugby since he was a student at Potch…he was hoping to qualify for the french national team but didn’t make the cut thus far, so he wants to return…but to my knowledge the sharks are not in talks with Cooke…a player maybe on his way back is cliff milton…and if they are he does’nt know it…I would look at the bigger picture my guess is jacobs may be on his way to italy…leaving the sharks with great up coming sentres and no one to pass the tourch…in that case joubert is the man…if we are looking to long term…ronnie cooke is a great option, cooke turns 27 this year and he can still be a bok in due time…but what is the idea in investing in lineque, pretoruis and Jordaan the later being a rugby freak of nature…
@robdylan (Comment 20) : Now, now, lets all be positive now
@robdylan (Comment 20) :
Im glad I am not the only one..
Would not mind Marius taking Stef’s place for 2 or so years, but i don’t really rate Ronnie Cooke that much and i would rather back Paul Jordaan to make the step up, he will be like 20 or 21 when Joubert is 33. Also i still back Adi Jacobs!!!
Yoh, Ronnie Cooke, that dude left they country way too early.
@JJR (Comment 24) : you must be a bulls supporter if you are hoping the sharks weaken their team like you suggest.
I think the way to go from a sharks perspective is joubert to educate the youngsters for 3years…and then to see who makes the step up…but as a cooke fan, played with and against him…I’d sign the man, great talent, great team man, awesome bloke for any team…a team man…his big dream was to ply international rugby, so I take a bow for him giving it a fair go…
How i am weakening the team?? Joubert is def. at better 13 than Stef, Jacobs was 2008 our best Bok and Paul Jordaan is awesome. What u on about? For me Stef can only add real value at 15.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : I always thought Adi wanted to go back to the Cape and play for WP / Stormers before he retired.
Joubert isn’t a bad buy but he is on the wrong side of 30. I would much rather give Lindeque the game time now and start getting him ready to take over the 13 jersey.
@lostfish (Comment 29) : Adi won’t get game time with the 3 bok centres they have. It is best for Adi to stay with The Sharks.
@JJR (Comment 24) :
I recon Plum would never ever get someone in if he did not think he was capable of doing the job on hand, I recon Joubert would be used in the same manner as we used Monty.
@BoerSeun (Comment 27) :
Namibia wanted him to play for them in the last world cup. He did not accept. Has he missed his chance to play international rugby?
Maybe he wants to return in the hope of making the Namibian team to NZ.
Ag no, man! Why do we need this old codger?!
@JJR (Comment 28) : i am not a joubert fan and would rather acquire cooke. i think the latter would strengthen the midfield more.
@lostfish (Comment 30) : I here what you say about Piet…But to be honest i even think Paul Jordaan at his tender age of 18/19 is better than Piet. I like Piet though.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : Was thinking he would probably go to Europe.
I’d rather take Ronnie Cooke. But haven’t seen these 2 players playing in a long time.
@JJR (Comment 28) : I agree totally, steff is a good captain and a reliable player but not a specialist 13…keep in mind that there is nothing that de jong can do that Jordan can’t and Jordan is and take note!!! The fastest player in the sa sevens setup…if that boy breaks the line his gained 10 meter on the same line break as any sharks centre…
@try time (Comment 35) : Everyone has their favourites…i am a big fan of Adi Jacobs and Paul Jordaan; i think they are perfect for our style of play.
@war1 (Comment 37) :
Oh okay.. Interesting thought..
@BoerSeun (Comment 39) : Ja 4 sure…i am a huge fan of Jordaan, he is awesome, i would play him this year CC. He is that good.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 25) : So true. He should have stuck around a few seasons longer.
repeat after me, guys… Jordaan is an INSIDE center. Joubert is an OUTSIDE centre. There’s a difference…
r
@JJR (Comment 42) : I think Jordaan will become one of the best centres yet to play for the sharks.
A bit sad that WP have all those talented young centres on the sidelines and we may have to negotiate with a player +30 years of age.
Hold on everyone saying jordaan should play cc rugby..awesome attacker,no doubt,but his def needs some work.but I also rate jordaan highly and he will def be a bok if his def gets better_still only 18 ,so can understand him falling off of tackles against much bigger,stronger and older ,more hardened players.then again, only way his def will improve is with gametime.
But to come back to cooke: I also saw him play on the rite wing for brive.he isn’t that slow..
@robdylan (Comment 44) : Jordaan is an INSIDE center. Joubert is an OUTSIDE centre.
@beet (Comment 46) : I want De Jong to come to the sharks so badly!
@beet: good point.I know you a huge fan of johan sadie,but I must admit I have not seen more than half an hour or so of him.and that thru drowsy eyes.but I trust your eye for talent.
@robdylan (Comment 44) : jordaan only played 12 to make space for a great young leader and future captain small-smith…he can play 12 and 13 and admits he like sevens because it allows you with opportunities to finish(played in a golf day with him last friday) he has all the attributes of a good 12(strong benches 166kg) good feet…good off load in the tackle…then he is fast can take the outside gap and finish…the boy is a total freak rob…but I agree that he is known as a 12 specialist..
@robdylan (Comment 44) : Don’t think Jordaan knows how awesome he will be at 13…too good a finisher to be at 12 in my opinion. @bergshark (Comment 47) : Paul is a great tackler, in Sevens sometimes guys slip off tackles because they are fatigued. Also i saw Paul recently he is not a small guy his BMI is almost spot on just about 2 more Kg or so and he will be in Peak condition. 92-94 Kg is were i see him ending up, unless he focuses on being a 12 then he might need to be around 95-96 kg.
@Ben (Comment 49) : i want sonny bill williams to come to the sharks. don’t think it will happen though.
@Butchie34: don’t know if the sharks snubbed ronnie cooke ..can recall straeuli being certain at one point of cooke joining the sharks.but the player opted to continue his career at the griquas and play s14 rugby for cheetahs. Then again,such was the state of sharksrugby back in 2005
players thought it a gamble to join the sharks -even from the griquas!??
@robdylan (Comment 44) : At the risk of awaking all those anti-Sharks rugby followers out there who say we mess young players around by playing them out of position, can you see the opportunity to do this coz Paul has the attributes of a James o’Connor and can be moulded to play in any of the positions from 10-15
Watching him last year I thought he’d make a brill no.10 now having seen him in the 7s, I wouldn’t even rule him out as a possible no.15
During April I hope to make a youtube of his younger brother – the Grey Bloem no.10. Hopefully I’ll also get a photo of him signing some papers handed to him by Hans Scriba.
@Ben (Comment 49) :
This will never happen.
@trytime: lol
@JJR: paul’s def needs some work.
@beet (Comment 55) : How old is Paul’s brother…if is anything the talent that Paul is i would suggest Sharks sign him now, no matter his age.
@bergshark (Comment 50) : Johann Sadie – what a prospect. Did you see him in the Vodacom Cup game over the weekend. To me he’s like the younger version of Marius Joubert.
@bergshark (Comment 57) : Just a mental thing…he has all the aggression and technique.
@beet: paul jordaan has a younger bro who plays fh? Sounds like the family is full of rugby.hope you get that pic!
@JJR (Comment 58) : He’s in grade 11 this year (turning 17 in 2011) and played some games for might Grey Bloem last year already. He comes into this season with a huge rating from the Grey Bloem knowledgeables.
@beet: unfortunately not
been trying to see him play but somehow not been able to.but I trust your eye for talent-spotting!
I would be really glad if the sharks managed to sign ronnie cooke-he isn’t just an outside center,I also saw him play rite wing for brive,and he scored a smart try running a clever angle.
@beet (Comment 62) : Sounds good…i also hope you get that pic and i also hope The Sharks are aware of this Bloke.
Another player who has looked impressive @brive is the flanker,vosloo.ex-lion.
Vosloo could add value to a side like the cheetahs or even bulls.
@Charlie: so you off to italy?
@try time (Comment 53) : Robbie Fruean would be fine too!
@bergshark (Comment 66) : But he has already agreed to go to Clermont.
Give the youngsters a chance. Journey men belong at teams like Griquas and the Kings. Both those players were bitter when they left.
@Charlie (Comment 67) : I am backing you…Adi Jacobs baby!!! When Adi is too old then we bring Paul Jordaan in. This is what the Sharks 4 centres should be next year. Bosman, Jacobs, Lindeque and Paul Jordaan. That is what i would want…back what we have available…no over the hill 30+ players that have already left SA. Ronnie Cooke???? we have great talent coming through…Joubert???Adi is like 2 years younger and he is better. Come on Sharks back your current resources like you showed when you Didn’t sign J.Engelbrecht and backed youngsters like Coetzee.
@Speed7 (Comment 71) : Agree with you for once…well said
This doesn’t raise any pulse for me… Agreed with the sentiments of finding and developing younger talent. Said from the outset that selling off Waylon was just plain stupid, he is young and he is great! BRING BACK WAYLON (Shout with me!) BRICK BACK WAYLON, BRING BACK WAYLON!!!!
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 74) : I think you might be alone on the Waylon shouting thing.
I don’t want him back…can’t run straight, can’t pass and does not have enough gas…just my opinion…Paul Jordaan and Lindeque are better options for the long term development/Success of The Sharks team.
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 74) : GO BUY DE JONG GO BUY DE JONG GO BUY DE JONG!!!
Paul Jordaan is 18, guys.
Now repeat that one…
Yes have MJ for a year or 2 then a youngster can step up.
And he will learn from the guy.
@JJR (Comment 75) :
@Ben (Comment 76) : BACK THE LIGHTIES, BACK THE LIGHTIES,BACK THE LIGHTIES, BACK THE LIGHTIES
@robdylan (Comment 77) : Ja okay dammit. Get MJ for 2 years to train the laaitie proper
@bergshark (Comment 68) : @JJR (Comment 72) : Will only leave if the Sharks chase me aga him away…
@Honey Badger (Comment 78) : @Pokkel (Comment 80) : What’s wrong with Adi in doing so…
Everyone who doubts ronnie cooke’s talents (a) never saw him play for griquas and cheetahs (b)never saw him play in france (c) have never seen him play.
Answer: (c) have never seen him play.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind this when we seem to have really good options at 12 and 13 in our other squads?
As Salmonoid said – we should be backing the laaities! Let’s show a little faith in our structures!
This guy was all over players like no’nu,soialo and jerry collins in defence!
Marius joubert will bring some aggro to the sharks midfield methinks.
@Charlie (Comment 82) : coz u might get a stroke if after 2 yrs they drop Adi for the lighty he was training?
@Ice (Comment 87) : Is that your best shot…a real and faithful servant of rugby will always gave something back to the game…hope that’s understandeable at blondie level…
@Charlie (Comment 88) : I have no doubt about Adi, it’s u I am worried about!
@Ice (Comment 89) : No need to worry, I am in good health…non-smoker…non-drinker…still enjoy’s playing rugby, taking life easy as ever, even rugby…
@Charlie (Comment 90) :
@bergshark (Comment 83) : Retweet
@Charlie (Comment 90) : You’re like my long lost brother.
@Charlie (Comment 82) : He can,but always good to have a back up because oupa is getting to the end of his career.
If we take a look at the sharks late history we always back the laaities when its no going well and then they come through…but we never back our boys when its going well, even last year when Lambie came throught we were not on a winning par…let’s play the youngsters in a winning culture…we don’t need old war horses…we just need a good balance of youth talent and experience…
Bummed @ the response wrt Waylon… LOL! But truly now, I did enjoy Waylon, he is a confidence player and needed game time after his injuries… When he backs himself he is a real talent and could thrive with a distributing centre like Meyer inside him… Thats what made Brad and Waylon so good… Juan De Jongh and Waylon Murray can make for a potent combination… I can see merit in Marius Joubert being purchased, but trust it is not a bank breaker.
@klempie (Comment 93) : Wishful thinking…
@Honey Badger (Comment 94) :
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 96) : He will never come to Deban for bananas…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 96) : Barrit made Waylon and perhaps Waylon has found in Doppies what he had in Barrit.
@robdylan (Comment 77) : James O’Connor was 17 when he started.
@JJR (Comment 101) : ja ja, but the Aussies also have about 1/10th of the player resources we do…
I don’t think we gain anything by rushing Paul Jordaan into senior rugby.
Ja ja, you’re right, but We don’t need to start him…maybe some Currie Cup games off the bench; well that is after he has dominated a few games for the u/21 or u/19 side, but i think u/19 is too easy for him.
@JJR (Comment 103) : Don’t underestimate the u19 standard. Many SA Schools players with bright futures have started here and found the compo tough. I think there are a few seasoned 7s players who would still struggle to stand out at u19 level. Different ball game altogether.
Def. it is a quality comp., but i just think Paul Jordaan would be able to handle the u/21 level…so why not play him with them; Like Lindeque also played U/21 when he was U/19. I think Lambie too.
@JJR (Comment 105) : If Lambie is good enough (age VS ability) is Jordaan as well? Just how good is he…
@Charlie (Comment 99) : Yeah well, I can see him adding value for a season or two, but rather spend money on younger guys (2 for the price of one… Paul Bosch for instance is a good player, he is playing VC) – I guess my argument with Waylon is that he is, what 7 years younger than Marius, it takes a year to get his form back proper, and you then you have a long term player… Maintain: It was stupid releasing Waylon Murray AND BRAD BARRIT – but history is history – lets see what happens from here…
@Pokkel (Comment 100) : Well bring them both back to The Sharks (most prob be cheaper than 1x Marius Joubert)…
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 106) : What makes Jordaan special is that he has developed faster than other players in his position…he is 18 and already bench presses 166kg or so kg according to Boerseun. Plus he has tons of talent….Fastest SA Sevens player too.
Paul Bosch????? HA HA HA…that was some funny stuff
Has a reputation in Europe as a diver and dirty player.
Cant think of a worse buy.
@JJR (Comment 110) : Yeah well, if you’re gonna spend money may as well buy a tackling bag for Willem and Deysel…
HA HA… Good one
Who care what Bosch bench presses. He’ll be brilliant on natural talent. Look at what too much gym work has done to a player like Habana. He can’t even move like he used to.
I don’t rate Bosch at all…u guys are talking about the one that plays for Wp during CC right?…can’t believe how u guys are rating this guy…
No. They’re talking about a youngster on the Sharks books who only finished school last year.
@Rob got your PM
Marius will join the Sharks from 1 July.
@PaarlBok (Comment 117) : Hey Paarlbok. I’m looking for background info on this year’s Gimmies side. Do you know who’s in the team, who’s captain and which players to look out for?
WTF? hierdie is sommer k@k man! What happened to backing the youth!!
@Speed7 (Comment 116) : Oops, my mistake
@beet (Comment 118) : Not finalised, still a squad of 30 at the moment. They’ll play at the Plaas this weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 44) : Maruis joubert, is a arrogant tool….can’t believe his a sharks now…he can be a head ache to a couch and team…but he is a very good 13 and will add value to the team…don’t know if him and meyer will be a good fit? Looking at the sharks setup now, I can’t see meyer being a long term option, we might just loose our youngsters…I would love to see a rotation system that is revolutionary in rugby…balancing our talent with experience…we have a enormous list of youngsters, Jordaan, lineque, pretorius, zuks, a bunch of talented flyhalfs zilinga cronjes…groenewald shit-what to do??? How to do it? Rob can U write us a article about youngsters coming through at the moment…Jordaans brother 10 grade 11 also has ambitions of following his brother paul to the sharks…
@SharksRTB (Comment 119) : i think they may be looking for depth in all positions. Maybe Adi spoke to management about his options post world cup and Stef retireing. Sure we could play Piet Lindeque at 13 or even Paul Jordaan, but guys, the still should have a good mentor in that position. Joubert will surely have a season or 2 of full-time rugby in him, then maybe as a back-up player. But i can see where management is coming from with this. to bring in the youngster as early as this years currie cup could work, but what if it doesnt? then we dont have experienced back-up…
a great additoin should be cooke, but in that case i would say that our youngsters should be good enough.
Jeepers, who next? De Wet Barry?
We are becoming like Stormers
@rekinek (Comment 125) : You wish.
@McLovin (Comment 126) : not really. youngsters now in fashion
So why bring in Joubert when we have Adi and some promising youngsters?
We already lost Waylon because we didnt back him – lets not lose more.
cant cooke also play wing?? i see in a few articles that his french club used him on the wing quite a bit…
Joubert currently play’s @ 12 for his French club…
@Ben (Comment 49) : with you on that one,he is being overlooked at wp too much for him to be happy there,he would get permanent starts here for sure…
@PaarlBok (Comment 117) :
Oom! Lanklaas gesien! Hoop dinge loop vlot.
@DarkDestroyer (Comment 74) : Agreed, pity we can`t afford him anymore.
why dont we buy andries strauss back???
@VinChainSaw (Comment 132) : Gaan goed man!
Oh yes, EVERYONE was happy when we signed this guy………
Haha I’m laughing at my comment 46.
I guess Bosch, Sadie and Whitehead are no more!
@beet (Comment 137) : We managed to get ONE of them