The worst kept secret in South African rugby has finally been confirmed. Elton Jantjies will be a Stormer in 2013.
SuperSport
Jantjies signed the contract over the weekend to confirm the move that had been circulating in the media for the past few weeks and will return to the Lions at the completion of the Super Rugby season.
In addition to this, Lionel Mapoe, who was also chosen for the Springbok squad to tour Ireland, Scotland and Wales this past weekend, has agreed to a loan term at the Bulls and will move there when he returns from the Bok tour.
The two deals were confirmed by their agent James Adams on Monday morning.
“Both players have committed themselves now, and the deals are done,” Adams told superSport.com.
Jantjies will join fellow Lions Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes and Jaco Taute at the Stormers, who are still celebrating Western Province’s exceptional Currie Cup victory from Saturday night and with the extra recruits seem to be a team that will start the season as favourites given their playing depth.
There also seems to be a move to Durban on the cards for Butch James, after the Sunday Times reported he had agreed to move back to Durban for one last season.
“I haven’t signed yet,” James was quoted as saying on Sunday. “It’s about 90% sure. I’ve been speaking to them and I’m keen to go. I’ll basically be the back-up flyhalf (to Patrick Lambie).
“Playing at 10 in this last Currie Cup just made me enjoy it again,” said James. “I don’t want to in six months think I should have carried on playing. I won’t be able to come back then.”
While most of the Lions have sealed loan deals or moves since their exit from Super Rugby, there are still one or two more who may make the move in the next few weeks.
I have mixed feelings about Lionel Mapoe playing on loan for the Bulls… his recent mercenary moves from the Cheetahs to the Sharks and then the Lions still fresh in my memory.
However, he has played well lately, just a bit too injury prone… and the Bulls need a bloody good outside centre.
So, with Jantjies on loan to the Stormers the Stormers will finally have a flyhalf of value, in place of chip-kick pop-gun Grant. Will also add attacking impetus to the Stormers backline.
Some astute buying by the Stormers this end of season… Pat Cilliers, Rhodes and Jantjies… all to add real value!
The question is, will the Stormers utilise these players correctly? There is a long line of Lions players who went there and did not kick on from there. Jantjes, Van Zyl, Van Niekerk, Brits etc. Rhodes was at best a VC player with the Sharks. With regular game time at the Lions he became star. Cilliers was a back up to the Springbok props at the Sharks, and became a Springbok with the Lions. Taute and Jantjies were discovered and became stars at the Lions.
I just don’t think that these players will develop that much at the Stormers.
Lion4ever wrote:
I am afraid its between the devil and the deep blue sea for them. I for one expect the WP/Stormers defensive code to be broken or blown up from now on. Now these poor players might just cop all the blame. They come from a total different game plan, i doubt Jantjes will ever be the same after Mr AC is finished with him.
We just don’t know how it will work out until we see it.
The fact is, he’s a talented player and as was seen on Saturday, the WP attack when the right combination of players are together is a lot less static.
If he plays next to a scrummie who gives him crisp service he should thrive as the forward pack won’t be going back too often.
SA Rugby magazine
’I made the decision that I wanted to go to the Kings a while ago and I’ve stuck to it’ – WP flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis
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