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Sarries latest Tweet
Saracens: Lions request early release for Wikus

Thoughts?

As I've posted on facebook, I'd tell them to get lost.
We've suffered badly from losing a lot of experience to injury and call ups recently, without losing someone else.

However, if they would loan us a couple of quality, experienced props for a few months - only then would I consider it.

If his heart is not in it and Burger's is, I know who I would prefer to start.

On the other hand, a contract is a contract and he should stay at the club, even if just as a back up. He has a reputation as a man of integrity. He should stick to it and stay with us for the rest of the season.

On another note, if he thinks he will start to win again once he moves to the Lions, he is sadly mistaken. The lions lost 76-12 last week!

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However, if they would loan us a couple of quality, experienced props for a few months - only then would I consider it.

That is a fantastic shout.

Given we are expected Borthwick to return on the leadershio front, and given Burgers current form, can we swap him for two tightheads?

To veer OT already, the 24th man on Sunday was a new acadamy signing, who primarily plays hooker, but can play prop.

Done deal according to the Lions website starts with them Monday wish him well he was immense for season and half but has been off pace recently. Great bloke to!

[www.lionsrugby.co.za]

Don't know if they can spare any props they changed the whole of their front row for the last match and got stuffed again !

It'll be a shame to see him go..

If only his family had settled and the world cup been further away

The guy needs a rest surely? He can't go straight into another season down there! I hope they are not expecting him to be on top form given the amount of effort and game time he has put in for us this season....

Also I think the timing stinks with the next month really deciding how successful our season will be.

Good luck to the bloke though a top player.

deleted



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/03/2010 10:21 by Le Diplomat.

His mind is elsewhere which is why he has dropped from being top quality to just very good. Guess the club have weighed up all the options - if it wasn't right then they would have said no to the Lions. And they will probably save some cash.

Wikus has been immense in his time here. An excellent players who brought leadership when it was needed. Saracens are worse off for his departure.

Shame we don't get the chance to applaud WVH for his efforts at the next VR game, so this thread will have to do.

Good luck.

I did not feel that i would get here again but this has!!

Life is hard. It rains sometimes. A player who has been bought should show the qualities of an honourable mercenry. If he wants to go, send him post haste.

As for the shallowness of some props from far afield!!!!

I would rather have acadamy lads that want to play and know who sarries are rather than fickle short term tactics proposed above.

The questions from the initial fans thing in March 09 about the players is now being answered.

I know that others feel this way but like me most are not wordsmiths or L & Cs.

Life is hard at times, money needs to be earned, dont like it - then @#$%& off.

I will give £20 for his flight back. Economy.

So what happened to his 'shoulder injury' then

I really liked him but when the family can't settle what is a man to do.

Official

Sad news, immense player! Good news is Burger looks even more physical....just ask Varndell!

Very sorry to see us lose him. But as has been said, his heart just didnt seem to be in it when his family went home

Who can blame him

Best of luck back home Wikus


A couple of decent props for swapsies would be great!!

Confirmed on the Fish

I may get shot down for saying this - but I think the whole thing stinks.

He turns up late for the 08/09 season (yes I appriciate why) and couldn't even stay out his contract.
Just One Year and Five months in a Sarries shirt, it isn't exactly impressive is it?

Especially as;
- We are told of his inspriational leadership, but he is happy to dessert us at the crunch end of the sesson.
- He has let his head influence a performance on the pitch.
- As Mrs C said - shoulder injury? My

A good player, but confirms the worst fears of last spring, about bringing in a number of players that may not settle.

I appriciate what he has done for the club and will thank him for that, but because of the manner of his departure I can't say I will mourn him.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/03/2010 10:51 by Kat.

Personally I think not having his family with him is a weak excuse.

He signed a contract and should have had enough integrity to do his best and see it out. You dont see members of the armed forces complaining about being seperated from their families for large periods of time in oreder to fulfill their contractual obligations for far less money in far worse conditions (VR included).

Not shot down Kat you are right! Only 15 months was immense for part of that but not just nature of departure but recent form would suggest it's right thing to do - and I never thought I'd say that as thought he was great from day 1!

@AngryDan - I didn't see Wikus complain about being separated from him family.

Even if you don't see servicemen complain, I'm sure that they still miss their families and would prefer to be with them.

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Even if you don't see servicemen complain, I'm sure that they still miss their families and would prefer to be with them.

But fortunately for us, our service men have the integrity to serve out the contracts they sign. That is all anyone is asking from Wikus.

My understanding from what I have read is that was his motivation for wishing to leave. If that is not the case than fair enough.

I am fully aware of how we in the service miss our families and would prefer to be with them. That said we signed a contract and can then not pick and chose how we conform to it.

I am pretty sure if the the terms of his contract were altered in the clubs favour by say cutting his wages in proportion to the length of the contract is not completing he would be the first to complain.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/03/2010 11:09 by Angry Dan.

[news.bbc.co.uk]

I know that's a vast minority but some servicemen do break their contracts.

I am disappointed that Wikus didn't feel like he could see out his contract until the end but I'd rather he left if he's in any way unhappy/his heart isn't in it.

It happens, get over it.

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Kat

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Even if you don't see servicemen complain, I'm sure that they still miss their families and would prefer to be with them.

But fortunately for us, our service men have the integrity to serve out the contracts they sign. That is all anyone is asking from Wikus.

Well, that and the threat of a prison term following the court marahall for desertion.

Getting a little .

The main point is that Wikus signed a contract, and others may disagree with me, but I believe he should have the intgrety and good grace to see out his contract.

As is, he is desserting us when we need him most. Unlike when he was actually with us last year we are still fighting for top 4.

Surely the Lions have come in and asked for him to be released early. He was going in May anyway, but Venter et al have obviously decided his form has dropped slightly and other players are better choices.

Outstanding contributions in his time here though. Thank you Wikus.

Kat you are right but there is a flip side in that did the club wanted him to have seen out his contract because I suspect if they did then he would have.

Did they decide that either his performance wouldn't have been acceptable and that in Burger they have a more than adequate, on his current form.

Or, and I am really beginning to wish I didn't study Machiavalli at Uni, was there a factor of his current form against future benefits such as first refusal on future Lions mercenaries or even some sort of arrangement with SARFU or alternatively the legendary loan agreement send in the props!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/03/2010 11:32 by Gryff.

Completely agree Kat. I have the greatest admiration for Wikus as a player (there can be no higher compliment than saying we barely missed Hilda when Wikus joined) but this leaves a sour taste when taken in the context of the position we are in and the stage of the season.

On the subject of props. I understand that some would like home grown players to come through, but we're lacking quality and depth with what we have at the moment, and we need some nouse and experience right now.

How about this for an idea - we generously release the injured Tom Mercey to Saints now, in exchange for Tiny a few months early ;-)

Sad to see him go - he did us proud on many occasions - and he was a nice bloke too (had the pleasure of meeting him on one occasion).

However, whatever we sometimes think, there is life outside rugby (even if it is how you make your living) and I guess none of us know his full circumstances.

I send him my thanks for entertaining us and my good wishes for his future.

and

I wonder how this will be spun in a positive fashion...

Step up Don. BV give him a chance.

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nicsue
Sad to see him go - he did us proud on many occasions - and he was a nice bloke too (had the pleasure of meeting him on one occasion).
However, whatever we sometimes think, there is life outside rugby (even if it is how you make your living) and I guess none of us know his full circumstances.

I send him my thanks for entertaining us and my good wishes for his future.

and

As many of us know, being separated from your family can be a very distressing state of affairs.

I am sorry to hear this, but his play has dipped since Xmas.

What I can't abide, is the good Dr is releasing our home grown talent for journeymen. I am not saying Wikus hasn't done a great job for us, he has. In that time though a lot of good talent will have been released, particularly Mercy to Sinners at end of seaon and this is the real backbone of the club, the Richard Hill/Kieron Bracken phylosphy (one club men).

You will recall it was acadamy youngsters (Powell) who came in under Diamond when we were nearly relegated and played through the bleak period but see the reward now.

IMHO a bit more emphasis on keeping acadamy players, you invest a lot, don't give them great runs/any runs in the side and they will leave.

Dave L

If his heart is not in it then no point holding his feet to thae fire.

I assume we got a refund on the portion of contract not honoured?

Burger looks imense and capable of replacing him. Who is gonna be captain when Borthers is not available?

Ernie would be my guess.

This is absurd. We are at a point now where we need every bit of experience we`ve got on the field. I think there is more to this than we know - how does a giant like Wikus go from player of the season last year to this? Surely he could keep the lid on his feelings for a few weeks, and see the season out? Or is the motivation for this departure coming from the club? If so, the man management is unimpressive.

Hopefully as mentioned above this will give us the scope to sign a short term deal for a prop. Wickus will command a reasoanbly high wage and as a result we might be able to get someone in for 2/3 months.

There's a couple of Fijian internationals who play in their local league who i'm sure would be delighted at the chnace to come and play for us for a bit

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Everybody in rugby can see there is something special happening at Saracens...

I'm gutted to see him go. Tackling ability was top notch and I always saw him as giving his. But, if he wants to go then I think he has done enough for the club for us to force him to stay.

Glen Jackson would be my vice captain.

Good choice MrRobby, but Glen can't be vice captain from the bench or in hospitality! He has to be in the starting 15.

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Mr Robby
Glen Jackson would be my vice

I too am gutted to see the man go. Regardless of the circumstances, I wish the man well in his next club.

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Dave L
What I can't abide, is the good Dr is releasing our home grown talent for journeymen. I am not saying Wikus hasn't done a great job for us, he has. In that time though a lot of good talent will have been released, particularly Mercy to Sinners at end of seaon and this is the real backbone of the club, the Richard Hill/Kieron Bracken phylosphy (one club men).
You will recall it was acadamy youngsters (Powell) who came in under Diamond when we were nearly relegated and played through the bleak period but see the reward now.

IMHO a bit more emphasis on keeping acadamy players, you invest a lot, don't give them great runs/any runs in the side and they will leave.

Post of the day: Nuff said

If we have money for 3 months....We need props....

BRING BACK CENSUS!

Guys, This should help us understand why he went so early - this is a comment from a poster on the sarrie web.

" guys, I know WVH well, and he had committed to the end of the season, despite the family reasons for moving back to SA. he is gutted as well, but the fact of the matter is that Sarries were the ones to let him go. there is a feeling that the club does not want people who are not "totally committed". note BV over enthusiatic praise of J Burger recently. he has played well, but it helps him say that WVH loss is not major. the club, despite what Mr Griffiths said at the fans forum, is about committment, 100% from players, (not their families) if they cant give that they do not belong. I will miss WVH as in my mind he typified what a 6 should be. hard as nails, committed, and kept going. good luck mate"

I have spoken to Wilkus a lot since he came to us and he was committed to this club, passionate about his rugby and his family. I loved the way he used to go in for tackles with no regard for his own safety, but, even I have to admit since Xmas he has not really been fully with us on the pitch.

I also have to admit BV is the one in charge and his decisions are made for the good of the team.

Waiting for the enemy to retaliate.

Very much agree regarding bringing players through and encouraging home grown talent. I can see Barrell, Powell and Haughton leaving sooner rather than later due to lack of opportunity. On the next tier if I was Farrell, George, etc i'd be seriously considering my position at Saracens.

For all the talk of moulding a side round a core of 'Saracens' players we just seem to buy in. There is very little to identify with at Sarries anymore.

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Mrs C
Guys, This should help us understand why he went so early - this is a comment from a poster on the sarrie web.
" guys, I know WVH well, and he had committed to the end of the season, despite the family reasons for moving back to SA. he is gutted as well, but the fact of the matter is that Sarries were the ones to let him go. there is a feeling that the club does not want people who are not "totally committed". note BV over enthusiatic praise of J Burger recently. he has played well, but it helps him say that WVH loss is not major. the club, despite what Mr Griffiths said at the fans forum, is about committment, 100% from players, (not their families) if they cant give that they do not belong. I will miss WVH as in my mind he typified what a 6 should be. hard as nails, committed, and kept going. good luck mate"

I have spoken to Wilkus a lot since he came to us and he was committed to this club, passionate about his rugby and his family. I loved the way he used to go in for tackles with no regard for his own safety, but, even I have to admit since Xmas he has not really been fully with us on the pitch.

I also have to admit BV is the one in charge and his decisions are made for the good of the team.

Waiting for the enemy to retaliate.

The quote from the fish is a little over-interpretative of what was said at the Fans Forum. I don't recall EG or BV saying the club could accept people being less than 100% committed. He and EG did say that they would look after families, but that is two-way- if families do not want to be looked after because they can't settle that is another matter.

Very sorry to see him go, I thought he was a great addition to the team and would only have got better!

But with his family unable to settle and having already returned to SA it was only right to allow him to leave early.

I wish him well for the future.