Great Relief for the Stormers - Jantjies

The following article are quoted for comments:- "The Lions have begun contract negotiations with several senior players after securing their return to Super Rugby. Negotiations have begun following the Lions' return to Super Rugby, after coming out on top over the course of two legs against the Kings. The futures of key players including Elton Jantjies and Franco Van Der Merwe are in doubt after both players spent time last season away on-loan in Super Rugby to the Stormers and Sharks respectively. With other stars including Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel, Lionel Mapoe and Martin Bezuidenhout all interesting other sides, Ackermann admits the process for securing next season's squad starts now. "We're going straight into negotiations with senior players this week," said Ackermann to SportLIVE. "We couldn't commit to the players until we knew the outcome of these two games against the Kings. "We had a plan B in place in case we didn't earn promotion, which was to focus on... our junior structures, but now we can start speaking to players such as Franco van der Merwe and Elton Jantjies. "Obviously their agents have been negotiating with other unions, so we need to move quickly if we want to retain their services. "The floor for negotiation is now open, and in Elton's case it's up to him to decide where he wants to play." The Stormer supporters must hope Jantjies is gone. Probably offered a contract by the Stormers at half the price they entered into an agreement with him for the loan period in 2013 - and he managed to bugger up most matches he played for them. Despite warnings that he is likely to fail for the Stormers - they rushed head over heals for him and he did fail in their expectations. The Stormers struggled with him at flyhalf and did better when Van Aswegen played in that position. The latter came on slowly after two seasons of virtual continuous injuries - but in the final Super 15 game between the Bulls and the Stormers - he was brilliant and outplayed Morne Steyn comprehensively. Final analysis - I would say good riddance - the Stormers are better off without him.

Mike the Stormers should pay the Lions to take him. At the start of the Super Rugby season I was on the fence with Jantjes because of his lack of consistency, but now I just think he is a liability. Granted it probably had a lot to do with the Stormers tactics shutting out his natural game, but a good flyhalf would get past that. Anyway. I agree 100% with you, Jantjes is no loss for the Stormers whatsoever.

van Aswegen is useless, Jantjies is twice the player. Without Jantjies, the Stormers have no flyhalf

Saffex With respect - did you watch the last game of the Stormers-Bulls in Supr 15 - when Jantjies was left out of the team. The Stormers backline was in great shape and did outplay the Bulls comprehensively - largely because of Van Aswegen. I would rather have Van Aswegewn and Swiel - than the unpredictable Jantjies in my squad. Swiel is in the WP squad for the CC - together with Pat Howard. Hope they do well. Like the WP backline players in the competition a lot. Think they should play the following players:- 15 Timo Swiel, 14 Gerhard van der Heever, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schreuder The bench should be as follows:- 12 Nic Groom, 22 Ryan Nel, 23 Cheslin Kolbe. But I think Coetzee will be bloody-minded and pick a different backline to cater for his BEE objectives..