Ebersohn to Force

[TNT88]

Sias is apparently signing with the Force: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/s...per-rugby-season/story-e6frf4qu-1226370977744

Sias Ebersohn, a regular reserve for the Cheetahs this year, will be recruited as Western Force's marquee international and five-eighth for next season, ruling out a

Perth play for Wallabies star Quade Cooper.Ebersohn is the Force's first major signing since the departure of coach Richard Graham, who was asked to leave mid-contract after being lured to Queensland Reds for 2013.

Ebersohn, whose twin brother Robert plays in the centres for the Cheetahs, was a regular starter last year but this season has played second fiddle to Johan Goosen (injured) and now Riaan Smit.

His former Cheetahs teammate, New South Wales Waratahs halfback Sarel Pretorius, spoke with him before they played each other in Bloemfontein last weekend.

cont...

In haven't seen much of him this year, but I remember last year he was a solid fly half. Decent kicking game and decent attack, could be just what we need. What do the South African's think?

 

[Amobokoboko]

Well, I had a chat about him yesterday with Eze, he"s having some confident issues ftm.
Hope he can get his mind sorted and play some awesome rugby with Sarel like they did last year for the Cheetahs.
What's the duration of the contract?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I thought the two Ebersohn's were a package deal?

 

[TRF_heineken]

If this is true, then good for Sias, this will just aid him in becoming more confident.

He has had some blunders this season, the most evident one was vs the Highlanders where he missed a penalty right in front of the posts...

And with incumbant Springbok fly-half Johan Goosen the obvious choice fo the starting position, Sias should think about his future...

Just hope he doesn't become the next Andre Pretorius

 

[TNT88]

Well, I had a chat about him yesterday with Eze, he"s having some confident issues ftm.
Hope he can get his mind sorted and play some awesome rugby with Sarel like they did last year for the Cheetahs.
What's the duration of the contract?

Not sure yet, I hope it's 2 years. (or more). I don't think anything has been signed yet, this is just another rumor, but it seems likely.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Argh. I hate to see him leave as depth is something the Cheetahs struggle with every year (and the Stormers have issues with depth in quality at 10 as well...) and thus far they have already lost WP Nel, two locks and now Sias (that i know of) and there are probably at least 4 more to follow suit this year.

That said I wish him luck as he is a sharp player and is clearly suffering from lack of game time. As a regular starter he has always brought the goods bur he won't get more than a bench spot at the Cheetahs behind Goosen who is SA rugby's promised one.

Oh, and I forgot Ashley Johnson is also leaving.

Players the Cheetahs have lost only in the last 2!! years!

1 CJ van der Linde (Lions) / Wian du Preez
2 Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
3 WP Nel (Edinbugh)
4 George Earle (Edinburgh)
5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
6 Ashley Johnson (Wasps)
7 Frans Viljoen
8 Duane Vermeulen -okay thats pushing the timeline I admit (Stormers)
9 Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs)
10 Sias Ebersohn ? (Force)
11 Lionel Mapoe (Lions)
12 Corne Uys
13 Jacques Louis Potgieter (Sharks)
14 Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls)
15 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks)

Bit light in the centers but a handy 'team'.

 

[blue b]

Why are the Cheetahs losing all their quality players, and the sole reason can't surely just be money? If so, who are the "fat cats" in Cheetah rugby?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Why are the Cheetahs losing all their quality players, and the sole reason can't surely just be money? If so, who are the "fat cats" in Cheetah rugby?

My Uncle who works at the Stadium says it's Naka's fault. He has "drinking buddy's club" and if you're not in that group you are shunned. Tewis de Bruyn being his biggest chronie.

He says it's total dictatorship and isn't at all surprized that guys are leaving on a yearly basis. According to him, This will continue to be the trend until they get rid of Naka

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

My Uncle who works at the Stadium says it's Naka's fault. He has "drinking buddy's club" and if you're not in that group you are shunned. Tewis de Bruyn being his biggest chronie.

He says it's total dictatorship and isn't at all surprized that guys are leaving on a yearly basis. According to him, This will continue to be the trend until they get rid of Naka

Another problem is their contracting and salary 'practice'; they are stingy as all hell and try to pay the absolute minimum to any player bar the 'in' crowd which is quite small. As a cash-strapped club one can understand this though and even though they have less commercial potential than the Lions they are waaayyyyy better off financially so a conservative approach seems to work to keep them head above water but they'll never challenge for a ***le the way they (Verster) are running things.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Another problem is their contracting and salary 'practice'; they are stingy as all hell and try to pay the absolute minimum to any player bar the 'in' crowd which is quite small. As a cash-strapped club one can understand this though and even though they have less commercial potential than the Lions they are waaayyyyy better of financially so a conservative approach seems to work to keep them head above water but they'll never challenge for a ***le the way they (Verster) are running things.

If they just change their Sponsorship and Advertising Policy as well, there will be a lot more cash in the system. Apparently there's a group of Old Grey College guys who's trying to buy the Franchise over, as they feel the old Grey pupils must play for the Cheetahs

 

[Gena_ZA]

Never rated Sias as a top player, playing good Currie Cup means nothing at S15 level
Seems the Force buy all the duds, Andre Pretorius and now Sias
Have some

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Never rated Sias as a top player, playing good Currie Cup means nothing at S15 level
Seems the Force buy all the duds, Andre Pretorius and now Sias
Have some

But he was brilliant for the Cheetahs in the latter half of Super rugby last year when he was actually afforded regular starts. He was overtaken by an even better Goosen during the Currie cup last year but that doesn't mean that he is useless all of a sudden; just needs the belief to return.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Never rated Sias as a top player, playing good Currie Cup means nothing at S15 level
Seems the Force buy all the duds, Andre Pretorius and now Sias
Have some

What's evident about this is that Australia has very little Depth in the Fly-half Dept. Danny Cipriani, Andre Pretorius, Sias Ebersohn all non-aussie fly-halves

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

What's evident about this is that Australia has very little Depth in the Fly-half Dept. Danny Cipriani, Andre Pretorius, Sias Ebersohn all non-aussie fly-halves

Nah, just the Force.

They can call on quite a few 10's but their problem is that Barnes is fragile, Cooper hasn't had any gametime, Lealiifano is out injured, so too O'Connor and Beale and Giteau is overseas. Not so much a problem with depth as a clusterfook of 'issues' regarding the 10 they do have.

 

[Me 1]

Argh. I hate to see him leave as depth is something the Cheetahs struggle with every year (and the Stormers have issues with depth in quality at 10 as well...) and thus far they have already lost WP Nel, two locks and now Sias (that i know of) and there are probably at least 4 more to follow suit this year.

That said I wish him luck as he is a sharp player and is clearly suffering from lack of game time. As a regular starter he has always brought the goods bur he won't get more than a bench spot at the Cheetahs behind Goosen who is SA rugby's promised one.

Oh, and I forgot Ashley Johnson is also leaving.

Players the Cheetahs have lost only in the last 2!! years!

1 CJ van der Linde (Lions) / Wian du Preez
2 Richardt Strauss (Leinster)
3 WP Nel (Edinbugh)
4 George Earle (Scarlets)
5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (Blue Bulls)
6 Ashley Johnson (Wasps)
7 Frans Viljoen
8 Duane Vermeulen -okay thats pushing the timeline I admit (Stormers)
9 Sarel Pretorius (Waratahs)
10 Sias Ebersohn ? (Force)
11 Lionel Mapoe (Lions)
12 Corne Uys
13 Jacques Louis Potgieter (Sharks)
14 Bjorn Basson (Blue Bulls)
15 Riaan Viljoen (Sharks)

Bit light in the centers but a handy 'team'.

Fixed

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Fixed

My apologies.

I am sure I read somewhere in an SA article that it was Edinburgh but our papers are known for making stuff up.

 

[Me 1]

My apologies.

I am sure I read somewhere in an SA article that it was Edinburgh but our papers are known for making stuff up.

Izak van der Westhuizen is going to Edinburgh, is he a cheetahs player?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Izak van der Westhuizen is going to Edinburgh, is he a cheetahs player?

Yes, that's the one. Yes, he's a Cheetah as well.

 

[Cave Dweller]

Australia stealing again

 

[TNT88]

And it's official, 2 year deal. This is great news for us. I hope Sias likes Perth (plenty of Saffers here) and has a big 2013.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...etahs-fiveeighth-ebersohn-20120529-1zh53.html

And Force still have a marquee signing in the bag. Either re-sign Nalaga or look for a solid centre/fullback.