Somewhat predictably, a particular rugby journalist who just happens to have close ties to the Free State Rugby Union, has taken the opportunity to stick the knife in just a little deeper regarding the Lionel Mapoe ruling. The Sharks are, apparently, on the verge of a “wing crisis” as a result of judge Corne van Zyl’s decision that Mapoe must return to Bloemfontein.
There aren’t really any particularly new developments, here; simply the fact that Mapoe must leave, coupled with a large offer on the table (from the Lions) for the services of JP Pietersen. This is something that we have known about for some time and reported on before. Newspapers love to create crises, don’t they? For the Sharks, it’s pretty important to quickly put this Mapoe debacle to bed and look to the future.
I see this one as a similar situation to the supposed “lock crisis” that was spoken about during the Super 14, when the Sharks, despite having 8 former SA age group second rowers in their system, were alleged to have no depth in the second row. The reality is that we have just as much good wing talent floating around in the system and there really isn’t a huge amount of cause for concern.
Don’t get me wrong – the Sharks MUST do whatever possible to hang onto Pietersen. He is a key member of our team and has been well treated in the past, so I don’t believe he would necessarily want to leave, unless the prospect of working more closely with Dick Muir, coupled with a lot more money, persuades him. The Sharks, though, having saved on the Million-plus Rand a year that Mapoe would have earned, should presumably have a wee bit more budget on hand to retain JP. Coupled with hat is the fact that Dick Muir does hardly any hands-on coaching in Joburg and is unlikely to again, given the resurgence of the team’s fortunes under current coach John Mitchell.
In Lwazi Mvovo, the Sharks have one of the best up-and-coming wingers in the country and if he doesn’t tour with the Boks later this year, it will be a travesty. Outisde of Pietersen and Mvovo, other wing options in the senior squad include Odwa Ndungane, Louis Ludik and Stefan Terblanche (don’t be too surprised if he’ still playing next year), while a player who showed tremendous potential earlier in his career, Luzuko Vulindlu, seems to be making his way back into the set up after a few injury and form problems of late. Zuks has all of the attributes to make it as a top winger, with considerable bulk, tons of speed and a truly awesome sidestep as well. All the raw material is there – the Sharks must simply find ways to unlock his potential.
Let’s not forget young Mark Richards either, a lad who has shown that he is all heart and guts and has emerged as one of the leading try scorers in this year’s under 21 competition. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he is a silky runner, quick and elusive and tackles way above his weight. Hell, if the Stormers can get away with playing guys like Joe Pietersen and Gio Aplon on the wing in Super rugby, there’s no reason the Sharks couldn’t use Richards to equally good effect there, since he’s about the same size. Also keep a look out for Sibusiso Sithole, a young winger who toured with the SA Under 20 side to Argentina earlier this year and is currently in the SA Sevens squad for the Commonwealth games. He’s another who is big, fast and strong and showed in the IRB Junior Championship that he certainly knows how to score tries.
Big Kenyan Daniel Oijambo, currently playing as a loose forward in the under 21 side, is another who could make a huge impression at wing, if the coaches choose to return him to that position. All-in-all, no shortage of talent in the system and, as always, the question is whether the Sharks coaching team will be prepared to work with what we have and turn one or two of the raw youngsters into potential superstars like Mvovo. Hell, we might then find ourselves with so many wingers that we can afford to lend one or two to the Cheetahs to help them out…
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not too sure about this, but I heard that Odwa’s contract is up at the end of this season. and some reports would have you believe he is on the way to the bulls.
it would be a strange decision by him, since he would probably be at least third in the pecking order at the bulls as well.
With potential larger squads in the S15, we can afford to give this youngsters gametime here and there. Let the Cheetahs keep their poe for themselves. 🙂
@bloubulblog (Comment 1) : I seriously doubt that. Odwa is better than JvdW, Mametsa, Groepes and Akona, how could he be 3rd choice 😉
I am not too concerned about the depth. I am more pissed at the system that has failed to protect this young man’s right to decent income.
@bloubulblog (Comment 1) : howzit Laagvat… good to see you hear.
That’s an interesting one indeed. Odwa started at the Bulls, of course, but didn’t really do well there. Surprised to hear he’d think of going back.
You okes are in the same sort of position as us, though… need to start backing your young wingers (Mastriet, Blommetjies, etc) to deliver the goods. Basson was a quality purchase… hope Oom Harold doesn’t stuff that one up for you! (Actually, I hope he does!)
@Jarson (Comment 3) : I’ll pick Odwa ahead of any of those three any day of the week and twice on Sundays
@jarson
you forgot to mention our two first choice wings, gerhard van den heever and bjorn basson 😉
thanks, rob.
not sure what his reasoning is supposed to be. do you know whether is contract will be renewed? can’t think that you will let him go, with the new super rugby format
Morning guys! Finished my weekly browse of the Sharks training sessions on gallo images…hey living in centurion we have to make plan to see how the guys are going! 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Completely agree, when I read that article this morning I thought “who comes up with this crap”…I also thought the Sharks don’t really lack depth on the wings…some of the guys playing for the under 21’s have been playing brilliantly…with the amount of time he spends in the backline, we might as well get Matfield to play on the wings for us! 😉 hehe
@bloubulblog (Comment 7) : I rate Vd Heever, but I forgot about Basson, he is afterall not a Bull…yet 😳
and how about andries bekker on the other wing?
@jarson
vd heever has been dissappointing this currie cup season, but i think it has more to with his centres. i wouldn’t pick him for the boks EOYT though, there are other wings in front of him in the queue. he could have been considered for the wales\italy matches perhaps, but not on current form.
@bloubulblog (Comment 11) : he would also be a good winger…he loves staying out there where the last ruck happened! 🙂
Sharks would be mad to let Odwa go. Simply crazy
Guys I spoke to JP At the Ladies breakfast he told us he is staying at the Sharks and Stefan annonced at his question and answer time that he has signed with the Sharks for an other year
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : Good news that…so Oupa has another year in him?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : That’s great to hear 😀
Mapoe should do the same thing SBW did. Go and play in Europe until his contract with the Harold Versters expires and then come back.
Crap, BlouBulBlog ❗ ❗ ❗ Getting concerned about the number of other union supporters on SHARKSworld. 😳 😯 🙄 Now Clayton and WPW are going to have their hands full on the blog for this weekends game. Anyway, Really hope JP and Odwa stays. Theyve been pretty solid the last couple of years. And we are just starting to get a real backline moving.
@SharksRTB (Comment 19) : No need to be so hostile….chill dude 🙄
@sharksrtb
just here to keep you guys honest 😉
@bloubulblog (Comment 11) :
Andries will take over from Matfield soon!!
They are after all similar type players!!
Lock forward/Centres cum wingers!!
@bloubulblog (Comment 21) : yeah sharksrtb, keeping us honest, like the bulls management have to keep their supporters honest with the warning issued today! 🙂 haha…just kidding BBB!
@Pokkel (Comment 20) : Ah, you again. No hostility there bru. Just a comment. Read it completely. You are a very sensitive person hey? 😥
Yay!! I have my 1st star! 🙂 hahaha
@bloubulblog (Comment 21) : No probs there! Can guarantee you some interesting blog comments while you are here. Personally, I still think if the Bulls only get their small toe into the semi’s they might once again go all the way 😐 😐 😐
@AlienArmy (Comment 25) : 😆
@SharksRTB (Comment 26) : Unfortunately that’s the truth, I think they are going to beat Province this weekend, but only by a few.
@sharksrtb
thanks, man. that small toe is what we are hoping for. but the problem will be for our boks to gel quickly.
i’ll tell you this, whether anyone outside of pta rates him or not, wynand olivier alone will make a huge difference for us.
Once again, you guys blow me away with your maturity! Thanks to all concerned.
@bloubulblog (Comment 29) : Firstly, to reply to a comment, click the grey arrow next to the name of the person who posted the comment 🙂 (I also got the speech, hehe) secondly, no I don’t rate meisiekind, she’s, ag sorry, he’s an ok CC or Super rugby player…but that’s it really…
@bloubulblog (Comment 29) : don’t feel offended though, I feel very much the same about Jacobs for us…not a big fan…
@AlienArmy (Comment 31) : Thanks, AA! (for some reason abbreviating your nick, does not sound quite right…)
no problem, i know he isn’t rated very highly, and it is a fact that he hasn’t performed as well as expected in the green and gold.
i seem to have semi-hijacked this thread, wasn’t the idea. just wanted to get some ‘kruisbestuiwing’ on ideas from other union;s supporters.
Don’t stress. Thread hijacking is virtually guaranteed to happen at some stage 😉
@bloubulblog (Comment 33) : haha, no worries…nothing like talking to yourself! 🙂
and I bet if you asked my better half, abbreviating to AA will make perfect sense! 🙂
@bloubulblog (Comment 33) : Hi fellow blue-blooded one 😀 Word of warning though – never “chat” here without wearing a flak jacket – things can get a bit dangerous for us Bulle here 😯
Only joking, dear Finned Ones – apart from 1 or 2 bloggers, you guys are mostly a nice bunch
thanks, diablo! will keep it in mind…
@diablo (Comment 36) : “finned” ones! LOL – thanx “horned” one! 😆
@Ice (Comment 38) : We all have our little “appendages” 😉 – weetie wat WP s’n is nie ❓
Pleased for Mapoe that this saga is over and he can get to play. Even if it is for the Cheetahs. Not sure he will gel straight back in there but at least he can start playing rugby again. Hope Cheetahs pay him more than the R13 000 a month they were. He is worth way more than that. Also hope he heads back to the Sharks once his contract is done with Cheetahs end of Oct next year.
Agree with Rob, Sharks would be crazy to let Odwa go and we just HAVE to keep JPP. Also think Zuks could play there. Squads for next year need to be bigger. Players need to be rotated more and maybe even miss games to keep them fresh. So the bigger the squad the better.
@bloubulblog (Comment 1) : @robdylan (Comment 14) : According to Ian Schwartz, BB Hig Performance Manager, OddOne has signed with the Sharks – so no move to the Bulls to join his boet. 😉
thanks for posting that here, diablo. just saw it as well.
it did sound like there was some kind of interest from the bulls…
@diablo (Comment 40) : that was actually in an answer to one of my questions…
@bloubulblog (Comment 42) :
@diablo (Comment 39) : steeltjie?? 😆
@diablo (Comment 40) : Good news for the Sharks….Odwa might not be the fastest anymore but he makes up for it through hard work.
@Ice (Comment 44) : rofl
Wonder what “they” would think about it 😉
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : Always a pleasure to be the bearer of good tidings. 😀
@bloubulblog (Comment 41) : only because their twin is broken…
@lostfish (Comment 47) : so true… apparently our twin will only be setting foot on a rugby field in feb next year…
aikona…
@Pokkel (Comment 45) : and what would a Sharks game be without Odwa knocking on at the tryline 😈 he better not be doing any of that in the coming weeks or the baby shark might come early 😯
@bloubulblog (Comment 48) : luckily for you that you have good depth at wing.
@lostfish (Comment 49) : when I got my jersey signd yesterday, I asked him “u did score the 1s try in the pink game, did u not” so he said: “uhmm, ja, I think so, at least one I did not knock” LOL – lovely guy!
Ice the pictures have really come out lekker! Will forward yours to you tomorrow dont have email at home I live in a dorpie its over a year we are waiting for an ADSL Line 👿 I dont know if I will be able to show my other half all the photos dont know what he will say of me sitting on Alberts lap
Ice the pictures have really come out lekker! Will forward yours to you tomorrow dont have email at home I live in a dorpie its over a year we are waiting for an ADSL Line 👿 I dont know if I will be able to show my husband all the photos, dont know what he will say of me sitting on Alberts lap
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 53) : great! And me on Beasts lap! LOL
@Ice (Comment 51) : That is funny. He does make up for that with the amount of work he does but it is so frustrating sometimes.
Hi all
great Rob just great this is what really gets to me the outside always blame Sharks for stealing and dealing from other teams but my word i think its time they do a bit of checking who is doing what and when
With that of my chest Mapoe will become a SHARK it time when he contract is over how long is his contract with the Cheetahs
Pietersen well SHARKS hold on to him 😆 as long is need that for is until he is 35 – 40 that is if he can play good for so long 🙄 😉
@bloubulblog (Comment 1) : 👿 😈 blue bulls 😳 😉
Don’t you think you got one brother already and then you still hv eyes for our one just leave him alone until when ever 😉
@Jarson (Comment 2) : well now i am feeling a bit better 😕 but one problem will plumpie gv them game time looks like if most of our snr players are going all over the show he’s going to hv to let jnr guys play together to get them ready for S15 and CC 🙂
@rugbypedia (Comment 4) : he is been under payed by the FS i think he should [email protected]#ke 😳 until they give him more buks like a couple of Grand etc will do 😕 not just 5G etc 😳 😉
@bloubulblog (Comment 1) : how will it feel if we buy GVH
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
😉
@chaz (Comment 60) : gawd forbid
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : amen for that
@chaz (Comment 60) : i surely wouldn’t enjoy that. he does need to start pulling his weight though
@Ice (Comment 62) : why 😕 he is still young and we can train him to be the best 😳
oh my he really reminds me of their head pusher 😳
@bloubulblog (Comment 64) : agree 🙄 what do you teach the young talent of the bulls he is becoming more like that head pusher of your Bakkies
@bloubulblog (Comment 64) : we can make him size 😉
hey joke no you can keep him i’ll stick with lambie and mvovo and the rest of sharks young talent 😉
@SharksRTB (Comment 19) : gee i thought i was bad last night eish S RTB 😉
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 15) : I believe he might have another year in him, but i wouldn’t want him to over-stay. Thought this was his final year but we still don’t have a 13, so we might need him come 2011.
Flyhalf and inside center seems to have been sorted out, but I’m still concerned about the outside center position. Do we actually have a professional number 13 not make do players who are played out of position?
Hey Robbo,
I see on rugby365 they published some numbers on Mapoe’s salary that says your agent friend was talking bullshit.
“…, who was on a R60,000 per annum junior contract with the Cheetahs last year, received an ‘increase’ from the Cheetahs in December – when they agreed to pay him R200,000 per year.
However, once he was named in the Cheetahs Super 14 squad at the beginning of the year, he became subject to the standard players’ agreement that stipulates a minimum monthly payment of R27,500…”
Lionel Mapoe – The Horse’s Mouth!
Thu 30 Sep 2010, 23:42 (1) 3 Comment(s) Email article
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Finally, we have the story from the horse’s mouth! Mapoe conducted an interview in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, and it has revealed just how inefficient the press can be. In cases such as this, you’ve really got to wonder about everything you read in the news, because most of the time, it’s simply journalists trying to make a living – never mind integrity, or trying to find out the truth! Before I reveal what Mapoe said about his ordeal, let’s highlight some interesting facts the press have seemingly missed:
• SARPA CEO Piet Heymans confirmed that the Cheetahs owe Mapoe R90 000, after his agent (van Wyk) found he was being exploited; he wasn’t being paid the minimum wage according to the collective bargaining agreement – he should have been receiving R10 000 a month, instead of his R5 000.
• During the Super 14, his salary increased to R27 000 pm for 4 months due to competition regulations.
• From November 2008 to October 2009, a percentage of Mapoe’s salary R5k pm salary was deducted by the Cheetahs for his SARPA fees. However, SARPA didn’t receive any money for that period. Verster’s response: ‘We’ve dealt with all of that. We’ve paid all the money over to SARPA now.’
Talking about his salary grievances, Mapoe says: ‘It felt like they didn’t really care about me. I was playing well last year, but being a professional rugby player is not only about 80 minutes on the field. There’s a lot more to it and it’s also about what happens before and after the game. I wasn’t happy off the field. I still motivated myself to play well despite the salary, to prove a point to them, and I didn’t show them that I was unhappy. But I was put off by certain things, like what happened after I had the operation on my shoulder. No one from the team or management came to see me for the three days I was in hospital.’
Mapoe tried to cancel his contract once he had found out how he’d been duped, and he moved to the Sharks once he thought it had been done. He’s adamant he won’t return to the Cheetahs. ‘They had their chance to keep me, but they didn’t take me seriously. I want to play for the Sharks, not the Cheetahs. I don’t have anything against the team, but I don’t want to be there anymore. The move had been a long time coming. I’d been upset for a while. They didn’t treat me well – you just have to look at my contract to see that. I always thought I’d move one day, but I’m a far better player than what my contract says – my agent couldn’t believe I’d signed it. Jan-Harm said I must just give my best on the field, and he’ll do his best to get me a good contract. We spoke to the Cheetahs when I was still there and they said they’d give me a good one. It didn’t happen. The relationship originally broke down between us when I found out they weren’t paying me the minimum wage. I couldn’t understand why I was getting so much less than all of my team-mates.’
‘It was strange for me, I couldn’t work out their reasoning. They didn’t want to pay me what I’m worth, but they didn’t release me and later fought for me in an arbitration case. That was a bad time for me. When Free State won the case, it held me back again, because I had told them I didn’t want to be there.’
De Villiers left Mapoe out his EOYT plans last year, saying that he didn’t want to make it easy for someone to get into the squad, it now appears he missed his opportunity to test Mapoe at all. Lionel: ‘At the start of last year’s Currie Cup, I didn’t think of the Springboks. But after the season, I was disappointed not to make the squad. I was worried I could have done more. I said 2010 will be the year they can’t leave me out. But everything that’s happened over the past year has knocked me back a bit. But my family, agent, and the Sharks kept me motivated. John Plumtree’s spoken to me virtually every morning and told me to vasbyt, they want me on the field.’
After being asked about his Australian options, Mapoe replied: ‘I only want to play for the Springboks.’
Mapoe hasn’t returned to Bloemfontein, even though he was ordered to by 15:00 on Thursday afternoon. I’m not sure what happens next, but this has simply gone on too long now. The Cheetahs, by putting Mapoe on the field, would be compromising the efforts of any other wing that aspires to get some game time. He simply doesn’t want to be there; there is no rational person on this earth that would put Mapoe on the field for the Cheetahs. Maybe if he refused to tackle his opposition, he’d be in breach of contract?
@Ice (Comment 52) :
It sucks catching up after not reading the site for a while.
Odwa didn’t score the 1st try.
Alberts did.
Sequence of tries was
Alberts
Ndungane
McLeod
Kockott
Christo Buchner – Beeld.
The Sharks cant counter offer the Lions’ bid for JPP’s services. It’s to much and the Mapoe saga has already cost them a lot of money 😯
@Jarson (Comment 74) : also add the cost of contracting john smit for one more season(one super15 season,not even a few cc games)..but i hope that jp stays..perhaps the sharks will have money for the 2012 season to make up for whatever they short pay him in the 2011 season or something..hope a deal between the sharks and jpp can be brokered asap.. and kankowski..need those 2 players and they are ours(sharks)!!
According to the Beeld JP Pieterson is on his way to the LIONS!
This is not good news. We`re already thin at 13 to now lose our only bok wing as well . . .sigh
Come on Sharks release John Smit so we can afford to hold on to JP. We have quality hookers! 👿
@Original Pierre (Comment 76) : I agree 🙁
Seems the sharks are too busy running around with court cases to care about their players.
Priorities guys. Stop this Mapoe madness and take care of what we`ve got! 👿
Calm down guys.
The Lions dont have many big salary players, and are looking for ONE marque player to convince people they are on the up.
The Sharks would do more harm if they overpaid JPP, as other players would want more too, and in future we would be held over the barrel at contract negotiation time.
I have rated JPP from day one, and I hope he stays, but breaking the bank in this way would be a mistake by the Sharks. Hopefully their are other factors that will make him stay – ala Matfield and Botha at the Bulls.
As for the Mapoe saga, I doubt very much it has cost so much that it is the difference here.