Cape Town – Joe Pietersen will not be part of Western Province’s Currie Cup campaign.
Stephen Nell , News24
The 26-year-old fullback confirmed to Sport24 that he had signed a two-year contract with French Top14 side Bayonne.
Pietersen is getting married on July 10 and will leave for France after that.
“I have to be realistic about my chance of playing for the Springboks. While I back myself, I’m not better than the guys they are currently picking,” said Pietersen.
“You can’t take anything away from Frans Steyn and Zane Kirchner is also playing very well.
“I am spoken of as a potential Springbok, but I’m not as close to it as many people seem to think.”
Pietersen said he opted for Bayonne because they would have a similar lifestyle there to Cape Town.
“My fiance and I both stay at the sea and it’s an easy move with her job (she’s a model).
“I’ve been with WP for eight, nine years and get on well with everybody. The move is a new challenge and an opportunity to broaden my horizons.”
Pietersen has been a key player for WP and the Stormers at fullback after being used as a utility player earlier in his career.
Apart from the fact that he played well at fullback, he was also a dependable goalkicker. He’s an excellent footballer that oozes confidence and will be missed.
Pietersen did not exclude the possibility that he may be seen at WP again in coming years.
“Rob Wagner (managing director op WP Rugby Pty Ltd) said they would let me go, but that they want first option of me should I decide to return to South Africa.”
Pietersen said it was “special” to see how things came together for the Stormers this year.
He counts last week’s Super 14 final in Soweto as a career highlight, even though the Capetonians lost to the Bulls. Pietersen also sees a bright future for the Stormers.
“If you look at how things changed here the past two years, I can’t see them finishing anything else than top of the log next year.”
Province have a number of fullback options in Pietersen’s absence.
Conrad Jantjes has been running flatout again after recovering from the serious leg injury he suffered last year, while the Currie Cup may also offer an opportunity to groom 20-year-old Jurgen Visser.
Visser is also a good goalkicker.
Gio Aplon, who is playing right wing for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, is also an experienced fullback.
Huge loss for the WP. He is MILES better than Jantjes.
as hy net n jaar gewag het ek dink hy sou wc toe kon gaan
stem smallies…. Groot loss vir wp
Joe Pietersen this year played his best rugby yet… except not in the Super 14 Final, where he had somewhat of a shocker.
He obviously knows something we don’t about his Bokke chances…..
But Let’s face it, according to Bokke management there is Fransie Steyn, Zane Kirchner… and possibly young Lambie now ahead of Joe.
The Zane Kirchner haters must have hated the Super 14 this year.. and specially the Super 14 Final.. Zane has been solid as a rock this year… and the longer the season went the better he got. Pity he’s not a goal kicker…..
Not selecting Joe Pietersen though means that we have to bolster the goalkicking ranks at the Bokke, with Morné Steyn obviously as No 1 kicker and Ruan as No 2 kicker… but would’nt it make sense to have a couple more able goal kickers in Bokke ranks…. Peter Grant (a bit shoddy and cannot kick far enough), Fransie Steyn… and possibly young Lambie.
Erens ‘n voeltjie hoor fluit hy wil net nie graag teen die Bulle speel nie 😉
Seriously talented player, Was huge for the Stormers this year except for the final as gbs mentioned.
Good luck for him on his career overseas !!!
Hier erens is ‘n slang innie gras. Ek wonder of Joe P se model girlfriend nie dalk meer met sy vertrek te doen het as wat hy voorgee nie? Frankryk is tog die top plek om te wees vir ‘n opkommende model, en almal van ons wat al met ‘n model uitgegaan het weet hoe demanding en moerig hulle kan wees!! Dit is dalk die rede hoekom die ou se rugby die laaste 3weke so agteruit gegaan het, sy kop was deurmekaar oor die Frankryk toe ganery en oor die demands wat sy girl op hom plaas. Die ou was dan noudie dag nog die gelukkigste man in die WP en het gereeld saam met die manne gekuier en was selfs ‘n knaende kitaatspeler.
Joe P het vanjaar sy beste seisoen nog gehad, dit is half dom van hom om nou oorsee te gaan speel!
Nee wat, ek dink sy girl het hom oortuig om te waai, want sy sien uit na die Frankryk lewenstyl. Hoop net nie sy drop hom na 2maande daar anderkant nie!!!
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