Steyn unlikely to join Lions for Super Rugby

[TRF_Cymro]

The Lions are desperate to secure more talent and depth for the 2011 Super Rugby tournament but are unlikely to be able to build a team that will worry most of the field.

Earlier this week it was revealed that the Lions had failed in their bid to sign Butch James and it now appears that they have failed to sign Springbok Frans Steyn.

Steyn's Racing Metro club on France do not want to release him before his contract expires which should keep him in France until the Rugby World cup.

The Lions may still pursue him but it will cost a small fortune as they will have to buy him out of his contract and he is still proving his worth for the club.

On Saturday Steyn kicked two penalties in his club's three point margin victory over Saracens.

Another player said to be on the Lions shopping list is Bayonne's Joe Pietersen but after he made a recent move for a two year contract buying him out would also be costly.

Western Province and Springbok lock Andries Bekker is also said to be on the Lions shopping list as is WP No8 Duane Vermeulen.

http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=28087​

 

[Seaton]

Well, the Lions are being bankrolled by two of Africa's best entrepeneurs, so I can't see money being an issue for early releases and the likes

Heres hoping they make some decent signings

 

[lon3wol7]

I hope the lions get some big names , that is what we really need. But for some reason we can't seem to keep good players ??? Think it's going to be another hard year for the lions

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

My christmas wishlist for the Lions (SA talent based overseas)

props:
Heinke van der Merwe / Wian du Preez / BJ Botha / Faan Rautenbach / Daan Human / Brian Mujati

hooker:
Schalk Brits / Willie Wepener

lock:
Shaun Sowerby / Marco Wentzel / Dewald Senekal

loosies:
Big Joe van Niekerk / Ernst Joubert

halves:
Ruan Pienaar / Butch James

centers:
Frans Steyn / Gavin Hume

outbacks:
can't really think think of any but the currnet Lions outbacks are dangerous enough.

Some of these players along with Franco van der Merwe, Johan Snyman, Jano Vermaak et al and you have a quality squad. And if they do manage to snag the Beast then they have great marketability as well.. the Sharks have quality depth in the front row and won't miss Beat overly much. Hell, van Staaden may just be better and Smit and Burden can cover from the bench. I wouldn't even be heartbroken to see Mossie go back as JdV and JdJ are both class and someone will be wasted, although a rotation policy seeing as this is a RWC year might be a good idea.

Interesting to see the developments in Lions rugby. Can only be good for SA rugby in general to have another strong province.

 

[Teh Mite]

You can forget Mujati, he's just signed an extension.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

LOL, okay forget Muajti, although the new partner has indicated that he couldn't care less about contracts and that money talks.

 

[Amobokoboko]

It's good to hear the Lions want to invest in their team but investing such a some in Steyn is a bit exaggerated.
They should in vest in multiple good players as 1 player doesn't make the difference.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

They should try to sign some of the players who are not regular starters for the Bulls, WP and the Sharks. I am sure those players can help the Lions grow. Michael Rhodes and Pat Cilliers are moving from the Sharks to the Lions. Both are not world-class players but are better than what they currently have.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

It's good to hear the Lions want to invest in their team but investing such a some in Steyn is a bit exaggerated.
They should in vest in multiple good players as 1 player doesn't make the difference.

I think they are wanting to invest in a few 'big name' players as there is a squad there already to build on. Especially the backs. They have lost a massive amount of quality forwards over a 2 year period, though: Ernst Joubert, Anton van Zyl, Willem Alberts, Heinke van der Merwe just a fraction of those players all with Springbok potential or a cap or two allready. I would look to lure some forwards back with maybe one or two backline players. Butch, Frans and Pienaar spring to mind.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

These last few weeks the names of JP Pietersen, Kankowski and Smit were named to be heading to Joburg. Smit might not even be such a bad idea since I don't see him as the best option for either of the front-row positions in the Sharks-squad. Kankowski and Pietersen however are players who are guaranteed of a place in the starting line-up in Durban. Odwa Ndungane, Andre Pretorius, Steve Meyer, Lzuku Vulindlu and Monty Dumond would be a good investment for them since these players are not likely to get a lot of gametime in the future for the Sharks now that they signed JL Potgieter, Hofmann and Bosman

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, they have already signed Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Bandise Maku, Michael Bondesio, Lionel Mapoe.

Players they still have on their wishlist are:

Joe Pietersen (Bayonne)
Butch James (Bath)
Andries Bekker (Western Province)
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province)
James Hook (Perpignan)
Marius Joubert (Clermont)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well, they have already signed Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Bandise Maku, Michael Bondesio, Lionel Mapoe.

Players they still have on their wishlist are:

Joe Pietersen (Bayonne)
Butch James (Bath)
Andries Bekker (Western Province)
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province)
James Hook (Perpignan)
Marius Joubert (Clermont)

Hes not at Perpignan, and has not moved there yet. He has not signed for anyone yet.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Well, they have already signed Pat Cilliers, Michael Rhodes, Bandise Maku, Michael Bondesio, Lionel Mapoe.

Players they still have on their wishlist are:

Joe Pietersen (Bayonne)
Butch James (Bath)
Andries Bekker (Western Province)
Duane Vermeulen (Western Province)
James Hook (Perpignan)
Marius Joubert (Clermont)

They can F off with trying to sign Bekker an Vermeulen. Those 2 being key figures in our pack and the fact that WP isn't the poorest union should see our bosses trying to keep them in the Cape, I hope. Besides, who would want to move to Jo'burg from Cape Town?
We already lost Pietersen and Hofmann and don't have the depth in the forwards, so please, leave us alone, LOL. Rather take one of our centers. Or, take Habana! That's it, take him! Don't even pay, just take him!!

I heard they just signed Kockott. He would still be a good way behind Vermaak IMO. Possibly behind Jonck as well. Bondesio was a mixed bag so I would see Kockott as 2nd/3rd choice SH at the Lions. Kockott probably made a good move as I would put him 3rd at the Sharks behind McLeod and Hofmann.

Sheesh, who next? They should get some of the EP Kings players on loan (that way EP could get some money to develop their own squad looking forward); Luke Watson would add something in the backrow for them. I've always liked Tiger Mangweni as well.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Hes not at Perpignan, and has not moved there yet. He has not signed for anyone yet.

I was under the impression he signed for Perpignan

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

They can F off with trying to sign Bekker an Vermeulen. Those 2 being key figures in our pack and the fact that WP isn't the poorest union should see our bosses trying to keep them in the Cape, I hope. Besides, who would want to move to Jo'burg from Cape Town?

I think the Lions have to come up with a real big bag of money to sign those 2. Like you said, the 2 best ones in your scrum. Bekker is the dreamed successor of Matfield when he retires in the Springbok line-up and Vermeulen could have easily been picked for the EOYT considering his amazing Currie Cup season

We already lost Pietersen and Hofmann and don't have the depth in the forwards, so please, leave us alone, LOL. Rather take one of our centers. Or, take Habana! That's it, take him! Don't even pay, just take him!!

You mention centres. Maybe they will try to sign Jean de Villiers. With Jaque Fourie coming from the Lions not so long ago, he looks to be the best bet of Coetzee together with de Jongh.

I heard they just signed Kockott. He would still be a good way behind Vermaak IMO. Possibly behind Jonck as well. Bondesio was a mixed bag so I would see Kockott as 2nd/3rd choice SH at the Lions. Kockott probably made a good move as I would put him 3rd at the Sharks behind McLeod and Hofmann.

Kockott just had to go. McLeod pushed him to the bench this Currie Cup and with the signing of Conrad Hoffmann from you guys. Behind those 2 we have some real talent coming from our own academy.

Sheesh, who next? They should get some of the EP Kings players on loan (that way EP could get some money to develop their own squad looking forward); Luke Watson would add something in the backrow for them. I've always liked Tiger Mangweni as well.

Not such a Mangweni fan myself. I always liked scrumhalf Heini Adams for the Lions and Cheetahs. He moved to Bordeaux now I think.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Nope, Bayonne. From the get-go.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

You mention centres. Maybe they will try to sign Jean de Villiers. With Jaque Fourie coming from the Lions not so long ago, he looks to be the best bet of Coetzee together with de Jongh.


QUOTE]

Of the 3, yeah I would be least sad to see JdV go. Behind JdJ and Fourie there are still a couple of talented guys in the WP: Bosch and Whitehead come to mind and Welsch has the experience while Marcel Brache is a good prospect. If I remember correctly Morgan Newman has moved on? If so, best of luck; can't see him making a WP 22. At a real pinch Grant can cover 12 as well.. so we are set for centers.

Just leave our pack alone!!

 

[Seaton]

Can't see any of the big names whom are garuanteed starting positions at the 3 challenging provinces changing teams in a WC year.
Read the Lions monthly magazine a few days ago, and it makes for much more positive reading than the obituaries being published before September

They seem pretty confident of signings up north

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

True, that's why they should try to sign players who are keeping the bench warm at those provinces. John Smit, Ross Skeate and Rory Kockott would be good signings. Kockott already signed right? Someone posted that today

 

[bobbilycious]

Apparently, the Lions have put in a huge amount of money to get Beast Mtawarira.