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Scotland's next Saffa import? 6'9, 123kg David Meihuizen 'formally approached'

By Online Editors
David Meihuizen (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE/AFP via Getty Images)

Scotland could be about to acquire a new South African import in the shape of giant DHL Stormers’ lock David Meihuizen. WP coach John Dobson revealed that Scottish scouts are offering the 23-year-old, Cape Town-born and Paarl schooled, second row forward a highly lucrative deal to come North.

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Meihuizen will feature in a Province team that shows seven changes when they host the Pumas in a Currie Cup Round Three encounter at Newlands on Friday. Meihuizen is in for seasoned lock John Schickerling, who is being rested.

However, the decision also relates to the desperate desire to keep the Euro scouts at bay.

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“He is a really exciting player that is in high demand overseas,” Dobson told a virtual media briefing, adding that Meihuizen qualifies for England and Scotland. If we don’t play him or give him opportunities, it is going to be harder to retain him.”

Dobson said he has to be realistic about the management of his resources.

“We see him as a player with a big future. He is in high demand in Scotland [and] there have been some formal approaches via his agent.

“In Scotland, if you get a 2.08m, 123kg player, that is a big unit.”

“I can’t wait till next year, and David Meihuizen comes to me, saying: ‘I got 12 minutes or 30 minutes in the whole competition, it is not enough for my development. I am going.’

“I have to be cognizant of that and address it.”

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There has been plenty of other rumours around WP players, in the wake of the financial dramas playing themselves out in Cape Town.

“There are a lot of rumours and a lot of smoke at the moment,” Dobson said, when asked by Rugby 365 about his players, adding: “[If there’s smoke] you must suspect there must be fire.

“No player has told me officially they are going.

“I know that Harlequins are after a couple of our forwards. There has been an article that [WP captain] Siya [Kolisi] may be in demand elsewhere in South Africa,” the coach said about the suggestion that Kolisi could be courted by the Sharks.

“There is a perpetual rumour about Damian Willemse going to the Bulls.

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“There is a lot of smoke, but the window [for negotiation] with those players is not open for a couple of months yet.”

However, the Meihuizen situation is very is different. “He is not an established guy coming off a contract,” Dobson said, adding: “He is a young guy that has to make a call on his future and we really, really want to keep him in this union.”

– Rugby 365

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Trevor 36 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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