Taute considering Lions exit
18 Sep 2012
Star fullback Jaco Taute might be the next player to leave the Lions as he wants to play Super Rugby next season.
Since the Lions’ relegation from Super Rugby was declared in August, six players have confirmed their exits. Flank Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), props Jacobie Adriaanse (Scarlets, Wales) and Caylib Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs), and locks Ruan Botha (WP), Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls) and Ettienne Oosthuizen (Brumbies, Australia) will all continue their careers elsewhere.
Utility forward Grant Hattingh also signed for the Bulls straight after Super Rugby, before Saru announced the Lions’ unfortunate fate.
President Kevin de Klerk has stressed several times in recent weeks that there won’t be a major player exodus in Johannesburg as the union has a contracted group of 26 players, who are all committed until 2013.
Strauss was part of this contracted group, but De Klerk explained that the player’s release was an exception as he has an opportunity to play Test rugby for Scotland in 2015.
However, Taute, who is signed on until October 2013, said he will also leave if possible.
‘Nothing is confirmed yet, but I definitely want to play Super Rugby,’ Taute told keo.co.za. ‘It’s one of the strongest competitions and you get to measure yourself against the best players in the world. That’s where I want to play my rugby.
‘I’m currently looking over my Lions contract to see what options I can take. I will join another Super Rugby franchise if possible.’
Last week, De Klerk told this site that there were plans being made to create an alternative tournament, with the help of Saru and the IRB. It would run during Super Rugby, which would see the Lions face teams from Europe, America and the Pacific Islands.
De Klerk believes this would allow his players ‘to feature at the highest possible levels’.
However, Taute didn’t have a positive reaction to this: ‘That tournament isn’t finalised yet. It’s unfortunate that the Lions were relegated. But like I said, Super Rugby is my first preference.’
Meanwhile, Taute also confirmed that he isn’t sidelined with wrist bruising. The Lions announced in a statement on Monday that the 21-year-old was one of four players who picked up injuries after the Currie Cup win over the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend.
‘I’m not sure what that’s about,’ he said. ‘I took part in full training and I’m fit.’
By Gareth Duncan
55 Comments
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18 Sep 2012, 06:56 am
Uncertain dragon. Kings inclusion domino effect
18 Sep 2012, 07:05 am
Should go to the Sharks.
Playing outside Frans will give him a good opportunity to stake a claim for higher honors as a ‘combination’.
Would be the biggest midfield in SR, and easily one of the most dangerous.
I read someone saying he wouldn’t get much game-time. That’s ridiculous. He’d be their starting 13, with Jordaan & Whitehead probably seeing game-time when injuries occur, off the bench, or on the wing.
18 Sep 2012, 07:05 am
pathetic doos lions boardroom executives.
18 Sep 2012, 07:26 am
Please jaco…. Come knock zane off his high chair he is sitting on… We need you more then any franchise because you will bring sexy back in our backline!!! Bulls to offer him sadies money lol…
R1.4 million per year and he will be ours!!!!!!!!
18 Sep 2012, 07:27 am
@hendrikp-2:
Why mess with the quality that’s there?
Frans Steyn
Whitehead
Jordaan
Great options at centre.
Next to Willie Le Roux, Taute is the best option across the board at fullback IMO.
He is a 15 who has the utility value as he is able to play centre.
But he fits Meyer’s criteria for a 15 to a tee plus he offers so much more.
If anything, he should come down to the Cape.
WP/Stormers need some height in the back three!
18 Sep 2012, 07:30 am
9. Du Preez, Hougaard
10. Goosen, Jantjies
11. Habana, Le Roux
12. Steyn, De Villiers
13. Fourie, De Jongh
14. Pieterson, Aplon
15. Lambie, Taute
with Van Zyl, Serofontein, Jordaan and Basson bubbling under.
18 Sep 2012, 07:30 am
@hendrikp-2:
Jordaan has nailed down that 13 spot. He’s far more effective thatn Taute at 13.
Taute is a fullback for me (and a handy center).
18 Sep 2012, 07:45 am
@puff-5:
Guess it depends on where he wants to play. My opinion, his future is as a centre.
@puff-6:
Gimme Ruan Pienaar in there. Not convinced Jantjies is the right player for the Boks either. Nor is Willie le Roux who will find the going much harder in the tighter spaces of test rugby. He makes far too many mistakes and needs to redefine himself as a player that takes opportunities well rather then forcing it.
18 Sep 2012, 07:51 am
Hougaard will be better than all of these players at fullback.
18 Sep 2012, 07:52 am
@hendrikp-8:
Yep, I battle with Jantjies. He is a good player, but we need to see him play for the Stormers next year so we can see him play in a structured (normally winning) team. The Lions 7′s type game in Super Rugby is light years away from test rugby.
His error rate (like Le Roux) is also pretty high. My flyhalf order is:
Goosen
Daylight
Lambie
Daylight
Elton.
18 Sep 2012, 07:54 am
@gunther-9:
Random post
Hougie is NOT fullback. In no shape or form. Unless you an Aussie. They seem to play their guys all over the place.
18 Sep 2012, 07:56 am
Hope the Stormers / WP suits are not fast asleep as normal…
18 Sep 2012, 07:57 am
@londonshark-10:
I’d be something like:
Goosen
Lambie (but a very different type of player which makes him a bad starting option)
–Daylight–
Morne Steyn
–Some Daylight–
Elton Jantjies
Peter Grant and so forth…
18 Sep 2012, 08:00 am
@hendrikp-2:
Terrible idea.
At 15 Sharks have Viljoen and Ludik who is playing the rugby of his life. Also have F Steyn and Lambie as test quality 15s to fill in if there are any injuries.
At 13 there is Jordaan and Whitehead. Jordaan probably being the most exciting youngster in SA at the moment. And Whitehead was one of my Sharks players of the S15 this year.
If he was clever he would go to Province or the Bulls.
18 Sep 2012, 08:01 am
@londonshark-11:
He would be superb.
Huge defence.
Decent boot.
Great strength.
Good counter attack.
Pace.
Best sidestep in South African rugby.
Our own Christian Cullen and we waste him on the wing.
Wake up.
18 Sep 2012, 08:01 am
@hendrikp-13:
Lambie and Goosen are very similar players actually. Goosen is just quicker and has a bigger boot. Both take the ball flat and are very good on defense.
I think they should be our long term 10′s. But we’ll know more after next years Super Rugby comp(Lambie will get an entire season at 10).
18 Sep 2012, 08:02 am
@John Galt-14:
Oh and I forgot to mention the little known JP Pietersen who can fill that 13 void if necessary. Just for good measure.
Nah, way too much competition for him.
18 Sep 2012, 08:06 am
@gunther-15:
Please say you didn’t compare Hougie to Cullen.
He has never ever played fullback, and you compare him to the greatest 15 of all time?? I know you are saying ‘potentially’, but still, it’s reaching.
He’s 24 now (or 25). The time for positional changes for Hougie is over. He’s a scrumhalf, who happens to be a better wing (as long as his pace remains).
18 Sep 2012, 08:06 am
@hendrikp-8: Most players find the test arena more challenging than S15 and need a bit of time to find their feet.
@londonshark-10: We need to challenge the perception that you pick someone primarily on his ability to not make mistakes. That is exactly how guys like Morne, Zane, John Smit etc. were able to play while the team does not offer much on attack.
18 Sep 2012, 08:08 am
@John Galt-14:
Yep, Jordaan is a class player. Not the tallest guy around, but built like a brick **** house with some serious pace to burn. And with JPP and Whitehead, Taute won’t get near that 13 jersey.
The Bulls could use him though (in place of sideshow Bob).
18 Sep 2012, 08:10 am
@DumbSupporter-19:
I hear you, but at flyhalf, your mistakes have a bigger impact on the game.
Morne makes a **** load of mistakes (his average kicking, his defense, his running game):)
18 Sep 2012, 08:21 am
@londonshark-21: Agree.
I would however consider Le Roux at fullback. He is such a creative player. Between him and Goosen the amount of opportunities they would be creating for Habana, Mvovo, Hougaard, De Villiers, Alberts etc. would make the Boks a very different animal.
Sonny Bill (and Carter) showed the impact of having one or two guys in the backs who are constantly looking to put others into gaps. That is what the our backline of the last few games couldn’t do.
18 Sep 2012, 08:25 am
@DumbSupporter-22: *And Frans Steyn.
18 Sep 2012, 08:27 am
I love the double standards on this site.
For years I have heard Elton is not ready, hasn’t proved himself consistently, is too small. Then the same people have made counter arguments that the Boks must pick: Sias/Lambie/Goosen/Steyn. Now I believe all these players have talent but the first 3 seem to escape the inexperienced criticism and I have no idea why. Sias has disappeared off the radar, Lambie has hardly played fly half and people still live off his currie cup final performance. Goosen looks good but has hardly played super rugby and picking anyone but Morne would be an improvement. I am not saying Elton is the answer but looking at them all with a balanced approach it’s hard to argue against his inclusion.
18 Sep 2012, 08:28 am
@DumbSupporter-22:
Yep, Le Roux has some silky skills, no doubt.
And to think we have Zane at 15 for the Boks. FOR THE BOKS!!
He’s the most average player since Andre Markgraaf chose that random kicker from Griques to play for the Boks.
18 Sep 2012, 08:35 am
@Winesy83-24:
Lambie has been class for 3 years now, at 10 and at fullback (and he’s no fullback). He’s dominated Currie Cup and Super Rugby games. His injury this year is the only reason Freddie got a shot at 10 (and stayed their because the Sharks needed Lambie at 15).
Elton has played for a team with zero structure, which makes it hard to see if he would fit into the Boks gameplan.
There are two ways to view it. Elton looks good for the Lions becuase everyone else is kak. Or, Elton managed to look good for the Lions, despite everyone else being kak.
Either way, I need to see him play for the Stormers next year.
18 Sep 2012, 08:35 am
@londonshark-25: Erich Lubbe. Didn’t Carl Dup also use him?
I’m not too fussed with a coach plucking the odd player from obscurity if he sees something in him. But then you must be able to call it a day at some point when the guys is not coping.
Having said all of that, I think there is some method to Heyneke’s madness in sticking with underperforming players.
I think he is taking a long-term view. Not on the player, but on the message it sends out. If we want the Boks to play attacking rugby (less risk-free), they are bound to make mistakes. Mistakes that could cost you the game. By not kicking Morne to the curb, the rest of the players also see that the coach will back you and a few sub-par performances will not be the end of you (a SA player of the year in 2009).
Make no mistake, I would love to see Goosen at 10. I am just articulating what I think Meyer is trying to do.
18 Sep 2012, 08:36 am
@Winesy83-24:
And no one ever said Sias should be a Bok
Well, not me anyway.
18 Sep 2012, 08:37 am
@hendrikp-2: At 13…Huh? Yes, Taute is on Rudi’s shopping list no doubt but as a wing/fullback.
At 13 he wont have a hope in hell of getting game time… He will be competing against not only Jordaan and Whitehead but JPP too. Let us not forget the same JPP who absolutely embarrassed the current Bok 13 and Captain the last time they faced one another.
No, the only position that he will have a look in initially will be 11/14… 15 is also pretty crowded with Ludik playing pretty faultless rugby and Viljoen in the shadows.
18 Sep 2012, 08:39 am
@DumbSupporter-27:
Fair points. But I still believe Currie Cup and Super Rugby is the place to find form, not test level.
Beside, Morne was poor ALL YEAR for the Bulls, and for the Boks, but still kept his place.
On the flip side, Daniels was awesome all year, had 1 average test and get’s dropped.
18 Sep 2012, 08:40 am
@londonshark-18:
Nonsense the guy has all the attributes to be a world class 15.
Look at what you are comparing him with.
A couple of pretenders who have had a few decent Currie Cup Games.
This guy is devastating in broken play. Imagine what he would do on the counter.
Anyway it’s boring arguing the toss.
Either you can see it or you can’t.
18 Sep 2012, 08:53 am
Will Le Roux is SA’s equivalent of Corey Jane and Israel Dagg.
If the Boks want to evolve their attacking game they would do well to invest in him.
Imagine a backline of:
9) Fourie Du Preez
10) Johann Goosen
11) Bryan Habana
12) Frans Steyn
13) Jacques Fourie
14) JP Pieterson
15) Jaco Taute
with:
Hougaard, Lambie and Le Roux on the bench.
18 Sep 2012, 08:56 am
@Winesy83-24: Too right… I reckon Jantjies and Lambie are better 10s than both the picks for the Boks at the moment…
For one, they both tackle better than Steyn and Goosen and have better defensive awareness…
Two, they both take the ball up to the advantage line better and especially Lambie brings his loosies and 12 into play better.
They give away probably 10m on the punt and goal kicking distance stakes but thats it…
Both player’s goal kicking accuracy is hardly inferior at all…
And both will probably be Sharks next year..
18 Sep 2012, 08:57 am
@puff-32:
With
Jantjies
Basson
De Villiers
De Jongh
Aplon
Also in the mix.
18 Sep 2012, 09:02 am
Best backline in SA next year will be:
9. McLeod/Reinach
10. Lambie/Jantjies/Viljoen
11. Mvovo/Taute
12. Steyn/Whitehead/Bosman
13. Jordaan/JPP/Whitehead
14. JPP/Taute
15. Ludik/Viljoen/Taute
Better than the current Bok backs certainly, and enough depth to last an incredibly long season next year.
18 Sep 2012, 09:37 am
@Heavens Game-35: Have to admit that is definitely better than the Boks backs.
Meyer does not have a clue with the Boks backs. He should have had a far better backline coach to help and also help him select right. He should bring in Carlos Spencer.
18 Sep 2012, 10:12 am
So that’s why they call you puff#32. Why else would you make a substance induced comment like that if not clearly under the influence of a hallucinogen. Don’t you ever do that again… I mean really, comparing Le roux to BOTH Jane and Dagg. Its just not right to be publicly high like that
18 Sep 2012, 10:44 am
Taute is great at 15, but could also be a star at 13 in whichever team he ends up playing for, including the Boks.
A Bok backline of 9 Hougaard, 10 Goosen, 11 Habana, 12 Steyn, 13 Taute, 14 Pietersen, 15 Lambie and then Pienaar, Jantjes and either Coetzee or Le Roux on the bench is about as good as we’ve got, I reckon.
18 Sep 2012, 11:18 am
Such a pity… The Lions wont win the relegation game against the Kings if all their quality players bail.. So they can say goodbye to Super Rugby… If players feel the need to play Super Rugby then the Lions better sort out a deal to loan their players and nothing more.
It seems De Klerk is doing everything in his power to keep the Lions competitive and giving them game time. I hope this new tournament he mentioned will become a reality. It could be financially awarding to the players and they will still get the required exposure… If this works out players wont feel the need to play in Super Rugby…
Why would they want to go back anyway? If they can be successful in a new tournament, get a decent salary from it, get exposure and have a better traveling schedule, why would they want to go back to be the bottomloggers of Super Rugby? For the sake of Lions rugby, I hope this tournament is a huge success.
Touring to Europe and the US will also be a benefit for the players.
18 Sep 2012, 11:30 am
Oh dear. So the Lions announce he is injured when he isn’t. I’m guessing someone is going to be dropped because he wants to leave the Lions ASAP.
Did these uselessboardroomfuckups honestly think they were going to cling onto their players – even those with contracts? There is always a way…..always. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
18 Sep 2012, 11:40 am
The Bulls need him most. Zane is on the wane
18 Sep 2012, 11:44 am
Strauss was dropped a week before he announced his departure……… maybe some news soon on Taute’s next destination?
18 Sep 2012, 11:50 am
@hendrikp-2: What are you on about, what about Paul Jordaan, Whitehead, Bosman? You sharks want to play everybody and their mother at 13.
Taute is a FB.
18 Sep 2012, 12:20 pm
I think he will be signing for the Kings since they will start announcing tomorrow. Personally the sharks is a bad bet. 13/15 sorted there. Bulls are stocked at center but 15 maybe if they are brave. The current state of bulls rugby might let them reconsider. Wp is a good option , pieterson is injury prone and JDv doesn’t have long . My concern is just there backline coaching. Cheetahs would suit him but nobody really signs for them . They have plenty of up and coming stocks in the griquas . I think he would pick the bulls it’s close to home or wp if janjies goes there. Any comments
18 Sep 2012, 12:23 pm
@londonshark-25: Eldrich Lubbe, was the dude, yerrr!!, he was hondkak!!!
18 Sep 2012, 12:37 pm
He should go to WP. Josh Strauss should’ve as well.
Imagine this team
15. Jaco Taute
14. Gio Aplon
13. Jean de Villiers
12. Juan de Jongh
11. Bryan Habana
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Nic Groom
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Schalk Burger
6. Josh Strauss
5. Andries Bekker
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Brok Harris
2. Tiaan Liebenberg
1. Steven Kitschoff
16. Deon Fourie
17. Frans Malherbe
18. Steenkamp
19. Siya Kolisi
20. Schroeder
21. Peter Grant
22. Joe Petersen
18 Sep 2012, 14:14 pm
Go over that contract Jaco,you are bound to find some deep cracks in it.
18 Sep 2012, 14:22 pm
@RugbyStudent-46: Kolisi on the bench? Hell no. Siya is an 80 minute player and one of the finest loosies in the country. If he is fit – he starts. (He gets to rest though, a game or 3 throughout the season….)
Nah, Strauss would have been surplus to requirements….although….I’m just not 100% sure Schalk Burger is ever going to play again which is why we an additional loosie for next year might be an option (but not Strauss). In fact, any Lions player who signed that petition against John Mitchell would be unwelcome IMHO.
18 Sep 2012, 15:19 pm
@puff-32: nice, except your scrumhalf would be arbitarily kicking any meaningful possession away
18 Sep 2012, 15:46 pm
@goodstuff-43: Hendrikp is a WP/Stormer supporter! Not a Sharks Supporter! “you sharks” indeed
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