Ebersohn nails Naka
30 May 2012
Sias Ebersohn has expressed his disappointment in Naka Drotské after the Cheetahs coach failed to back him in the 2012 season.
On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Ebersohn had signed a two-year contract with the Western Force. A lack of game time in this year’s Super Rugby competition as well as the coach’s lack of faith in his ability has resulted in Ebersohn swapping Bloemfontein for Perth.
Ebersohn was the Cheetahs’ No 1 flyhalf in 2011 but the rise of Johan Goosen meant he started the 2012 season on the bench. When Goosen was seriously injured, Drotské favoured Riaan Smit in the starting flyhalf position. Ebersohn was again overlooked.
It appears that Drotské never forgave Ebersohn for missing that penalty against the Highlanders. When Goosen was injured, Ebersohn came on to the field and immediately slotted a conversion from the sideline. But the Highlanders fought back strongly and eventually took the lead. Ebersohn had a chance to win the game in the final minute, but missed from point-blank range.
Ebersohn immediately expressed his regret, but also felt the coaching staff should have backed him in the games that followed. He said as much when speaking to OFM on Tuesday.
‘I waited a long time for my chance at the Cheetahs and then suddenly Goosen was on the scene and when he got injured, I was suddenly replaced by Riaan Smit – in my three years at the franchise I never competed with Riaan for a place and it seems that the chances that other players are given, were never given to me. It’s sad but at some point you have to look at yourself.
‘It isn’t in my hands. I am not the coach and it was always Naka’s decision. As a player I will always give my best and this move won’t influence the way I play. It is disappointing to leave, especially when you realise they aren’t interested in you.
‘I had high expectations of the season, and things didn’t always go as I wanted them to go. But there were promises of playing time made that never materialised. Goosen had a good season and I am a player who plays not for money, but rather to enjoy the game. You can never get better unless you are backed and you improve on the field. Luckily this lesson has happened early in my career and I can learn from it.’
Ebersohn told the Bloemfontein radio station that a player needs to be backed during the bad times. He cited Springbok and Bulls flyhalf Morné Steyn as an example.
Steyn has a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in the world, but has had an inconsistent season in front of goal.
‘Morné has had – by his standards – one of the poorest kicking seasons of his career but he still plays and the team still backs him. I never played enough to get my self confidence on a high and without those opportunities, you get rusty, you get “vrot”. You need to play to keep in form,’ he said.
Ebersohn added that he looked forward to making the flyhalf position at the Force his own.
73 Comments
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29 May 2012, 19:33 pm
The lad has a point.
But don’t you think you at least need to give News24 some credit since they published these quotes about 2 hours ago already? Or did you listen to OFM earlier today?
29 May 2012, 19:43 pm
Sias, you get to trade Bloem for Perth and you are Angry. Well confused.
Dont want to get onto the lighties case, but sorry my friend, at this stage, NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I know you have grown up being told how fantastic you are, and are not able to deal with this or step your game up, but Naka needs to make his team win.
The sad fact is the Goose will give you nothing in terms of game time.
All the best in Perth. You will be better for it.
29 May 2012, 19:50 pm
I don’t think the coach is to blame here. Sias has not played well and the Cheetahs have other options. With respect to Sias, he isn’t Morne Steyn. He could become a great player, but at the moment he is just a young player who has been outplayed by two other young players in the same team.
29 May 2012, 20:22 pm
these ebersohns are good players, drotske has made a hash of this and shouldve accomodated these guys in the backline somewhere – i saw him miss that kick and drotske went off on one – to be honest i think its a good move going to perth but it would be preferable if he couldve gone to the lions – one of those players who could develop into a real talent – he is a tad small tho.
29 May 2012, 20:25 pm
Good on sias to speak his mind
Cheetahs are semi-pro at best
29 May 2012, 20:55 pm
@cab(cab)-4: What would he go to the Lions for? To play Vodacom Cup? Now that you mention it, maybe that’s what he needs right now.
29 May 2012, 21:14 pm
Good luck to Sias- it might do him the world of good to get away from the Bloem clique – perth offers much more in all respects, only slight problem is the flies, lol.
Pity he did not come to CT though- The Stormers certainly need a quality flyhalf to take over from Grant.
Mind you, Grant seems to be to the Stormers what John Smit was to the Boks- “impossible to be removed”- so maybe for his own sake just as well he decided not to come to CT.
29 May 2012, 21:38 pm
Sias has always been an arrogant twit.
He was always 2nd choice. At Grey, at U/19 bokkies and at the Cheetahs.
I admit I was one of the people a year ago who complained about Hawies not giving Sias a chance, but after realizing his arrogance is simply a Grey mess and he has really little to offer, I couldn’t care less whether he played.
The reason Sias couldn’t make the move without his brother before, was because he knew his brother pulled him along and that he has no hope of making it on his own.
Sias, Riaan Smit IS better than you, and I’d back him every time. You only had kicking to offer… which you can’t even do right now.
29 May 2012, 21:40 pm
Pity – this guy was really good in 2011. Some players are really good playing from the start. He combined really well with Sarel
I think Solly missed a trick here – could’ve signed him for the Kings……………………….like that is gonna happen
Well Sias, hope you get more game time that Sarel is with the Waratahs.
29 May 2012, 21:45 pm
Sias is way below Riaan Smit or Willie Le Roux and Johan Goosen
reality check time for him.. he is talented sure but only as far as VC rugby depth and not much further.
Smit, Le Roux and Goosen leave him in the shade.. far as Naka is concerned Sias Ebersohn is about 4th FH in the Cheetahs pecking order.
and thank the stars he didn’t come to Stormers he don’t have nearly what it takes at the tough end of a S15 franchise.. he’s going to struggle at Perth same way as Pretorius was all the rage at Cheetahs and now he’s only back up scrummy at Waratahs.
29 May 2012, 22:01 pm
all the best young man but you had better learn to control your mouth sharpish.
no one owes you anything understand?
not your coach, your mates in the pub, no one.
Goosen is simply better than you and you went and messed up vital kicks that cost your side games.
thank fok your brother didnt convince straueli to sign the two of you as a package deal.
in fact, happy with tim, jordaan, frans and bosman (with a bit of jpp and lambie just in case).
29 May 2012, 22:41 pm
There’s a Weightwatcher’s in Freemantle. Check it out!
29 May 2012, 23:53 pm
On the contrary
He should speak out. There isn’t enough of this from SA players. He’s a pro athlete so he’s got to put himself in the best situation. He knows what he wants to do & how he wants to play. He’s going because some of his colleagues are more equal than others
I foresee the Aus’s doing a lot for his game & his conditioning.
30 May 2012, 03:36 am
Poor form Sias, you mucked up but instead of taking it on the chin you spit the dummy and have a go at your coach?!
Nee man boet, I actually think it is a great move for you and can only improve you as a rugby player but why in the world carry on like a spoilt brat doing it.
I am a very long way from being a Naka supporter but what did you expect him to do? You messed up badly and every man and his dog (even Naka!) could see your confidence took a massive dive. Starting a super rugby game is NOT the place to regain that confidence and bringing you on as a sub was the right way to go about it. Reality is that if you grabbed the opportunity when it was given to you we would not have been having this conversation but you dropped the ball and should rather take it like a man and show us on the pitch you have overcome it all.
Anyway, all the best for the future and I do hope you do well at the Force.
30 May 2012, 03:47 am
@viewer(viewer)-13: They are not more equal. They are playing better. Sias had a great season last year, but it is up to him to maintain his level of confidence. Some players off the pace get dropped and work doubly hard to earn their place again. Others feel aggrieved. We all know which ones go on to greatness.
30 May 2012, 07:40 am
Should’ve taken it on the chin, mate. Having said that, it is a free world & you’re entitled to make the choices which you think will be best for you.
Having made your choice I wish you all the best.
30 May 2012, 07:45 am
He should have nailed a few more goal kicks. He should have nailed a few more tackles. He should have nailed a few more line kicks and not put his team and the Orange fans under pressure. He is talented, but has been falling short. Good luck Sias, may the force be with you.
30 May 2012, 07:54 am
It was not just that missed kick, the performances following that game was keeping the whole team down. He was a liability at FH, sorry Sias, but you are the weakest link.
30 May 2012, 07:56 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-18: True. It was actually refreshing when Riaan Smit was selected as it suddenly gave the realisation, “hey, there is another option and he can land some difficult kicks!”
30 May 2012, 08:13 am
I’ve always liked the Ebersohns… Robert and Sias… Always thought Sias is a talented flyhalf…
However, few flyhalves possess the prodigious talent of Johan Goosen. In spite of that, I believed Sias would get game-time, as very early on I believed that Goosen was more fragile than anyone was willing to admit and when he was out injured Ebersohn would get his game-time… It wouldn’t be the first or last time that two players in the same province fought and were selected for the same Bok position.
I have never really been a Naka fan… as a player or as a coach… but have to give him credit for rising to the top echelons in both.
But must say that… I believe that Naka did in fact back Sias. After his nightmare game Sias started against the Stormers… and everyone in the stands could see his confidence was shot… until finally he grassed that last high ball. What was Naka supposed to do…? Let Sias continue and throw the game to save Sias’ self-esteem…? No, Naka did what any coach would…
Of course, we don’t know what was said behind closed doors either before or after these incidents, so don’t know whether Sias really has a case at all… maybe Naka told him off in less than diplomatic language…
But I don’t blame Sias either… he’s obviously in a bad head-space right now… and I’m sure in time will regret what he has said…
The whole point for me is this… Why the hell don’t South African teams each employ a mind-coach? We have coaches for training, for fitness, for kicking, for defense, for backlines, for forwards, for diet, for gym, even for fashion and hair-styling it seems…
We all know that South Africa’s biggest weakness on any sporting field is our mental fragility… So why don’t we employ psychologists or self-esteem coaches? Not part time or when needed… Full time everyday members of the management staff!! People to get the guys minds right when they’re down… and to get the guys minds when they’re up because we’re just as bad with our complacency.
But in South Africa we believe we have to be tough and cowboys don’t cry. Well the only cowboy who played rugby was Mark Shaw… and these days all athletes in any sport need mental coaching as much as they need physical coaching.
Clearly Sias needed some help with his self-esteem and has been let down by the system and South African machismo… He’s not the first… and he won’t be the last.
When will South African rugby learn…?
30 May 2012, 08:19 am
I also wonder how this is going to affect the Cheetahs team in general… with Robert left carrying the can as it were. There has to be some feelings about this amongst players and management but people will walk on eggshells to avoid offending Robert and/or Naka… not good for the team dynamic.
30 May 2012, 08:28 am
stop whinging, ya whinging Yappie, you’re sh*t and you know you are.
30 May 2012, 08:29 am
@ufo(ufo)-20:
Both the Sharks and Bulls have mental coaches…
30 May 2012, 08:39 am
prickles sure, I assume that is why our players keep on popping up in Australian teams.
30 May 2012, 08:41 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-23:
very good to hear…
didn’t know that at all…!!
30 May 2012, 08:41 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-24:
and Canadians keep popping up in yours
30 May 2012, 08:47 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-26:
One last year, one this year and I will be surprised to see the current one again after he failed badly last weekend.
30 May 2012, 08:55 am
I don’t see any reason y Sias shouldn’t speak his mind. He had a blinder in 2011 and the lack of Faith in him have ppl now calling him 4th choice flyhalf Cheetahs!! Really? You supporters are FAR to fickle as I remember some of you baying for his inclusion last year ahead of Morne for Boks.
He got dropped in Currie Cup after a blinder in S15 and he continually had to show why he should start, to Naka! Yet others simply get a pass.
Let’s not be so fickle and just wish the young lad well @the Force
30 May 2012, 08:56 am
Am actually quite excited for him since the Force have never had a flyhalf worth paying attention to, remember them even trying to recruit Andre Pretorius? MAN what a bad decision that was!
30 May 2012, 08:59 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-26:
no canadians have ever played for the boks
strauss, vickerman, rathbone however….
Aussie rugby is comparable to english cricket. reliant on foreigners.
30 May 2012, 09:00 am
I fully support Sias in his decision. Sad, but true, the braavleis coaching at the Cheetahs has caught up with them.
Head coach not only has to coach the team, but manage his players. This is something not Naka has not managed to do during his time at the Cheetahs. Next year this time, we will read the same news. Free State will lose more players.
30 May 2012, 09:01 am
@Papoose(papaown)-28:
absolutely…
i said as much on the other thread about him… i would have accepted him in cape town without a second thought…
and there is no ‘revenge’ as sweet as success…
good luck to him..
30 May 2012, 09:02 am
@ufo(ufo)-25:
Cannot remember the name of the Bulls, although they did have HM too… it was Tim Goodenough at the Sharks and of course Jake introduced Henning Gerricke during his duration… don’t think Snor kept him on?
30 May 2012, 09:04 am
@Papoose(papaown)-29:
Matt Giteau was flyhalf at the Force
30 May 2012, 09:04 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-23: tim goodenough has been earning his money for doing fokkol..what mental edge do the sharks have, what has it brought them, 2 currie cups?
30 May 2012, 09:09 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-35:
Do you expect him to coach the team too with Plum-for-brains there?
30 May 2012, 09:10 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-30:
Mujati, Mtawariri, Montgomery…..all stolen from outside Yappieland
30 May 2012, 09:11 am
we all know the cheetahs can play some serious footy, they just can’t hold on to their players.
Hell, if they want to keep Johan Goosen after his contract expires they will need Porche as sponsor, not Toyota.
30 May 2012, 09:12 am
@rangerman(rangerman)-11:
I disagree, if a player signs on with promises of gametime there are obligations.
sure, that doean’t mean a player can be poor all week long and still expect to start but sias hasn’t been poor. He missed THAT kick outside of that he has been pretty good. His confidence and play definately took a knock after being sidelined after that.
But in the beginning of the season he was pretty good, in fact the cheetahs looked at their best with him at 12 outside goosen.
the truth to this situation is probably somewhere in the middle.
30 May 2012, 09:14 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-37:
errm…..I was at school with monty.
he’s south african.
30 May 2012, 09:14 am
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-37: Montgomery was born in South West Africa in 1974 and SWA (Namibia) only declared independence from South Africa in 1990.
30 May 2012, 09:16 am
@brian WP(brian WP)-31:
hello….managing players?
not as easy as it sounds.
Just ask allister coetzee.
30 May 2012, 09:17 am
and Corne Krige in Zambia, what’s the point?
30 May 2012, 09:18 am
anyway, Naka should ready himself, there is no way in hell that Goosen will be at the Cheetahs in 2 years time.
He’ll go to the bulls or the sharks.
30 May 2012, 09:20 am
@brian WP(brian WP)-43:
corne krige was at paarl boys if my playing memory serves correct.
zambians don’t end up at paarl boys
they end up at bishops
cheers
30 May 2012, 09:20 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-42: Oh I know. I am a WP supporter all the way, but I will be first to admit that the union has a long way to go before we can go back to the days of early 80′s winning silverware. They have played players to the ground, Bekker, Kolisi, Kitshoff just to name a few. Let way too many quality players leave the union also. That is what happens when you have a president at the union that only looks after his own pocket
30 May 2012, 09:22 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-45: Krige born in Zambia
30 May 2012, 09:29 am
@brian WP(brian WP)-47:
30 May 2012, 10:11 am
The talent is there, but the mental toughness is not.
If you’re not mentally strong at 10, you WILL NEVER BE TOP FLYHALF.
Just ask Gaffie.
30 May 2012, 10:13 am
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-33:
cheers bryce…
seems i was wrong about this but still do think it should be something all teams implement… especially the boks… haven’t heard of anything like that under heyneke’s reign o far…
now that you mention it, it becomes obvious that sharks and bulls have brain doctors… they certainly look like the teams with more self-belief in south africa…
let’s hope it catches on and all teams sign up quality mental coaches…
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