Big Joe to lead Toulon
Joe van Niekerk has been handed the captaincy of struggling French club Toulon.
The big-spenders dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season due to a 32-5 loss at the hands of Clermont last week, and they have now called on Van Niekerk’s expertise to get them out of their rut.
Van Niekerk has been the standout performer for Toulon since his arrival in September, but the club seems to have bigger problems than simply the leadership of the team. Three players – flank Jerry Collins, centre Mafileo Kefu, and hooker Phillip Fitzgerald – have all led the team with little success this season.
Toulon, who are currently 13th, face 6th-placed Brive away this weekend.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Big Yo!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Should be interesting……. saffa’s now the mercenaries of world rugby and leaders too it seems.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Too many Chiefs, too little injuns.
January 7th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
#3 Kerneels:
January 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
They should play in a big tent. They’re like a circus.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Beeg. Very Beeeg. Shoulda bought a few more Saffas…
January 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Toulon is an example of what happens when you try to buy a team instead of building one.
January 7th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Ah, but where is he going to led them?
January 7th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
We should pay toulon to take watson…. or make a swap for big joe…
January 8th, 2009 at 7:58 am
#9 Craig 6: Great idea. Or we can trade Luke for Saddam.. oh no, damn! We’re too late!
January 8th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Joe’s still relatively young for a flank with 50+ test caps.
Wonder whether he’ll try to return to SA in time for 2011 WC.
He did miss out in 07.
How old will he be then?
January 8th, 2009 at 9:01 am
Joe’s always been a good leader. All the best to him.
January 8th, 2009 at 9:46 am
#11 puff:
Big Joe has no backbone in my opinion.He lets his surroundings make career decisions for him.When he moved to the Cape it was reportedly due to an infactuation with some model etc
His move/non move to Northampton was influenced by his mother,with the claim that he wasnt treated well by SA rugby etc
He finally moves to the Lions who give him an opportunity to sort out his career which was in tatters in 08′,as soon as he plays consistently in S14 and gets Bok call up,played excellently for Boks in Dunedin-HE JUMPS SHIP AGAIN..Off to Toulon…Big Joe is now known as a PAY CHECK PLAYER
That doesnt inspire loyalty even from his most die-hard of fans.
Spies/Kankowski/Vermeulen/Alberts/Koster are the FUTURE
LEAVE THE MERCENARY
January 8th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Mshini
I like the look of your list for the future.
But Joe always played best for the Boks at 7, in my opinion.
It does seem like he’s easily led astray.
But he’s proved that when he puts his mind to something, he can be formidable.
He was the form loosie at the 2003 WC.
And, last year, he was determined to get back into the Bok fold.
He was fantastic amid a wooden spoon Lions outfit.
And he was one of the better players for the Boks.
January 8th, 2009 at 10:50 am
#14 puff:
True puff
BUT
I was a huge fan especially when he was playing 7 but too much has happened in the last 3 yrs..3 odd good games a yr isnt parrallel to superstar status.
I rate the likes of So’oialo and Kefu far ahead of Joe even though he probably has more talent than them.
Consistency RULES in tests and that equates to legend status.
Big Joe will go down in history in the same mould as Ron Cribb and Troy Flavell(for different reasons)as A WASTE
January 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
#10 King Shark: what about Mugabe?
January 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
maybe cheeky watson will make a comeback… and him and luke will lead the proteas o whoops the springboks
January 9th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Luke & Cheeky should go play for the Zimbabwean national team @ least there if they step out of line Robert will send his brigades to get them back in line.