Seasoned Boland flyhalf Elgar Watts will join the Cheetahs at the end of November for the 2013 season. Initially the Cheetahs hoped to have Sias Ebersohn released to the Cheetahs after the Super Rugby season, but new Force coach Foley wasn’t amenable to such an arrangement. Hence the Cheetahs will have Johan Goosen, Elgar Watts and Francois Brummer as the flyhalves to choose from, with Willie le Roux, and Riaan Smit able to slot in at flyhalf in an emergency.
Hello Cheetah do you think this is a good acquisition for you guys? It sounds that in previous years Watts did quite well, think I remember one season where he was said to be playing really well for Pumas, was he on loan to Pumas from Boland then or did he make a permanent move from Pumas to Boland. Did think that for someone who was reportedly playing so well that he got a raw deal by not being more involved at Super level by the Stormers (as a Boland player) and perhaps even the Bulls – if he played for Pumas then surely he must have been available for Super rugby for Bulls for a time?
Dodn’t get round to commenting on your article earlier this week about all the Cheetah players who would be available for next year, sounds like you are quite optimistic with that group. I saw you rated a flyhalf I know nothing about from Griffons – Greeff – what are his strengths? Quite correct as you say it has become a bit of a ‘silly season’ with all the players moving about, have been compiling a list of player movements from last season to this for the Pro12 teams and its amazing when you have it together in one place to see how much the players move about. Rugby has certainly caught up with football in this regard, although I don’t know if the same rules apply eg. do you know if tranfer fees are paid between clubs when they get a rugby player? For years the break between football seasons has been a time of crazy speculation as to who is leaving and arriving at clubs and in a way I think we are starting to see this in rugby too, eg. the report not long ago speculating on Juan Smith, Sadie’s move to Cheetahs which was discussed ahead of it being officially anounced and not to mention all the speculation around Lions players. Last year here in the UK England winger Chris Ashton’s move from Northampton to Saracens was also spoken a lot about.
To be honest, Bully, Graaff is new on the scene, but since being moved from wing to flyhalf, he has made some waves, playing really good attacking rugby, and being quite deadly with the boot, at goal. As for Watts, he moved to the Pumas for a season, and had mixed results. He is a very attacking flyhalf though.
I expect Goosen and Brummer will be the 1st choice pivots.
As for the Cheetahs squad for next year, they seem to have a good group of players to draw from. The resurgence of Griquas, has helped to increase the depth. I am optimistic, as the group has been strengthened, and I believe we would have finished stronger had Goosen not done his shoulder this year.
3 @ Cheetah4eva:
Thanks for that man, sorry if I got Graaff’s name wrong, must be the age forgetting just going from one article to the next Interesting you think Brummer will be there, has his play improved a lot this year because he didn’t seem to quite make it at Bulls, will he be up to Super rugby level? If he is the next in line to Goosen then he should get to play a lot because I got the feeling that Goosen’s playing time will be carefully managed as he seems a bit injury prone, but then thats of course assuming Drotske is on the same wave length as the Boks.
2 @ BullscotBok:
Come now Scotty, surely you know that the Pumas are part of the Lions franchise, not the Bulls!
Limpopo Bulls and Valke are in with the Bulls franchise.
4 @ Bullscot,
Brummer has been good this year at Griquas. I guess it is a matter of fitting in with the playing style of the franchise. Griquas and Cheetahs enjoy playing a more xpansive game, and that was why Elgar Watts was chosen. Hawies said, that his kicking isn’t quite up to standard, but they were looking for a player that will fit in with their style of play.
Good news, that the Cheetahs will be looking at scoring tries next year.
5 @ Scrumdown:
No surely not, what’s next Scrumdown you gonna tell me the Pumas actually play in the Rugby Championship Yeah I should have thought about that as I seem to recall now that you mention it that the Lions were apparently naughty and maybe owe the Pumas some money as part of their franchise deal, are the Leopards not part of the Lions as well? I guess because over the years so many players who had association with Pretoria, either had played there or were living there and making the daily commute to Witbank, that the Pumas should be in the Bulls fold. So thanks for clearing that up so anyway if the Pumas are part of the Lions franchise then the finger can’t be pointed at the Bulls for not giving Watts game time in Super rugby so its those blerrie Lions again
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