According to a story on Rugby365, both Jaco Taute and Elton Jantjies will play for the Stormers in 2013, due mostly to guarantees of game time in their chosen positions.
Neither player has yet signed the deal in front of him, but according to 365′s sources, both deals are as good as done, with the Stormers promises that each player would start in his preferred position apparently swinging the decision in their favour. Taute was also looking at an offer from the Bulls, with the Sharks seemingly a distant third in the race, despite earlier media reports that they were front-runners. It appears that the Bok outside centre wants to play fullback next year and that the Stormers have committed to pick him there ahead of incumbent (and permanently contracted) players in Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen.
The story with Jantjies is apparently similar. In Durban, he would have to fight with Pat Lambie for the right to wear the flyhalf jersey. In Cape Town, he’s been guaranteed that position ahead of Peter Grant…
Now I’m not sure if Rugby365 has this story completely right or not, but from a Sharks point of view, I’d be pretty relieved that we haven’t guaranteed starting spots to any players, even if it does mean missing out on having the likes of Taute and Jantjies in our squad next year.
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If you are the best in your position, you should get the jersey, not because your contract says so.
I agree
Both these guys are class players and will bring a lot to any team they play for. But I am very happy that neither are coming to the Sharks. We have great players at flyhalf and fullback in Lambie and Ludik, and our young centre partnership of Whitehead and Jordaan is worth building on for the future.We are already faced with the problem of fitting frans Steyn in somewhere, we don’t need any more stars complicating things.
Anyone remember a centre by the name of Brad Barritt who was messed around by importing “star” players into the team?
Great show of loyalty to your players there WP/Stormers. You’ve got three faithful sons who have never let you down when you needed them but at the promise of another player you kick them down.
Maybe Gio Aplon, Joe Pietersen and Peter Grant should get loan agreements with the Kings for next year.
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : Too true. Why should Jantjies and Taute give their all to their adopted team next year? They’re guaranteed game time and don’t have to fight for it. Sure they’ll want to get selected for the Boks but they need to be wearing a different shade of blue to be guaranteed Bok game time.
@Butchie34 (Comment 4) :
We don’t know if this is true now do we??
I doubt WP would promise a player a jersey as judging by the Johann Sadie incident, we certainly did not accept his demands.
I don’t have a problem with either player starting ahead of Joe Pietersen or Peter Grant.
Joe is not consistent enough and Grant is not as good a flyhalf as Elton.
I would love to see this backline:
15 – Taute
14 – Aplon
13 – De Jongh
12 – JDV
11 – Habana
10 – Elton
9 – Groom
If this is true (which I do find hard to believe), then it’s a great way of causing disharmony in a team.
Maybe they are only guaranteed some game time (enough to prove themselves) or something.
@wpw (Comment 6) :
Scary!
I think its quiete possible that those are their demands but cant imagine that the Stormers would accede to that.
@wpw (Comment 6) : Good backline but worthless if the same defensive play mindset prevails next year.
@wpw (Comment 6) : that’s a very, very good backline
@wpw (Comment 6) : Great backline!
I have no investment in WP rugby (obviously being a Sharks fan) but I don’t think anyone should be promised a jersey… they have to earn it.
Will be interesting to see who ends up playing centre for the Boks next year. Not many great options to pick from.
@wpw (Comment 6) :
9 jersey will go to Duvenage… but otherwise I’m a fan of Schreuder myself. Out and out pace, I reckon he’s going to get a lot better.
Not a big fan of Tiaan Liebenberg myself… Deon Fourie is an excellent rugby player but a terrible hooker & Scarra Ntubeni looks a bit on the small side so I’d target hooker as the next position needing an upgrade.
And then have to decide what they want to do with Siya Kolisi. It’ll have an effect on where Schalk plays as well. Maybe have Rynhardt Elstadt + De Kock Steenkamp both on the bench seeing as Koster is heading off & Carr will only be returning from injury.
So with most of the Lions players heading everywhere except the Sharks, could this mean that Mitchel’s new position will be with the Sharks?
Remember that they have Rhodes now, and WP said in the press that they will use him at either flank or lock?? Once he is down they will check him out. He is versatile at either 4, 7 & 8 great to have this type of player in your team. Believe that WP have been hunting him for a while, as Koster has been “leaving” for a few months.
I am glad we dont have either player, 1 i dont rate Jantjies he i feel cant handle the higher intensity like everyone says he can, and if we had either we would be harming our players whom we are growing. What message would that give the youngsters?
@dusty (Comment 16) :
Forgot about Rhodes. Good point.
Me i prefer our backline, WP are welcome to Taute and Jantjes.
Sharks VS Stormers
15 Ludick— Taute
14 JPP—— Aplon
13 Jordaan– JDJ
12 Frans- — JDV
11 Mvovo— Habana
10 Lambie — Jantjes
09 Reinach– Bloom
reserves:
20 Mcleod — Duvenage
21 Bosman — Grant
22 Whitehead — Pietersen
Also I reckon it is not long and there is gonna be a local no 13 thats gonna be knocking on the door for higher colours, he is is in terrific form and scoring a lot of tries, big fast and strong,
Watch Tyler fisher
I have a feeling he will be a big name in Sharks country 
you read it here first
@sharks_lover (Comment 21) : wow… it’s not often you say something here FIRST
I agree with you re Tyler. He is big and strong and fast and scores truckloads of tries. Those who have watched him more than I have, though, reckon he’s weak on defence and has handling issues… Sharks will need to work on those with him
@robdylan (Comment 21) : This is true
Well if he has that problem boetr they have to work on it, because he is a very good talent
@sharks_lover (Comment 22) : I agree with you… very keen to see him step up sooner rather than later
@sharks_lover (Comment 19) : Quite some backlines those are
I’m glad Sharks did not get elton but sad we did not get Taute. With that sideshow over Sharks MUST now get cover for 1 and 3.
@JD (Comment 25) : And 6 or do you think Kleinhans would be ready for Super 15?
I can’t see either player improving the Sharks back line apart from adding depth. Taute would have to outplay Steyn or Jordaan so he would have a tough job starting. No ways Jantjes can out play Lambie no matter what that idiot coach from up north thinks.
Sharks_lover spot on with Tyler Fisher, I’ve been watching him since he made first at Westville Boys High. I just hope he keeps on improving, his size won’t be as much an advantage in the big leagues.
Were we not meant to get JC on loan from the Lions?