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 3:21 pm
#200 grant10: I know that Grant, you are very decent, never seen you slate a person for their opinion or a team!
November 6th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
#201 Sharksgirl: here is something i found in my email archives…the bold part is the interesting bit!
Sharks will fly SA flag
In his first weekly newsletter, Keo explains why the Stormers won’t live up to the hype this season.
To receive Keo’s newsletter, subscribe for FREE at the Keo’s Corner section on the home page. The newsletter will only be e-mailed to subscribers from next week.
I’m picking the Stormers to do the usual in 2009, which is to give a hint of why so many believe they will go all the way this season, but then to implode before the semi-finals. Anything less than a top four represents a failure but once again we find ourselves in Slaapstad expecting so much of a franchise that realistically has never done anything but boast the best support base in the competition’s history.
I’m told by my many informants that things are going so well with the Stormers that they have instituted a draconian-style media policy which limits access to the squad once a week and does not even allow for the local rugby writers to attend training sessions. Apparently the team sponsors agree with this archaic strategy, which asks the question why they would want to be involved with a team that only wants exposure once a week?
Now take that attitude and ask how it fits in with a marketing strategy that calls the team that of the people. Clearly it doesn’t but then when you have that kind of paranoia from team leadership before a ball has been passed, you know the degree of implosion when it all goes wrong.
Already there’s been too much cleverness from within the Stormers ranks. Selecting Nick Koster as a winger is doing his development as a loose forward no good. It is not in the interest of the player and if I was Koster I’d be on the first plane to Durban where his skills as one of the country’s most promising loose forwards would be improved.
Koster, given his pedigree as a person, has said all the right things about putting the team first, but if the Stormers believe he will be content to wait his turn, then they’ve underestimated the ambition of the young guy.
The Sharks, on balance, are an outstanding side and John Plumtree commands respect as a coach because his actions say much more than his words. Some coaches talk a great game, while Plumtree is from the school that prefers others to do the talking based on achievement of the team.
I’ve never liked the Sharks because I’ve never liked Durban and Durban has never liked me. There is no mountain and there is no loyalty from their rugby supporters when times are tough. You only have to do a check on crowd attendance in a poor season and compare it to when the Sharks are competing for a home semi-final. At least down in Mountain Goat country 35 000 still come out whether the Stormers are playing for the wooden spoon or missing out on a semi-final by points differential.
But because I don’t like the Sharks doesn’t mean I’m not picking them to be the best of the South African sides. Of course they are but to win the competition they have to be hosting a semi-final. Can they do it? To quote someone familiar with the Durbanites, there’s the lovely line of Bob the Builder … ‘Yes we can!’
In assessing the prospects of the Lions and Cheetahs I just did a copy and paste from every year’s preview. ‘NO CHANCE’.
The Bulls will be more competitive with Victor Matfield back running the show, but they are top six – more than top two – material.
South Africa’s chances are helped by the fact that this must be the weakest squads picked by New Zealand in the history of the tournament. Some of their players are just KAK and in the glory days of Super 12 wouldn’t even have made the Supporters’ XV of the Blues and Crusaders.
And as much as it hurts to say it the European Cup has definitely replaced Super rugby as the premier international club/province/region (whichever is your fancy) competition. The quality of players in the European Cup and the variety is something you won’t see in this year’s Super 14.
The Hurricanes look the best on paper among the Kiwi sides, but there’s two teams of northern hemisphere-based Kiwi sides I’d enter in the Super 14 ahead of the Highlanders and Blues. The Crusaders will benefit from what Robbie Deans built, but they won’t be as good. The Chiefs will, like the Stormers, be wonderful or woeful and the Canes will have to be playing at home in the play-offs to have a chance of winning the competition.
Oh yes, I nearly forgot the Australian teams, who with the exception of the Waratahs will make up the numbers, and if the Sharks do come unstuck then maybe this is the year that the Sydneysiders finally come good.
My biggest wish for the Super 14 is to hear more Australian commentary, less South African commentary and a few new names making an impact. I also wish for even better-looking bar ladies at SA Rugby magazine/keo.co.za’s plush suite at Newlands, and that will take some doing after the visuals we were treated to last season.
What the Super 14 does provide is balance in viewing because as much as I like the 6-3 battles when Toulouse visit Bath, nothing beats a bit of basketball in February and March, so hopefully our teams can embrace the spirit of scoring tries a bit better than their northern hemisphere counterparts.
Other thoughts:
This is the first in a weekly newsletter, the contents of which will be determined by your questions and observations as the season progresses. I know I am speaking to the most intelligent of rugby supporters out there, and when in doubt, I only have to reflect on the insightful ‘dragons’ comment the Einsteins of the game feel compelled to start every thread with.
For those new to the site (yes it has been going since 2004 and was only started because no newspaper would employ me) the history to the dragons comment is: ‘At the start of a new season, copy had been archived and a new page had been built, but wordpress (the blogging system used) needed to reflect a previous story in the menu, which was about the Welsh Dragons slaying the sad Scots (again). However, when you clicked on the story it obviously was not there. And so was born ‘DRAGONS’.
The other question asked is the origin of Muppit. In the early days one regular was trying to make a basic point (it must have been a Bulls supporter). The Bulls supporter, typically, got it wrong and thought the oke was having a go at him. In having to explain himself, he told the two horned genius from Loftus not to be a Muppit. And so was born ‘MUPPITS’.
As we move forward in the year, my loyal support base will be rewarded with pearls of wisdom, insights you’ve never read before, cheerleading and execution-style honesty about the implosions of individuals and a little anecdote that gives you insight into some of the glory boys who have done our country so proud in the past. I’ll start with a gem from my good friend (I know I am his favourite rugby writer) Joost van der Westhuizen. In taking offence to something he believed I had written way back in 1996, he asked me to explain my insult as he was not a (think of the Afrikaans word here) PATRIOT and that he stood for the new South Africa. When he presented the evidence it was in fact a picture caption calling him patriotic because he was wearing a shirt proudly displaying the South African flag. Hopefully Joost is still as patriotic about a South Africa that is no longer that new.
Congratulations to World Cup winning Bok forwards coach Gert Smal on his immediate impact with the Irish. Their lineout functioned like the Bok lineout did for the last few years. To my very good friend Nick Mallett … what are they putting in those espressos in Rome? A flanker at scrumhalf? It is that kind of thinking out of the box that will have the Italians putting you back into the box. To quote Hugh Bladen, it was a SHOCKER. As for the Six Nations … to quote Blades again … SHOCKER!
Now fire your questions in to me by lunchtime every Monday and not only will you be a better person for the interaction you will be rewarded with prizes as impressive as the Sharks and a few as limp as the Lions.
Send your questions to
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am
November 6th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
#201 Sharksgirl: You two want to get a room?
I have a question. To all the regular posters here.
I visit keo almost every day. Read most of the articles and most of the threads. Every now and again I even leave a post. I work as a project manager on a construction job so I’m in and out of the office all the time.
Question:
What the hell kinds of jobs do you guys do that allow you to be on keo almost every working minute of every day AND lets you conduct conversations lasting hours on an ongoing basis days on end?
I have to get a new career…
November 6th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
#202 Pearl Rose:
Some of that Highlighted paragraph is the biggest load of ****! At least down in Mountain Goat country 35 000 still come out whether the Stormers are playing for the wooden spoon or missing out on a semi-final by points differential.
Since when?? Since about last year when they started getting back into the game..Same with Cheetahs. For about half a year every second oke in the FS will be wearing his Orange jersey, and if they do not perform….empty stadium again, orange jersey used to check the tractors oil levels…Bullocks man.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
#202 Pearl Rose: Keo is an idiot, and I NEVER read the articles I just jump right onto the blogs! You cannot doubt the Sharks support base, the Sharks have had a terrible season this year where they have promised so much yet failed to deliver at the last hurdle, yet come into Durban or PMB at any given Saturday and we are all still wearing our Sharks jerseys. Even during the CC final I was looking for a B/day present for my friend and went to Liberty Mall in PMB and Pavillion in DBN and the Black and white jerseys outnumbered the Blue and the white and orange. Every team has its fair weather supporters, look in the early 2000s when the Bulls were doing badly and Loftus was empty, now suddenly we are overrun by bull fans, some are the true fan and others will be with the Bulls till they start losing again c’est la vie!
ABSA Stadium is sometimes empty admintedly, but that is not so much a lack of support other than apathy on the part of us KZNs, we are laid back and sometimes too much so. To some its just easier to watch it with a friend over a braai and a beer at home than to shlep all the way to the Stadium and risk getting caught by cops after a few drinks. Semis and finals get lost of people due to the carnival atmosphere that precede the events, rarely are all the tickets at the tank sold on the day after the Sharks have qualified, but rather midway during the week of the semi/final when people have organised their groups etc.
As to WP never gave them much of a thought till recently when I joined this blog, how they manage to get Newlands full week after week if that is so, as I do not remember Newlands being that full last year when I watched the matches, then they obviously have got something right.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Pietskeade,
theyre all a bunch of jobseekers. Also you should check your bricklayers too, they also blogging here. btw I know Grant is a lifeguard at Clifton.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
#201 Sharksgirl: LOL…just have strong opinions…and the Irish blood means i am never afraid to air them…..
You too are very special…you handle the heat with dignity and grace….
I am now leaving this arena for my beloved Clifton beach….a long evening so a walk and swim will prepare the body for the rigours of pizza, beers and good friends….
Outta here
Go Boks!
AND WALES AND POMS!
November 6th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
#203 pietskeade: Unemployed New Zealander is the main occupation of our Kiwi bloggers Piet.
Others are probably IT techies, web designers and such, so they “work” on the net
November 6th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
#203 pietskeade: Why, are you jealous Pietskeade? Okai here goes you too, I am sure are a pretty decent chap yourself, but I don’t really know you yet, I’ll give you a better compliment when I read your posts more often
November 6th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
#206 Slappes: LOL…Yes…and have a girlfriend who takes good care of me…rubs sun tan oil on me every day…its the ‘little’ things that count!!
November 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
#206 Slappes: you should talk you are on here as often as the rest of us! Oh! wait you are one of Pietskeade’s bricklayers, that is how you know your fellow workers are on as well
November 6th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
#206 Slappes: Have a cool weekend Slappes…leave Sharks Lover alone now….no making problems now!!
LOL
Cheers
Someone drowning…gotta go do m,y job…hope its a Brazilian ladies volleyball player stuck in the surf…damn i love my job…
November 6th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
As I said, Grant is a lifeguard at Clifton.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
#207 grant10: Cheers Grant, have a good weekend, I too am shouting for the Boks and Wales!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
#204 ICE: As a cheetah supporter myself I must point out that there is a massive difference between Bloem and the other major franchise cities in terms of numbers. The 35 000 guys you may find at Loftus/Durbs/Newlands will mostly come from within the metropoles. Bloem not half the size and alot of fans have to travel alot further for the matches.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Cool Grant! enjoy mate.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
#209 Sharksgirl: ..a little..
November 6th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
#217 pietskeade: Of your job I mean…
November 6th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
#215 pietskeade: I have only missed 4 home matches for the Sharks in the last 3 seasons and I live 92 Kms from the Shark Tank! And then you wonder why I get Peaed off when they throw matches
November 6th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
#206 Slappes: I wouldn’t be surprised to find half them wasters on their laptops blogging right now. Slappes? You’re name isn’t Mick? Mick is that you???!!! get Back to WORK you lazy shite…
November 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
#218 pietskeade:
you specified quickly enough! I don’t often blog for so long everyday, my co. has run out of money, so business has slowed down considerably, so have some time to spare. This will soon change as soon as our allocations get freed again 
Normally its only Dec. and January that are so slow, but seems our project managers haven’t been controlling their cash flow too well so its come up a little earlier this year.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
#215 pietskeade:
I did not stay too far from Bloem – so I know what the size is. I have lived there long enough to say I stand by my theory!! (Obviously there are execption!)
November 6th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
#219 Sharksgirl: Fair play. Don’t expect all other fans to have the same dedication though. I’m from a little place called Viljoenskroon and Bloem is 3.5 hours drive away. We got up for matches when we could but not as often as you might if you lived closer.
Lived in CT for two years, lived in Sea Point and went to Newlands almost every match day and I’m not even fond of WeePee. Just closer and more convenient.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
#223 pietskeade: Yeah to drive 3 and half hours for every home match would be pushing it a bit for any supporter!
November 6th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
#222 ICE: With a nick like ICE you’d forgive me if I thought you might have lived closer to the Bronx instead of Bloem.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
#224 Sharksgirl: now I live in Ireland so SkySports have become my best friend…
November 6th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
#225 pietskeade:
HAHAHAHAHAHA!! I am nin L’l ICE…:lol:
November 6th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
#226 pietskeade: Do they show all the games though?
November 6th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
#154 jockstrap:
He is decent nothing spectacular.
A bit on the lardy side.He is the SA equivalent of John Hayes(Irish 3)
November 6th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
#227 ICE: I bet your favourite ice cream flavour is Vanilla, eh baby?
November 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
#228 Sharksgirl: No, but between the intermaweb and Sky and get to see most..
November 6th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
#230 pietskeade: Word to yr mutha
November 6th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
#232 bokfan1: Don hog my mo dog!
November 6th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Marcus Horan the Munster and Ireland loosehead is said to be having some trouble which could be long term, Du Preez might make it a long term deal.
I see Grant lit a fire under this thread with his Smit comments
but take Smit away and the Boks will crumble.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
That’s so unfair. These guys can recruit the best players at will from the southern hemisphere whenever they in a bind , excuse the pun.Shouldn’t they announce their squad before the season starts and select those players who were initially in the squad. Thats the difference between sh and nh rugby, they got absolutely no faith in their own players. Its all about signing the best players and win at all costs. While wian is there they’ll probably steal some cheetah front row ideas. Poor brits ran out of ideas to topple our sh teams.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
#232 bokfan1: Don wanna havta bust a cap in yo a**. Respect bro.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
#235 Wezwp: FS front row success is due in lage part to Os’s mentoring. At least they can never steal Os. He’ll miss the farm too much.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
#234 Big Hit: For that to happen the Cheetahs would have to release him from his contract and I can’t see that happening. In any case, SA props in Irish teams don’t really live up to expectations normally so Munster might not want to hang on to him regardless.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
#238 pietskeade: BJ and CJ are doing good, Ollie Le Roux went well too. It’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.
November 6th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
#239 Big Hit: BJ only really holding his own, CJ haven’t played enough to really rate him. Ollie was really only mentoring, didn’t play enough. They’re doing OK BH but when those guys left to go to Ulster/Leinster, they were at the top of their game and more was expected.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
#240 pietskeade: I thought Ollie played more than that. Fair point on CJ. Kempson was another one who did well and Brett Wilkinson has made the Ireland squad. They must be doing something right if the Irish provinces keep returning to SA for props but then maybe there’s just a lack of quality props worldwide.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
#241 Big Hit: SA is great for producing a bag full of “OK ish” props every couple of seasons. Half of which get contracted up North to “hold their own”. BJ, CJ and Ollie were contracted because they were expected to have a massive influence. Didn’t really happen though imo.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
#234 Big Hit: #242 pietskeade: Send CJ and BJ back….Smit and Jannie Du Plessis a fair exchange?
November 6th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
#241 Big Hit: BH…or…007?
Master of disinformation….Smitty or you die!!
Dont worry about retreating scrum…they not that important….lol
Come on …bet you wishing Julian White and Sheridan were fronting up tomorrow!!
November 6th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
My last take on the Smit at 3 debate….
If you dont learn from history….you repeat the mistakes…
CHEETAHS!!!
November 6th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
#244 grant10: I wish Vickery and Sheridan were playing with Shaw in the second row, the Aussies wouldn’t have a prayer. Julian White as bench back-up. As it is, they’ll probably win.
SA scrum doesn’t really retreat, it’s more technical offences they sometimes get pinged for.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
#245 grant10: Who’s your captain?
November 6th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
#245 grant10: but SA won and had their most successful season ever?
November 6th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
#246 Big Hit: Boks dont retreat?
Goodness me they got turbo reversed…for sharks and Boks…Soda remarked once he felt that it was dangerous to there healths at time…i agree….
Imagine Spies and Brussow with a really good platform….?
BH…Eng gonna win….the gifted one back at 10…Aussies will kak themselves!!!
#247 pietskeade: VM…
Cheers okes…beer time…
outta here
BH best of luck tomorrow…go poms, Wales and Boks
November 6th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
#248 Big Hit: The search for perfection must never end…dont let victory cover the cracks….
Better…better…search…define….
Thats the Boks way.