Venter sticking with Lions
5 Feb 2009
Rejected centre Walter Venter says he won’t leave the Lions and is even willing to prove himself in the Varsity Cup.
Venter was dumped from coach Loffie Eloff’s 33-man squad last week, with Barry Goodes and Deon van Rensburg’s versatility deemed superior to that of a specialist No 12 in Venter.
There is a real possibility that Venter could be poached by another union if he remains on the outer, but he maintains he will stay in Johannesburg until the end of the year. The 24-year-old is contracted until the end of 2010, but there is a get-out clause at the conclusion of this year’s Currie Cup.
“I’ve never been approached by anyone,” Venter told keo.co.za. “I love the Lions, love the squad and I don’t want to play anywhere else. I obviously think I’m good enough to play in the Super 14, so if offers do come my way I’ll have to look at them.”
In the wake of his exclusion from Eloff’s squad Venter was in-line to help out the Cheetahs. However, his loyalty to the Lions – where he has been in the system since representing the Craven Week side in 2002 – meant he stayed in Johannesburg.
“Seeing as I was dropped I was on the draft list for other sides, so I phoned up [Cheetahs coach] Naka Drotske,” said Venter. “He said I could join with pleasure on a two-week trial seeing as they are short of centres. But we are playing the Cheetahs next Friday and it’s not in my character to be unethical, so in the end I decided to stay here.”
Venter was content with his pre-season form and conditioning, where he bulked up by 7kg.
“I was looking forward to a big season after gaining experience in my first year in the Super 14. I’m weighing more than ever, 96kg, and that was a big thing as people always said I was too small for Super Rugby.”
The former SA U21 centre now has other aspects of his game to work on,and he’s prepared to do it at whatever level possible.
“I need game-time to improve and to show people what I can do. I want to become a better distributor, not be as one-dimensional as I have been and to work on certain skills. That’s why next week I’m playing for the University of Johannesburg in the Varsity Cup.
“As long as I can play rugby, for no matter what team, that’s the most important thing for me.”
By Grant Ball
65 Comments
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5 Feb 2009, 16:18 pm
#46 robdylan: Could be. Mind you, with Mr Ludeke there it’s not surprising they’re not the same team.
I think the brains trust at Coca-Cola Park must have had a massive party when the Bulls enquired about his availablility. Got them out of paying another year on his contract.
Rest assured, anyone offered a post as Director of Coaching is not really on the list of candidates for employee of the year!
5 Feb 2009, 16:21 pm
ok, so jaco one and walter venter out.
phew the lions just hav e talent pouring out of their team. must be if they can keep sacrificing talent like they do.
5 Feb 2009, 16:22 pm
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king!
5 Feb 2009, 16:23 pm
#53 Scrumdown: In the land of coke, Earl Rose is king.
5 Feb 2009, 16:29 pm
“I’ve never been approached by anyone,” Venter told keo.co.za. “I love the Lions, love the squad and I don’t want to play anywhere else. I obviously think I’m good enough to play in the Super 14, so if offers do come my way I’ll have to look at them.” Okai to me that sounds “hey no one has approached me yet, but I am available” Okai so where is Streauli and his cheque book?
5 Feb 2009, 16:36 pm
#54 Francois Steyn is over-rated: It’s just the type of Coke that’s worrying!
5 Feb 2009, 16:37 pm
if the lions end somewhere at the bottom of the table this year,again,are they going to keep eloff on board for next year
5 Feb 2009, 16:39 pm
Did you hear about the Irish peeping Tom, who when told he’d go blind for peeping at women said “I think I’ll risk one eye”!
5 Feb 2009, 16:41 pm
#57 st.a.t.w: That’s the US$50 million question that people in and around Doornfontein are asking.
Elections are to be held at the GLRU later this year if my information is correct.
5 Feb 2009, 16:43 pm
Great to see some youngsters still prepared to put in the hard yards… and not expect ‘entitlements’…
5 Feb 2009, 16:50 pm
#59 Scrumdown:
he normally uses this exuse when they loose a game “this is a young team and we’re building towards the future” he’s been using that exuse for the last couple of years i wonder what the exuse will be this year,that’s to say if they perform badly again
5 Feb 2009, 16:53 pm
#11 chalvador:
Doesn’t matter if he weighed 94kgs… 2 consecutive seasons at S14 level has show he is a ***** with zero defensive skills… you cannot coach balls for top tier rugby…
5 Feb 2009, 16:58 pm
the title of this article makes it sound like he had alot of options and offers to go and play for other franchises
6 Feb 2009, 01:29 am
Walter Venter?
Any relation to the famous hedge-trimmer, Fernando Venter?
Or haven’t you heard of either?
6 Feb 2009, 10:07 am
What am I missing here? He phoned Naka, Naka offered him a opportunity, then he declined because it would be unethical. So why did he phone Naka? To prove to himself that he can resist temptation????
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