Cheetahs flyhalf Sias Ebersohn is the second South African rugby player to have signed with an Australian side in two years, having signed a two year deal with the Western Force.
According to Ruggaworld.co.za Ebersohn was approached during the Force’s visit to South Africa. Force CEO Vern Reid says that Sias will make a significant impact with the Force as he has been touted as a potential Springbok.
Sias will join the team ahead of the 2013 Super Rugby campaign, and is expected to remain with the Cheetahs for the Currie Cup season. This move was apparently negotiated without Cheetahs coaching staff being aware of it.
The deal is now before the Australian Rugby Union, who has to approve all foreign player deals, as Sias is seen as the one foreign development player each franchise is allowed.
news24“I waited a long time for my chance at the Cheetahs and then suddenly (Johan) 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.”
He feels he should have been backed after some erratic performances, hinting at how the Bulls have shown faith in their flyhalf Morné Steyn.
“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 selfconfidence on a high and without those opportunities, you get rusty, you get “vrot”. You need to play to keep in form.”
Ebersohn also said he simply couldn’t refuse the offer from the Force.
“The Force approached me and I never spoke to them first. They said they think I am a good player and they want me as their No 1 flyhalf. What player in my position wouldn’t grab that opportunity.
“I learnt a lot in my time here, and not just on the field, but life lessons as well, especially from Hawies (Hawies Fourie, Cheetahs backline coach). My time here was good but there were many decisions that should have gone my way, many team selections that went against me.”
30 @ Cheetah4eva:
Maybe they’re happy as pigs in Palestine, well I certainly hope so for the Cheetahs, and with that I’m not denigrating the Cheetahs…
It’s just strange that the Cheetahs have now lost WP Nel, Ashley Johnson, Izak van der Westhuizen, Sias Ebersohn & George Earle in a very short space of time.
Now let’s compare that to the other 4 Franchises…. in the same time frame, they have very recently lost…. mmmm…. no one that I can immediately bring to mind…
In fact, 3 of the Franchises (Bulls, Sharks & Stormers) have just aquired or re-acquired the services of some overseas-based players… to come back to SA. Bulls – Rayno Gerber, Stormers – Carstens & Sinclair, Sharks – Frans Steyn…. in this same time frame where the Cheetahs are leaking players.
What else is there to read between the lines?
What deductions do you make?
Do you ascribe it to mere farking co-incidence, 5 times round?
Are’nt the players at the other Franchises also pulled by the lure of money?
The Bulls players who left late last year… you were absolutly spot-on, they were at the end of careers, with little time left to build a nest egg. Can you honestly say the same about these young Cheetahs?
Come on, don’t see me wondering about the reasons for leaving as a negative, I’m questioning a strange occurrence…. an odd one, to say the least!
Damn, now you’re just sensitive… no need to be… I really, really like the Cheetahs… a lot!
Hell, maybe it’s just contracting time at the Cheetahs, whereas the contracting time at some of the others fall later in the year….
Just tell me one thing… please tell me you are also asking questions… or are you pulling an ostridge with head in the sand here?
@ GBS,
Lol, nope, maybe, itis because, as a Cheetahs supporter, I have become used to the movement of players mid-season. It is contract time, in Europe. How many young players, in the same situation, would not consider a stint in Europe. Izak vd |Westhuizen, is definately not in the Springbok mix, so it is a no brainer that he would go. Ashley has little chance, and has publicly stated, that his move is to secure his future, after getting married last year. WP Nel, has been overlooked as a potential bok, despite solid performances, and has an opportunity to play for Scotland, virtue, of some distant cousin no doubt. Johan Wessels stands behind Brussow, in the pecking order, and received a n offer to play overseas. Sias is the only disgruntled player, and largely, it is not the Cheetahs fault, that Goosen is just to good to keep off the pitch.
It might be coincidence. All I am saying is, just because players sign for overseas, it not neccessarily indicative of unhappiness in a camp.
Guys like van Zyl, Labuschagne, Prinsloo, Goosen Jacobs, brussow, Coenie, and Nyakane have just extended their contracts. It’s normal fare for the Cheetahs. Players get scooped up by the Cheetahs, make a name, and get bought by richer unions.
The silly season will still kick in for the other unions, mark my words.
I would be concerned if players that form the core of the Cheetahs jumped ship. Only one of the guys leaving, that leaves a dent, is WP Nel, but then the plan was always to move Coenie to TH at some time.
The only player that you mention, worth his salt is Frans Steyn. The Cheetahs have also drafted in Ross Geldenhuys, to increase depth at prop, Boom Prinsloo signed for two years to cover Ashley’s move, and no doubt more will follow.
We currently have the following to play CC
Props: Coenie, Marcel vd Merwe, Nyakane, Geldenhuys, Ian Potgieter, Stephan Kotze (Junior Bok 2011)
Hkr: Strauss, Liebenberg, and PW van Vuuren
Locks: vd Westhuizen, Waltie Vermeulen, Ockie van Zyl, Francois Uys
Flnks: Brussow, Raubenheimer, Lappies Labuschagne, Boom Prinsloo, Dries van Schalwyk, Phillip vd Walt, Armand Koster
SH: van Zyl, Pretorius, de Bruyn, Luiters, Rademan
FH: Goosen, Smit, Kritzinger
Centre: Strauss, Snyman, Geel, Ebebersohn, Robbie van Schalkwyk
Wings: Jacobs, Benjamin, Ulengo, Burger
FB: Daniller, Scheepers
So there is enough settled players, and some that we can develop.
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