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Darry Worthington takes a look at the five best South African Conference signings made during the Super Rugby off-season.
The Super Rugby season is under a month away and there be some new faces at a number of South African franchises this term. A few of the off-season signings really stand out with the Sharks signing two very promising players, the Bulls bringing back a Loftus darling and the Lions recruiting an unwanted Springbok.
Madosh Tambwe
From: Lions
To: Sharks
This is a very exciting signing for the Natalians. While they are not short of quality wingers with World Cup winners Sb’u Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi on their books, Tambwe may well find himself usurping one of the big guns before the season is out.
The Congo-born Tambwe was a prolific try-scorer for the Lions bagging 32 tries in just 41 games. There’s no doubting he’ll add a lot more to that tally when he turns out for the Sharks.
Morne Steyn
From: Stade Francais
To: Bulls
This signing could either turn out to be a masterstroke or an absolute balls-up. Steyn was the key cog in the Bulls machine during their domination of Super Rugby at back in the late 2000s. A lot has changed since then, however, and Super Rugby is a much faster beast and Steyn is a much slower fly-half.
The success of this move will ultimately depend on what role the Bulls expect Steyn to play. If he’s come into mentor the likes of Mannie Libbok as well as close out a game, then his time at Loftus could well be a massive success. However, if the Bulls expect him to start every game and deliver week in and week out, then Steyn is on a hiding to nothing.
Roelof Smit
From: Bulls
To: Lions
The one-cap Springbok will be looking to revive what seemed like a very promising career when he turns out for the Lions this term.
The flanker was on his way to becoming a Springbok mainstay in 2018 until an unfortunate series of injuries saw him drop out of favour at the Bulls. He struggled for game time in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup the last term with the Bulls often leaving him out of the matchday squad.
A trip across the Jukskei may be just the tonic to revive Smit’s career. He’s a top-class player and the Lios are short on experienced flankers.
Ox Nche
From: Cheetahs
To: Sharks
This has to be the best of all the South African signings. Nche has been nothing short of electric since making his debut for the Cheetahs back in 2016.
He’s always been an amazing ball carrier but his time playing for the Cheetahs in the PRO14 has helped him become a very technical loosehead prop. The Ox is a ready-made replacement for the departed Beast Mtawirira.
Andre Warner
From: Bulls
To: Lions
This was really a smart acquisition on the Lions’ part. Warner is a quality nine who struggled for game time at the Bulls due to the rotational policy they had between him and the equally talented Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl.
Warner is a nuggety sort of nine who should fit in well with the Lions. He also has a decent boot on him.
Written by Darry Worthington for Hollywoodbets
