Stormers need Jantjies
28 Sep 2012
GARETH DUNCAN says the Stormers need to make a move to sign Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies on loan for next year’s Super Rugby.
In 2011, the Stormers struggled with a flyhalf injury crisis. It got so bad that head coach Allister Coetzee reeled in Earl Rose (who’s currently playing club rugby in Cape Town’s Premier League B) to provide pivot cover.
This year, a loose forward injury crisis affected the Cape franchise’s campaign. To ease their woes, Coetzee signed Canadian international flank Jebb Sinclair, promoted his WP Vodacom Cup flanks and shifted specialist hooker Deon Fourie to No 8.
While we’re just over the halfway stage of the Currie Cup, the 2013 Super Rugby campaign is just over four months away. And the Stormers could struggle with another flyhalf crisis if they don’t make a plan soon.
WP first-choice flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will make a move to the Kings after the domestic scene. Back-ups Gary van Aswegen and Kurt Coleman are both injured, while Burton Francis’s frustrations after a third transfer failure (following the Bulls and Lions) has seen him seeking game time at SWD in the First Division.
Peter Grant will be back, but as experienced this year, he is likely to miss the opening rounds of Super Rugby because of his Japanese club commitments with the Kobe Steelers.
So there’s certainly a headache for the Stormers management. In fact, if Catrakilis gets crocked, fullback Joe Pietersen or scrumhalf Louis Schreuder will spearhead Province for the rest of the campaign.
So who should Coetzee bring in to solve this potential flyhalf crisis?
Elton Jantjies.
The Lions have been relegated. While there are plans for the Johannesburg franchise to compete in an alternative international tournament, most of their players have confirmed that they want to compete in the top tournaments, like Super Rugby.
The Lions have committed most of their troops until October 2013, which president Kevin de Klerk has stressed will prevent a mass player exodus. However, Jantjies has a clause in his contract that will allow him to represent another franchise next year.
The Stormers need to lure the Springbok flyhalf to Cape Town.
When I interviewed Stormers and WP backline coach Robbie Fleck on Thursday, he spoke about how the team is building a stronger attacking game during the Currie Cup to mould a more effective game plan for Super Rugby.
There have been improvements as WP have emerged as the best attacking and defensive outfit of the Currie Cup, according to statistics.
When I queried Fleck about the flyhalf predicament he said: ‘The flyhalf crisis is here and we need to sort it out. I don’t want to comment on the contracting side of things, because I’m not involved with that. But yes, we could use a guy like Elton Jantjies. He will fit into our game plan .’
It’s rumoured that Jantjies has a R2.5 million asking price. It’s steep, but worth it as the 22-year-old has the attacking and kicking attributes the Stormers need to ensure their attacking improvements extend into 2013.
A stint in Cape Town will also be good for the player.
At the moment, he’s one of the fringe players in the Springbok squad. He’s set to make his Test debut off the bench against the Wallabies on Saturday, and he’ll need to be playing Super Rugby to prove to Heyneke Meyer he deserves his spot in his team.
Like Lions utility back Jaco Taute told me earlier this month: ‘Super Rugby allows you to play against some of the best players in the world. That’s the only way you can measure yourself.’ Taute, who’s also set to make his Test debut in Pretoria, is expected to make a move to another franchise.
The Bulls have Morne Steyn, the Sharks have Pat Lambie, the Cheetahs have Johan Goosen and the Kings will have Catrakilis. The Stormers need Jantjies.
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67 Comments
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28 Sep 2012, 13:21 pm
@katman-44: Fatboy telling porkies? Say it ain’t so!
Jeepers I’d think 2, 3 or 136 times before I believed anything that walrus said. Maybe there weren’t enough sausage rolls at the meeting and he swore bitter revenge
28 Sep 2012, 13:23 pm
@David-47: A winning environment? Where will WP find such a thing?
Anyway, the Kings found out the hard way that you don’t dump a team out of the competition and then expect them to turn around and help you out with players. And now WP are learning this too. Cause and effect.
28 Sep 2012, 13:24 pm
@David-26: .very true, speak the truth! Guma was screwedd by Reyneke who was doing Altmans dirty work.
If the deal had gone through all would be well – minus all the pricks that ruined the Lions.
28 Sep 2012, 13:26 pm
Can we defend 133 in 20 overs? I don’t bloody think so.
28 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
@katman-50:
I thought we’d got over our weakness against spinners.
28 Sep 2012, 13:28 pm
@Rooibaard2000-37: KDK be a doos, he voted to include the Kings in 2013 – poephol at the time didn’t understand that 6 cannot fit into 5.
28 Sep 2012, 13:32 pm
@David-55: Seems not. Now we’ll have to bamboozle them with Robbie Peterson.
Oh frabjous day…
28 Sep 2012, 13:34 pm
@RL-45: I see you bring up this Broederbond thing again, I hope you have some substance to such claim, KDK is the only rugby person in the executive the rest a political apointees, so if you so enlightened please do inform us or is this just speculation thet you heard from your mom.
28 Sep 2012, 13:39 pm
@Transformation-21:
keep talking, smart guy
28 Sep 2012, 13:49 pm
@Transformation-27: They’re gonna need more than just six and even then won’t be competitive.
Viva “Transformation,” viva!!!
28 Sep 2012, 13:57 pm
Peter Grant is better than Steyn and Ketrakilis and should have been in the bok squad this year
However to sign Taute and Jantjes would be perfect for the Stormers. Also maybe they should try to bring back Kockott or sign Pienaar
28 Sep 2012, 13:58 pm
iwicki!
28 Sep 2012, 14:11 pm
yes man….our spinners making havoc!!!
28 Sep 2012, 14:33 pm
bookmakers ruling this one.
28 Sep 2012, 14:38 pm
moer hulle proteas…moer hulle stukend!
28 Sep 2012, 14:49 pm
@Rooibaard2000-37: you want headlines, i’ll show you headlines boytjie!
28 Sep 2012, 15:27 pm
KPMG Report on the Lions finances…
The KPMG report also raises
questions about the deal brokered in 2007, where EPS entered into agreement with Orlando Pirates and a little-known empowerment company, Inza.
The deal gave Pirates and Inza
51% of EPWOS, leaving EPS with 49%.
Inza is said to have been brought in by Kevin de Klerk as BEE partners before he became Golden Lions president.
The KPMG forensic report makes
serious reservations about the
EPWOS deal. It states the company
didn’t have a VAT number nor
complied with PAYE, income tax
nor did it operate the necessary
company bank account since
inception in 2007.
Instead, it used the EPS bank
account and VAT number to bill
clients, which was illegal according
to the Companies Act and also
exposed its directors to criminal
investigation.
Furthermore, rugby revenues had
been passed through to EPWOS,
leaving EPS/Lions exposed to
undeclared tax and liabilities.
The report also points out that
Pirates had played very few of
their games at Ellis Park, contrary
to the shareholders agreement.
EPWOS had a staff complement of
40, with CEO Paul Appalsamy
earning R1 million a year.
None of the three EPWOS general
managers identified by KPMG
seemed to be properly qualified
for the positions they hold. The
general manager of operations
was a former paramedic and fire instructor, it said.
EPWOS has never declared any
profit or paid dividends.
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