The Sharks have confirmed that their two remaining Japan-based players, JP Pietersen and Frans Steyn, have both now returned to Durban.
As we reported earlier in the week, their respective clubs (Panasonic Wild Knights and Toshiba Brave Lupus) lost in the semi-finals of the All Japan Championship last week. According to the Sharks website, they will train with the Super Rugby squad starting on Monday and possibly even come into the selection frame for next Saturday’s visit to Newlands.
Further good news ahead of that match is that Bok loose forward Willem Alberts is expected to be available for selection, leaving Gary Gold with some interesting selection options at loose forward. Renaldo Bothma and Jean Deysel are already doing sterling work in the “wrecking ball” role, but we know that Alberts is in a class of his own when on form in that position.
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Good for or rotation policy. Give Bothma a rest. Start Deysel and integrate Willem slowly. By the time Willem gets a start it would be time to give Deysel a break. Not to mention that Marcell would wil also be given a week of soon.
Great news all round. Remember the days we were concerned with too many options, afraid that players won’t get enough opportunities.
@Letgo (Comment 1): Options – Play Deysel at 6 with Alberts at 7 with Kanko at 8.
v Stormers
6 Marcell
7 Deysel
8 Kanko
20 Willem
v Cheetahs
6 Tera
7 Willem
8 Kanko
20 Bothma
v Chiefs
6 Marcell
7 Willem
8 Tera
20 Bothma
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
You can almost not go wrong.
Just a question. How is Tera at openside? I can’t remember him playing there for us before?
I would think Deysel might be the one to cover for Marcell?
But yes, really we now have 5 quality loosies and although we must have a best 3 nearing the play-offs, I don’t think we’ll lose to much value with any of them playing in combination.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : You know this for a fact? Did you hack Brendon’s computer? 😈
Welcome back lads. All the best.
competition for starting spots will be tough!!!!!!
Now we have some good depth! And who and behold any team should give away a penalty 60m out….
@Letgo (Comment 5) : Deysel is too slow to play 6.
and Tera played openside against the Crusaders in Christchurch last year. Remember at one stage he was the only loose forward on the park… He did well enough I’d say
Rob, I’ve been a bit out of the loop. Why exactly did Frans refuse to play for the Boks?
@robdylan (Comment 10) :
That’s true. He does seem to have the ball skill, size and speed to play all three positions.
BTW
AB DE VILLIERS!!!
WOW… Can he do it enough times to pull it through for us. A lot hinges on him.
@Ben (Comment 11) : Can of worms that. We don’t have the full story as both parties kept mum on the issue but it could be because of a renumeration agreement not being honoured by SARU.
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : Heard something like that. Wonder if there are any issues between him and Heyneke.
I doubt Heineken has any issues with Frans. The issue sits higher up and with those who manage contracts and checkbooks. If Heineken had his way Frans would be training with the boks tomorrow if not sooner.
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : @Ben (Comment 15) :
What I read, was that Frans and his agent wanted part payment in Forex. SARU, or whoever does the player payments either couldn’t or wouldn’t do it, which lead to Steyn’s decision to withdraw from his Bok contract.
“The root cause, it transpired, was that there had been a long-running dispute between the player and Saru over mechanisms by which one element of his Springbok remuneration was to be paid.”
“Steyn had returned from playing club rugby in France in 2012, having being lured back by coach Heyneke Meyer with a lucrative Springbok contract, one of the only players to be offered a two-year deal at the time.”
“While abroad, however, his image rights were handled by a third party, which was disclosed to Saru, and it’s around payments in this regard that tensions were raised as far back as 2013.”
Quite a revealing read –
http://ewn.co.za/2014/09/19/First-on-EWN-Frans-Steyn-speaks-on-his-shock-Bok-exit
@Letgo (Comment 17) : Thanks for the info.
In today’s business world, it’s barmy that Frans Steyn couldn’t be accommodated. Sometimes his form has dipped but no one can question his professionalism or commitment and all you ask is for your employer to be reasonable. Glad he’s back home at his club where you get the sense the Sharks will treat him right. After all, he keeps coming back
Lots of cloud around in Pretoria. It could be another wet game today!