Snyman offered Bok contract
7 Mar 2006
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.”
180 Comments
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7 Mar 2006, 10:00 am
Dragons!
7 Mar 2006, 10:00 am
How Old is Andre now?
7 Mar 2006, 10:01 am
32
7 Mar 2006, 10:03 am
Not bad by White, hopefully he gets Sowerby on board to!
7 Mar 2006, 10:05 am
This is what I like about Jake. He has got balls as well as brains. Not scared to think out of the box. Many a player appears to be at the end of his career only needing some sort of change to kick start it again. Monty and Dayglo are classics – I have watched Snyman and Sowerby a few times in the last season and both have been very impressive. Sowerby and Paulse may be very valuable for France 2007.
7 Mar 2006, 10:05 am
I saw Snyman play in a couple of matches for Leeds and he impressed very much. He certainly is a better option than Paulse.
7 Mar 2006, 10:06 am
I don’t want to start a culture war here, but why is it that in modern times it has been the English coaches who have had success with the Boks. I say it is coz they are more open minded in their thinking and management style. Jake has once again shown this.
The laager mentality of the Afr coaches has been a hinderence. Am I alone in this thought process?
7 Mar 2006, 10:09 am
Maybe Jake should offer Henry Honiball a contract as well. Everyone will agree he is the the best flyhalf we had in the last decade!
7 Mar 2006, 10:09 am
Jeesh….I always knew he was a good player but after the Strauli debacle,I thought his career for the Boks was over.
Personally,I think South Africans should be allowed to play overseas and for the Boks without this “permission” that is seemingly needed.We can really get ahead of the Kiwis and Ozzies in this regard.And with Eddie Jones advocating that Oz S14 sides should look to recruit from abroad……….weesh.
PS;Please don’t bring back Quinton Davids.
7 Mar 2006, 10:10 am
Is this some kind of sick joke? Snyman is a has been and never was… Honestly..
7 Mar 2006, 10:12 am
Lee, it is quite clear that you have not seen him in action lately. Or do you think we are talking about Tiaan Snyman!
7 Mar 2006, 10:20 am
bok_befok
Must admit i nearly fell off my chair when i saw that headline thought they were talking about Tiaan now that would have been kak
7 Mar 2006, 10:20 am
snyman is a monster and if he really is in good form he certainly is good enough
7 Mar 2006, 10:23 am
Shaun Sowerby would be a strange selection though, granted he has experience in the conditions but SA has a wealth of good looseforwards at the minute.
7 Mar 2006, 10:23 am
Old heads win World Cups.
Agree about Sowerby, Jacques Cronje has been very unconvincing in the NH
7 Mar 2006, 10:24 am
It would be better if Jake found a tighthead somewhere.
7 Mar 2006, 10:25 am
Comon Jake! What about Kobus Visagie as a tight head option, as backup for CJ?
7 Mar 2006, 10:25 am
StP,
Cobus Visagie
7 Mar 2006, 10:28 am
we dont need back up for CJ, we already have Steady Eddie!!!
7 Mar 2006, 10:30 am
markotter
CJ is not even good enough to make Cheetas 1 st 15 , the youngster from fS is much better
7 Mar 2006, 10:30 am
Goodness Keo!!! Please choose your headlines more carefully! Almost had a heart attack… The thought of Tiaan Snyman as a bok is the stuff of nightmares!
7 Mar 2006, 10:30 am
WPW, how about Brent Russel at tight head?
7 Mar 2006, 10:30 am
32, he is wasting his time. the boks have a number of centres all they need is a proper game plan to utilise their abilities rather than have them chasing intercepts and chip and chases.
7 Mar 2006, 10:30 am
I guess his lack of pace is less noticeable on the NH fields where the WC will be played.
7 Mar 2006, 10:32 am
Cobus Visagie has been poor – but been struggling with injuries. Bok-befok is right, the way Snyman has been performing you would have to say he is a better option than Paulse. In fact, out of Welsh, Human (last season), Pieters (last season) and Delport he has been the best performing back of all the South Africans in the UK.
7 Mar 2006, 10:33 am
capebull, True!
Jannie Du Plessis is turning into a right monster! Of course he has the right mentors there as well with Rassie, Os and CJ.
Kobus Visagie has the experience that Os has though, and could be of plenty vallue to the boks, as Os was in the last 2 years.
7 Mar 2006, 10:35 am
I would love to see Andre and Shaun run out for the Boks at the world cup.
I think they are class players and we sure as hell need them.
7 Mar 2006, 10:37 am
Wonder wich one of his favourite sons he will drop for Snyman.Joubert?De Villiers?Barry? or Fourie?…..ooops and Julies.He should also speak to Nico Wegner and Hottie Louw maybe Carel du Plessis and Danie Gerber….**** he has got sooo many options.
7 Mar 2006, 10:39 am
Markotter,
Agree that Jannie Dup is the future, but England won the WC because they had experienced guys who’ve done it all and kept the youngsters calm so we need guys like Snyman,Visagie and Sowerby who know thw conditions and opponents.
7 Mar 2006, 10:45 am
Ja kom ons gooi in klip in die dam en sien die golfies kring. rond en rond…….. Etiene Botha was ver better.
7 Mar 2006, 10:46 am
Agree valkie!
I say yebo to Kobus Visagie as well. me thinks that there are plenty of seriously good mungrell tight heads in SA that can replace Eddie Andrews (even Brent Russel) though, as your tight head is the anchor in the scrum. There can’t be a compromise in that position.
7 Mar 2006, 10:47 am
Drunkmonkey,
Yes, but unfortunately he won’t be available for selection.
7 Mar 2006, 10:52 am
Snyman is playing wing for Leeds and I think this is where Jake has him pegged, not at centre.
7 Mar 2006, 10:53 am
In Jake we trust!I rate Snyman and Sowerby. Jakes not stupid he knows what he’s doing.
7 Mar 2006, 10:54 am
As a wing, as a centre, or as a “utility player”? White, like Henry seems to have an obesession with players who can play in many different positions. This is not necessarily a bad thing but some players flatter to deceive, when they play in those secondary positions and can’t rise to test level out of their preferred position. e.g. Leon McDonald at flyhalf against Boks or Percy Montgomery in the flyhalf position.
Personally, I think Snyman is over the hill, ditto for Visagie. If White is thinking about overseas players I agree that he should be looking at Sowerby. If a forward is revered in the French league then you know he is class. I am sick and tired of the lumbering lineout loosies eg. Danie Rossouw, Jacque Cronje, Gerrie Britz that White has been using. We need a dynamic forward pack that can be mobile as well as strong in the set phases, come back Sowerby, all is forgiven.
7 Mar 2006, 10:59 am
Snyman offers the big wing option that we need under high ball, deffense, and powerfull running. Looking at Joe Roccococcoccocccoco, Stirling Mortlock, Tiquiry, they are good and big wings, who can play on centre as well. If a gameplan needs changing perhaps, it gives Jake so many good options.
7 Mar 2006, 11:00 am
Markotter, where were you thinking of putting Russels head — “tighthead”?
7 Mar 2006, 11:03 am
Harlequin,
Ek verstaan wat jy bedoel maar Sowerby is defnitief nie vinnig nie. What about playing Schalk Brits as flanker for WP in Vodacom just to see how he goes? Lots of speed but to small as frontrower?
I actually rate L Watson and if he plays with a pack that goes forward he’ll create havoc. S Burger hasn’t performed constantly for quite a long time (my opinion) and we need more speed!!
7 Mar 2006, 11:04 am
Why not also ask Mannetjies Roux if he doesn’t want to play for the Boks while we are at it?
7 Mar 2006, 11:04 am
Snyman is the best second center we’ve had in a long time
7 Mar 2006, 11:07 am
Or what about Tiaan Snyman Grrr
7 Mar 2006, 11:10 am
Tiaan Snyman… Mmmmm, tell you what. I will personally pay R100 000.00 to the Stormers to take Tiaan. BUT thats not all! I will take Gus off your hands as well! How’s that for a deal??
7 Mar 2006, 11:11 am
Schalk Burger will return to international form when he gets in a Bok jersey. I hate to say it but some players really do save their best for the green and gold. Sowerby might not be the fastest player, but he is strong in the lineout as well as the rucks and he has a high workrate & I guarantee he is faster than those lumbering forwards I mentioned. And he wont knock the ball on every time he has gets the ball like Danie Rossouw.
7 Mar 2006, 11:12 am
tony regarding your earlier post about english coaches getting the best outa our boys. it could be that, or it could be the fact that they are out of their comfort zone, living in a foreign country and HAVE to perform.
7 Mar 2006, 11:13 am
Awesome news. Snyman has being quality for Leeds in the last two seasons. I watched him last year against Bath at the wreck and he was very good.
He is just the kind of wing we need at the moment, big,powerful,good hands and experienced. He also knows and plays well in NH conditions, which a lot of our Bok backline players don’t. Good option for White to have.
7 Mar 2006, 11:13 am
Grrr…. DEAL anything to get rid of Gus!!!
7 Mar 2006, 11:14 am
Imagine having Gus and Jorrie at centre LOL
7 Mar 2006, 11:16 am
Rather have Gus than Tiaan. Jeez, Jorrie and Gus in the Lions! Super14 glory here we come!!!
7 Mar 2006, 11:18 am
dronk aapie, ettiene botha was overrated en hy kon nie tackle nie. Ek is so bly JW het hom nooit n bok gemaak nie.
7 Mar 2006, 11:19 am
Tiaan can catch, gus can’t
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