At last the Sharks reel in a decent flyhalf , This signing will be huge if the Sharks are to do well in the super 15 next year.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter has according to reports made it clear he will join the Durban franchise after this seasons Currie cup .
JACQUES-LOUIS Potgieter, the flyhalf who dashed the hopes of the Sharks during last year’s Currie Cup semi-final when he kicked a match-winning dropgoal, seems set to join the coastal franchise after this season’s domestic competition.
After helping the Cheetahs to last year’s Currie Cup final, the 25-year-old signed a oneyear contract with his old team, the Bulls, but played second fiddle to Springbok incumbent Morne Steyn during the Super 14.
Yesterday, Sharks commercial manager Rudolf Straeuli denied that there was anything definitive to report about the possible move, but word from Pretoria is that they have resigned themselves to the fact that Potgieter will be heading to Durban.
The Blue Bulls high performance manager, Ian Schwartz, said Potgieter had made it known he was seriously considering pursuing his career at the Sharks.
If the move does eventuate, and with the possible signing of Cheetahs star Meyer Bosman also on the cards, the Sharks could be well-placed for next year’s Super 15 despite the fact Ruan Pienaar is reported to be heading to Ulster.
Meanwhile, Steve Meyer was named yesterday to start at flyhalf for the Sharks’ opening Currie Cup clash against Griquas in Kimberley tomorrow afternoon, which ironically was the same venue were he played his last game for the coastal franchise before leaving to play overseas.
Sharks coach John Plumtree said they knew it was going to be a tough outing, but emphasised that they were determined to head to Kimberley with confidence and for that to reflect in their play.
Confidence
“We’ve never had an easy game up there and we’re not expecting one this time, but we also want to go to Kimberley with confidence and play with some speed, knowing that we haven’t lost there for three years.”
However, Plumtree admitted he wasn’t expecting a complete performance from any of the teams in the opening weekend of Currie Cup action.
“I don’t expect anyone to play outstanding rugby in round one because no one has had top quality pre-season games.”
The team that will be tasked with growing into an effective outfit was announced without any surprises. Stefan Terblanche will skipper the team from outside centre – a position where he finished the Super 14 campaign – while it will be interesting to see how Lions import Louis Ludik fares on the wing.
New second row recruit Ross Skeate was not considered for selection after only joining the Sharks last week, but the lock pairing of Steven Sykes and Alistair Hargreaves should certainly do the job, with up-and-coming Anton Bresler set for his debut off the bench.
Up front, Patric Cilliers, Craig Burden and Wiehahn Herbst will carry the workload, with talented hooker Kyle Cooper and former Montpellier prop Eugene van Staden on the bench. Plumtree admitted they would have a big job to do.
“We know Griquas are going to try and target us up front and it’s going to be up to the forwards to really step up. It’s going to be a test for them as Griquas have some pretty big props. But the boys have worked really hard,” he said.
If that is true of JLP one understands why he is getting no where. Loyalty pays. It is his choice. Thought he learned his lesson.
He can go to Morne Steyn as an good example.
I hope and pray he comes, I think Meyer is a waste of time.
@ superBul:
So what do you propose, the No.1 flyhalf in the country starts every game for the next 3 to 4 years while the No.3 flyhalf sits on the bench until Morne moves on or retires, does not make sense for his development Super. He will get far more game time at the Sharks.
Very, very good news this if it happens. Should have had him this year already.
Kan verstaan as ‘n speler een of twee keer in sy loopbaan skuif, maar as dit begin meer raak, dan raak dit net te veel. Jy moet iewers ‘n trots opbou en naam maak, nie elke jaar by ‘n ander provinsie speel nie. MS kan beseer word vir ‘n hele seisoen, dan het jou ‘n goeie losskakel nodig in sy plek.
Winston, het dit ‘sense’ gemaak om beide John Smit en Bismark by die Sharks te hê ? Dit lyk nie of een se rugby agteruit gegaan het nie, inteendeel, hulle bring die beste uit in mekaar se spel as hul vir dieselfde span se nr.2 trui speel.
good evening all
i agree bidibidi , nor smit or bismark suffered
to me potgieter needs to settle and he knew morne was there , he made the mistake then of going to the bulls if he was not going to get much game time at 10
see the difference here was bismark came to the sharks as an unknown too , smitty groomed him
JL pottie was already a star at the cheetahs and then made his move to a team that already had a super star 10
he will start at 10 at the sharks no doubt , but i agree bidi he should make up his mind and settle down
hiyas winnie ^5
good day puma brudda %^5
dag super and bidi hoop alles gaan goed met almal
Ek wens Jacques-Louis sterkte toe, dit sal ‘n goeie skuif wees vir sy loopbaan as gevolg van die feit dat hy 2de fiool speel by die Bulle na Morné Steyn.
Dit sal ook goed vir SA wees as Jacques-Louis behoorlik deurgebring kan word om dalk volgende seisoen te eindig as Nr 2 losskakel in SA.
Julle weet, die Bulle het nog vir Francois Brummer ook, wat kan bystaan as Nr 2 losskakel na Morné… so ek gun Jacques-Louis sy geleentheid.
Hi Sharky 🙂 I hear what you guys are saying but its good to spread the talent instead of having it all in one place 🙂
If this story is true I have to ask why he came back to the Bulls in the first place. He should’ve stayed at the Staat.
@ sharky_forever:7 – Howzit Sharky, This is very good news if JLP is coming to the Sharks. Wish he was coming now for the CC.
@ superBul:
Morne played second fiddle to Dereck Hougaardt for long, he made a appearance every now and then but he knew he was settling into the team and structures. That will all be lost if JLP moves around every year. Like i said its his choice.
It might also be that he is not that self assured and confident that he is really better than the 3rd Bulls fly half, Brummer. IF that is the case, and sorry last night it looked that way, he wont ever get to be the best.
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