Willem Alberts, who was withdrawn on the eve of the Bok tour to Argentina due to a nerve problem in his back, has had to undergo an operation and will thus play no part in the team’s 2014 Rugby Championship campaign.
It is hoped that Alberts may be fit for selection when the Boks tour Europe in November this year, but that’s really just speculation at this point.
With the big man’s injury track record, and the need to manage him in a World Cup year, the Sharks are certainly looking as though they’ll need to contract loose forward cover ahead of next year’s Super Rugby tournament. Various media sources have rumoured that Pumas man Renaldo Bothma may be in line for loan move, but this would appear far from confirmed.
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The Sharks can only benefit in getting Bothma.
If we target Bothma then it should be on a permanent basis not a loan.
I feel its more lock than loose forward cover that we need as Oosthuizen, Astle and PSDT can play flank. Which leaves only Lewies as Wentzel as locks
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : Bothma’s Pumas contract ends at the end of next year.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Well assuming he will be gone for the World Cup, not sure how much playing he will do for the Pumas…so perhaps take him on loan with a view to making it permanent. Im sure the Lions will be interested but with Whitely, Kriel, Minnie etc he may be down the list there
Sad about Alberts!
I am only going to start watching Springbok Rugby when and IF HM gets over choosing boring flyhalves that are only good for kicking at posts!
WHEN AND IF HM ever gives Lambie and extended run at flyhalf and give him a chance to settle in that position THEN I’ll start watching again.
I’ve got better things to do with my time in the meantime.
SHARKS all the way no matter what! But that is where it ends UNLESS …..
2015 campaign?
Big loss but rather let the big fella rest. His body takes a pummeling every game.
Is Willie Britz available?
Jeez that oke is playing well.
@John Galt (Comment 6) : sorry, I’ve lost track of what flipping year it is.
@John Galt (Comment 6) : Yes – rather give him a good break this year, and negotiate with Jake to rotate him during the S15. Boks will need him fit and ready for the WC up north.
@John Galt (Comment 7) : He is off to the Cheetahs for SR after the [email protected]KingRiaan (Comment 1) : If not him then the Griquas No.8 ❓ he’ll be coming back home
@Chippa (Comment 10) : Greeff? Not a bad player
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Seems to be prone to yellows / reds though.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : Greeff is average sorry. There are better players here. He has a bit of bulk but nothing else
@[email protected] (Comment 5) : Well may as well get your Mens Bowls Supporter T-Shirt, because Lambie won’t be the preferred FH soon. He is behind Pollard, Goosen, Marnitz Boshoff and Morne Steyn in the pecking order.
@John Galt (Comment 7) : He has apparently signed with the Cheetahs. returning home so to speak.
@Bokhoring (Comment 12) : yeah, that’s my concern
Bothma move needs to be on a permanent basis. Also target Lobberts as lock cover.
@KingCheetah (Comment 14) : Since when has Marnitz Boshoff been entered in to the pecking order?….and Goosen seems to be old news already, HM got himself a new toy boy.
So it is Pollard, then MS….full stop.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 18) : Marnitz only got in because everyone else was injured.
If Jaco van der walt can take his form into SR next year he’ll get the third fh spot. He is everything HM wants – he’s big, he’s strong, he can kick, he looks like Naas Botha but he can tackle 🙂
@Baylion (Comment 19) : 😆
You had HM at “he’s big” 😆
@FireTheLooser (Comment 20) :
@KingCheetah (Comment 14) : Trolololol go away.
@Baylion (Comment 19) : He’s big? 🙄 exciting ‘little’ player.
Any bets that rugby players will look like Gridiron players in 10 years. This neck and concussion thing is getting big. Someone will sue World Rugby (or whatever the IRB will be called) soon for not doing enough about it.
@MikeSebMatt (Comment 23) : With all their kit, seems NFL players are still heavily prone to concussion as I saw an article a while back, where a lot of NFL players are suing due to concussions….
@Talent (Comment 22) : At 1,82m and 84 kg (his u19 weight) he is smaller than Pollard but about the same size as Goosen and Steyn. For a flyhalf not “little” by any means.
The one issue at the moment is that he’s not doing the goal kicking, mainly because Ruan Combrinck is kicking at nearly 100%
@FireTheLooser (Comment 24) : I you fly head first into a tackle and make contact with the other guys helmet (apparently legal), no amount of protection is going to protect your brain. Most of the tackles they do in football will have you banned from rugby for life.
@Bokhoring (Comment 26) : It is not just the heads colliding, it is those ridiculous collisions. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head to move rapidly back and forth.
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : I don’t think the stats will support you there, after about 4 rounds he was mixing it up with the backs with m’s made and he carries [email protected]robdylan (Comment 16) : I think the cards are a result of not trusting the next guy will do the job,hence the yellow cards. That can be sorted.
@KingRiaan (Comment 1) : I would rather look at Jaco Kriel…@robdylan (Comment 11) : he has almost been a shark twice, did we give him enough opportunities 😉
Helloooo Sharksworld!!!!
@BoerSeun (Comment 29) : hey man – we’ve missed you!
@SheldonK (Comment 2) : @robdylan (Comment 3) : would like to have Bothma on a loan deal for Super rugby next year. If it works for Sharks and Bothma he could sign permanent deal when his contract expires.