So Fransie returns to the Sharks

he has signed for 3 years.

Interesting move, on the surface of it it looks very good, but I'm not so sure. All season long Whitehead has been the Shark's best back. A Fransie he most certainly isn't, but a very effective player for them he has been. How much strength will this add to the team? They still need a real outside centre and to sort out the halfback mess. Michalak will not be around forever and blows cold more often than hot. I know Fransie will want to get back to Durban, but I feel his services would have been much better suited elsewhere. The brand of rugby the Sharks play is not very good; particularly the backline. Another season or two like this and the team is going to require a massive reconstruction. By then Plumtree will no doubt be long gone.

They need an outside centre? Have you not seen Jordaan in action. Agreed on Whitehead, he has been the best SA 12 in the 15 and deserves a Bok call up

Not very much no, but what I have seen has not been standout. But as stated, personnel is only part of the problem; coaching is a definite issue. The Sharks are becoming stale. Lets be quite honest, in what way have they progressed since their 2007 Super 14 final? Recruiting Frans isn't going to solve their problem. I would imagine that it will only add greater variety to Plums selection merry-go-round. Would we then see Whitehead pop-up at 13? Or Frans eventually back at 10 after Michalak returns to France? What a stuff up!!

I'm not sure what you are after at the Sharks, they are progressing nicely this year. They threw a few games away early on in the S15 but are the side on the up. Cant say I rate Plumtree, but the addition of Frans can only be a positive for centre has been an issue. Now they will have 3 class acts in Whitehead, Frans and Jordaan, with Jordaan an option on the wing.

They have their backs covered in Lambie, JP, Sithole, Mjekevu, Jordaan, Frans, Whitehead and Hoffman........one can say the same about the forwards with Jannie, Beast, Chadwick, Bismark, Burden, Sykes, Bresler, JA Marais, Steph du Toit, Daniel, Coetzee, Deysel, Alberts and Kankan

Imagine Steyn and de Jong outside him.

...Steyn has great hands in the tackle, so can you imagine de Jong running off him.

I'd really like to see them in action together for an extended period..

Something Jake was always chastised for was his supposed 'dinosaur' rugby. He did in fact have a very effective attacking side in 2004. It was the style that Peter wanted, but never could realise. The big cog was Barry. His flat running and deft pass, as well as offload in contact,  and his ability to use the grubber and chip to good-effect made him an integral part of our attacking side. It's a shame that he is remember for his tackle only, or that the 2004 season was hailed exclusively for the Blitz defence. In 2005 it was clear that Barry was past his best days, so too Joubert, and the change over occured. It shored up our defence markedly, but our attack just never clicked, that despite having the most prolific attacking centre in Bok rugby, namely Fourie! Jean was muddled and error-strewn and right until 2007 he never convinced at 12. The second Frans played 12 he lifted our backline to the point where it was immensely formidable; more so than 2004! The quality of the play added to the credibility of the tries scored. Well worked and slick. I think too much is credited to Eddie Jones. The missing ingredient was a real and world class 12. Right up until Frans's introduction against Samoa Eddie's handywork was only so-so at best. It was essentially the same old Bok played since 2005; not quite clicking.

As for de Jongh. He is the most complete 13 we have aside from Fourie and would do well for the Boks. It would be useless though to gush over his many qualities unless you have an inside centre that can unlock that potential. He is a tremendous stepper and a good sense for where to be. With Frans smashing it up or making those deadly snipes a player like de Jongh would undoubtedly flourish. He could become one of the best outside centres in the game.
 

What rubbish, de Jongh has done stuff all all S15 in a side that has won most its matches. The guy is not a test standard centre at all. I'd rather have Jean at 13 and that is scrapping the bottom

Jean anywhere in a Bok jersey is scrapping the bottom. Jean can run, but like a wing. He looks very much like JPP did at 13. A person that can hit a gap but obviously devoid for a feel for the position. His awareness is poor, often blowing support runners and option taking poor. He doesn't have the skills to operate in close quarters. And to think, there were people who wanted him to become flyhalf in 2004 and 2005! In large numbers too.

de Jongh has the skills, he can tackle with authority at 13. He has every facet to succeed at test level. Just put a real inside centre next to him and you will see just what he can do.
 

de Jongh has one of the best 12's in the game on his inside. The little man will get blown away at test level. If he cant beat the man through skill he will need to enforce the advantage physically, something he will never be able to do,

Same on defence, if he does not get his timing right he gets blown away and he will never be able to impose himself physically, something a test 13 has to be able to do - look no further than Tuilangi of England, now thats what I call a 13

The England midfield is ponderous an average. de Jongh is the only world class centre in Cape Town.

We are lucky in SA to have Supersport - which allows us to see French rugby games regularly.   In essence the situation is that Steyn has been playing the crash ball game and is much slower than he was in 2007 at the WC.   Mind you - he never was known as being a speed merchant.

The question is - is his style of play effective in the modern game?  I am not convinced of that.   Be it as it may - I think that Steyn may prove himself at 12 and that he could play well - but he would need a good flyhalf to make him perform and he would not have one in the national side if Meyer persist with Morne Steyn as flyhalf.   

Lambie could provide an opening for Frans Steyn to perform - but that would not necessarily be the case on national level.   

Now let me get to the wits who wrote off De Villiers and shout about Fourie.   Without De Villiers Fourie was never a star - it was Jean's performance that added to Fourie's performance at outside center.   Fourie shown when he got a line break effected by De Villiers - on his own he was much like Spies - a show pony par excellence.   If you study Fourie's performances over years - you would certainly get clarity on that statement.     Let's summarise - De Villiers made the crucial attack platform and open the way for Fourie to score tries.

Now for De Jong.   I seldom agree with Saffex, but on the case of De Jong I agree with him.   De Jong is not up to standard and is not a real attacking option at center.   He is far too light to play in that position and his runs are totally ineffective - even when he gets the ball in open play and tries to run with the ball.   Just one thing - even though tries were rarely scored by the Stormers this year - I cannot recall De Jong scoring one single try?  Am i wrong in this? 

Incorrect, Frans is one of our faster centres, particular inside centre. Factor into this that there is no sucg thing as a fast inside centre at test level in any top 15 side. Frans has not been used as a crash baller only and has already proven himself at 12 at test level, in both the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. He has a long pass off both hands, he has a good step and above all is a good communicator and decision maker. When he hits the gainline he does so with purpose making some of our forwards look pap. His lateral and head-on defence is of the highest order and his boot adds so much more balance at 12. He is essentially a superior Nonu.

Mike, I'm not an idiot you are talking to, and please keep in mind that I have ALL of these games at hand to reference any time. I already put your assesment on Fourie to rest mphatically, now it must be done on Fourie. Fourie has definitely been the better of the two centres. Jean has never been an attacking 12 and even in 2008 when he was making breaks for several games he was poor in contact and still suspect on defence. Minus Jean in 2006 Fourie was the standout back for South Africa that year with Olivier on his inside and so too with Frans in 2007 and 2011. In fact, the Bok backline has always been better without Jean. You still want to disagree? Then you point out the game and time stamp and we'll see. Anytime.

 Having Steyn, next to Bambie will be a master stroke. Lamb chop needs the guidance, and Steyn can ease some of the pressure of the decision making- including directing the attacking plays, and a rocket launcher kick on defence.

Frans Steyn is the best inside center South Africa has now, and in a long time. Jean De Villiers is past his best- and should really be playing outside center anyway- as his passing and kicking skills are non-existant. Jean De Villiers is a strong runner, and will play well running off Frans Steyn- who is a player with little to no weakness. The boks would have easily won against Australia in the quarters if Frans Steyn was at center. So much possesion but no creativty doomed the boks out of the World Cup. 

Der Aristokrat - welcome to the Board and one clear thing - I never called you an idiot and never implied that you were one.   I merely put down my own impression on Steyn and I have been to France in 2007 and  Austrialia in 2008 to see the team and thus also Steyn in overseas tests.   I have also supported him from the first game he started for the Sharks.  No doubt a good international player.   Since he has largly played in France over the past few years I have watched him on a number of occassions in French Top 14 games.

My personal assessment was that he changed substantially since coming to the fore as a 20 year old in 2007.  He bulked up considerably and his style of play changed  drastically.   In the process he slowed down and he became a crash baller as inside center.   If anyone is convinced otherwise I will not start name-calling - but respect their opinion.

My main criticism was aimed at Fourie and De Jong.    Fourie was vastly over-rated - he rarely did anything constructive leading to a score - he was in fact a player feeding off good play of other players.   De Jong is worse and cannot do anyhting constructive as center as he is far too light to play in the big boys league.   I did ask one unanswered question - did De Jong score any tries for the Stormers during the present S15 season?   Why is that left unanswered?

What  a pity we didnt get Frans.The dopes at WP probably didn't even consider trying to get hold of him. It really bugs me that we have this pathetic leaderhip whose most consistent attribute is to export players. I see Willie le Roux is from Boland and also could be playing here!! Hougard, Morne, JJ, Sadie, Whitehead, Le Roux  and who else could be here!! Bye bye to Francois Louw, Pieter Louw and Anton (Man of the match in that Barbarians game last year. Coetzee as hea dcoach, fleckie as backline coach. Bwahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Can anyone tell me why Kitshoff has started every Super 15 game a tage 20. Where is Blauw and Kritzinger. Etzebeth is also being played into the ground as is Elstadt and Kolisi until injury gave him a break. Every match we have jean and De Jong. Man give Du Plessis a shot. You are killing these two. No player should play every game!!!! These twits are as daft as hatters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fire them NOW.

Man no wonder Rassie left in disgust!

De Jong is a poor distributor. I would play him on the wing. He has pace a nice step, his tackling is quite good for a wing and would make a fine wing.

As for Jean well he has had a great career and has been a top centre for some time. His excellence has been widely recognised as has the center combo of Jean and Jaque - which has often been mentioned a being the worlds best or a world class combo. 

Frans at the world cup was our best back followed by Jean. Hence the only conclusion we can make is that they should be tried as a combo with Jean at OUTSIDE center.

Unfortunately if Hougaard is not the scrumhalf (Du Preez getting that spot) we have two non running halfbacks who pose little to no threat to the opposition. 

Fourie definitely sparked when Fransie plays at 12. Jean is very strong defensively and in the tackle, but lacks creative flair to get the backline going. I saw enough of Fransie in the 2007 and 2011 RWC to know that he has the required flair at 12 to be a second decision maker. I would also love to see Juan DJ play 13 with Fransie inside of him. Juan is small but defends above himself and his step and speed will be brought out by Frans. Unfortunately JDV has not unleashed JDJ and I think Meyer will play Morne, Frans, Juan DJ, JP and Lwazi on the wing with Lambie at 15. Quite frankly, I would be thrilled to see that backline at work.

Meyer's likely backline will be F du Preez, Morne, Frans, Jean, Habana, Hougaard and Lambie

Jean is not a greatly physical player but is creative and hence my desire over the years to see him at 13 and setting up the wings. Ideally he should never have played 12.

Im not a Sharks fan but with a backline like Mcleod,Lambie,Mvovo,Steyn,Jordaan, JP and Viljoen they could rip teams apart

 If I can wade in with my 2cents comment, I think that its great to have Steyn back in SA and just hope that he gets played in one position rather than the way the sharks used him before his departure. He is an fantastic player and at the age of 24 already have 47 caps!!!!!!. 

For the longevity of his career my advice to him would be to play 15 as he will have more impact. He is the best  last line defender I have seen in years, great booming boot, drop kicks like a muel and has the pace to hit the line. 

But for the boks, I think Jean has never been the same since he left for Oi'land, munster. I also think that our game plan and 13 has made our wingers nothing more than poachers and ball chasers. I would love to see our backline play create space out wide and the likes of Mvovo alla habana in the early days outstrip the defence out wide. The teams that are great at that are the chiefs and crusaders. They hit up the middel a few times, but are extremely effective as they get over the advantage line and can score from that channel but they also mix it up and know how to draw defenders in and spread it wide really quickly. 

But I can't see this happening for next 2 - 4 years with Morne and Fourie Dupreez around. 

Green - the backline you would love to see at work will not b work at all.  the ball will NOT get past the scrummie or flyhalf - and will be kicked away.   The rest of the abckline would be decorative and for defence only. 

A real rugby player .Now this guy is not too shabby in the kicking department. Is Steinie playing Super 15 if the Sharkies make the finals does any one know ? Would bring a bit more life into the SA conference if he's playing i might take a bit more interest in them sharkies if thats the case.

 @Brycy - Steyn will not be available to the sharks come playoff time as he was not registered within the sharks playing squad before the cutoff time of 1 April.