Heyneke Meyer's First Move

Meyer has bee in talks with Frans to get him back to South Africa; by all accounts it looks as though that move will be back to Durban. Money is not his stated goal and Meyer has outlined what is expected of him to be earn selection. That said, all indications are that he will feature at inside centre for the Boks in the opener against England later this year. This would be a masterstroke by Meyer and thankfully a step in the right direction that Peter was too ignorant to make. It looks as though the Bok's future is in safe hands... did anyone ever really doubt that? ;)

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Steyn-to-sacrifice-money-for-SA-20120318
 

Frans belongs back in the Free State (to ensure his home state do not get relegated) but if not than come to the Stormers Frans the future of SA Rugby!!!

I couldn't see anything in the article saying he was going back to the sharks?

Frans would be a big, big step up for the Cheetahs. To be honest, a move to the Sharks would be counter-productive for him. It's not a good team to play for if you are a back. Having developed his game so far in France; it would be a shame to be wasted again in Durban. Lets be quite honest, he would be flitted between 12 and 15 and God knows elsewhere. Plumtree is starting to look a lot more like Muir. I know he is not being helped by Straeuli's duff recruitments, but he has chased away too much talent and done little with what he has. The Cheetahs have a lot of potential. From a defensive standpoint alone Frans would be huge. Sadly I cannot see this happening.

I saw Riaan had  a better game for the sharks but still is not reproducing his Cheetahs form. Ditt oSarel playing for the warts.

Get these three back to the Cheetahs and it would be very interesting to see what could be achieved.

As I said a while back if the Cheetahs can run the ball why cant teams with richer talent bases do the same. Its about the coaches. Cheetahs have backline coach and a vision to run the ball. Other sides, Lions apart, need to up their backlne play a bit. Not runninmg everything but getting better value from their backlines who way underperform vis a vis theCheetahs and even the Lions.

Only the Lions and Cheetahs's backlines play to their potential. But of course it also involves the way the pack plays. Very mobile pack.  Their pack however lacks a bit of grunt. They cannot beat a side with a top pack playing confrontational rugby. This is what derailed them against the bulle in my opinion.

I don't actually think we have a bad pack. Defence has been the key issue. That said, I don't think anyone could have out-muscled the Bulls that day. It was brutal to the extreme. I think our backline has a lot more balance than most, a lot of underrated talent there. Of course the coaching has been very good as well. The Stormers have outstanding outside backs, but I don't rate either of their 10s and Jean is hit or miss. Coetzee and Fleck are clearly clueless. The Sharks are a mess. JP at outside centre is an act of desperation in my opinion. Plum running out of ideas fast and Straeuli a total disaster. The Bulls are the most well rounded side. They can run it with devastating effect but they also have a big pack, the best kicking game in the world and a very good defence. The Lions are very much on the light side, a little experimental. A good unit though.

I love the brand of rugby played by the Cheetahs, as a matter of fact I've been enjoying their style of play for the last two years. It's total ball in hand rugby at it's best. Now if only we can get the Boks to ditto the Cheetahs. I'm also impressed by Adriaan Strauss's captaincy, he is fearless and leads by example.....here's hoping Spies is reading my post.

Cheethas are a pleasure to watch. I think though that their pack needs a bit more grunt possibly in the lock position and one heavy hitter loose forward who is also pretty mobile.

Get back Sarel, Riaan, Frans and even Basson and what a speactacle we would see. What a shame the public have been denied seeing this all becasue the Union has not got funds to keep its players.

Seldom do Cheetah backs play as well for another franchise.

Pecking order of hookers in SA

Bissie

Strauss

Liebenberg - maybe fractionally behind Strauss.

These are our top three hookers with chilli boy at 4th at best but well behind the top three.

Interesting that Fransie wants to come back to the Sharks.....the same team that supposedly "messed" him around. hahahahaha.

Never you mind about Plumtree, he's on borrowed time. That you can take to the bank. Why do you think he's acting so out of character lately? Giving the youngsters like Herbst, Coetzee, Bresler and Marais opportunities? Thats not like him. Usually he would have run out and bought some hasbeen somewhere. Nope, the pressures on to promote players from within. He's desperately trying to hang onto his job. He's been set a definite target and if he flops it, hes gone.

With Heyneke's influence Frans may even end up joining the bulls, Hopefuly not! But with kirchner there, at least he will play centre and not be messed around in different positions?

It's pretty simple really...Frans at 12, Jean at 13....de Jongh covering both positions off the bench.

 No ways Moz......yes to Frans at 12, thats a given but if we are going to retain an old boy at 13 it would have to be Fourie. As for de Jongh covering the bench, no way - Sadie is a far better option and by the end of the S15 he will have proved that. I would play Frans at 12, with Taute at 13 and Sadie as my bench centre.......its time to move on from the old boys Jean and Fourie - de Jongh is a never been

Funny how the 2 teams in SA with the most exciting backplay ends up on the bottom end of the log every year.

Draad they lose because their forards are not up to it. Lions locks who have they got. Playing van heerden etc. They lack the real grunt and cannot beat top teams. As I said Free State  are short of  a powerhouse lock and big mobile loosie.  Perhaps then need to balance a bit better their attack versus defence. Slightly less risky rugby. A smallish adjustment in approach. They are now not far off in beating some sides.

Certainly Cheetahs had better ofthe Brumbies but were shafted in typical down under ref style..

At the moment it seems we are well equipped at center for a change. The talent needs to be directed by Meyer. He has to sort it all out and hopefully get it right first time.

Frans dont make the same mistake twice!