Sarel Pretorius joins Waratahs for 2012 S15 season

[TRF_stormer2010]

http://www.superxv.com/news/super15_rugby_news.asp?id=30998

Well, he and Riaan Viljoen were always going to be nabbed by someone bigger than the Cheetahs. Pity that he is leaving SA though, I thought that both Sahrks and Stormers could use him if the Cheetahs couldn't secure him from the Griquas. With Du Preez and Januarie *snickers* moving off and Pienaar playing off-shore suddenly the wealth of talent in SA at 9 feels a little poorer.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The only scrumhalf-options we have left now, are:

Jaco Vermaak
Dewald Duvenhage
Charl McLeod
Francois Hougaard
Tewis de Bruyn

That is a very inexperienced group of options.

 

[psychic duck]

disappointing to see Pretorius leave the Cheetahs, this is exactly why the Cheetahs are continually stuck where they are, next will probably be Robert Ebersohn to the Bulls

I thought if this good few players who have emerged in the Cheetahs side through this year (Pretorius, Viljoen, Steenkamp, Oosthuizen, Strauss, Johnson and the Ebersohns) all stuck together for another couple of seasons combined with a fit Jongi Nokwe, Heinrich Brüssow and Juan Smith and maybe another signing in the front five maybe they would have a chance of finishing in the top 3 SA teams, and then maybe more players would want to stay

but it is not to be , shame though as they played good running rugby this year

 

[Amobokoboko]

Money is the issue as always. Anyway I really enjoyed watching the Cheetahs this season

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Just for the record: Sarel Pretorius was not contracted to the Cheetahs, but to Griquas, a smaller provincial team that is in the Super Rugby franchise area of the Cheetahs. Last year Basson was sold to the Bulls, Cheetahs lost their winger but didn't get anything back for it in financial aspect.

 

[Darwin]

Great signing for the Tahs; he will make up for the loss of Luke Burgess.

 

[RoosTah]

This is fantastic news for the 'Tahs. I was wondering how they were going to fill the gap left by Burgess after this year. Pretorius was great for the Cheetahs, so looking forward to seeing him in Blue next year. Now we just need a freakishly dynamic fullback and 10.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Personally, I wonder if this is the right move for him in that I wonder whether he will be as effective for the Waratahs as he is for the Cheetahs. The Waratahs play a much more structured game and their attacks usually come from deep while Pretorius relished in the looser Cheetahs game. Also, with Du Preez and Januarie retiring and retired from the national squad and Pienaar playing overseas he was a good shout for a Bok jersey if he could get his defense a little bit up. I'm sure he could have gotten a lucrative deal in SA also. Who knows, maybe he is planning on leaving teh country and wants to play for Aus, maybe he is still in contention for a Bok call up as at least he is still playing in the same tournament and maybe playing for the 'Tahs helps with his defensive frailties.

 

[Seaton]

There have been quite a few posts saying that maybe Sarel is gunning for a spot in the Aussie national team, he's good but I doubt he will be replacing Genia anytime soon.

However though, I hope he does, because Scotland could sure use a young scrumhalf option for the future, in the form of McKibbin, who otherwise would prefer to play for Australia

 

[Darwin]

Personally, I wonder if this is the right move for him in that I wonder whether he will be as effective for the Waratahs as he is for the Cheetahs. The Waratahs play a much more structured game and their attacks usually come from deep while Pretorius relished in the looser Cheetahs game. Also, with Du Preez and Januarie retiring and retired from the national squad and Pienaar playing overseas he was a good shout for a Bok jersey if he could get his defense a little bit up. I'm sure he could have gotten a lucrative deal in SA also. Who knows, maybe he is planning on leaving teh country and wants to play for Aus, maybe he is still in contention for a Bok call up as at least he is still playing in the same tournament and maybe playing for the 'Tahs helps with his defensive frailties.

It is going to be very interesting to see how Pretorius adapts to the Waratahs style; he's probably moving to the least structured team in the tournament to the most structured team. Pretorius certainly offers as good (if not a better) running game than Burgess, but if he doesn't sort his defence out quickly he may find it difficult to make starting team, as the Tahs' are used to having a strong defensive halfback in Luke Burgess.

 

[Larksea]

great player on attack but last time I looked he was leading the missed tackle stat for the whole super15