There have been rumours doing the rounds of lots of different players signing for the Sharks. First we have the whole Free State backline in negotiations with the Sharks and then we had half the Lions backline in negotiations as well.
Taking into account the confirmed acquisitions of Ross Skeate and Lionel Mapoe (subject to him winning his court battle) and the presence of Andre Pretorius in Durban, Rudi Straueli has certainly been quite a busy man. But this begs the question, do we really need to go and buy more players. The depth cupboard seems to be well stocked in all positions but inside centre and flyhalf, which is why the probable signing of Meyer Bosman, a player who can play both positions, seems like a sensible one. That said, with Steve Meyer coming out of retirement, the flyhalf stocks are a little better.
As far as the Ebersohns go, we don’t need them, especially since they have yet to live up to the considerable hype around them. Doppies la Grange is another overrated player who seems to have committed his immediate future to the Lions where he should, in all fairness by playing second fiddle to Walter Venter (now, he would be a good buy) while the excellent Jano Vermaak, if he were to join the Sharks would face competition for the no. 9 jersey in Rory Kockott, Charl McLeod and Ross Cronje who are all more than capable players.
While there has been a lot of talk in the media about possible signings for the Sharks, this probably amounts to some of the players Rudi Straueli is talking to and not necessarily players who have signed.
The squad for the Currie cup does look a good one, especially when the injured players come back and in the mean time, the younger players at the Sharks should be given an opportunity as the coaching staff have been saying they will do since the Super 14 ended.
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Well said!
you are spot on here, War. While it’s always fun to speculate and comment on rumours, the facts remain that the Sharks really don’t need to go out and buy anyone. As virtually all of us here have been saying all season long, we need to trust the structures rather than the market.
I said it earlier, stick to what you have. We have the talent and just need to put our faith in those guys. They will deliver once they feel the union backs them.
Who reckons Meyer Bosman might be a good signing?
@war1 (Comment 4) : I’ve never been a big Meyer Bosman fan myself but his versatility might be handy.
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : I have pretty much the same sentiment
It might not be a case of ‘panic buying’, but rather Staeuli feeling like a woman at a red hanger sale. With the snoiL and tjietas’s cheap brand of rugby it’s close to being just that for the average commercial manager. (well snoiL playing a cheap brand and tjietas just being cheap) 😆
My five cents worth, now I’ll read the whole article.
@war1 (Comment 6) : me too… I don’t think much of him, but he could still be useful to shore up a problem position.
Beast just got citizenship!
We need a great inside centre, not sure if Bosman is the answer. I do think that Swannie needs to get into better shape though.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Serious…..better go swop him out of my FL team then 😉 I’m glad for him.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : and thats not worth an article?
@robdylan (Comment 9) : 😎 more FL problems 😈
I don’t rate meyer bosman at all. everyone seems to make a big thing about him. i’m also from bloem and saw him from his varsity days playing for the shimlas and he has his moments but isn’t consistent enough. doppies would have been a good buy, but that seems highly unlikely now. i think it’s time to back our own players coming through the ranks and stop buying left, right and center. think we have enough talent and even if it takes a while for them to show their metal, it’s worth a try
@war1 (Comment 12) : hang on… might have been premature on that one… will put up an article once I know for sure.
@robdylan (Comment 9) : Doesn’t he still have to get permission from some sort of government official to be able to play for the Boks?
The Tri Nations squad for the away leg of the competition will be broadcast live on SS1 at 17:30 on SAT 26 June 😎
@lostfish (Comment 16) : Are you allowed to use the word ‘government official’ on here ? Isn’t that the same as saying ‘politician’?
😆
@robdylan (Comment 15) : saw it on facebook, under the springboks fanpage
Has anyone realised that when ludik is o.k and in form lambie is going to be down the pecking order ,and then moved around to try find him a position and we have another f.steyn .r .pienaar mess ur not allowed to be talented in south african rugby it seems.I can,t really see this happening in aus or nz their more in sync ,I don,t c how in s.a coaches can hav such different views on which position one player should play it keeps happening over and over its amazing maybe it,s because we don,t have one brand of rugby why is that .
@zvision10 (Comment 20) : NZ and OZ don’t have talented enough players that can excel in any position they’re played 😉
@zvision10 (Comment 20) :
Let’s wait to see what happens but I think Ludik will be played on the wing cos JPP and Odd one are both injured.
that is true 😮
wat happens when mapoe ,pietersen and ludik are all fine odwa i,ve already taken out the picture i don,t kno wat wuld merit him getting a starting spot ahead of those guys ,what ther going to do with stefan is also a question hope meyer works out and they find a solution at inside center we,ve prob got the best back three combo,s in the country
meyer bosman with the right coaching can be good his already shown it thats at inside center though , at flyhalf thats a maybe
I think it’s clear that Swannie has been identified at 12 – although personally I find him to be a limited player I think that he should be given a chance – clearly Plumtree sees something in him. He just seems a little DeWet Barryish for my liking IMO …
Just by the way guys – Is there any development to the rumour that John Smit may be going to the Lions ?
@Dalz (Comment 26) : he needs to slim down a little and stop being used as a 4th loose forward. He’s got a good rugby brain on him
@robdylan I agree with you there – I just have to wonder how Dries Strauss must be feeling – He is always there and there about just when he gets to the top of the pecking order someone always gets picked ahead of him – Honestly I am surprised that he has stuck around for as long as he has !!
@robdylan (Comment 28) : and use his side-step
@FireTheLooser(comment 30) I just think his natural instinct is to run over people rather than around them !!
@Dalz (Comment 29) : me too.
I like Dries, but I just don’t think he’s quick enough or imaginative enough to be the answer for us at 12
Rob, how do you know Swannie has a good rugby brain? Maybe he does, but I have never seen that in his play.
A good, hard-working team-man, but not good enough to win trophies with,IMO.
@Dalz (Comment 31) : 😯 I dont want to be a pedestrian in Durbz 😯
@Big Fish (Comment 33) : he was a different player at under 21 level. Shit, he even played flyhalf for them.
Suddenly Griquas came alive with the wind behind them. Deprived of ball in the first half it blew their way in the second half and their creative centres, PJ Vermeulen and Riaan Swanepoel, both of Noord-Kaap in Kimberley, made the best of the ball as they made tries happen for Griquas.
PJ Vermeulen was close early in the half but Daniel dames was out at the corner. Griquas stayed there. Scrumhalf Kosie Nel tapped a penalty and strong eighthman Johannes van der Heever powered over. Riaan Swanepoel converted and Griquas led 12-10.
There were times in the half when, again, Limpopo came close, especially after a great run by Lloyd Seleka, but Griquas were hardy and came back with a great try.
They swept left with simple passes to the man next to them and PJ Vermeulen broke and then handed the sweetest little flick inside to Riaan Swanepoel ho scored. 19-9.
It was the Swanepoel-Vermeulen show again for the last try. Riaan Swanepoel broke straight and strongly. He gave to lively flank Johannes Markram who gave to PJ Vermeulen. He headed for the corner and bowled a pass inside to fullback Daniel dames who scored.
Rob, to be fair, age group form or talent doesn’t always translate: example, Dollie or Rose.
Its a bit concerning you have to go so far back, and to those teams…
I’d prefer a creative 12 to unleash the deadly back 3. Bosman could be that man.
@Big Fish (Comment 37) : don’t come here with that logical tendency, you bloody agent.
Leave me in peace to be a Swannie fan just like I was a Barritt fan before him! 🙂
wait a minute don,t put swanpoels name anywhere near barrits good name ,I don,t understand this love of swanpoel everyone has it isn,t going to end well his a ten man rugby guy and even the bulls a moving away from ten man rugby myt be slowly but there spreading the ball more even jannie boshoff is a better insd center then swanpoel but having said that he should be given a chance maybe he,ll prove me wrong and if the sharks are to poach players we need to raid bulls country
@zvision10 (Comment 39) : we can’t cos the Bulls know how to set up contracts
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
No worries Rob: I wouldn’t change your passion for anything.
@Big Fish (Comment 41) : thanks buddola… knew I could count on you.
From the sounds of things, though, I’m quickly going to fall in love with this Jenner kid…