Today in a local newspaper it was confirmed – like we did months ago – that Francois Steyn wants to come back and play in SA.
Steyn, who was one of the best players in the Springbok squad this past Worldcup and in my opinion one of the best players per se, will certainly have a choice like no other player has ever had.
I am sure that offers will not be scarce. And the ball will be in his court, so to speak!
So many teams could do with the caliber player that Frans Verstaan has become.
The Sharks certainly can do with an inside centre, with us being very thin in that department. WP can argue that they are depleted completely with Sadie and Fourie out. There is also not a lot of the usual names on the Bulls contract sheet left. Freestate will probably claim him as their own and the Lions have been hunting the man for some time now.
I want Fransie to return to the Sharks. He has always been a talented player, but to me has leapfrogged, since he has been playing in France. He is a massive talent, and I think the guy has grown up quite a bit!
Below you can debate and give your arguments on why you think your team deserves to have him after his contract expire in June 2012! It must be pretty damn awsome for a young player to be spoilt for choice!
PS. Gerrie Swart: I’ll do something I don’t normally do: *going on knees, praying hands* “PLEASE can you convince Frans to let bygones be bygones and get him a deal with the Sharks??? PLEASE????”
Tweet
I heard a rumour, can’t remember where, that Frans only wants to play for the Cheetahs if he comes back. Not sure how true it is. He’s been earning 750 000 euros a year at Racing (per wikipedia) so money shouldn’t really be an issue for him. That said i’d love to see him back in a Sharks jersey, the kid is an awesome player.
From a Springbok perspective – which is what I really care about.
The Cheetahs are the best fit.
He wants to play 12. He should play 12. If he goes back to the Sharks, he’ll end up playing everywhere else but 12 again!
At the Cheetahs he’ll be playing the sort of rugby that suits his game. He’ll also turn that backline into something very competitive overnight.
I’d love to have him for Province, but the best option for the Springboks is for him to go to the Cheetahs.
Nah get him to the Sharks! I’m pretty sure that he can basically tell the union (in so many words) that he plays 12 and only 12.
Good for the Bokke hendrik? It would be better for him at the Sharks, since he, Lambie and Whitehead could form the core of the midfield in years to come.
@PTAShark (Comment 3) :
Tbh, I don’t see him and Whitehead alongside each other as a good fit.
Whitehead would be a short-term solution in the 13 jersey. Ideally you’d want a guy with more penetration. Someone who can open it up… that is definitely not Whitehead.
Him, Johan Goosen & Robert Ebersohn. Wouldn’t be a bad inside-back combo even for the Boks.
@hendrikp (Comment 2) : I disagree…IF Plum has learnt anything he will use him at 12 – the whole world and their mothers could see that this is the position he belongs in, and anyone that argues differently is a coaches ass!
I do believe that the 2010 CC rugby style played by the Sharks suites Fransies game. With the players we have in some of the important possies, he will fit in great. Lambie, Mvovs, Steyn, Whithead / Bosman / JLP, JPP, Ludik / Viljoen
Ice, you looking for Gerrie’s cell number, skat? 🙂
@Ice (Comment 5) :
Names like Mvovo, JLP, Ludik, Bosman, Whitehead…
Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Patrick Lambie & JP Pietersen are the obvious stand-outs of the current lot.
It doesn’t matter though, the Sharks had their chance with him, just like they had with Ruan Pienaar.
But they didn’t see what they had, so won’t get them back.
I have also heard the “money is no issue” argument / rumour – I say bullshit! A rugby player has just a limited “work” life – no one is gonna tell me anyone will settle for 20K a month when he can earn R300k a month. That would just be a bit dumb and won’t make any business sense. Afterall – this is not amateur times anymore. Rugga is a business.
The bulls do not need steyn because we have the 4 Grey College VIP Centres.
Francois Venter
Small Smth
Serfontein
Swanepoel
You can even add Bossie at 12.
@hendrikp (Comment 7) : Sometimes people need to get the right combination of key players around them to reach their true potential – and that is what can happen if you do not have average players around u, u step up your game. I have always maintained that mediocracy creates mediocracy…so someone like Frans on your out / inside can create magic!
@robdylan (Comment 6) : ja samblief!! 😉
@Ice (Comment 8) :
What’s to say the Cheetahs don’t have the money?
They’ve just cut their yearly roster by about 40%, and have managed to retain players like Juan Smith, the Ebersohn brothers etc.
They just wouldn’t make him an offer “he can’t refuse”, as they don’t have money to waste.
@hendrikp (Comment 7) : Oh…an neither does “Ebersohn”…
@Muzi (Comment 9) :
Doesn’t matter who you have, you don’t turn away one of the best players in the world.
Especially not one that can kick 60m+ penalties, or dropgoals from even further at altitude.
It would be a case of him holding out some very good players though if he were to go to the Bulls.
And definitely not the ideal fit.
@hendrikp (Comment 4) : I disagree 100%. Whitehead is a 13, he bring what Conrad Smith brings to any side he plays for at 13. Brains!!
@Ice (Comment 12) :
Ebersohn doesn’t what?
He’s in the top 3 outside-centres left, alongside Juan de Jongh & Johann Sadie.
@hendrikp (Comment 11) : They had to cut their roster to afford Brussouw and Smith. So no chance of them offering Steyn a bucketload. And Whitehead will fit nicely next to Steyn. Steyn makes space for Whitehead, put him into gaps and away we go!
@GreatSharksays (Comment 14) :
He hasn’t even played Super rugby, and he didn’t blow anyone away when playing Currie Cup.
I’m looking at him as a development project. Better him then a total disaster, basically…
But if you think you’re getting a Conrad Smith, well you’re going to be disappointed.
@hendrikp (Comment 13) :
Then again, playing inside his probably Springbok centre-partner for the next few years, Johann Sadie, could work well.
Steyn won’t go near the Bulls. They are way too structured and rigid in their game plans and philosophy. He’ll hate it there and he knows it.
@Ice (Comment 8) :
your almost sounding desperate 😉
@hendrikp (Comment 15) : Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence…
Haven’t seen Francois Venter from the Bulls mentioned as a possible centre partner for Steyn… He is a top youngster and if Frans joins ze bools they’ll be pretty potent outside Morne and Hougaard… 3 Francois’s and Morne… If that happens…
Ice, the Sharks don’t have R300k a month to pay Steyn, trust me on that…
@The Quirk (Comment 21) : oh Lord, don’t tell me you’re also part of this weird messiah cult that has formed around Francois Venter? 🙂
Who said we needed st
eyn anyway like i said we have serfontein and venter.
Enough said.
Mark my words Serfontein will rattle a few feathers. 😉
@Zibbie (Comment 19) : Ice Desperado…nice ring to it! 😆
I believe Frans could be the change we need so deperately, yes…
@Muzi (Comment 24) :
😆
@robdylan (Comment 22) : It was just a number! 😉 to prove a point..
@robdylan (Comment 23) : Sure the same can be said about Golden Boy Piet Lindeque. 😉
Lets even add Paul the bushmaster Jordaan.
@Ice (Comment 25) :
i think you should rather look to somebbody who can motivate the players
@Zibbie (Comment 26) : They asked for it. 🙂
@The Quirk (Comment 21) :
It hasn’t been mentioned because he’s not going to play ahead of Johann Sadie.
@Ice (Comment 27) : ja, but the number itself isn’t really that important… I’m hearing the Sharks are hardly cash-flush at the moment
@Ice (Comment 20) :
Think you’re not giving Ebersohn enough credit.
He does miss a few too many tackles though!
Inspires a heck of a lot more confidence then anything the Sharks can put forward though…
Only Sharks backs I’d genuinely target if I were another province wanting to poach would be Lambie & JP Pietersen.
@Zibbie (Comment 29) : our players don’t lack motivation – they lack basic coaching 🙂
If Piet Lindeque wants to get his rugby career back on track then he should give Ingo Marchts a call take the N3 drive up to bloem and join the Naka and his crew.
The sharks will sign Wandile because Wandile is a great talent.
I wouldn’t rule out lindeque joining williams,willie,pienaar at tukkies in two years time.
@robdylan (Comment 23) : No, not part of any cult, just like what i’ve seen so far. I suspect he’ll bench it next year and / or rotate with Sadie and Meisiekind…
@Zibbie (Comment 29) : Do you know Malcom Marx
@hendrikp (Comment 33) : and only Province backs I’d target would be… oh wait, all the good ones have already been snapped up 🙂
@Muzi (Comment 35) : I also wouldn’t rule out the Bulls finishing in the bottom 4 of Super Rugby in 2012 🙂
@The Quirk (Comment 36) : Thats the plan and i ahave to agree with our beloved Heyneke Meyer Venter will be a bok soon. 🙂
@The Quirk (Comment 36) : Muzi is the cult leader. Tells us that Venter is already a shoe-in for a Bok starting spot and that Arno Botha should be captaining the national side.
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
Good point! 😆
Juan de Jongh & Gio Aplon maybe?
They would come as a packaged deal though I’m guessing. Look inseparable.
@Muzi (Comment 40) :
I wouldn’t say soon…
Maybe on the 2012 EOYT, but he’s unlikely to get much time as a starter in the Super 15.
Maybe if there are injuries ❗
You would think he’s competing with Jean de Villiers for a spot. Depends who the coach is at the end of the day!
Rob Dylan is the only Sharks supporter i know that does not rate arno botha.
Rob do yourself a favour go have a quick word with one of the sharks under 21 players ask them about arno.
😉
@Muzi (Comment 37) : no … should i ?
@robdylan (Comment 38) :
😆
@robdylan (Comment 39) :
that would make my lifetime it will !!!!
Steyn will fit in perfectly at the Sharks. Anyone who thinks he will play anywhere else but at 12 will be kidding themselves. Seriously? How would Bosman keep Steyn out of the team?
@robdylan (Comment 32) : hardly surprising if u take into consideration that they are paying a non-performer oldie a fortune…THAT was serious [email protected] business deal! And because of non-performing players who is getting more than they are worth, and who chase away fans, we cannot afford geTting decent players.
FIRE THE WHOLE BUNCH I SAY!! 😈
eish … are you people on leave already ? otherwise drinking in the middle of the week is not cool
@Muzi (Comment 37) : I thought we’d reached a wonderful agreement on Monday that you wouldn’t come here to talk about MM!
It’s irritating that you already know who you’re getting in 2013 and here in Sharksworld land we still don’t know all the players for 2012 🙁
BTW FYI : Eitel Bredenkamp to Maties in 2012.
I think after the Bok coach and first team of the year is announced it will be a lot clearer where Steyn will go. Ideally id like to see him at the Sharks working next to Lambie, but even him next to Johan Goosen or Elton Jantjies could be an interesting prospect. Strong competion amongst SA sides is good.
@Muzi (Comment 44) : didn’t say I don’t rate him… did say I don’t rate him as a definite Bok. There’s a huge difference.
I rate Botha as a very talented under 21 player. But fat whoop. We have hundreds of those in SA.
This guy I know, Rob Dylan gave his 99.77% assurance that Frans Steyn would hook up with the Cheetahs late in 2012. That’s like getting a say 30%-40% guarantee that’s what’s gonna happen.
@hendrikp (Comment 42) : definite no to Aplon. Too old.
As for de Jongh, not convinced. He got found out this year and looks pretty one-dimensional.
@beet (Comment 52) : Okay maybe just 17% conservatively
@robdylan (Comment 53) : to add to that, we have any number of one-dimensional centres of our own… no need to buy anyone else’s 🙂
@beet (Comment 52) : Read the malcom marx thingy
i’m not that surprised xander has a groot check book and the best job ever.
@beet (Comment 54) : you’re mighty lippy for a bloke without admin privileges…
@beet (Comment 54) : Absolute minimum 9% guarantee that Steyn is going to the Cheetahs.
@robdylan (Comment 57) : Why don’t you send Ice a “Told You So” calendar reminder for round about June 2012
@beet (Comment 52) : What exactly is Steyn holding against the Sharks?
@beet (Comment 49) : Eital Bredenkamp was the best openside flank in Pretoria.
He did not want to sign for the bulls 😈 .
So the bulls decided to select speedy Mabuza instead.
Serves him right. 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 53) :
How did he get found out?
I thought he did alright in a backline that wasn’t making things happen, and alongside Sadie was the spark that brought about the come-from-behind win against the Blues in Auckland.
He’d be a great fit in the Sharks midfield.
And yes, Aplon is old, but heck he’d still be your 2nd-best wing in the short term. Not a great investment though, I agree.
Here we go again
@hendrikp (Comment 62) : IMO de Jong is far better than any centre the Sharks have right now.
@hendrikp (Comment 62) : The stormers have De Jong and the Sharks have Bosman and Oupa Joubert.
Enough Said.
@Ben (Comment 63) :
Yea !!! lets pick a bunch of no names for the Boks hahaha … eish … at this rate im going to start drinking mid week
I’ve got to go with Rob regarding Arno Botha.
What I saw of him for the SA U20’s, he’s brilliant. Hell of a good player. Same with Francois Venter.
The difference is he needs to show mongrel if he wants to be a Springbok.
Definitely should be starting for the Bulls though!
@hendrikp (Comment 62) : I real pity we didn’t go for Sadie when he was on the market but I suspect that the Bulls freed up a lot of contract money when they knew the likes of FdP, Vic Mat, Bakkies and Danie weren’t going to be re-signed. That must have made it easy to put an irresistable offer on the table for young Sadie.
The Bulls could now have a better SR backline than the Stormers if they click.
@hendrikp (Comment 62) : I’d rather keep Mvovo thank you very much.
well WP have lost Sadie….JJ Engelbrecht….Fondse….A Van Zyl…..F Louw….J Fourie….
Hell Rassie….make a move on Frans please my man…
@Ben (Comment 64) : Will be interesting to see what DeJong can do as a regular starter. He definitely has the ability but seemed to miss a lot of tackles in 2011 where as before this was one of his strong points.
and whitehead of course….good buy by Sharks
@PTAShark (Comment 69) : damn straight… only one with rocks in their head picks Aplon ahead of Mvovo at wing.
@hendrikp (Comment 62) : De Jongh has only the inside step… doesn’t seem to be any other tool in his box at the moment.
@grant10 (Comment 70) :
Apprantly Rassie promised the moon and the stars to Taute … luckley he is a clever boy and didnt take the bate …
@Ben (Comment 60) : Frans in Durban just wasn’t a good fit. He was considered petulant and arrogant by players and coaches alike.
His reason for not going back is apparently resentment at the way Bashford shunted him around the backline.
@robdylan (Comment 73) :
I prefer a player with a bit of skill.
Not a touchline hugger.
Will never understand the obsession with Mvovo
Steyn is one hell of a talented player but he isn’t a team player and he still hasn’t learned to pass the ball when there is an overlap. He still wants to go for the glory by himself.
@robdylan (Comment 73) : And someone with bigger rocks in their heads pick Odwa ahead of Mvovo. 🙂
@Zibbie (Comment 75) : I heard WP made raids on Taute, Elton Jantjes and Brussow…all came to nought…..
some players wp lost , like F Louw, JF, A Van Zyl and Fondse , were very expensive salary wise…..so Rassie must have some fat in budget….also CJ was expensive…..so we must make a move on Frans
@robdylan (Comment 74) :
Beats having no tools in your box. 😆
@beet (Comment 59) : I can be very irritating 🙂 how about this.
The sharks hans scriba offers swanepoel and germishuys bursaries to varsity college at the festival. 😉
Ryan and Dries gloat about the sharks academy on national television by saying how great it is e.c.t.
Every tom,dick and harry thinks those two talented playes are sharkies already.
Out of the blue they have signed for the bulls.
Xander means business.
@Zibbie (Comment 75) : Well if Rassie is sitting on the stadium roof again the moon and stars arent too far away! Best he watch out for that strong cape wind though…
@hendrikp (Comment 67) : That Eben Estebeth has mongrel that kid loves inflicting pain.
That is why the bulls were so keen to sign him.
@Muzi (Comment 82) : well, it helps that Xander’s bosses have given him an actual budget to work with, hey?
Then again, with no stars in the senior side, the Bulls might as well spend their cash paying R3k a month to every schoolboy in the country.
@grant10 (Comment 72) : If WP sign Frans they lose quin roux,etsebeth, and jp du plessis will do a sadie on you guys. 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 85) : Its all well and good signing every good young schoolboy and u19 there is BUT then what happens to your u21s or current Boks when those school boys and u19s want to play senior rugby? Are the Bulls going to discard the likes of Sadie,Venter etc when this next group are over 21? If so they welcome to come to Durban when they are 25 and over the hill 😉
@grant10 (Comment 80) :
for a change Lions players are saying nee dankie for bigger offers from other unions .. i might have hope yet !!!
“If so they welcome to come to Durban when they are 25 and over the hill” 🙂
I will say it again.
Enough said
That is why Piet Lindeque has not played senior rugby yet. 🙂
The only great,major and eye catching signing that had supporters in durban excited was the one and only Sharky the Mascot. 🙂
Geez like it was big news i tell you.
Priceless
@Muzi (Comment 89) : Lindeque is a still a kid thats why he hasnt got a chance in Senior rugby! I think we should mayb wait a year or 2 before bragging about the signings Tukkies and the Bulls have made cos they cant all play and will be on the next Gautrain out of PTA if they not in the Bulls senior side every week!
Would be absolutely awesome if Frans Steyn came back to the Sharks.
Also agree with Ice, for me Frans was our best player in this past world cup.
Imagine Fransie at 12 with Lambie at 10 and probably Mjekevu at 13? Would be brilliant.
Whoever Frans plays for, will give him the 12 jersey, even if he came to the Sharks I have no doubt Plum would play him there and only there.
Just doubt Fransie will want to come back to Sharks. Did read during the world cup he was getting married in June next year to a Durban girl. So if that is the case hope she can convince him to play for us….
@Muzi (Comment 89) :
What is your obsession with Lindeque?
Running over guys at school doesn’t make you ‘the bees knees’
The sharks rejects 🙂 are on trial if they perform they will get a chance NOT a contract.
By the way Venter is a kid,Goosen is a kid.
Do you know why they played senior rugby ?
Heyneke Meyer is boss he did not sign venter for vodacom cup
rugby we identifiy potential boks.
Piet Lindque go back home boet.
@hendrikp (Comment 92) :
he has an obsession with a lot of school boys … im worried 😯
@Muzi (Comment 89) : Correction. We signed Paul Jordaan and Pieter-Steph du Toit for this year.
@hendrikp (Comment 92) : Whats your obsession with schalk burger running at 8.
Leave him at openside flank where you guys still rate him as a great fetcher. 🙂
@Muzi (Comment 93) :
You don’t identify potential Boks…
You sign everybody who hasn’t already signed elsewhere and hope for the best.
It’s just a shame that half the ones who turn out as flops go on to be Boks.
I’m talking Werner Kruger, Deon Stegmann, Dewald Potgieter, Bjorn Basson, Zane Kirchner, Hilton Lobberts…
@Muzi (Comment 93) : Also the offer made at the Kearsney Fest by the Academy is to reward the best players who happened to be Dries and Ryan. It was already known then that Dries had a preference for the Bulls and that the only thing that could possibly prevent him from going to Pretoria after school was Jan going elsewhere, in which case there was a chance that he might have followed. So it was foolish for anyone to believe that coz these guys had won prizes at Kearsney that they were automatically Sharks bound players.
@Zibbie (Comment 94) :
Hope he didn’t do Movember. Would have to register as a sex offender 😆
@Muzi (Comment 96) :
He plays like an eighth man. Only difference being he isn’t there at the back of the scrum, attacking or defending… but he really should be, especially on the defensive side.
@beet (Comment 95) : Great players bok quality.
@beet (Comment 98) : Okay okay i get it.
Look you got Sean Robinson.
@hendrikp (Comment 99) : Geez i have heard that over and over.
Please do not tell me about koster again.
@Muzi (Comment 101) : and Marne Coetzer
If the Cheetahs sign Francois Steyn, I’m putting a few $’s on them winning the Super Rugby in the next few years.
Of all the franchises, they have the best set of youngsters currently receiving game-time, followed by the Bulls.
Everyone else has a couple of really good younger guys as starters, surrounded by older ones.
In the NFL they use the term ‘Franchise’ on a player who can be inked in as a starter for however-long…
So Cheetahs ‘Franchise Players’ I would say are: Coenie Oosthuizen, Adriaan Strauss, Heinrich Brussow, Ashley Johnson, Johan Goosen & Robert Ebersohn… and Juan Smith who’s older.
@lostfish (Comment 78) : what I saw of Fransie this past WC said something different. He looked like he wanted to be part of a team and I saw very little or nothing of the “glory to myself” boy that left for France. I dunno, hey…like I say, I think he has grown up in that sense.
The thing with Frans is – he is a bit of a rebel, and if u r going to rub him the wrong way, u r gonna get some attitude. I can actually totally relate to that! We could have been twins!
Its like having children – their personality differs – so you handle them differently and your appraoch to each is different – why can’t a coach do the same – at least it will show that they have every undividuals interest at heart.
@beet (Comment 103) : Geez i still can not stomach that.
Marne gave neethling fouche a torrid time.
Now he is a shark.
You know when i heard the sharks signed robinson i was super 👿 👿
@Muzi (Comment 102) :
If Koster were heading to Pretoria you’d be all over him!
Anyway, I’ve listened to peoples arguments, and at this stage I’d agree to include Ashley Johnson ahead of him in by ‘Bok Barometer’.
But I’m still backing him to have a breakthrough year.
@hendrikp (Comment 104) : I like Johann Goosen’s attitude.
He put his career first before money.
Turning down the bulls twice sure did send a message to Meyer and co.
@Muzi (Comment 108) : Without a doubt
Add Etsebeth.
@hendrikp (Comment 107) : Koster better step up. No Flo or Plo to get in the way now.
I’ve been talking him up for years amongst my friends and have so far taken a lot of flak for him not becoming the star I’d predicted 😀
@beet (Comment 110) :
To be fair he saw very little game-time during the Super 15, and still busted around 17 tackles, to go with 4 clean linebreaks.
Not sure if the way the Stormers were playing suited him, and having him on the blindside rather then his normal position of 8 made it even worse.
But he did walk away with WP Forward of the Year in the Currie Cup.
@beet (Comment 110) :
4 clean linebreaks not half bad when you consider Liam Messam played every single minute of Super Rugby for the Chiefs, and only made 7.
Or Scott Higginbotham on 10 (the most by a loose-forward), but playing nearly every single minute of the Reds campaign, that went right till the very end.
The Stormers in 2011 wasn’t the ideal fit for him to be successful. He didn’t get to show his strengths… Hopefully 2012 will be more organized, and different.
@hendrikp (Comment 112) : Can not stomach watching that clip over and over again scott outsprinting meisikind and dippies. 👿
Seriously embaraasing. 👿
Never Again
@Muzi (Comment 113) :
Bad considering how terrible Higginbotham has been for Australia.
A poor-mans Danie Rossouw, who throws more forward passes and so on as well…
Genuinely surprised he made it to the World Cup. Deans surprised me a lot this year actually.
@hendrikp (Comment 114) : I thought you rated higginbotham the aussies were going bananas
especially greg martin they rate him as a future wallaby great.
Also John Robbie 🙄 is a huge admirer of scott.
@Muzi (Comment 115) :
Think they’ve changed their mind.
No ball skills.
@hendrikp (Comment 116) : How good was barnes geez where on earth has he been.
I can’t login to Keo.
It just keeps refreshing the login page each time.
Anyone else having the same problem, not just me?
@hendrikp (Comment 118) : me too…i just get an error message saying “Cannot find quality content’…weird…must be my server
Funny ass story, and I’m not even kidding… This guy sent me a message this morning asking me which of the following players should play in the Sharks number 5 jersey in Super Rugby next year… The players he named were Mark Andrews, Olivier Roumat, Albert Van Der Berg, Steven Sykes and Rudi Visagie…
When I tried to explain to him that none of those players are still at the Sharks he argued with me and remained adamant that they did… Made my day! 😛
@SheldonK (Comment 119) :
What is your name on Keo?
I adhere to SW rules, meaning I don’t say anything to grant when he posts. 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 121) : I cant even remember to be hoinest, think Klig77…but its been ages. The articles are ok but most of the comments on them are so rediculous!
@SheldonK (Comment 122) :
Ah I see!
So I have no beef with you 😉
@SheldonK (Comment 122) :
I think everybody else must also be unable to login there! As there’s only two of them writing to each other very slowly – who must’ve been logged in before.
Usually an article about Frans Steyn returning would have well over 150 posts on there by now.
ice.. bad news for you my friend….
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Dan-Carter-to-tie-the-knot-20111207
I think the solution is quite simple.
The KZN public should refrain from buying any season tickets untill Steyn`s signing is confirmed. 😈
@Original Pierre (Comment 126) :
Great idea,
Except he might not be interested in the highest bidder.
@Original Pierre (Comment 126) : +10000
Can’t we as supporters start a fund to buy back players. Rob I’m sure you can try set something up.say we get 1000 supporters donating a mere R100 a month….think of the possibilities…we’d be making history and have the players we want in the black and white…..
@juba_fan (Comment 129) : Let’s get Rudolph Straeuli replaced first. 😀
@juba_fan (Comment 129) :
Unrealistic.
Wouldn’t work for anybody.
@vanmartin (Comment 130) :
Good idea
Maybe it was lesser players who saw confidence as arrogance..?
So frans said he really likes durban but doesn’t know why he signed with the sharks on a recent interview ( that series they played during wc ).
Maybe upping the offer..?being shrewd..?
@Uli (Comment 125) : Ja, ja…I read that with terrible sadness… 😆
Frans Steyn dislikes the Bulls. He implied this when he said in press conference how the Bulls players were giving him flak when he first joined the Springboks.
WP has Jean de Villiers, and I don’t think Frans wants to play full back or be in a John Smit/Bismarck situation with Jean. Plus I heard the WP finances are not as good as people think they are.
The Lions just shredded themselves of a dozen or so players, and don’t have the the financial backing of before. Plus Frans won’t enjoy the fast life in JHB. One thinks he enjoys the laid back lifestyle. Growing up in the Free State, playing for the Sharks in NATAL and then going to France, where often said that he enjoys being out of the spot light.
The Cheetahs could or could not be the perfect place. If the rumours are to believed, that the Cheetahs have cleared a space in their books for Frans, then it might work out for him. Some also mentioned to me that Frans wants a farm. If he does, then the one province that can provide him one is the Free State.
I just hope that he got over his differences with the Sharks and looks to come back to Kingsmead. The Sharks probably do have the cash with Adi and Stefan gone. Let’s hope and pray.
@Ice (Comment 134) :
Jammer Ysie….nou kan jou man darem beter slaap in die aand!
@Mocho:he can still have the farm and play for the sharks 🙂
@Mocho: smitty is also gone -and mostert was released early from his contract (dunno why sharks didn’t try harder to keep him in durbs,but anyway)to go to paris.
@Pokkel (Comment 136) : afrox gas is a wonderful sleeping tablet..he had no trouble sleeping before! 😈
@Mocho (Comment 135) :
well we still have our top players so im smiling ..
please notice that we release guys like Henno Mentz , Walter Venter and Renaldo Bothma who did not play for the Lions in 2011
In Burtons place we have Guy Cronje
were shedding the guys who took up our finance ..
Frans might end up at the Cheetahs, but my guess is, if they do not perform, he will get tired of it quickly…he is not a natural loser… 😈
@Ice (Comment 141) :
there goes all hope of him returning to the Sharks … 😈
@Zibbie (Comment 142) : bwhahahaha…. 😆
@Zibbie (Comment 142) : guess you think a win every 12years will make him look at playing for the Lions 😉
@Franshark (Comment 143) :
Sadly i dont know if we can fit him at the Lions …
I enjoy Doppies and Hollenbach . Maybe once Doppies retires ? who knows …
@Franshark (Comment 144) :
I wouldent complain , no sir … but already have like 40 centers …
@Zibbie (Comment 145) : if frans goes to the VS we can surely have andries back….
@Franshark (Comment 147) :
mmmm food for thought … might not be a bad ‘Trade’
@Franshark (Comment 144) :
heck im a lion . if we keep or main players for next season im a happy guy …
Andries left the Sharks after years of frustration, sitting behind players who weren’t nearly his equal.
The last thing he’d want to do is go back to the Sharks.
Just saying.
@hendrikp: well he was @12..think he was better than barritt or frans while they were still at the sharks??
Truth be told about strauss : his defence only became a strenght in the latter part of the 2010 cc season .now I also do agree,gametime does make you get better .
Your argument should be: was swanepoel better than strauss? .. Not : sitting behind so many ( which implies more than one ) players he was clearly better than..
@bergshark (Comment 151) :
Grant Rees ring a bell?
He’d jump at the oppirtunity to go back to the sharks,though.. And if you were so “in-the”know”,then you’d know that also..
@Zibbie (Comment 142) : I said NATURAL losers…!!
@bergshark (Comment 153) : I also think Strauss would come back…he was very choked up when he left…
Strauus was signed with ockie vermeulen at end of 2005 season for 2006 season.did get gametime..most notably in the game vs saders where his missing a tackle on the touchline lead to saders scoring a try and beating the sharks (in what wouldve been a huge upset win for sharks in nz).same game which lead to sharks coaches single out brad barritt to rest of the team for his commitment on defence – made the most tackles ..
@Ice (Comment 154) :
heheh just pulling out your soulll
you cant expect me to let go so soon 😛
@Ice: defintely would come back to the tank.
His tackling heroics in the semi and final of 2010 cc will allways remain for me a highlight
@bergshark (Comment 156) :
It’s not Brad Barritt I’m talking about.
And if a couple of missed tackles means the next 4 years with no significant game time for the senior side, I definitely wouldn’t want to be at the Sharks.
@Zibbie (Comment 157) : Its been over a month Zibbie! Better get use to losing for the next 12 years again! LOL
Do you even have an idea how many games he did start after that game vs saders in 2006 sr season????he wasn’t discarded,he made starting team in games after that..he started as the incumbent at 12 for the sr 2006..barritt just stepped up ,that’s what happened..
Oh and now you weren’t talking about barritt.. Then who ?? Rees??
@Ice (Comment 160) :
no i think ill gloat a while longer … at least another 2 weeks ? 😛
@bergshark (Comment 161) :
He spent plenty of time behind Grant Rees,
and Riaan Swanepoel.
That’s what I’m saying.
I mentioned riaan swanepoel for you ..grabbed at that one..
And when did he play behind grant rees??
@bergshark (Comment 165) :
Dude I’m not going to go search it to satisfy you,
but I’m telling you it happened.
Because you sucking it out your thumb perhaps??
@bergshark (Comment 167) :
Okay give me a few minutes. I’m going to have to do some research.
Thanks.
@hendrikp (Comment 168) :
There we go, try the 2006 Currie Cup for a start.
Google tells me that Grant Rees also started a lot of games for the Sharks seniors in 2007.
@hendrikp (Comment 170) :
Just checked, and yes…
In 2007 Grant Rees started the majority of the Sharks games at 12 during the Currie Cup.
So am I still sucking this out of my thumb, or am I due an apology?
@Puma (Comment 91) : How exactly was Frans the best player in the past World Cup. The only great game he really had was against Fiji. Even Morne Steyn had a great game against them. So that doesn’t say much.
@Ben (Comment 172) :
tbf,
He did look damn near unstoppable.
Even when he was at fullback. We’d have lost to Wales without him as well!
Then again, the way things played out I wish we’d lost to Wales.
@hendrikp (Comment 173) : Not denying he was pretty darn good but I don’t think he was the best. Why would we have lost to Wales without him?
And you found the info where?
@Ben (Comment 174) :
Do you recall the game?
Frans scored a try in the opening couple of minutes.
Then we didn’t play any rugby for the rest of the game, except for Hougaard running a beautiful line outside of Fourie du Preez to go over and save us.
I’d say if Frans didn’t score the early try, we’d probably have been too far behind after being outplayed for the hour thereafter.
@bergshark (Comment 175) :
Sarugby.net
So I guess no apology then. 😐
I do have rees at13 and strauss at 12 for cc game vs lions in 2006 cc at home .then he played at 13 in the following game vs weepee in ct ..yet again at 13 with adi playing at 12..dunno if strauus might have injured him in the game vs lions prev week..the nexct game ,strauss is back at 12 and ockie vermeulen at13.
Seems like strauss was still playing at12 in cc 2006..
Rees was at at13..from what I’ve quickly gathered..doesn’t look like he was spending time behind rees,yet..
Remember : there are 2 centers in every rugby team….
@bergshark (Comment 180) :
Keep looking…
You’ll soon find Rees starting, and Strauss not in the team.
I remember, because I was bitching about it at the time.
Lol! Where is rees now? In france..? Wen did he leave the sharks? And: why did he leave?
When exactly does rees start taking over from strauss at 12 in 2006..?
2006..Vs cheetahs at bloem..2nd last game before semi in cc.. I have strauss on the bench..
Guess who is starting @12..? Here is a hint: brad barritt..
@bergshark (Comment 183) :
I can’t post every single game here dude.
In 2006 Rees started 5 Currie Cup games at 12, ahead of Strauss.
In 2007 it was even more.
Check it.
Well you only need to post 5 for 2006.. And then a few more for 2007,right?
Remember to also make a note if either of the two were injured when the other one jumped him 😉
@bergshark (Comment 185) :
I give up.
Bed time for me. Andries wasn’t injured, they just favored Rees over him.
Take my word for it
But the argument you were making was that strauss spend years just polishing the bench or running around at training without given opp to show what he can do..which all this to and fro between us clearly shows wasn’t the case..rather that barrit impressed in 2006 at still only 19 years of age.and then waylon came on board to play at 13. ( Strauss even played a few games starting at 13 in 2006 sr season..with barritt at 12.shows the impression barritt made,but it wasn’t like they just dropped strauss then,either).
@Zibbie (Comment 162) : Hahahaha ok – I’ll grant u that little pleasure! 😆
@hendrikp (Comment 186) : I was also under the impression that Andries struggled for fitness for part of the time he was with the Sharks.
I don’t rate him. Good defender but brain dead on attack – he struggles to execute when chances or half chances crop up. Other players including Grant Rees and Riaan Swanepoel offered more with ball in hand.
702 news just reported that Frans Steyn will NOT be going to Free State, they did not say where he will be going but it seems as if it wont be Bloem.
@Salmonoid: any idea where to? Speculation? Although until a contract has been signed with any union,I still feel every union is a candidate lol ..just hope the sharks get his signature on a contract 🙂
@beet:during 200f cc season,dick muir employed the squad system philospohy,so that would also be a reason for one,two games in the team,then wait your turn on the merry-go-round
2006
Comment192 meant to share with @hendrikp 😀
@Salmonoid (Comment 190) : How can they say for sure? What proof do they have?
I guess Frans Steyn could also be hinting at a possible move back to SA to drive his market price up in Europe. Creating the impression that he’s longing for home could persuade a his current club or even a rival club to offer him that much more to stay on for another 3 years.
@beet (Comment 196) : Does this mean that Michalak will be with us until he retires? 🙄
@beet (Comment 196) : I don’t guess that…he is a SA homeboy…u can only tolerate so much of other nation’s cultures and cuisine!
Who is the JP du Plessis lover again?? I see he’s been signed by the Stormers…is he a centre? Than I guess there goes the Stomers out the door on FS signing?
@Ice: that would be BoerSeun lol
yes,saw jp dup at stormers training squad.wouldve like for the sharks to have given him a trial.
Meant “in”and not “at”
@beet: could be.. I was using that line of logic when I wrote that when he said he likes durban but doesn’t know why he played for the sharks,he was perhaps being shrewd..
@Ice: jp dup is @13
@sharonvanwyk: ahhh..!thanks for reminding me that michalak will also be leaving at end of june/july (?) . Some more money freed up ..
@Ice (Comment 5) : BUT…PLum never learns anything – that guy is as stubborn and unpredictable as PDV 🙁 Would love Frans to come back to the Sharks, but I think the coaching would be to his detriment. And living in Cape Town, i would love him then to be in WP (just so that I can stalk him 😀 ), but current I think the Cheetahs or Lions have the better coaching set up for him….*lots of tears*
@robdylan (Comment 23) : I have never even heard of him…when did he pop up?
@robdylan (Comment 32) : IF Frans comes back to play in SA it won’t be because of money….so I dont think any budgets will be broken. He has proved that he is shrewd about his career though so i am sure he will go where he thinks he will be the most utilised – he just wants go play rugby.
@Ben (Comment 172) : What world are you referring to?..Frans had blinders every game he played …if you cant admit that then you know less about rugby than i do.
@Just a Fan (Comment 208) : Like I said! Frans was pretty good but I wouldn’t say he was our best. Your favouritism for Frans is clear for all to see. 🙄
@Ben (Comment 209) :
I’m with Ben on this one,
Frans was bloody fantastic, and we probably would’ve gotten past Australia (despite of that rat bastard Bryce Lawrence) if he hadn’t been injured…
But Schalk Burger was our best player.
Slightly in front of the likes of Bismarck du Plessis & Francois Hougaard.
Who are just in front of Patrick Lambie, Heinrich Brussow, Big Vic & Gurthro.
@Ben (Comment 209) : Looks like you might have to copy and paste this comment 209. Just change the player name and the blogger to who it’s directed
@Ben (Comment 195) : Drotske said it in an interview.
@Salmonoid (Comment 212) : I see. That’s good news.
As much as Id love Frans to come back to the Sharks I cant, for the life of me, imagine why he would, once again, subject himself to the treatment dished out to him by the Sharks fans, unless it was for lots and lots of money.
@hendrikp (Comment 210) : I think why me and a lot of people feel Frans was our best player is because of the impact he had on the games. Momentum he gave to the backline, opportunities he created and stunning defence. So his value to the TEAM was the best. In anyway, you cannot compare a backline player to a forward…apples and apples…?
The difference if u have to do it this way was: if you have taken Frans out of a game ther would have been a significant change in perfromance – and there was! If u took Schalk out, the change would have had less impact on the game. Get what I am trying to say?
@Ice (Comment 215) : When you want to determine the best player from the WC of course you have to compare forwards and backline players. Taking Burger out of the game(s) would have made a huge difference. Much bigger than Frans. Do you think its only backline players that do the work on the field?
@Ben (Comment 216) : No Ben…I don’t agree. But the impact Frans had on the team to me was massive. I did not say that only backs works..I am not the dumbass u think I am…That’s MY opinion finish and klaaar!
” In anyway, you cannot compare a backline player to a forward?apples and apples??”
You said it.
@Ice (Comment 217) : Then call him the backline player of the WC, if that makes u feel better. All in all , taking all players into consideration, I maintain that FS was best as to ME he contrubuted more and his impact on the game was greater than SB..
@Ice (Comment 219) : Its fine if you think FS was the best player at the WC. That was not my point. My point was to determine the best players from the WC of course you have to take forwards and backline players into account and no I don’t think you’re a dumass!
Well he might have been able to kick a long range penalty over in the qf ..that couldve proved quite significant..
Anyway,the sharks sent frans steyn over to iranz (international rugby academy new zealand run by mexted ) in his first year at the sharks – 2006 .they saw he was some talent.
To my knowledge Frans has never lost a world cup game, that must say something about him. 😈
@bergshark (Comment 222) : Pity the fans didnt see the same talent. 😳
@Salmonoid: maybe it was a small ignorant part of the fans? ..( Watch the flak come my way now 😀 )
Anyway,frans said he liked it in durban.
I’m with Ben again on this one,
Taking Schalk off would’ve made a big difference. The Boks don’t function as well without him. He’s a machine.
2006 a great example. We lost Schalk Burger to a broken neck, and struggled until winning the World Cup.
Positive for me was I knew how good we’d be when we got Schalkie back, so it made me rich 😆
@Salmonoid (Comment 224) :
Mexted and co. actually tried to steal him, the pr1cks.
Had a big contract offer from the Crusaders if I remember correctly.
I liked Frans in Durban as well.
That settles it, Frans is going to Durban.
@Salmonoid (Comment 228) :
Naka says he won’t be going to Free State.
Lions haven’t got the money to sign Springboks.
He hates the Bulls culture.
He doesn’t want to go back to the Sharks who messed him around.
Wow, looks like he’s coming to Province. Will peeve off JdV who has signed a contract until end of 2014, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
@hendrikp (Comment 226) : We’ve agreed twice in one day. That doesn’t happen often.
@Salmonoid: don’t worry about the other blogger’s daydreams ..fransie should only come back to one team in sa .. 🙂
@Ben (Comment 230) : also does not mean you are correct! 😆
@Ice (Comment 232) : Ice your opinion is wrong. 😉 😆
@Ben (Comment 233) : Says u and Hendrikp?? I’ll take that with a pinch of salt then! (Remember he also thinks Coenie is the best scrummager!?!) 😈
Either way,it was schalk that ran the ball into contact against aus defence.where the ball was turned over and the aussies scored the only try in a game the boks lost by 2 points:-|
Now I don’t know who’s idea it was to run the ball into the aus defence from that position in such a tight game,but it happened ..one can speculate that if maybe they had a bigger boot in the kicking dept,that ball would have been kicked out somewhere near the halfway line..but the only player I think capable of transferring the pressure away with a kick ,was out injured 😐
@Ice (Comment 234) : Shaz will disagree with you as well. I’m sure she thinks Pat Lambie was the best Bok at the WC.
@Ben (Comment 236) : Nah! I am sure she has enough savvy to realise Pat did a good job being it his first WC, but playing at 15 could not reach his true potential as best player… 😉
@hendrikp (Comment 229) :
dont be fooled by what Naka is saying ..
Also the Lions just freed up 20 players salaries .. why do you think we did that
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