SARrugby.com

Tighthead Pat Cilliers - to sign with the Stormers (permanent)
Flank Michael Rhodes - to sign with the Stormers (permanent)
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies - to sign with the Stormers (loan agreement)
Centre Lionel Mapoe - to sign with the Bulls (loan agreement)
Lock Franco van der Merwe - to sign with the Sharks (loan agreement)
Centre Jaco Taute - to sign with either the Stormers or Sharks

Bokbe I dont mind us getting Cilliers and Rhodes (as both are good players and add to ones depth) but props and loose forward are hardly our areas of major concerns unless players are known to be leaving. 

I do hope Jantjes comes down here. Talk about the Stormers conservative stayle not suting him is premature. WP has been a good as any regarding their attack and we will without doubt see a more adventurous Stormers.. I am not sure that Jantjes is a ceretainty as the Sharks are also discusssing amtters with him:

Elton Jantjies is set to join the Sharks or Stormers on loan for the 2013 Super Rugby campaign, while WP and the Sharks have already snapped up other Lions’ stars.

Media reports on Tuesday suggested that the Stormers had already agreed terms to sign Jantjies on a loan deal. However, Lions CEO Ruben Moggee confirmed to this site that nothing has been finalised yet.

Confirmation will only be made after the Springboks’ Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Soweto.

‘Elton has had several chats with different franchises,’ Moggee told keo.co.za. ‘From my understanding, he’s had chats with the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Kings.

‘However, the Lions and the player would want a franchise that will offer a decent amount of game time. When you consider the flyhalf situation at the different franchises, the Sharks or Stormers should be the likely destinations.’

The loan terms are simple.

Jantjies is still contracted as a Lions player until October 2013, but the Super Rugby clause in his deal allows him to feature for another team next season with the Johannesburg franchise relegated.

The team will have to pay the Springbok pivot’s salaries for the duration of his stay. That amount will be agreed between the player and interested party. So rumours of Jantjies having a R2.5 million asking price could be true.

The player will also have the final decision on where he wants to play, but the Lions will have the opportunity to pass on their advice to him.

The Stormers can offer Jantjies the No 10 jersey during the opening rounds of Super Rugby because of Peter Grant’s Japanese club commitments, Demetri Catrakilis’ departure to the Kings and injuries. However, Moggee believes the Sharks can also offer the 22-year-old starting opportunities.

‘Elton could start at the Stormers or the Sharks,’ said Moggee. ‘When it comes to the Stormers, their disadvantage is their defensive style of play. There are concerns whether Elton can fit into their game plan. They also have to explain their situation with Peter Grant. Yes, he could miss the opening rounds. But will he be first-choice when Peter Grant is ready to play again? Will he be preferred ahead of Elton?

‘The Sharks also have to discuss their plans. While they have Pat Lambie in their squad, they could decide to play him at fullback because that’s the position he’s playing for the Springboks. If they pick Pat at 15, then Elton will get game time at flyhalf.’

The big fish to my mind is Taute. We desparately need a fullback to replace the ageing and undersized Gio Aplon and Joe Pietersen. Given he can also play center Taute is the most valuable of all these players to acquire as far as we are concerned. The addition of Jantjes and Taute would boost our backline resources in critical areas and given the high quality of th rest of the squad would ensure another highly successful season for South Africa's premier Super 15 franchise and a very possible Super 15 title (barring injuries and refs) - IMHO!! (Please note hakwa, saSUE brycy, funnystone, Henry69, ragtad and jallopy.

Sell the kitchen sink but sign Taute. Our other BIG need is another hooker as a back up to Libenberg - that little black hooker looks unlikely to cope with Super 15 rugby. Our vital needs are Hhoker, flyhalf and fullback.

It looks as though we will know next week who Taute will sign for:

Taute’s agent Eduard Kelder told supersport.com his client was yet to make up his mind, and decide where he would play next year. Taute is only likely to decide after this weekend’s Springbok test against the All Blacks as he wants to concentrate on the game, but it is known he will either go to the Sharks or Western Province

Com eto WP taute you can play center with the illustrious Springbok captain jeanDe Villers and learn the finer pointso fthe game. You can also rub shoulders with the great bryan habana and hav eGio Aplon and Joe Pietersen mentor you at 15 if needs be. You will have exciting young talent like Du Plessis, Pat Howard and  Van der Heever not to mention players like De Jong etc etc. Your team mate jantjes looks likely to sign here as well together with Rhoses and cilliers so you will feel at home. immediately

But most of all you will have the most feared pack in the Super 15 ensuring good quality go forward ball: Kitshof, Liebenberg Malherbe, Etzebeth, Bekker, Burger, Vermulen and Elstadt.  Who wil lbe able to satnd up against them?

So Taute make  a wise decision and come to WP. The sharkies simply do not have our long and distinguished pedigree - they are vulgar late comers to the scene flashing around a big cheque book but little more.  Look deeper Taute look deeper.

Beeno - offering sound advise to young Taute who is about to mae a crucial decision.

Beeno

The stormers should rather sign up Taute than Jantjies.   I have still got problems withb aspects of Jantjies game - his passing and kicking games are not problematic - what is is his defensive game.   On Saturday the Aussies tried to attack through the channell since they believe that Goosens's defence is questionable.   They really got nowhere - but when Jantjies came on and they tried that again - Janrjies missed the tackle completely.   He is also bad under high balls and the question remains - would the R2 500 000 be well-spent or not?  

Mike Taute is the missing piece and theone player we really want.

I cant recall Jantjes missing any tackles Mike. His defence is not too bad. Grant is ageing and I would very much like he and Jantjes to share the flyhalf duties next season for the Stormers. Behind the poweful Mighty Stormers pack Jantjes should a have a great time of it. Van Aswegen showed he has talent but keeps getting injured. Cat is off to PE and the rest are substandard. We want Elton!

 It is impossible to think that a player would play the whole season, considering the amount of games being played and high rate of severe injuries. I think there is more than enough matches for a players to get a good run and be rotated. Other than Grant, the Stormers really don't have any quality flyhalfs. Gary is always injured and the only 10 that they are playing in the cc is leaving, so why they persist in selecting him, i just don't know. 

For me Jantjies could start for the 6 weeks, bring Grant in as sub in week 4 to 6 and then start with him from week 7 - 12 and then bringing Jantjies back in again towards the end, but I would also make it competititive and tell the players the one who performs the best will get to close out the season. That way they players no that they need to perform and that its not a gaurantee. 

As for the rest of the lions players, the bulk of them should go to the Cheetahs, that is one team that would excel if they were to be given enough cover and could become a real threat. If I was the lions I would just say that our star players will go to the unions where they will get the best exposure and the rest we will be sending to the cheetahs. That way, none of the players should ever go to the queens.

Beeno

Look again and see where Jantjies was when McCade went past him about 2 minutes after he came on.  He was lieing flat on his stomach - while one of the loosies - I think Coetzee - did the tackle.

Are we talking now about one tackle?

Mike the only way to see how he copes is t ogive him  some 25 mintes on test match time against the abs/oz. At least the guy is likely to land his kicks. That said Goosen is very capable when it comes to goal kicking and will shape up.

I like the idea of a lot of Lion palyers going to the Cheetahs. However that said Griquas and the Cheetahs are pretty strong and there should not be as much of a problem re depth as in the past but some good Lions players for Cheetahs would be great. Cant see the queens getting many Lion players.

Alistair sign up Taute. Be on the touchline as the Bok/ab match ends and dont leave without his signature!!!!