Ebersohn and his brain heads to Montpellier

Ebersohn heads to Montpellier

by Brenden Nel 18 July 2013, 12:00

The news that Robert Ebersohn has taken up an offer with French club Montpellier after the Absa Currie Cup season, could not have come at a worse time for Toyota Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske.

Drotske, who is currently preparing his side in Sydney for their Vodacom Super Rugby Finals Series match against the Brumbies, would have been looking for as quiet a preparation as possible, and this was one of the bigger reasons for choosing the Coogee Beach base rather than preparing in the Brumbies' backyard in Canberra.

But now, with Ebersohn’s departure a fait accompli, the Cheetahs are likely to face a number of questions regarding the make-up of their squad for the future, a week after they secured the signatures of Willie le Roux and Trevor Nyakane away from poaching provinces.

The midfielder was first approached by Montpellier to join them at the end of Super Rugby, but was not released by the Cheetahs at the time, and also chose to try and make the Springbok side in the process.

Ebersohn was selected for the Springbok group, but didn’t play a test and seems to have fallen behind Jan Serfontein, JJ Engelbrecht and Juan de Jongh in the pecking order. Barring injury, he is unlikely to play in the November tour of Europe.

It is unclear whether Montpellier’s threat of legal action – and a possible fine – after Ebersohn rejected their initial offer, had anything to do with the decision, but Ebersohn's chances of Springbok selection certainly did.

Montpellier apparently approached Ebersohn a second time with an offer, and despite Ebersohn wanting to apparently keep it quiet until after the playoff rounds, his picture and profile appeared on Montpellier’s website on Wednesday which prompted the news becoming public.

At Montpellier, Ebersohn will join the likes of Rene Ranger and Wynand Olivier in a powerful midfield, as the French club has ambitious hopes for their future in the top 14.

Slowly but surely Rugby evolves into truely what pro sports is today. Players taking advantage of a free market.

Good for Ebersohn.

Would Andries Strauss consider a return home? He was schooled in the Free State.

I hear the Kings have a mass exodus and players who have not signed on. Where are they all going or was that just a hyped up write up with only a handful of players leaving?

Maybe Bosman can return home. He is not fitting into the Sharks plans. I would like to see the Sharks, for the 1st time in years, actually spend money on a world class centre.

He's not the biggest boy around but by no means a defensive liability, so I cannot relate to the "not physical enough" comment from Dave. There's more to inside center play than crashball running.

He's had a cracker of a season and the Cheetahs have benefitted from his creativity at 12. He should have been played at 12 a long time ago. Certainly comes natural to him.

What I also enjoyed about him is his ability to be a second fetcher on the park.

Rate him far above De Jongh.

Very annoyed that he's leaving our shores.

Another big loss to SA rugby.

Good point there Mike  -

"You can always find out who are the better player options - when you look at player offers from overseas. No overseas clubs would ever offer a contract to players like Jantjies and De Jongh - because they do not rate players like that"

They see our talent while our coach sees only players clad in blue ... infuriating!!!!

I also hope Kirchner stays there. Absolute useless piece of shit.

I need to go look for the neighbours cat so that I can kick it!!!

u cant say ebherson isnt physical enough for the Boks when he never got a chance to play for them, in spXV he rose up to the challenge and then some, add to that he was an extremely creative and intelligent player and u have a player who is veru unlucky to not have represented his country.
what does soften the blow for a Boks point of view is the momentum behind serfonteins rise at the moment, but the cheetahs have lost an importnat cog in the cheetahs machine.

IMO leilafano and ebherson would of had to have been the most consistent 12s in the 2013 spXV.

http://youtu.be/NUriKDLOqmI Cool tribute here for Ebersohn 

Ebersohn also had one of the highest number of missed tackles in the S15 this year. I'm sure Naka will find a suitable replacement.

"....I think Kirchner is heading to Leinster (Ireland) at the end of the season."

Good, I hope they bolt the door as soon as he leaves.

 Lots of confusion here. Firstly ou maaaikie in knee jerk fashion blames Meyer for selecting de jongh but also acknowledges the race based quota system exists!

Then we have the statement that overseason clubs dont select rubbish player. Kirchener is apparently useless but is going overseas. Why because he is NOT as rubbish as some make out.  

Yes a warm welcome to the board Cheetahsfan13

Ebersohn is a loss for the Cheetahs but I suspect he is not quite Bok standard. I see at last a hue and cry is finally going up re players. When done to John Smit for his comments re length of Bok contracts. Some plan must be made.