Wian on loan to Munster
Cheetahs loosehead Wian du Preez has signed a two-month deal with Irish club Munster.
Du Preez was the form loosehead in the Currie Cup this season and was part of the Cheetahs’ front row that was considered the best scrumming force in the competition.
However, he was a shock exclusion from the Springbok squad for the end-of-year tour.
Munster, who are struggling with a prop injury crisis, have now approached Du Preez to help bolster their front row.
‘The deal has been sealed and I will be leaving next weekend for two months,’ Du Preez told keo.co.za. ‘It will be a great experience. In the last three years, Munster have won the European Cup twice. So it’s good to know I’ll be playing for one of Europe’s powerhouses.’
Du Preez added that he is looking forward to featuring alongside players like Springbok centre Jean de Villiers.
‘It will be great to meet up with an excellent player like Jean. There are also many British and Irish Lions and other internationals in the squad, so I will learn a lot during my time there.’
Forwards coach Barend Pieterse said he is happy Du Preez has received this opportunity.
‘Wian is already a good player and he will only get better,’ said Pieterse. ‘It’s a shame he didn’t get a Springbok call-up, but this will be a great experience for him.’
Du Preez is expected to feature in five European Cup matches and three Irish League games. The prop will return on the 25 January, in time for the Cheetahs’ Super 14 preparations.
By Gareth Duncan
November 6th, 2009 at 10:06 am
#48 grant10: Who would you start then? And what about smittie? I think if we can just have parity at scrum time we’ll be fine everywhere. the wobblies managed it for years. teams don’t lose BECAUSE their scrum is going backwards.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I dont agree Grant, Guthro got smashed in the final by WP Nel, in all but 1 scrums! And that was when the Bulls shoved early! Nah, Guthro is weak, we’ll see it tonight…
Pity about Wian, they always say “short term deal” but it always turns into a long term one. Next thing we see Wian being picked for Ireland. Hopefully not
November 6th, 2009 at 10:10 am
If Du Prez start impressng then he will get multimillions euros offers….and then bye bye SA.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
#47 David: Wian has been selected for tours but never played!! No lack of experience, despite his age, Wian has been around the block, and has scrummed against some of the best props internationally in the S14, as well as against the BIL’s
No, this was Pdiv trying to pull an unneccessary rabbit out of the hat!!
He wants to convert a very good loosehead in Heinke, into a tight head, when he already has very good yound tightheads coming through. WP Nel,Jannie du P, Kevin Buys, and Brok Harris all showed the the strength to be able to compete at the highest level
In looseheads he has equally promising players in Wian, Heinke, Coenie Oosthuizen, Blauuw, and Guthro,
The experience story is hogwash!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Let’s forget Bok selections just for a moment and consider the most promising YOUNGSTERS in SA at the moment.
1. Wian du Preez/Beast Mtawarira/Coenie Oosthuizen/Wikus Blaauw
2. Bismarck duP/Adriaan Strauss/Tiaan Liebenberg/Bandise Maku
3. Wp Nel/Heinke vdM/Pat Celliers/Werner Kruger
4. Stephen Sykes/Flip vdM/P Lombaard/
5. Andries Bekker/A. Hargreaves/Wilhelm Steenkamp/Fudge Mabetha
6. H Brussow/D Stegmann/F Louw/J Wessels(only fetcher types considered)
7. D. Potgieter/D Raubenheimer/J Deysel/ D Vermeulen
8. P Spies/W. Alberts/R. Kankowski/A. Johnson
9. F. Hougard/J. Vermaak/S. Pretorius/D. Duwenhage
10. M. Steyn/JL Potgieter/N. Rossouw/L. Cronje/B. Francis
11. L. Mapoe/L.Mvovo/N Koster/ A Kettledas
12. W.Olivier/M. Bosman/R. Ebersohn/R. Swanepoel/M. Newman
13. J. de Jongh/B. Geel/C. Uys/l van Rensburg/J. Bowles
14. JP Peterson/B Basson/ G vd Heever/L. Vulindlu
15. Z Kirchner/Ruan Pienaar/R. Viljoen/L. Ludick/J. Pietersen/H. Daniller
While drafting this, when I got to beyond 10 I suddenly found myself having to start to think hard, and after every first choice I mostly had to scratch a bit. That is a bit disconcerting, and is an indication that our backline play is a bit down on world quality.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:12 am
#51 ad_oz: Sharks lost semi because of front row woes….it affected there whole game…kanko was nowhere as a result of retreating scrum…and Brussow got on the front foot and goodnite nurse…all over rover for sharks….
Spies too is not getting a fair opportunity because of poor scrum. Of course Boks are awesome….so get away with it…but that dont make it ideal.
Personally i would play J Smit from bench…he covers 1 …2 and 3 and in itself this makes him valuable.
But he is certainly no tighthead…and not the best hooker.
But thats just me….i like a specialist 3…as did Kitch Christie.
Doc Craven once said your 2 most valuable players in your team are the tighthead and the reserve tighthead…!
Best 2 are in Ireland…but good to see Buys amnd WP Nel coming through…
BJ and CJ will be back as well before 2011…so it will be sorted.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:15 am
#52 WP_: i agree Guthro not a strong scrummager…niether is Beast….both Wiaan and Heinke are stronger scrummaging looseheads imo.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:17 am
#55
Very good youngsters, good point. Doesnt really help when the Boks dont actually pick the best players however.
You mentioned Kettledas, I watched that guy in a few first division games and he looks a very good player with a lot of promise. He’s quick and strong and has a great step on him. All a good winger needs! I wouldnt be surprised if if he gets picked up by a bigger Union
November 6th, 2009 at 10:18 am
#56 grant10: But in truth the game has changed a lot since the great doctor’s time.
I don’t rate either CJ or BJ that highly either…we really don’t have a standout tighthead. Spies makes life difficult for himself though…look how many times he breaks against the wheel.
Smit has to be on the paddock, the team’s a different animal without him there. He boosts the scrum from hooker and he’s the best thrower in the game. Gives away a bit on the ground, but perhaps so be it.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:22 am
#56 grant10: To a degree that is true. Grant, but one needs to remember that for the Semis our whole front row started under the injury cloud and were exhausted! Started every match since Feb 14, for Sharks and SBs. Then our other players did not really come to the party! Some wrong selections there too! Monty to replace a winger come on! And then what really did it is the Sharks normal pattern when they think they have the game in the bag they close up shop and let the other team back in. Now we all know you cannot do that with the Cheetahs because they are come back kings!
During S14 our scrums were solid at worst! Ask the Highlanders’ props!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Cant keep a good man down.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:23 am
#57 Grant10 :
Yeah I agree with that Beast a little stronger that Gurthro but Wian and Heinke are much stronger as well as Wickus Blaauw too!
I do not agree with turning Heinke into a 3, that’s for sure.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:26 am
#59 ad_oz: I agree he is a great skipper….but boet we need at least parity come scrum time….Hayman will be back for kiwis come 2011….ENG, France can scrum….and the wallabies embarressed us….
Really boet we cannot rely on captaincy alone to win us a WC in 2011….and are we not perhaos overhyping this whole Smit presence thing?
V Matdfield has 2 x super 14 titles…CC medals, etc.
All i am saying the Bok scrum is a glaring weakness and doesent have to be….but it seems one gets attacked for treason for bringing it up….yet it is so plain to see through Boks and Sharks that the current front row just scrums…for the most part…poorly.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:26 am
#56 grant10:
Grant,
Buys is a retreaded loosie ex Blue Bulls and overseas(France) who, granted, has the ideal build for tight head, and has shown up well for the Lions, but two things worry me.
1. They must bring him on slowly so he has longevity, and
2. How will Heinke’s switch impact on the development of Buys.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:29 am
#54 Cheetah 4 Eva:
What I think they’re doing with Heinke is ensuring that they have a touring prop who can prop at both 1 and 3, like CJ.
These guys are invaluable when you’re committed to a limited squad away from home.
One of the problems I find with a lot of the thinking here, is that it’s still rooted in the days of the amateur game, when the home side could only assemble 48hrs before a game and long tours were the only opportunity to experiment with backups.
I doubt whether PdeV and his coaches are total idiots and have ignored players like Wian, WP, Mapoe etc. in favour of lessor known and inexperienced guys.
From what I see, they’re just as interested in what they’ll have after the WC and don’t want to risk what happened to England, and what would probably have happened to the Boks if it wasn’t for the Lions tour keeping players in SA.
As an experiment, it’s worth making a list of the probable WC contenders and then mark the ones that’ll either retire or be offered overseas contracts, and I’m including the alternative choices that may just miss out in 2011.
The one thing you can put money on, is that our props will be the first targeted.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:32 am
#60 Sharksgirl: Hi….dont get defensive…that sharks front row was absolutely humiliated…now i am a sharks fan [ after stormers] …and i will guarantee you…they will be lucky to make the top 6 next super 14….they are structurally flawed …J Smit and Jannie Duplessis are not the answer….especially smit….Cilliers probably the best of a weak bunch of tightheads….
I am not ‘ nasty’ about this….its is there for all to see,
Problem is sentimentality….which leads to ‘accomodation’ type selections…which leads to structural flaws….
Seriously think Boks are going to come short horribly at next WC if some tough calls arent made….soon.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:37 am
#64 catleya: Exactly right! Even talk of Buys now at 2 !!!!
Again…thee knock on of having to accomodate Smit out of position is adversely affecting careers of others likee Buys….
I agree…Buys and WP Nel need to be nursed…no good throwing them in the deep end yet…Wiaan Du Preez though should of been an option.
#65 David: I agree with Heinke….but Dave…if one were prepared to make a tough call…bench Smit…he covers 1 2 and 3…already!!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:39 am
#66 grant10: grant she is not being defense boet
one thing that gal knows is how to be straight , awesome lady she is
but i have never even mentioned it on here but there was injury clouds
and you know as well as i do smitty wasnt blown once in the semi’s it was on beasts side , he and bismark both came in with injuries
and they had no other options
in the semi;s carstens did make the medical test on the thursady morning , cilliers was out injured muller we all know even now is strugllinh with that arm
, lets hope the rest now can help heal those ,
as for bismark and beast , i hope they are not still suffering from those injuries
bismark ribs , beast shoulder
both those injuries will hamper scrumming
the other weakness in the sharks scrum is the light loose forwards
why you think that after alberts??
deysel alberts kanko for example will bulk up the scrum big time , as well as stregnthen it
nor botes nor daniel are big players
its all a combo of issues not just one
November 6th, 2009 at 10:40 am
#66 grant10: No no, Grant, sorry we are misunderstanding each other, what I meant with my post was that our weak scrum was not the only reason we last the semi. During the S14 our scrum was one of the better ones, but I agree that our scrum was sadly exposed during the CC.
I do not believe that there is much wrong with Jannie, he has scrummed very well, I just think he has not been managed as well as he should be! And I used to rate Cilliers but this Cc exposed him too. But hopefully by S14 Deon will be back properly (remember he carried an injury throughout CC), and with bulkier guys like Mostert and Alberts our scrum will be better. As to JS, who knows, I don’t believe he is better than Bismarck, and I agree he is getting shoved at TH so have no solution.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
#68 sharks_lover: THanks you SHarks_L you have put it out better than me. But I still don’t understand, during S14 the Sharks scrum was solid, what happened after that?
November 6th, 2009 at 10:43 am
oh and grant ?
cilliers is now a loosehead and is not a strong scrummager
he is a player i rate very highly and used to be quite a good TH till he got injured
since then his scrummaging has not be the same and he has had to move to LH
that he is a good player no doubt , gives his all and defends damn well
but he is not stronger then smitty or jannie
hell i wish he was ,
November 6th, 2009 at 10:47 am
#68 sharks_lover: #69 Sharksgirl: Okay…Sharks are very close to my heart…i was a Reg Manager of a Bank and looked after the Cape Town to Durban Region…spent 5 years watching the Super rugby from the bank box in Durbs….and also saw WP beat the sharks in a CC final there!!!
So when i am critical it comes from the heart…i only wanrt what i believe is best for the bok team…and SA rugby!!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Good on ya Wian. He has been the best loosehead in the country this year and has received jack sh..t in return. And he never will. Mark my words – he will never run out in a bok jersey. he is behind Beast, Guthro, Heinke (whatever) on the pecking order and a better loosehead than all of them.
Go to Europe, and have a longer fruitful career there. Too many players stay behind – hopeful of a Bok jersey – while they could have gone young and made millions.
Daan Human, Andre Vos, Gerard Vosloo all players who left relatively early in their career and made sure they made enough cash whilst over there.
Why make a million rand for one year when you can make it for 5??
November 6th, 2009 at 10:51 am
#70 Sharksgirl: hi M sweety , like i explained its a combo of issues
if you have half the scrum really scrumming of couorse you will struggle
also remember os know the whole sharks front row , they were able to used tactics planned by him ,and it worked for them , it was not always legal but thats not their problem , thats for the ref to pick up
between beast and wp nel the scrum either kept dropping or going up , thata happens when there is no binding , or pushing scew and up
it also depends on the tactics of a prop and his hooker , where they will target a prop and both scrum at him
now if our loosehead has injuries already thats bad
then you hoooker has nad rib injury his scrumming dont mean much
your one lock has a buggered arm?? all those little things will break you down little by little
this is why i am so happy about alberts and the 120 kg lock mostert ,
that this pack of forwards for example
smitty bismark beast
sykes mostert
kanko alberts deysel
now those 8 players are not only much more bulk , but much much stronger
of course they should all be fit though and not injured or possibly injured
this is way hooker strauss and LH du preez should have been in the squad incase beast and bismark is not 100%
those 2 would not have weakened the bok pack at all
November 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
#71 sharks_lover: My grandmother a better scrummer than Smitty!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:53 am
#55 catleya: Yes, so much promise in SA, but how many will be left come 2011??
And quite few ommissions that are also putting their hands up.
1. Carstens/Buckle/Dean Greyling
2. Burden
3. Kevin Buys/ Brok Harris
4. Anton van Zyl/ Franco vd Merwe
5. David de Villiers
7. Frans Viljoen/Thabo Mamojela
8. Francois Uys
10.Sias Ebersohn
11.Demas/ Johan Jackson/Aplon
12.Doppies le Grange/Basil de Doncker
13.Alwyn Hollenbach/JW Jonker/Waylon Murray
14.Chris jordaan/JJ Engelbrecht/Dewald Pretorius
15. Wilton Pieterson (hopefully)
Add that too quite a host of hot u21 players yet to hit the scene players like Pat Lambie, George Whitehead, Wayne Stevens, Tiger Bax, Kyle Cooper, A host of big, strong props…
Yes our rugby is flourishing!!
November 6th, 2009 at 10:55 am
#72 grant10: grant boet i question not that you like or dislike the sharks , infact i dont think that at all
but 2morrow wp nel for example plays and gets whipped because a ref allows elegal tactics against him in a game
you dont think that would make him look bad
i am not saying smitty is the best , just know he is more then upto it and will only gat better
i dont believe heinke is the answer as his backup ,
he has not even played a game there or had match training for 90% of the year
in the place of heinke , wp nel should have been there
i am not saying heinke wont beable to change , but he has been thrown into a very deep end ,and lets say it doesnt work for him?
you think all us know it all supporters on here and elsewhere will give him grace? no he will be slated
he is a strong man , but tactics of loosehead and tighthead and tecniques are not the same , he does not even have one game of experience there
November 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
#74 sharks_lover: That loose trio will be bullied and done at the breakdown all day long….need a deck specialist…either Kanko or alberts at 8….and a Johan Wessels or Botes as fetcher.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:56 am
#75 grant10: grant thats BS and you know it ,
November 6th, 2009 at 10:58 am
#78 grant10: botes is not a fetcher
he is an opensider yes , but i tell ya he hardly wins a turnover in a game
now brussow with alberts and deysel would have been awesome but its not to be
wessels is very good of what i saw of him in the under21 semi
good player but quite light still
needs some meat on the bones
November 6th, 2009 at 10:59 am
#77 sharks_lover: Ja….tough ask on Heinke…and he is a prop….
But we expected a hooker to go play at international level at 3???
That is even more insane….as David says…rightfully…other teams will be targetting that front row….
The 3 x consecutive grillings we took in scrums from Wallabies was too much for me….make the tough call….Smit the ideal bench man.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:01 am
#75 grant10: Yho….your gran is 120Kg and stands 1.87M tall…..respect!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:01 am
#80 sharks_lover: i would never go into a 1 st class game without a fetcher…all the bulk in the world dont help if the opposing teams fetcher gets there 1 st and turns you over….see how you having to accomodate by playing bulky loosies to make up for Smits scrum weakness??
There lays the dilemma.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:02 am
#82 Jozi: LOL…poor gran be dead for years!!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:06 am
#84 grant10: Sorry Grant, we shouldn’t joke about such things.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:06 am
#83 grant10: lol grant firstly smitty was a TH at school , was at the sharks where they made him hooker as he was a tad light
so he had good basics to make the change , and also in his sharks career he played a lot og games at prop , and he covered both sides of the scrum
again your memory is short boet , we have just had the best year of bok rugb y about ever and thats with the self same smit at TH
also you forget who keeps that team together , give that a thought ,
November 6th, 2009 at 11:07 am
#85 Jozi: No….dont be silly…all cool…
November 6th, 2009 at 11:07 am
lol jozi , i ignored the granny as i didnt wanna go there
November 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
#86 sharks_lover: and his little grubber in the Oz test that resulted in a try, which other prop can boast of that
November 6th, 2009 at 11:08 am
grant boet we may argue all day all year time will tell us though
and i hope im right and ur wrong
not for my sake but for the sake of the boks
November 6th, 2009 at 11:09 am
#89 Sharksgirl: lol sharksgirl heheheeh yup that was a good one
i wonder btw when straulli will lets us know about the sharks signings???
November 6th, 2009 at 11:10 am
#86 sharks_lover: I know smittys career very well…a favorite of mine….but a international test tighthead he is not….
Really believe an ideal bench player….he does give cover from 1 to 3….and not many players can lay claim to that…
Realistically …as a 3….i reckon CJ…BJ…WP NEL….BROCK….BUYS…FAAN RAUTENBACH….ALL ahead of the skipper.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:11 am
#91 sharks_lover: All cloack and dagger! Oom Strauli reportedly does not like the media, so I expect to know the Sharks squad pretty much like last year when they run on the field
Most other teams have announced their squad its just the SHarks and WP who haven’t – Maybe they haven’t finished their shopping spree yet
November 6th, 2009 at 11:11 am
#91 sharks_lover: Sharks will sign some top players….they have to….that squad looking thin….especially at the backs….
If Waylon going…oops!!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:12 am
sorry grant , the first player in my team is my capt , to say he is not a great prop no problem , to tell me you would drop the glue and best capt we have ever had ?? thats where i question your motive
if smitty is not a th then his place at hooker should be first and formost
he is a massive reason we have won what we have this year
far more then you realise
November 6th, 2009 at 11:14 am
#94 grant10: waylon is not going grant , that has basically been confirmed
we have lost 7 players though , but only 2 from the main squad
the other 5 are under 21 or vodacom cup members
November 6th, 2009 at 11:16 am
look with a certain amount of certainy grant i can say we got alberts , ludick, wessels and mostert
in brussow it seems only end of the super 14 will he join the sharks , as i heard thats how it was negotiated , and also thus the loan agreenents etc , also early release of skipper to help out the cheetahs
buti fear our center problem is not good
November 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
#96 sharks_lover: Glad Waylon is staying….if he can get over the injuries he will be back big time…such a pity Barritt and F Steyn not around.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:27 am
#98 grant10: Really relieved that Waylon is staying too!!! The thought of having Strauss for S14 frankly terrified me
November 6th, 2009 at 11:31 am
#97 sharks_lover:
Hi Sharkslover
What happens if Smittie suffers a carreer ending injury ? who’s then the glue that hold everything together ? does Shark rugby and Bok rugby then go in to a state of collapse ?
i am not being cynical in any way here, just pointing out that the deopendency the Sharks ad Boks put on Smitties leadership is perhaps not in everyone’s best interest.
That he is the greatest leader of modern rugby is without doubt, but that reign will come to end and an injury could be a game away !! And then ??