Despite reports in the Beeld newspaper that Riaan Viljoen has signed a contract with the Sharks for next season, the player’s agent has told Sharksworld that nothing has been signed and he is hoping to make an announcement of Viljoen’s future next week.
We would do well to remember that the same newspaper reported last year that both John Smit and JP Pietersen had both definitely signed for the Lions. Obviously neither of those signings came to fruition although there was genuine interest from the Lions in both players.
There have been media reports linking Viljoen to both Western Province and the Sharks and these look like being the two teams within South Africa who may be in contention to sign the Griquas fullback. Just to reiterate, nothing has been signed and we all await to see where Viljoen goes next season.
More on this as we get it . . .
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Would rather get an established number 4 lock, but it would be interesting to see, if this is indeed true, if it would lead to Ludik playing 13?
Wtf Beeld?
Would be a solid signing; but i would be a lot more happy if it was Robert Ebersohn or even more so a NO.4 like Francois Uys.
I’m sad coz we recently released a useful fullback in the form of Wynand Pienaar who I thought had the potential to as a minimum match Riaan’s achievements in the next 12 months
Rob,
Any report on last night’s friendly. Who impressed you?
@MerckZ (Comment 1) : Really doubt Sharks will make that mistake, again. We saw what moving to 13 did to Stef’s game. Also we have Joubert and probably Jacobs at a later stage in the CC Season. And next year young P.Jordaan should also be coming into the Frame.
Moving Ludik to 13 would be a very desperate move and would also be a punch in the face for our youth Structures.
@dawj (Comment 5) : I didn’t see the game
hold on, the sharks arre thinking of siging viljoen?At fullback we’ve got gouws prinsloo whose come through the academy as well as ludick. I personally hope they back prinsloo instead who incidentally scored 2 tries last night. Hopefully its just a rumour or province get him instead.
I want Viljoen to be a Shark! I will sleep well knowing that he is our fullback. Now to get Whitehead or Robert to sort out our outside centre issues.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 9) : i know he’s a good player and all but it just pisses me off whenv the youngsters do well and then we break out the check book instead of backing them
I’ve just heard something that makes me think that the agent is misleading us…
Dear Mr Viljoen.
Please would you rather sign with Western Province?
Certain players just have that inherent “quality” that only makes them suitable to play for certain teams.
Juan Smith will be out of place at the Sharks.
Butch James would be out of place at the Bulls.
Deon Stegmann and Derrick Kuun would be out of place at the Sharks.
I’m afraid you would be out of place at the Sharks, the Stormers will be a good team to go to.
Regards
Me.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : refer my earlier email.
Agents are ALL about misleading people.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 9) : Whitehead??? Why? Got no real growth/development potential. He has already reached his peak and to be honest it is nothing more than a good VC Player.
R u by any chance Ezequiel from TRF? 🙂
Dear Mr Streauli.
WAKE THE F??K UP!!!
Regards
Me.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 15) : LOL 🙂
Viljoen is a special player (x factor)! And ludick he is not. Like 2 c him in da sharks set up. Adi, stefan etc must leave da game. We need new blood at centre.
Damnit…I am gonna gave to try REAL hard to likethis guy…cannot stand his “I sniff shit somewhere” expression on his face!
@Ice (Comment 18) : c’mon, Icey…. that’s hardly fair?
@robdylan (Comment 19) : He just reminds me way to much of Phillip burger….but I will support his play!!!! 😉
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Rob – sorry – I am a woman….if something puts me off , it does – it’s like certain Bulls players who just ahev a look about them that i dont like. Similar to a through on my couches being sat on – not perfect….perhaps some sort of Compulsive Disorder Syndrome..?
@JJR (Comment 14) : Nope, I’m not. We need more game breakers in the backline..look at the Reds this morning, they have Genia, Quade, Digby etc..we just have Lambie (JP and Mvovo are finishers)!! Scary . Robert seems to be a die hard Cheetah, JdJ seems to be a die hard Stormer so who else is out there? When in doubt, fetch a backline player from WP’s system. Ask the Bulls, I think they got it 100% correct with those 2 boys. We need to sign Viljoen, as much as I love the Sharks, I have always been fair on my views about our players.Ludik is good but this level just requires more from a fullback which happens to be a very important position under these rules.
Again – I would not mind the signing…really.
I was happy till I saw he is 28 already,rather give that young fullback de kock or whatever a chance
@Honey Badger (Comment 24) : too late she cried 🙁
@Honey Badger (Comment 24) : Would have loved that but de Kock is gone. Sharks didn’t offer him a new contract.
@robdylan (Comment 25) : How awesome are the Sharks? They let de Kock go because we have to many young fullbacks coming through and then they go and look to buy another one.
@robdylan (Comment 25) :
@Ben (Comment 26) : WTF
@robdylan (Comment 11) : What did you hear? Misleading us in what way?
@Honey Badger (Comment 28) : 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 25) : So you are saying we have signed him and de kock is gone.I am going to puke not so much of RV but because of de kock
@Ben (Comment 30) : Mind bottling
@Ben (Comment 27) : yup… pretty much. Wynand Pienaar too… Crazy, huh? They could’ve at least given de Kock and/or Pienaar a run in the Currie Cup to see how they go
@Honey Badger (Comment 31) : I don’t know for sure, but my sources (the ones I trust) tell me that we have actually signed him. Viljoen and Mostert have the same agent and I suspect there may have been a little horse trading involved here.
As for Kobus, yes… I can confirm that the Sharks opted not to give him a contract after the Vodacom Cup. Can’t say anything just yet about what his future holds because it’s all still a bit up in the air
@robdylan (Comment 34) : That kid has the x-factor,pat,him and fred would make a sick backline,with mvovo jp and adi.
@robdylan (Comment 33) : I concur. Bit of a anti climax that the Sharks have a academy.
But don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with Riaan Viljoen. I think he will add plent of value to the team with his big boomin Boot.
go check youtchoep for Viljoen’s 62m penalty against WP back in 2008…
@robdylan (Comment 38) : He’s a lot like Francois Steyn. Just much more of a team player, if you catch my drift.
@robdylan (Comment 33) : Rob it wud be interesting to find out what the powers that be didn’t like about Pienaar. He looked like a well balanced player with plenty of desire. I really thought he had the skills to make a successful transition to senior Sharks rugby.
Personally I wasn’t crazy about de Kock, particularly after the Lions game when I thought his poor positional play and uncomfortableness under the high ball made him a bit of a high risk player – I wud however be the first to say that KdK was worth his weight in gold ogoing fwd. Unfortunately for him, top level rugby is about mastering both disciplines.
@beet (Comment 40) : But Beet surely catching a ball can be taught easier than sniffing a gap and making those line breaks.
@Ben (Comment 41) : There can’t be any misconception about the skill sets needed to succeed at the top level. For every 1 player that makes the big times, there are probably 20 or more guys who at some point were almost as good who didn’t get there. You have to ask why.
I’m not a coach so I can’t say for sure what KdK needed to do to earn more time to prove himself. But I do know that if everything came down to fine tuning we’d be overstocked with players knocking on the door of the senior team – our Vodacom Cup regular season finish points to the fact that we have plenty of room for improvement in the backup divisions.
@beet (Comment 42) : our Vodacom Cup regular season finish points to the fact that we have plenty of room for improvement in the backup divisions.
Plenty more articles need to be written on that point alone, I feel… we crucify Plum for not backing these boys, but with his job just about always on the line, is he perhaps right not to?
Please don’t be true 😕
@robdylan (Comment 43) : But is his job about always on the line?
Any chance of Butch being available at a bargain price currently?
@beet (Comment 40) : I also watched that game and wasn’t too impressed, to be fair though it was only one game.
If Viljoen keeps his form he would be a great addition to the Sharks. Ludik can be a benchwarmer. Imagine having a back three of JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo and Riaan Viljoen! Mvovo’s speed, power and youth mixed with the pace and experience of Pietersen along with the solid boot of Viljoen; and let’s not forget Ndungane’s experience from the bench or a solid fullback back-up in Ludik.
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 48) : And let’s not forget the up-and-coming Mark Richards.
@rekinek (Comment 45) : I don’t know… I believe he was under some real pressure towards the end of the super 15 season this year.
Viljoen would be good for the sharks but they need a scrumhalf to
@robdylan (Comment 50) :
You “believe” he was under some serious pressure?
After yet another mediocre Super Rugby season, you can “believe” that I would be pretty pissed off if he wasn’t.
All his attacking potential and cannon boot do not make up for his lack of attitude ob defense.
I believe Riaan viljoen played for the sharks u21 side. Interesting that we let him go.
@Ben (Comment 39) : He actually strikes me as a sullen guy who is anything BUT a team player.
@rekinek (Comment 44) : It seems like it is true. 😥
Why can’t Streauli buy someone to replace himself? 👿
@KSA Shark © (Comment 55) : Why?
Because Ben. Strauli let’s very good youngsters go and signs cheap journeymen.
@Speed7 (Comment 58) : hey speedy, how’s the lions for the CC
@Speed7 (Comment 58) : Dude please go and look at which comment from KSA I asked the question.
@Ben (Comment 57) : Why is the sky blue? 🙂
I can’t give you a reason such as “he ties his shoelaces with one hand” or something like that. He just strikes me as a sullen non-team player. That is what his body language and attitude portraits to me.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 61) : So are you now a psychologist?? Analysing the body language of the players to devise what kind of person they are? 😈
PS. There is actually a very good reason why the sky is blue which you can find by googling “why is the sky blue?” 🙄
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 62) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 61) : too much knowlegde on this site 🙂
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 62) : Well then Google why I don’t like the guy.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 64) : Yes maybe I will, 💡 “The Psychology of Not Liking Certain Rugby Players”!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 64) : @The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 65) : hahaha funny guys 🙂
I saw on Keo that SBW may play for the Chiefs next year
I would really like Viljoen to join the Sharks. He’s got some real attacking flair from fullback and a huge boot.
Nothing wrong with this signing(if it happens)
@Pokkel (Comment 68) : Pokkel, where do see Ludik fitting in if Viljoen joins? Or will it be tickets for Ludik?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 64) : I agree, hence my comment for which I got slapped on the wrists…Maybe my way of explaining was just not too subtle…
@beet (Comment 69) : You still need a SQUAD for Superugby so Ludick will still be in the mix.
Stef need to hang up his boots now anyways so we will need fullback cover.
@Pokkel (Comment 68) : With you on that one.
@beet (Comment 69) : I think if this just completed Super 15 has made clear it is that depth is really important. I think Ludik will be just as important player in the squad as he was this year just that his duties will be shared. Plum will be much more inclined to rotate Ludik with an experienced player than a greenhorn especially in the Super 15.
I like Viljoen….he is probably one of the most naturally talented players in SA together with Sarel Pretorius.
He has the freedom to play his natural game at the Cheetah’s I just hope Plum doesn’t coach all the talent away in the first season. 😈
I reckon Riaan Viljoen was the standout fullback in SA during the S15 with perhaps Taute as the only other fullback that stood out.
@Pokkel (Comment 68) : My point exactly.