It's a good signing because it counters both the departure of an experienced scrummie (Burgess) and the departure of X-factor (Beale). He also has top end speed as we saw when he played on the wing.
But half the game is played when the other mob have the ball and Sarel has some problems there; so the coach will have to come up with some innovation. As I mentioned earlier: playing a scrumhalf at fullback on defence (except at scrum time) is unusual but not unprecedented if you have the right personnel.
He is a bit greedy sometimes, but so are elite soccer finishers and, warts and all, I rated Sarel and mentioned him once as being 3rd Bok scrummie after FdP and Hougaard - though I had forgotten Pienaar.
I was spruiking McKibbin before the season started but I didn't think he did enough with the limited chances he got, and obviously Hickey didn't think so either when he picked Holmes last Friday, even though he had been released from his contract. However, with Holmes gone, next season will be McKibbin's make or break year.
Pretorius' experience is important as he will help to bridge a gap until McKibbin gets up to speed, if he can, and the next tranche of Tahs scrummies emerge, whoever they are.
Not to the point but we may appreciate Burgess more next year when we miss his robust defence. And not to that point either but Burgess will fit in at Toulouse and replace Kelleher almost seamlessly - slow to deliver passes that don't have lipstick and make up on them, but playing with the heart of a warrior.
