Snyman offered Bok contract
Jake White will bring back Andre Snyman to boost his backline resources ahead of the 2007 World Cup. White has offered Snyman a contract.
The Bok coach told Keo.co.za that he was constantly monitoring the overseas-based South African players and Snyman’s performances for a struggling Leeds side have been outstanding in the past two seasons.
White added that mapping out the future included established names and that there could not be an obsession with selecting just youngsters.
“I have always said we chase away quality players in their late 20s and then they go overseas and play some of their best rugby. Andre is a case in point. His career seemed to have reached a dead-end in this country. He took on the challenge at Leeds and by all accounts has rejuvenated his career. He has played 36 tests for South Africa. He has played in northern hemisphere conditions for the past two seasons. I know what I would be getting.”
White confirmed that he had offered Snyman the opportunity to be part of the 2007 World Cup campaign.
“His contract comes to an end at the end of May. I have offered him a contract. He will add huge value and you only have to look at his Leeds coach’s assessment to know the impact he has had at the club. Phil Davies (Leeds coach) has gone on record to say that Andre is one of his best investments ever. And Justin Marshall has been equal with the praise, rating him one of the hardest players he has played against or with. The signs are encouraging and having Andre there will definitely add depth to our outside backs.”
White said that Shaun Sowerby’s progress would continue to be monitored.
“He has had 18 very good months in France, playing for Stade de France. He speaks French, he plays in a team that makes up a big part of the French national squad, he understands the culture and he is familiar with their style of rugby. He is in the form of his life. I’d be a fool if I did not explore this avenue. He just needs to keep on playing well.”
March 7th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Pieters is better than Snyman.
March 7th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
It is great that Jake is trying to get Andre back, then mabey he will be classified as a South African in Rugby 2007 and not an Englishpoes like in 2006. Any other South Africans good enough to play for the boks in Europe??
March 7th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
sharkgirl – namedropping is lame, really lame.
March 7th, 2006 at 5:22 pm
The young Snyman of 1996-2000 was a world class, since he went through two major injuries and I doubt his current ability is rated a test level.
At any case, JW will have to adhere to the quota code of 4 (or 5?), so I figured Bobo, Julius or even Jacobs will be preferred, so why would Andre’ need this mess?
March 7th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Onlooker, why don’t you just leave, dude? Seriously – just piss off to New Zealand or wherever and don’t come back.
Oh ja – difficult to get a visa when you’re unemployed, failed matric and living in a wendy-house in someone’s back yard in Pretoria, hey?
March 7th, 2006 at 5:47 pm
pierre
Is he not entitled to an opinion?
“Oh ja – difficult to get a visa when you’re unemployed, failed matric and living in a wendy-house in someone’s back yard in Pretoria, hey?”
Must of been real rough for you. Looks like the local McDonalds has internet.
March 7th, 2006 at 6:08 pm
That’s right jondood – stand up for your racist broederbond pal.
March 7th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
pierre,
FYI: I am acomputer systems analyst with a US & UK resident quals. I spent half my time outside the Republic
My observation is strictly rugby, the quota is a fact of life in SA and personally I support it to a point.
That’s why we have to be realistic while assessing Snyman’s feasibilities under a new Boks contract.
Simple enough?
March 7th, 2006 at 7:36 pm
Onlooker: I don’t give a **** what you say your qualifications are. Anyone can say anything on a blog, especially when posting under an assumed name. Of much more concern to me is the fact that every single comment you post on this website is unjustifiably derogatory towards black players. Only a dyed-in-the-wool racist could have harped on about Shimange after seeing the far more pitiful performances of white players like Theron, Greeff, Barry etc. on Saturday. Your comment about supporting quotas to a point is dishonest. Why don’t you just admit that you are uncomfortable with seeing blacks play rugby at the highest level? Just admit that you would prefer it if they weren’t there. It’s pretty obvious.
March 7th, 2006 at 7:49 pm
the guy was **** when Strooooooyli brought him back.
JAKE you are thicker than I thought.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
pierre
Ever been laid?
No, I am not asking about your mother.
March 7th, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Admitedly Snyman was NOT in best form the last time he was playing for the Boks. But the man is pure class; He has skills, pace, strength and deadly defence. Snyman in form and heading back is bloody good news.
March 7th, 2006 at 9:51 pm
we have way too many options in those positions.
even ‘3-try against the Kiwis’ Joubert may not even get into the team again. And you want to call back an overrated, old dud like Snyman .We are not that desperate! FFS!
March 7th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Pierre
I think you are a racist. Why is it everytime someone critisize a not white player, than he is a racist in your eyes. I agree that Greeff and Theron is kak, but so is Nokwe. And i’m still waiting for Burger to start playing rugby this season.
March 7th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
What a fantastic coach white is, I reckon the best since Christie, thats my honest opinion. Snyman would be a brilliant addition, although he has been playing on the wing in the UK, wheras I would prefer him to be outside Jean de Villiers. But still, I’m a big supporter of the de villiers fourie combination, so lets not forget about fourie.
But Snyman could do alot, and yes get Sowerby in the mix, although, Burger, Smith and Joe are the starters. Sowerby is better than Cronje and Wannenburg.
March 8th, 2006 at 1:16 am
I think that Snyman will give the Boks some stability in the backline at wing or centre but I am not too sure about Shaun Sowerby, he aint very old, but he’s only had one test cap back in 2002 coming on as a replacement. So if Jake wants to use Shaun then he has to give him a go in the pre-season Bok tests….BTW I am a rocket scientist working for NASA so don’t tune my opinions…Pierre…lol
March 8th, 2006 at 6:22 am
Onlooker your really sound like areal arrogant guy chill guys even if he’s living in a wendy house in the back yard
March 8th, 2006 at 6:54 am
snyman this oak was destined for greatness till he broke his leg!!! it really annoyed me that robbie fleck used to start test wen it could have been andre
March 8th, 2006 at 6:56 am
kingpaul, so nokwe is a bad player after having one bad game? the rugby ‘experts’ on this site make me sick…
March 8th, 2006 at 7:09 am
Piere you sound like a real prick! Are still upset about being turned away by the (insert any country name here) immigration dept?
Maybe they just dont want tossers like you.
March 8th, 2006 at 7:27 am
Guys
How is this this for a backline in RWC 2007 ?
9. Ricky
10. Pretorius / Houghaard / Bosman
11. Habana
12. Jean De villiers
13. Andre Snyman
14. Jaque Fourie
15. Percy
And Front eight like this :
1. Os
2. Smitty
3. Richard Bands
4. Bakkies/perhaps that new Province guy with the beard
5. Victor
6. Schalla
7. Jaun
8. Sauerby/Cronje/Big Joe
Sounds like a winning team to me
March 8th, 2006 at 7:35 am
bloubal
haven’t seen snyman play recently, therefor can’t comment on that one. i’d prefer fourie at 13, regardless.
after seeing how donut dunning shoved bands’ head up into his own arse in the s14 semi last year, i just can’t see what’s so great about this guy. still have the images of him scoring his amazing try against the all blacks and running over richie mc, but the horror of seeing him going backwards in the scrums, clouds all of that.
March 8th, 2006 at 7:43 am
Sowerby is a big *******, he went to my high school. When he was in matric he used to make his standard 6 sit on the toilet in winter before he used it to warm up the seat!
March 8th, 2006 at 7:47 am
Stoffel, did you play rugby? I was in Affies when Sowerby was in school, maybe we played against each other.. small world
March 8th, 2006 at 8:03 am
Pierre i haven’t called anyone names yet you jackass!
Must be toough not having a mother that loves you!
March 8th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Keo
How about a new article, maybe the fact that Jaco v d Weshuisen is practising with the Bulls as we speak. He does say that Jake wants him at the Stormertjies
March 8th, 2006 at 9:40 am
Ag please!! Everyone is blowing hot air up Jean’s backside, yet beside the very first test that he and Jacques Fourie played against the French, they have lloked as useless as De Wet Barry and Joubert, and we have scored ONE (I think) try from a first phase set move. Jean can’t tackle and with Pretorius at 10, there is a huge gap between 10 and inside centre channel.
About Snyman, he was such a ‘legend’ he knocked about 5 balls in his last Test match on a dry sunny day! – hopefully it’ll stay his last.
Biggest problem with SA rugby is that the testoterone affects their brains! Everyone wants to ‘intimidate’ with their ‘power’, yet virtually no backline player in SA can step off both feet at pace, kick with both feet, pass the ball equally well to both sides, offload in the tackle etc.!
Years ago Johan Heunis was rated good, but not remarkable, yet today when a fullback catches 50% of up&unders, and kicks 50% of his line kicks out, he’s the “next” Springbok fullback! Most of them are a bunch of pallookas – Dan Retief was right – they are too dim!
March 8th, 2006 at 9:56 am
i think jake white has made a wise choice, andre snyman been playing the best rugby of his life but one should not count the likes of willemse on the right wing i belive this should be the team 9.januarie
10.pretorius
11.Habana
12.jean de villers
13.Fourie/jouba
14.willemse/snyman/jantjies
15.percy/jantjies/roots
March 8th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Snyman was an awesome player who would have become a great player, but his injuries derailed him and he was never able to compete at the same level again. I definitely don’t think he is Bok material at the moment, on the strength of the Heineken Cup games I’ve seen on the highlights channel.
sharkgirl – “namedropping” is not the same thing is “name-calling”. Rather, it refers to the lame-*** practice of claiming friendship or acquaintance with famous or well-known people.
March 10th, 2006 at 10:55 am
both superb players, the cup will be ours in 2007, oh yes.