SA latest – Butch linked to Lions
31 Jan 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises.
Butch linked to Lions – The Lions are expected to announce the signing of Springbok flyhalf Butch James on Tuesday.
The Johannesburg union sent out a press release on Monday confirming that a big-name signing would be arriving on Tuesday. The release didn’t give any further details, but it’s believed that James is the player in question.
There are rumours that BJ Botha, who is currently playing for Ulster, is another Bok in the Lions’ crosshairs. Both James and Botha are hoping to feature in the World Cup squad, and returning to South Africa will certainly help their selection chances.
Lions look to Vermaak – Jano Vermaak will partner Andre Pretorius at halfback in Tuesday’s Tri-Series game against the Sharks.
John Mitchell has decided to give a few different players a run, with Vermaak coming in at scrumhalf and Deon van Rensburg starting at No 12. Jaco Taute has been moved to fullback.
A new front row has been selected with Patric Cilliers a surprise inclusion. Cilliers was initially deemed not up to the conditioning pace, but Mitchell said that because of Kevin Buys’s knee injury (out for two weeks), they’ve had to alter their plans.
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Deon van Rensburg, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Andre Pretorius, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe (c), 4 George Earle, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: Bandise Maku, Ross Geldenhuys, Wikus van Heerden, Cobus Grobbelaar, Rory Kockott, Jannie Boshoff, Burton Francis, Edgar Maruthlulle Caylib Oosthuizen, David Bulbring, Dries van Schalkwyk, Joubert Engelbrecht, James Kamana/Lionel Mapoe.
139 Comments
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1 Feb 2011, 05:30 am
Bosman has the best cut-out pass of any South African currently playing, he will shine at the Sharks.
1 Feb 2011, 05:39 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-101:
He definitely has something to prove this season… perhaps the shift will pay-off…
1 Feb 2011, 05:41 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-102:
I have been watching him closely for a while, he is a big boy and some deft touches. Not sure if his tackling is always up to scratch though. I think he will do ok.
1 Feb 2011, 06:48 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-103: meyer hardly has any pace, in fact no pace or even a sidestep, sure he can do the cut-out pass but then what else? the sharks need more threats in the 10.12 channels
1 Feb 2011, 07:24 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-104:
Fair enough but I still think he will do fine for them.
1 Feb 2011, 07:38 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-94:
Time will tell
The Sharks played Tereblanch at 13 and Strauss at 12 in the CC with success, they still have Swanepole as a crush tackler too but I doubt they will play him.
The Sharks have a problem at their midfield since Barritt packed his bags, any combo of Tereblanche, Bosman, Jacobs and Potgieter is defensively deficient, add Lambie to the mix and you’ll get Nonu and Co licking their fingers!
1 Feb 2011, 07:45 am
Yes having Butch back for the Lions will be good but now they have 3 quality flyhalves – any locks on the cards ???
1 Feb 2011, 07:47 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-106: Finger licking good !!!! – the Sharks backline has more defensive holes in it than the shark nets protecting durban
1 Feb 2011, 07:56 am
@stew(stew)-108:
That goes without saying
Look at who left the Sharks in recent years:
Strauss, Styen, Barrit and Butch,
all of whom could and would tackle their man.
1 Feb 2011, 08:13 am
Stew the Lions will need 3 fhs, 2 of them will be sitting on the sideline most of the season – one on crutches with falty knees and the other one guardin a sore buttocks or other part of body
1 Feb 2011, 08:15 am
if butch stays fit he should start for boks at wc….not the 1 dimensional skop en jag artist M STEYN..
1 Feb 2011, 08:18 am
1 Feb 2011, 08:21 am
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1 Feb 2011, 08:26 am
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-110: Quite true – Andre P is truely useless with his butt issues and how long will Butch ‘s knees last ??? My question is why waste the money on possible injured personell …..
1 Feb 2011, 08:32 am
The lions are going to need to build a new physio room just for their flyhalves.
A few more disabled parking bays at Gumede Coke Cola MTN Ellis Park wouldn’t go amiss either.
1 Feb 2011, 08:43 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-101: Cut out passes are the killers of backline play in SA.
@Transformation(Transformation)-104: Exactly
@Hondo(Hondo)-106: Brad is doing damn well at Saracens now that he is told to attack the spaces and distribute from there – not the crash ball player he was at the Sharks
@grant10(grant10)-111: There goes our only little chance of winning the WC
@Sharksgirl(Sharksgirl)-112: Where have you been all my life? Could not have said it better myself
1 Feb 2011, 08:49 am
@gunther(gunther)-115: yu gotta lpove it
ANC doesn’t own nightclubs – Mantashe
2011-01-31 22:32
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Pretoria – The ANC has distanced itself from statements attributed to ANC Youth League president Julius Malema about a nightclub in Cape Town “belonging to the ANC”.
The ANC had no interest in running a nightclub or in endorsing its owners, its secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Monday.
“The ANC is not into nightclubs or partying, but is a revolutionary movement,” Mantashe said.
This followed reports that Malema had warned Western Cape Premier Helen Zille to keep her liquor laws away from the “ANC’s nightclub”.
Malema was apparently referring to the upmarket ZAR club, launched in Cape Town’s Waterfront on Saturday, at which sushi was served on half-naked women.
The launch party was reportedly attended by scantily dressed models and was overflowing with champagne.
The club is owned by tycoon Kenny Kunene. Kunene also runs another upmarket venue by the same name in Johannesburg.
Kunene, reportedly Malema’s new best friend, also allegedly indicated that Malema had his vote if he ever ran for president.
Mantashe said in a statement marked as urgent: “The African National Congress distances itself from sentiments allegedly attributed to the ANC Youth League president, comrade Julius Malema.
“We furthermore reiterate our condemnation to the act of serving sushi on a woman’s body, as this act is anti-ANC and anti-revolutionary.
“The act is defamatory, insensitive and undermining of woman’s integrity. We therefore appeal to all those involved in this act to immediately disengage from it,” said Mantashe.
1 Feb 2011, 09:00 am
I will start getting excited about these signings as soon as it translates into results on the pitch.
Lions need to be careful though…
BJ, Butch and the like will only sign one-year deals because they are obviously not coming back for the Lions, but for the RWC and the Boks.
A year is enough to alienate some of the talented youngsters the Lions have currently, who might just piss off to other unions.
Just look at WP…
1 Feb 2011, 09:06 am
bloody M Steyn is the most sterile, 1 dimensional flyhalf in the land….if we think we gonna win the wc by kicking penalties we gonna be sorely dissapointed….the new era is about attack and ball in hand….and huge defence…butch will tick far more boxes….just hope he stays fit…
1 Feb 2011, 09:08 am
lions abolutely needed a couple of really high profile signings….butch and bj provide them with just that…elton will be surrounded by a wc winner flyhalf and carlos spencer…what a great opportunity for that kid to learn at the feet of 2 x masters!
1 Feb 2011, 09:12 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-118:
Roping in experience is always a good thing.
Guys like Buys and Geldenhuys have potential but are still very raw.
Having BJ on the books to help mentor them could go a long way.
The same with Pretorius (surely close to retirement given his injuries) for Jantjies and James for Francis.
Of course it could be argued that Carlos Spencer is enough of a mentor for these two youngsters.
But then I reckon they may largely use James as a back-up option to La Grange at 12.
Lions are struggling for depth at 12, using Taute and Van Rensburg there (smacks of desparation, really).
I think, out of everyone, Burton Francis could feel the most disgruntled.
Jantjies emerged, knocking him down the pecking order.
And now, with James and Pretorius there, how often will Francis get a look-in?
The most interesting for me is Wikus Van Heerden being employed as a back-up number four lock.
This is an indication of the pace of the modern game.
Experienced loose forwards in the twilight of their careers simply can’t seem to cut it in terms of pace required for the back row.
So they’re getting converted into locks as locks too now need a certain amount of pace which they previously may not have had.
That’s why Bekker is so fundamental to the Bok cause moving forward.
And also why utility forwards like Alberts are essential.
I will be very curious to see how Van Heerden performs in the second row.
1 Feb 2011, 09:12 am
@grant10(grant10)-119: didn’t they say MSteyn was a more flash pivot when he got to the Bulle and heineke drummed it all out of him to make him a Liefling clone?
1 Feb 2011, 09:13 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-117: Juju getting spanked again. You think Mantashe in line to be next president Transie? Will JZ step down after one term? Phosa maybe lurking in the wings?
1 Feb 2011, 09:14 am
@puff(puff)-121: But Francis regrets leaving the Bulls now!
1 Feb 2011, 09:17 am
@puff(puff)-121:
But they will only be there during the S14.
Experience is great, but you need to invest that experience in the union and these signing just does not come across as an investment.
1 Feb 2011, 09:17 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-122: M steyn dissaponted me hugely in the 2010 international season….i know supporters will say he missed FDP…maybe….but hell man the skop en jag is not the route to go.
1 Feb 2011, 09:20 am
@puff(puff)-121: all this long-term mentoring you’re talking about is admirable, pissant and his crowd are looking for instant results…
1 Feb 2011, 09:24 am
@PissAnt(PissAnt)-125:
Don’t think James or Botha will be in S15 (could be wrong).
Still have to play out contracts overseas.
Currie Cup for them.
Not sure where that leaves them re World Cup though.
1 Feb 2011, 09:24 am
@Taahirah(Taahirah)-123: no way, mantashe doesn’t have ANY presidential qualities, plus he was elevated there to appease the communists. he is a powermonger of note and quite recalcitrant!
Motlanthe or as you say, the ever-ambitious Mathews Phosa.
1 Feb 2011, 09:28 am
@grant10(grant10)-126: MSteyn said in ’09 that Fdp has such a crisp pass that it allows the pivot more time to think and assess the situation, hougaard although adequate is not superb YET…
1 Feb 2011, 09:29 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-129:
Motlanthe or Sexwale.
That is if there isn’t a split in the alliance before then.
1 Feb 2011, 09:40 am
@puff(puff)-131: we’ll see now with the local elections, vavi is edgy because he hates being sidelined and he thought it was mbeki doing the sidelining meanwhile it is symptomatic of the way the ance engages with its “partners”, he is only realising that now. tokyo is another dark horse.
i personally wouldn’t mind trevor manuel.
1 Feb 2011, 09:46 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-132: Interesting that you mention Vavi. I also got the idea that the public services strike last year was him flexing his muscles more than anything else, couple that with his statement that this will be his last term with Cosatu all indications are he is making a move for the presidency. If not now, maybe 4 – 8years as vice-president within the ANC and country before he goes for the ultimate prize.
1 Feb 2011, 09:47 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-132:
2014 elections may be interesting.
The New Bloods (voters born post 94 who don’t have the baggage of previous generation) will be voting.
It could be intriguing to see who they vote for and why they cast their votes (the need for delivery over blind loyalty).
It is a shame and a shambles that COPE has turned out the way it has.
But personally I am tired of the old kneejerk statement that the DA simply cannot be a viable alternative for the majority of the people in this country.
1 Feb 2011, 09:56 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-117:
that’s the poo right there…
DA keep your white man’s liquor laws away from our nightclub at the white man’s Iwaterfront!
Don’t touch me on my sushi.
Usinglemaltwammi
1 Feb 2011, 10:07 am
@gunther(gunther)-135: hahahahaha Awu lethiVeuve Cliquot wami!
1 Feb 2011, 10:09 am
@gunther(gunther)-135: now you’ve got a new spot in Cape Town to fish for tenders at! make sure you wear you Paul Smith jersey it’s like the new ancyl badge
1 Feb 2011, 10:21 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-137:
I will take Maevis along. We will be able to pitch our tender for scuba equipment to the air force.
She is the only domestic executive in Cape Town with a clothing allowance.
She also loves sushi.
Or should I say sashimi, she doesn’t bother with the rice.
Rice, she says, she can have at home.
1 Feb 2011, 16:10 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-97: You speak truth. A centre connoisseur.
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