Former Cheetahs back-rower Philip van der Walt will return from Biarritz in France to join up with the Sharks ahead of the Currie Cup season.
Van der Walt’s signing is set to provide immediate depth at loose forward in a Currie Cup campaign where the Sharks are set to be without a number of senior players, but with a 3-year commitment, clearly sees his future in Durban.
At 1.93m and 110kg, van der Walt regularly proved a thorn in the Sharks’ side when playing against them in Cheetahs colours. It’s hoped he’ll replicate the sort of form in black and white that saw him spoken of as a potential Springbok back in 2013.
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I would think the depth at prop and lock would be a greater concern.
So why do we have Kankowski on our payroll at all? Is he going back to japan furing cc? Make an offer to Arno Botha, that kid will outplay Duane one of these days.
@coolfusion (Comment 2) :
Kanko is done. Time to back Mthembu. Van der Walt is quite good. Not sure that we really need him though. Agree on Botha.
Ouens, i fail to understand this signing?
At least he is on the right side of 30…
If we lose kanko and Willem we will need him. Hoping for a prop signing though.
@Seth101 (Comment 6) : Prop is about the only position they are NOT doing something about.
@Seth101 (Comment 6) : Not if. We have lost Willem. And kanko has been little more than a passenger, so he is a loss too.
So… do we rename the Cheetahs the ‘Pre-Sharks’ or do we rename the Sharks the ‘Ex-Cheetahs’?
@Big Fish (Comment 3) : Arno has signed a contract with an overseas club. We should have had the vision to sign him before he made his move. He is next in line after Duane.
OK…
I think I get this signing…but don’t have strong feelings either way…
@David12246 (Comment 9) : nah mate you got it wrong its Boswill Wilkie,only problem for Bozo is there way to many clowns already,what a mess
@pastorshark (Comment 12) : It’s a very good signing. Tera is the only 8th man going into this this CC. The Du Preez brothers play on the flank and sometimes lock…Meyer plays on the flank. Oosterhuizen is not a flank. Bothma going to the RWC..Khaya is a fetcher. Kanko going back to Japan hopefully forever. We are therefore very thin at 8. Phillip is actually the type of player we should invest in. He is a contender for the Bok 8th man jersey after RWC so will want to fight for it versus preserve his body for the Japan season.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 14) : That is what I thought I got about the signing…
Very good signing. vd Walt was by far the better 8th man in SA before he went to Biarritz, and he was only 23 at the time. A bruising grafter with good vision, and plays a good linking game with the backs.
If the Sharks evolve their playing pattern, he will be great. But just like with le Roux, he will be wasted in the current game plan.
@pastorshark (Comment 15) : I’m in agreement with you.
@KingCheetah (Comment 16) : Sounds good…
@GreatSharksays (Comment 10) : Where is Arno going? Which club has he signed with?
Solid player. Solid skills. Still youngish… so good signing.
@SharksRTB (Comment 20) : but damn… seem as if we are poaching the cheetah team.
@SharksRTB (Comment 21) : although Joe P cant really count as a cheetah player after one season.
What happened toe Sean Robinson? Spelling?
Really liked him as a wing when he came on 2 years back
@SharksRTB (Comment 23) : He’s playing in France for Racing Metro.
@ChrisS (Comment 19) : Can’t remember and Google isn’t picking it up, he is definitely going though.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 25) : Can’t understand how you would play Pierre spies ahead of Arno. But then again the bulls fans must also be shaking their heads at some of choices.
@coolfusion (Comment 26) : Some of our choices.
@SharksRTB (Comment 21) : Well apart from Willie both are guys just coming back or wanting to come back to sa so no real poaching, but yes it seems we are only picking from there. Maybe we should harvest at the bulls too since there must be quite a few unhappy young players there. But first use from the academy and junior sharks.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 14) : Harsh..but makes sense
The more I think about it, the more I reckon this is a good signing!
Meh – not that excited about this signing, again a cheetah or ex-cheetah bought. We just keep on buying and buying and what about bringing youngsters through the ranks? Is this another Super rugby only player?Surely we must have some youngsters somewhere waiting for a chance?? Expect us losing more youngsters in the not so distant future – SMFH..
I really hope that GG and JS isn’t under the false impression that they can buy themselves out of this poor run of form. You can buy all the players you like but if your coaching isn’t up to scratch – you will not achieve your goals.
@SharksRTB (Comment 21) : After playing in France for two years, it cant be said that Phillip is being taken from the Cheetahs. After all, he originally hails from EP just like JJ Engelhrecht. How far back need one to go to say a player is being “poached”?
@JustPlainSHARK (Comment 32) : Agreed.
Interesting read. Especially with regards to JS open letter….
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Sharks-make-yet-another-signing-20150606
Very good signing this. He always caused the Sharks major headaches. If we think the youth will instantly turn us around into a winning side then think again. We need quality players and yes let the youth play if they can outshine these guys at practice. The cream always rises to the top…some just faster than others.
@SheldonK (Comment 35) : I agree with you. I have no problems with the signings that the Sharks have made this season.
@SheldonK (Comment 35) : lets not forget that we will now have a very very young group of loosies for CC: Dup, Dup, Khaya, Tera & VDWalt. How long is Tera still out?
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 31) : We have no choice. Our philosophy since forever was only to contract a few juniors out of high school, this meant no depth and the result was that our Vodacom and junior rank suffered. Need to first fix the junior ranks before we can confidentiality talk of a pipeline. So, we need to buy big now both in terms of experience and youth so that after 2 to 3 years we can look inhouse.
I like him, hard player. And with the guys going to the WC and abroad, it makes a lot of sense.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 38) : Agreed.
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 31) : He will play Currie Cup for us, as far as I know.
@Uli Boelie (Comment 34) : ag ja, but if your agenda is just to stir kak, then of course that makes sense.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 38) : Ok fair point, but if you tell the Dup brothers they must wait 2yrs – they will leave. I mean FFS they play Jnr Bok rugby for a good reason. So I really hope them and majola will be given a fair go in CC and SR next yr.
@Ben (Comment 41) :Thx Ben.
@Kabouter (Comment 37) : Both Dup can still play u21 so its not that congested. Terra out for quite a while i believe, but dont take that as gospel. So Yes CC is important, but dont dismiss how even more important it is for our u19s and u21s to have better years than previous…its vital in order to attract and retain talent
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 31) : This is not a Super Rugby only player…the article clear states that he will be here (and a big help) for the Currie Cup. He is also pretty young and very highly rated. I am happy with it…
@GreatSharksays (Comment 38) : Agreed…
@pastorshark (Comment 45) : Thx Pastor but I have been helped regarding the CC issue (yes I should read a article twice before commenting 😉 ).
ps. I think Potgieter was a better signing 😈 – even if he only plays SR
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 47) :
Saw that after I commented…
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 43) : On my earlier comments I have stated that we need to give those twins exposure. Don’t the play flank and lock?
@GreatSharksays (Comment 49) : The du Preez twins played flank against Samoa.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 49) : @Ben (Comment 50) : Jean-Luc played 7 and Dan played 6.
Seems like potgieter is intended to be Willie Alberts replacement too bad he isn’t here for CC he and v Walt would have had a season to gel. Hope we can get the dupreez boys or at least on of them as a permanent feature next to VC Walt. Kleynhans also an option or no?
@Ben (Comment 51) : I stand to be corrected but I have heard that their father was not too keen on them being tracked too soon up the rugby ranks and was keen for them to work their way up the rugby ranks.
Which is not a bad thing when you lookout some of the players that were pushed into senior rubgy too quickly.Frans Steyn and J.P were 21 when they won a World Cup and at 29 they are both very jaded,and bored with rugby in what should be their best years.
@RedSharkUtd82 (Comment 31) : Cheetah players by and large have contributed to Sharks success in seasons past.
@The hound (Comment 53) : Problem is the young guys get impatient and leave if you don’t offer them premier games quick and often enough so even if the union does take care the players put them in a catch 22. Let’s hope dad Rob has a lot of influence over them till they mature. This won’t be the case for many other young stars though.
@KingCheetah (Comment 54) : hahaha ja some really quality players that moved from Blom to Durbs!!!!
Must say I really like Philip van der Walt. This guy is a seriously talented player (big, strong and reasonably fast) and will be great with the Sharks!!!!
By far the best Sharks signing this year!!!!!!
@KingCheetah (Comment 54) : What success are you referring to?
@JD (Comment 57) : Willie le Roux is by far our best signing this year in my opinion.
Let’s be honest. Heyneke Meyer only really selects 2 kinds of players for the Boks.
a) a big player, or
b) a player that plays for the Bulls
Willie is neither of those but still he was too good to be ignored. That in itself says a lot.
What I do love about the Philip signing, though, is that he will be with us for the Currie Cup and Super Rugby preseason.
@Ben (Comment 60) : There is a third type he selects,one who has a Springbok in his family tree,Burger,Bekker,Reinarch,P.S.D,T,Louw,Spies,Pienaar,
@Ben (Comment 59) : I agree with you…and am also happy with the vd Walt signing…
@The hound (Comment 62) : Don’t recall that Pierre Spies’s father or grandfather ever represented the Boks?
@Bokhoring (Comment 64) : Spies still fulfills the other two requirements though.
@vanmartin (Comment 65) : For sure.