Sarel Pretorius coming home?

[PaarlBok]

Sport24

Waratahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius could be looking for a new home if reports from Australia are to be believed.
Pretorius was unceremoniously left out of the Waratahs match 22 this week for the game against the Brumbies this week and his position has become “under threat” at the struggling province, who may turn their eyes to try and bring in a big name overseas player to fill the stands.
Pretorius made headlines last year when he chose to join the Australian side after a sensational season with the Cheetahs, but after initially showing some decent form, has struggled behind a Waratahs pack which has not had much success on the field.
As the Tahs struggled for results, so did Pretorius’ form and it wasn’t long before he was on the bench behind Brendan McKibbin.
But this week, with the Tahs still searching for answers after a disasterous season, he was left out of the 22 for former All Black coach John Hart’s nephew Grayson Hart and with just one game left after this weekend is unlikely to start again.
Pretorius’ future is unclear at the moment, although he will return to South Africa at the end of next week to continue his Currie Cup contract with the Cheetahs.
But that contract is for two years, and only for the Currie Cup, while Pretorius does have another year to run at the Waratahs.
There is no clarity at the moment, and Pretorius may stay on in Sydney for next year’s competition, but the way things happen in Australia is that if they want to get rid of you, they can make you feel very unwelcome indeed.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske confirmed to SuperSport.com that there was no plans to bring Pretorius back to Bloemfontein for another Super Rugby stint.
Drotske of course has young Piet van Zyl to back, and after the performances he put in this year, as well as catching the eye of Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, the young halfback may be a Bok sooner rather than later and it makes sense to back him.
For the Currie Cup, both Pretorius and Van Zyl will battle it out, with veteran Tewis de Bruyn extending his contract for another three months to complete the domestic season.
But from then on the Cheetahs haven’t got an option for the second scrumhalf, although Drotske’s words indicate that Pretorius is unlikely to feature anywhere in his plans if he does decide to return.
If Pretorius does end his contract, it will be a sad end for a talented player who has failed to find favour in South Africa.
For now it seems the ball is in the court of the Waratahs. With a promised season review likely to be scathing of coaching and tactics, there may be other casualties.
Pretorius may well be caught in the crossfire, or may escape it altogether. Either way, this week in the stands he will be a concerned man, and despite a contract, may feel his future is very uncertain.

Look like he just may find himself another home in SA.

 

[It is what it is]

Sport24

Look like he just may find himself another home in SA.

Does he need a lift to the airport?

 

[Badger]

It has been mentioned that the Tahs couldn't afford to payout Michael Foley if they were to sack him. Wouldn't the same apply to Sarel if they end his contract?

 

[kiap]

Link up with Ebersohn at the Force and get their partnership going again.

 

[Moono75]

The spare bedroom is setup ready to go. Been in touch with the Force....were putting him up for a couple of months till he settles in. Only a couple of minutes from the beach. He'll love the place. No point going all the way back to SA, may as well have a season or two in Perth.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

In years to come when they look back at the Tahs marquee player programme, it is fair to say that they will come to the conclusion that the fledgling years of it were not an unbridled success.

 

[Richo]

What?!? We had the One Cap All Black!

 

[ChargerWA]

Sport24

Look like he just may find himself another home in SA.

Nice unbiased journalism there. Poor old Sarel is the victim of a woeful Waratahs forward pack and is only getting dropped because he is getting caught in the crossfire of a nasty end of season review.

Yeah sure, has nothing to do with a pass that resembles the trajectory and velocity of a nice big eye at the annual Tunarama Fish Throwing contest.

 

[BPC]

We managed to ruin him in just one season so no need to keep him around for another season. Let's look for another marquee player we can expose to the Tah's system.

It's called catch and release.

 

[Braveheart81]

I think the Waratahs may let Pretorius go if they can find someone to pay his wages.

I think they'll look for a marquee player that will put bums on seats.

The likelihood is that they'll pay too much for a player who is too old and injury riddled and will only end up adding one bum on a seat because they'll be sitting in the grandstand all season.

I reckon they'll make Jonah Lomu an offer.

 

[Badger]

Apparently, Sonny Bill Williams' deal at the Roosters isn't finalised yet. He would certainly generate some much needed interest in the Tahs and put a few more bums on seats.

He would be a true marquee signing, but the Tahs would struggle to find the $$$ to pull that off. Maybe the major sponsor could provide a loan?

 

[rugbysmartarse]

how many games did Sarel play on the wing for the cheetahs last year? It's odd that with our problems with fit outside backs the tahs never played him there

 

[rugbysmartarse]

alternate marquee options:

Dan Parkes
Gareth Thomas (go with me here - new movie coming out about him will generate interest, Sydney is a gay capital etc etc)
revive an old Wicks connection with Gaffney: Morgan Turinui
strenghten an already good part of the team: Castogiovanni
another 1 test AB: Beau Barrett

 

[Badger]

how many games did Sarel play on the wing for the cheetahs last year? It's odd that with our problems with fit outside backs the tahs never played him there

That would require some thinking "outside of the box" which hasn't really been one of the Tahs' strong points this year.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

That would require some thinking "outside of the box" which hasn't really been one of the Tahs' strong points this year.

curiously they havent done much thinking inside the box either

 

[Hugh Jarse]

What about some up and coming USA talent, a converted or convertable Gridiron Linebacker?

A Kenyan Sevens player on the wing.

Look to the tier 2 rugby countries. These blokes have a point to prove and would be more desperate to prove their worth and future marketability than a fellow on the wrong side of the rugby age curve like Rocky.

Eastern Europe is full of really hard arse ugly buggers that would be perfect #1 to #5 candidates with a little bit of extra skills training.

 

[Boomer]

What about some up and coming USA talent, a converted or convertable Gridiron Linebacker?

A Kenyan Sevens player on the wing.

Look to the tier 2 rugby countries. These blokes have a point to prove and would be more desperate to prove their worth and future marketability than a fellow on the wrong side of the rugby age curve like Rocky.

Eastern Europe is full of really hard arse ugly buggers that would be perfect #1 to #5 candidates with a little bit of extra skills training.

Not bad. Got a touch of the AFL strategy about it, hasn't it? Think Natanui - not a natural AFL player but a raw-ish recruit and great athlete with something different to offer.

 

[Ulrich]

Wonder if Jake White will perhaps give Sarel a chance?

 

[PaarlBok]

Wonder if Jake White will perhaps give Sarel a chance?

He'll find him a SA home pretty quick.

 

[Badger]

What about some up and coming USA talent, a converted or convertable Gridiron Linebacker?

A Kenyan Sevens player on the wing.

Look to the tier 2 rugby countries. These blokes have a point to prove and would be more desperate to prove their worth and future marketability than a fellow on the wrong side of the rugby age curve like Rocky.

Eastern Europe is full of really hard arse ugly buggers that would be perfect #1 to #5 candidates with a little bit of extra skills training.

That's where the Rebels and the Force could try to find some diamonds in the rough.

As for the Tahs, they seem to struggle to identify talent in their own backyard so looking overseas is probably a fool's errand.