Pat Howard- Moving to England- Northampton Saints

• Mallett credits Lions, Sharks
• Rhodes blow for Stormers
• Spies: Tough road ahead for Bulls

Cape Town - Western Province back Pat Howard has reportedly signed a deal with English Premiership club Northampton Saints.

While the news is yet to be officially announced, Netwerk24 has reliable been informed that Howard will leave the Cape union later this year.

The 23-year-old Howard, who can play wing and centre, is contracted with WP until October 31.

This means he will in all likelihood be asked to stay until the end of this year’s Currie Cup.

Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis (Montpellier, France) and prop Steven Kitshoff (Bordeaux-Begles, France) are also heading abroad after this year’s Currie Cup, while utility forward Michael Rhodes will head to Saracens in England after the Super Rugby competition.

Howard represented South African at Under-20 level in 2012, but has struggled for a starting berth at the Stormers, with players like Juan de Jongh, Huw Jones, Kobus van Wyk and Johnny Kotze ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

Sadly Coetzee is an ignorant prick for not selecting this talented youngster......it was only a matter of time before he left WP.

Good thing is he has played for the Bok U20 side which means he can only play for SA......same applies to Kitshoff thankfully  

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If we consider the injuries to Steph du Toit, Arno Botha, Malherbe, Marcel v/ d Merwe, Frik Kirsten, Kitshoff, Kolisi, Stokkies Hanekom, Visser, Odendaal, Andries Coetzee, Ruan Botha, Faf de Klerk, Frans Venter , Jordaan and the non availability of Frans Steyn the following non selected squad makes good reading and points to Meyers short comings in a big way.

15. SP Marais, Jessie Kriel

14/11. Rhule, Kolbe, Sithole, Kobus v/Wyk, Skosan, v/d Heever

13/12. JJ, Mnisi, Taute, Andre Esterhuizen, Watermeyer, Mapoe, Howard, Sadie

10. Boshoff, Jantjies, Swiel, Catrekillis

9. v/Zyl, Schreuder, Groom

1/3. T.du Toit, S.v/d Merwe, Mellett, Dreyer, Maks v/ Dyk

2. Cooper, Visagie, Scara

4/5. Lewies, Jacques du Plessis, Willemse, Jean Kleyn, Mostert

6/7/8. Mtembu, Elstadt, Brussouw, Rhodes, Labascagne, v/d Walt, E. Oosthuizen, CJ.Stander, Minnie

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Lets look at the non selected squad

Marais....dropped by the Sharks after the Saders exposed him

Rhule, Kolbe, van wyk, Skosan and Van de Heever....I like the latter, the rest are non selectable as well as being non selected

JJ=toast,  Esterhosen=blind side flank, the rest are probably even worse

Boshoff= Can't kick under pressure....ditto Jantjies, Swiel = lightweight

Schreuder is terrible, Groom only a bit better

Mellett is a disaster,Thomas = Green, Maks= Maks niks

Cooper, Visagie, Scara....no, not really if one is realistic

The locks are B plus

Lappies=not test material, Stander= Pipe dream.....Brussouw I still admire if his body can survive.

Geez Dave this list is a horror movie of mediocre talent....you can't be serious!

Let me try to illustrate your problem Dave by selecting a team from your squad;

Marais

Sithole

JJ

Esterhosen

Rhule

Catrikilis

Schreuder

Mellett

Cooper

Marcel

Lewies

Mostert

Mtembu

Labuschagne

And heaven only knows who at number 8.

Surely it's obvious to anybody who has watched any rugby that your team loses to the ABs by 50 points and to the Wallabies by 35.

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Northampton Saints have completed the signing of Stormers centre Pat Howard.

Rumours of Howard's possible move were reported in the South African press on Monday and the Saints have now confirmed the capture of the 23-year-old. He spent three months with Munster earlier in the season and will arrive at the Saints after his Stormers and Western Province duties have come to an end.

"Pat is a young player who has shown plenty of promise in the Currie Cup, Pro 12 and Champions Cup," said director of rugby Jim Mallinder. "We've been impressed by what we've seen, but believe that there is more to come from him and are looking forward to seeing Pat develop in our squad."

"I really enjoyed my time in Europe earlier this year and was delighted when Saints showed interest in me," Howard added. "It is a great opportunity for me to be joining a fantastic club and continue to develop as a player. I cannot wait to pull on the Saints jersey!

"I have had a great time coming through the ranks at Western Province, but feel that now is the right time to experience something new overseas."

Vlagshit trust you to get half the story......if you dig a little deeper you fool you will see that I have gone on record saying that Kolbe is the best of the little guys in the Stormers side and a side can afford to have one little guy.......that little guy would be Kolbe, but only on the wing.

I was talking about that group of small guys as a collective you idiot......the Stormers play too many little guys in their backs......get it????????????????  

Moz the problem with your take on my players is that its a load of CRAP......so bullshitting about SP being dropped when in fact he is injured......about sums up your take in general.

We had Esterhuizen exposing you for the bullshit you wrote about his speed, when he took that break and made a fool of you.....lets hope you have put his speed issue to bed now........but my guess is that we will continue to hear you bang on about him being a carthorse.....so he is a blind side flank is he, how did you work that one out.....bwhaaahaaaa

So now all of a sudden Willemse is B grade in your eyes.......you are lying again as we know exactly what you think of him.

A side selected from that squad of non squad members at the time, would be pretty bloody handy.....let me help you a little.

So Jantjies, the form 10 in SA right now, cant kick under pressure......but you advocate Frans as a 10, with his slow hand to foot.......wow Moz......you really are clueless.

You really have no idea when it comes to players......hell you find favour in de Jongh at 13, Matfield at 5.........no more needs to be said.

Vlagshit......I'm talking about another post on a different thread you braindead mope.....which justifies my selection of Kolbe on the list above....for you felt the need to highlight his inclusion given my take on the small players.....so you fucking try again you idiot.

Time to expose your stupidity one more time

These fucking NH sides pinching our players instead of investing in their own is bloody pathetic.......its pissing me off no end..........FUCK OFF Saints and co.......your sides are a joke.....they represent nothing that is English and you wonder why your national sides are so shit as you don't invest in your own......France is the worst culprit and look how their national side has slipped.

NH rugby is no different to football now - its stinks.

Its about time the IRB stepped in and placed caps on the number of foreigners each club is allowed to contract.  

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And I stand by that post given it was May 2014.......I am on record as saying that Pollard is now our best 10.....its called progression........but I'd be equally happy with Goosen or Lambie starting.......my ranking of 10's is:

1. Pollard

2. Goosen

3. Lambie

4. Jantjies

Hope that helps  

And I stand by that post given it was May 2014.......I am on record as saying that Pollard is now our best 10.....its called progression........but I'd be equally happy with Goosen or Lambie starting.......my ranking of 10's is:

1. Pollard

2. Goosen

3. Lambie

4. Jantjies

Hope that helps 

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