The Cell C Sharks appear resigned to the fact that loose forward Willem Alberts will be leaving them after the 2015 Rugby World Cup to play in France, judging by comments coach Gary Gold made when quizzed about their latest signing, Waratahs loose forward Jacques Potgieter.
Potgieter, a similarly abrasive forward to Alberts, will join the Sharks in early 2016 ahead of next year’s expanded Super Rugby tournament.
“We think 1 or 2 of our players are going to move after the World Cup and Jacques is a big character, a strong ball carrier and hard-hitting defender. We hope he has the same impact for us as he has had for the Waratahs. His aspiration is to play more for the Springboks and he’s not going to achieve that if he’s not based in South Africa,” Gold said.
“Jacques is a great acquisition for the Sharks,” added Sharks CEO John Smit in a statement when confirming Potgieter’s signing.
Potgieter’s signing drew mixed reaction, with former Sharks and Springbok skipper Gary Teichmann questioning the decision.
Although there is no official confirmation that Alberts is leaving, a leading French agent has confirmed that “he has already signed at Stade Francais” and leading rugby publication Midi Olympique have also said Alberts is set to play for the Paris club.
Veteran Sharks and Springbok front-rowers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis have also been linked to a move to Montpellier in France. The Top 14 club are coached by former Sharks and Springbok boss, Jake White.
There is already a large South African contingent at Montpellier.
Shaun Sowerby is White’s assistant coach, while Pat Cilliers (prop), Wynand Olivier and Robert Ebersohn (both centres) all ply their trade there.
Other South Africans soon to join include Jacobie Adriaanse (Llanelli Scarlets, prop), Schalk van der Merwe (Lions, prop), Demetri Catrakilis (Stormers, flyhalf), Jacques du Plessis (Bulls, loose forward / lock), Cameron Wright (Sharks, scrumhalf / flyhalf) and Wiaan Liebenberg (Bulls, loose forward).
Sport24
Alberts might have been a prolific bone collector in the past but over the last few seasons his collection of sick notes has expanded more than the bones in his collection.
sharks het hom in elk geval op n baie kak manier bekom van die leeus af
Albert hasn’t been playing too much last 5 years
Below 50% I would guesstimate, when playing he hardly ever completed 80 minutes.
@ Hondo:
I think He had that good period regarding fitness in 2012?
But he is not great “bang for your buck” No matter how good he is when fit.
Happy Birthday to our friend, Kickers, today, in Mud Island!
Have a good one, brother!
grootblousmile wrote:
6 @ Just For Kicks:
Congrats. Hope there are lots more.
Users Online
Total 380 users including 0 member, 380 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm
No Counter as from 31 October 2009: 41,835,906 Page Impressions
_