Bulls close cheque book
Bulls business manager Ian Schwartz says they will not make any more signings for next year’s Super 14.
While the Bulls have released several players, such as Marius Delport, Burton Francois (both Lions) and Jacques Burger (Saracens), they have only made four signings in return.
Jaques-Louis Potgieter, Gary Botha, Bees Roux and Jaco van der Westhuyzen are the only additions to the squad and Schwartz said there will be no more.
‘There will be no new guys joining us in the near future,’ he told keo.co.za. ‘We have enough talent coming through the pipeline.’
This dismisses the rumours of Griquas speedster Bjorn Basson joining the Pretoria union.
By Gareth Duncan
November 25th, 2009 at 10:37 am
We need more scrumming dragons!
November 25th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Jaco malmoer vdW and Gary Chipmunk Botha? Has beens.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Must be broke after taking on Heyneke as Director of Rugby. Even the Lions, willing spenders, admitted his asking price was too high.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:53 am
MMMMMM…Bees Roux and W Kruger at 3….may be the achilles heel….
Bulls scrum appears to be the weak point….but these boys so professional….Heyneke will be a massive plus for the.
I expect them to win the super 14….with the Stormers being the other contenders..of the sa teams
November 25th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Sigh. No Ian. We need a better-than-good to great wing to replace Habs. Basson. Mapoe. That Sharks-winger, cant remember the name. Gerhard “Shadow Defence” van der Heever is not it.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
@grant10: Grant you said that this year that Stormers would contend for the title, what went wrong?
Serious though, pity JdV has left. JF and JdV would have been awesome with Habs at 11. Stormers are looking good but pity JdV has left.
Sharks have big problems for next year. I don’t expect as much as I did from them this year for next.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
jeepers with the twenty odd bars we made from hosting the final you would think we could have managed a bit more than these jokers…
November 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@Puma: Also Sharks never made it. Only just by losing by one point to Bulls otherwise we would have got a semi final. That is how it goes. Sharks have a rubbish draw for next year too.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
@Taahirah: The Sharks winger’s name is Lwazi Mvovo!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Jaco vd Westhuizen is back from Japan? Hahahahahaha. I’m so glad the Bulls signed him, he alone will curse them for the next season.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
@Puma: Puma, everyone is going on on how the Sharks are going to struggle this year. But I do not see everything as all doom and gloom for the Sharks. Things are happening at the tank, depth in key positions is being brought into the team; Plum is rattling cages. While, I am not expecting a S14 trophy I believe we will, like normal, be there or there abouts.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
@Sharksgirl: Taahirah I didn’t read your post properly or I would not have given you his name
You can leave him in Durban thank you 
November 25th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
@Sharksgirl: Don’t want to be there or there abouts
Also need to think about positions carefully. Hernandez not even in the country. What a waste of time if he is not going to play for the S14.
Maybe this year when I don’t expect much they may just surprise us.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
@Slappes: jaco “bobbejan” v d wsthuizen is back to climb the Loftus posts! ha ha ha
November 25th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@Puma: ja…my stormers tend to flatter to decieve….but i rate there chances…no more light 5!!
Sharks up a creek without a paddle…crisis time there i feel….
November 25th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
@Puma: Puma, as I said on the other site, I too do not whant to be there or there about, I would like to win. But if they manage to correct this season’s mistakes, and come up with a team (not 15 individuals) like they had in 2007 and 2008, plus build the depth with youngsters coming through the ranks, (your Rhodes, Downeys etc) I would consider this season a success even if we just make the semis, even a 5th would satisfy me if the team is created that next year (2011) we will have no doubts about where we will be sitting on the log and trophy cabinet. In PA’s words the Sharks of 2009 looked like WP of last year with all the egos ruling the roost.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I expect Meisiekind to be signing with Italy pretty soon this is from SA rugby site :” Playing at football stadia on tour has exposed Springbok players to an unfamiliar changeroom accessory – hairdryers!
At the magnificent Wembley stadium, state of the art changing facilities have large mirrors and modern lighting with a fair number of hairdryers. Perfect for the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo et al.
So too at the Stadio Friuli in Udine where the Boks face Italy on Saturday. Each player’s seating area has a soft cushioned flip-up chair and a hairdryer of its own.”
November 25th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
@Puma: Where is Hernandez
The FH for Sharks really has me worried! I am afraid I do not rate Guy Cronje one bit
November 25th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I think the Bulls scrum will be the better for this past seasons experience. In fact, I think they will be brilliant with Gary leading the charge in that department.
The problem is still Habana’s replacement.
Mapoe should have been bought for whatever it would have cost.
He seemingly has that “talismatic” influence that Habana brings to a team. Inspiration and confidence if you will.
Vanden Heever is a very young and quick player with talent who plays with a lot of confidence. But he is very raw and looks a bit soft.
I am not convinced.
expect to see Ndgane and Hougaard playing on the wings?
Signing Potgieter is a master stroke though and Jaco has always added great value as a utility.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
@grant10: Sharks next year wont be as good as they have been and we never even made the semi this year. Should have done. So many handling errors. It drove me crazy. We had the players just far too many mistakes. Should have put Saders away we played better just dropped the ball sooooooooooooooo much that day. Then we lost to Reds where we should have won. Not sure what went wrong there. Cheetahs beat us fair they were far better than us on the day. The best game came against the Bulls it was a cracker only lost by one point.
Next year think we wont be as competitive at all. Also our draw is terrible.
Stormers will have their best chance next year. Your team looks far better than it has in a very long time. So good luck hope they do it. Bulls will be there for sure. They like Saders used to be. Never count the Bulls out ever.
@Sharksgirl: We will have to wait for the next year SG. Next year don’t think we will do much. Then like I say when you don’t expect much they might just surprise us.
Okay have to go out and have some work to catch up with.
Cheers all. Back later.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
@Sharksgirl: the sharks got moered by the Rubble Reds and by the loslyf Cheetahs!…you should be worried, you backline is dormant!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
@Sharksgirl: lol! But you guys wont be playing him as Odwa and JP are your first-choice wingers. Be nice. Share. We’ll trade you Jaco Pretorius…
November 25th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
The Bulls have very rarely signed big name players anyway.
Habana was still pretty much a nobody when he joined.
It surely must send a nice message to the youth sides and fringe players that they are in fact good enough and are there and there abouts.
Imagine being Ruan Pienaar and finding out that your Union has just signed a foreign flyhalf?
Or a center finding out that your Union just signed jaque Fourie?
Must be truely inspirational for a youngster playing for WP or sharks……not?
November 25th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Truth be told, all our franchises look pretty strong for 2010.
As a Bull my biggest worry will be that the Bulls chief decision makers would not have had enough rest and conditioning period following the end of year tour.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
@Transformation: The only “wooden spoon” team that really beat the Sharks last year were the Cheetahs! IRO the Reds the Sharks last that game, like against the Crusaders the Sharks last the game! The Stormers last just about every game away and were denied ending at No.1 CC log by the wooden spooners, the Lions! While I do not believe we will be champions in 2010, I do not see the situation as all doom and gloom!
Besides I love this doom and gloom. In 2008 it was all doom and gloom for the Sharks, and they were the only SA team to make the semis, and won CC. In 2009 it was all doom and gloom for the Bulls they were not even to make mid table and the Sharks and Stormers were supposed to just rock up and collect their trophy and we know what actually happened.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
@Taahirah: No Deal!!! But I tell you what, since its the season of giving, I will suggest another deal, we will send you Odwa to join his brother at the Bulls in exchange for Meisiekind
November 25th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: you have to admit Brigadier that the Sharks only brought in Hernandez when Ruan stated that it was No 9 or he would take off! And would you play Guy Cronje as your Fh? come just a question.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
but you have kokott and the other bloke.
and surely it’s not plumtree that he needs to tell, it’s twakkie DeVilliers that hasn;t figured out that he is no 10.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@Brigadier Van Zyl: agree with you, Ruan is not comfortable at 10 and he should make that clear to PDV. After the B&I Lions tests he had a serious discussion with Plum that he whanted to play at 9 which Plum did, and brought in Hernandez. Cokott did not have the best of seasons though this year, our backline looked much better with McLeod (admittedly at CC level). Apparently Plum, Rudi and Ruan are due for a discussion once Ruan returns from Europe, to see where he is going to play.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
@rossoneri:
Jaco is a bit of a wack job but he is ideal player for super rugby, always keen on running the ball.
he played a vital role in the bulls scoring that final try in the 2007 super 14 final, started the attack from deep when butch couldn’t find touch… sho sho
November 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I wish the Stormers would do the same
November 25th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Roy sort out the reply button, this is as pathetic as Tackler !!
November 25th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
@justrugby: I agree. Hard to hold a “conversation”. Need to know what you are replying to as well as who.
November 25th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
It is very good to know Marius Delport has left, he was a walking hazard and very over rated, Jacque Louis will play at centre I guess and will lift Jaco Pretorius out of the starting 15
Bulls will be very good next season, stormers will be also but not as consistent like the bulls, and sharks will be there about also, the other 2 will struggle like always, not enough depth, pity makes the job so much harder for the bulls to win the title and wave the sa flag.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:36 am
NOOOOOOOO!!!! Get BJ still!!!!
@Sharksgirl: Lost or last?
November 26th, 2009 at 1:11 am
congrats bulls on a nice bunch of kuk signings.thanks for habs!
November 26th, 2009 at 1:15 am
@SjamBok: they can’t because they spend the whole budget on heyneke meyer mate.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:45 am
@Valkyrie: Boet, you guys need to buy a team, we have one! Enjoy Habs, everyone knows that you make the WP trip for a year or two just befor you retire. The mouths are big now, but I invite all of to have this discussion a year from now.
Heyneke is the best developer of tallent in SA and probably the world. His got the record as proof, unlike Mr. Sideshow Erasmus.
Bulls rugby along with FS will dominate local rugby for years to come because we have a steady stream of tallent. WP and Sharks will always go after our has-beens and achieve little success.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:53 am
@Beast: And now why bring in the Sharks? and what Bull “has been” have the Sharks bought recently? Actually it was the Bulls trying to get two of our players namely Bissie and Waylon!
And just by the way, I loved your answer to Poppa about being proudly South African well done mate!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 am
Agree with you Beast regarding Heyneke. But not regarding Erasmus.