JP Pietersen is the big-name omission from a list of 15 contracted Bok players announced by SARU today, with the player’s decision to play in Japan, rather than the Rugby Championship, appearing to put a spanner in the works when it comes to being considered a key member of the national side going forward.
A number of other Sharks have made the cut, though, with Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Fran Steyn and Pat Lambie all making the grade. That means that Sharks players comprise just under half of the contracted group, flying somewhat in the face of the widely-held belief that coach Heyneke Meyer “favours the Bulls”.
In fact, Western Province (with four players) is the next best-represented side, while the Bulls have only three and the Cheetahs one.
Meyer has opted not to include any players who are either currently foreign-based, or will be in the future, with Morne Steyn, Juandre Kruger, Andries Bekker and Zane Kirchner joining Pietersen on the Bok naughty step.
Interestingly, Pat Lambie is the only flyhalf in the group and Frans Steyn the only outside back.
Contracted Boks:
Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Duane Vermeulen, Marcell Coetzee, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Frans Steyn,
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Bryan Habana also getting the chop in terms of Bok contract 😉
“That means that Sharks players comprise just under half of the contracted group, flying somewhat in the face of the widely-held belief that coach Heyneke Meyer “favours the Bulls.”
This is just freeing up space for the likes of Meisiekind Rob… 😉
This conspiracy theory will only die when Pierre Spies is no longer considered “the first person I pick”…
@VinChainSaw (Comment 2) : that’s a misconception. He’ll pick Duane Seabiscuit ahead of Spies. Watch
de Jongh is an outside back…
Also, what exactly does this contract mean?
Wow. Frans Steyn must be the luckiest man alive, getting a starting spot and a Bok contract after showing nothing for 10 weeks.
@David12246 (Comment 4) : ok fair enough. I meant “back three”
@robdylan (Comment 3) : But Spies has actually been better than Duane this season? So to me, that wouldn’t make sense.
And you can’t pick any sharks loosie at this point, because they’ve been nowhere all season.
@Letgo (Comment 7) :
Wash you mouth out letgo.
Spies better thank Duane… hmmmf. pppfff.
I also prefer Spies to Vermeulen. At Spies has a skill or two.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 8) : I know, but seriously Spies has been in good form and Duane has been pretty quiet this season, maybe his season will pick up with the Stormers’ season.
Holding thumbs for your team (but not really all SA teams have to start losing from now on, because the Sharks suck again)! 🙂
What does these contracts do? Other than provide extra pay?
And how much are they worth?
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
Singing is not a skill that can be used on the rugby pitch. You should know that Rob…
@Letgo (Comment 10) :
Thank letgo – most kind of you!
@McLovin (Comment 12) :
Lot less than R3.5mln I’d think… or Kirchy would’ve stayed…
JP is a legend, but this is a step in the right direction.
Spies is a great dancer. Gi check the vid of him doing the Harlem shake.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 15) : Probably less than half that.
15 doesn’t seem enough?
I take it everyone else is on pay as you play?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 13) : Tell that to the AB’s, or is that dancing? 😆
@robdylan (Comment 9) : I rate Spies in the same class as Burden – you just can’t convert a softy backline player into roughing it with the real men in the forwards.
As James O’Conner once said: While the backline players sit in a circle talking about their feelings, the forwards are out doing their best to mangle a scrum machine into submission (or something to that effect) 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 21) :
Amen brother.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 21) : Having played from 15 to 5 during my playing days (I have the grace not to call it my playing career 😆 ) I have to agree with you. My u15 coach had the ‘bright’ (:roll:) idea of shifting me from fullback to lock. Needless to say thanks but no thanks. It’s a different world!
Ok, so this would indicate that Bismarck and Jannie are not going overseas in the near to medium future.
A lot of players heading overseas and missing out. Or are they? Heyneke seems more than happy to select overseas players and I cannot help but wonder if the players are taking their chances accordingly to pocket more cash!