Piet Van Zyl has been snatched up by Bulls

 Hope the Cheetahs pull off a miracle and get Rory Kockett as a replacement. But somehow I think that's going to be very difficult with the leaches of rugby AKA French teams.

That's bad news. Very bad news.

Kockettt would be an excellent replacement.

Have you heard anything about them approaching him or are you just hoping??

I would love it if he were back in SA.

 Nah there's no news on Rory Kockett (at th moment I hope!).

Only this article has some clue on Rory's thoughts on coming back to SA and playing test Rugby whether its for SA or for France!

Can't link article as it collides with the website format :S

Mike, I have a funny feeling that Van Zyl will fail at the Bulls. They need their scrummie's to kick and judging by the Brumbies  game Van Zyl is no better than Hougaard, but he still has attacking nouse, for now...

 Good thing Reinach is showing promise, gunning for him for a Bok test cap come RC!

 Appears that Hougaard is open to a different position than scrummie - see here

CleanCut - agree on Kockott, but he resigned with Castres last month. Decent kicker, so would be a good handcuff.  Think he was very unlucky not to get capped by the Boks.

 I think that Hougaard's thought process may be if that if he gets any sort of form whether that be wing then he'll be able to convert that to form while playing Scrummie. Or he could just see the opportunity to take the Bulls wing as his own, then further on take the gap at Bok wing!

I really do not get what the issue is with Hougaard at 9, he has been fine all S15, no better or worse than any of the other 9's. Makes perfect sense to sign v/Zyl given Vermaaks departure.

Hougaard just needs to rediscover his attacking mojo and all will be well. I dont want to see him on the wing as he is no wings backside, but then again nor is useless Basson, who's only strength is competing in the air. The lad is not physical enough for a test wing, not even close

I dont recall Hougaard ever making much of an impact on the wing. I do recall some sublime breaks from 9. I just cannot begin to believe that a player can lose the art of playing 9 having played there all his life.

I concede he is not the attacking 9 we saw a year or so ago, but injuries have played a part in that as have incompatible gameplans. Its not like he has been poor in his last few outings, he has been solid, if he had been poor, Vermaak would have been starting ahead of him.

I really do not get the issue that some have with him. For me his service has been great, the rest of his game will follow. The art is investing and trusting in his talents. We need him sparking at 9, not wasted out of position on the wing. The guy is only 24 or 25, he can't have lost it already.

am odd move cos i think piet van zyl will be the No2 halfback at the bulls behind hougaard. cant help but think that he would get more game time in 2014 if he stayed with the cheetahs.

the article which oimatey posted a link too dosent reall get into too much detail reagrding hougaards change of attitude in being a hlafback and galfback only, so i wouldnt hold too much stake in it just yet, cos i cant see hougaard not being the incumbent 9. hougaard has played rather well for the 2013 season, still room for improvement, but a decent season none the less.

Very annoying to see Van Zyl going to bulle. The bulls  live off the talent developed by other provinces. I cant see how Van Zyl will improve as a player there. Greedy bulle have done it again.

I get a distinct feeling that Beeno1 has a long white cane and dark glasses, From what i read he is a western Province fan, albeit a rather bias one. Turning a blind eye to his own Unions shopping list. It makes interesting reading, alot of products from up north.