72 replies to this topic

[Blue]

I can't find the holy crap smiley. Desparate times call for desparate measures.

According to Superrrugby.co.za:

http://www.superspor...ns%20&id=328576

Quote

Former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer has joined the Lions in one of the biggest contracts ever in South African rugby.

It is believed that Spencer will earn bigger money than Juan Martin Hernandez at the Sharks. The Argentine flyhalf will still be available for the Sharks in this year’s Super 14 and is set to join French club side Racing Metro before the Currie Cup.
Spencer, 34, is viewed as a replacement for the Lions’ Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius. Pretorius will play for the Force in Perth this year.

The New Zealand gamebreaker is expected in South Africa within the next ten days. However, a problem with his work permit may delay his arrival.

Bloemfontein-based sports agent Stephan Weyers confirmed to Sport24 that Spencer had signed for the Lions.

He did not want to confirm rumours that it is the most expensive contract to date in South Africa.

Weyers said that Spencer had been released from his contract with English club side Gloucester and he may feature in the warm-up game against the Bulls at Polokwane on 30 January.

“Carlos will also be a skills coach for the Lions in this year’s Currie Cup,” said Weyers.

Spencer’s experience can prove invaluable for Dick Muir’s Lions, who will be without experienced players such as Jaque Fourie (centre, to the Stormers) and Louis Ludik (fullback, to the Sharks).

Spencer represented the All Blacks in 44 tests between 1997 and 2004. He scored 291 points in 35 tests.

He made his All Black debut in 1994 as a 20-year-old in a match against Languedoc-Roussillon before playing his first test against Argentina in 1997.

Spencer has been one of the Blues’ stars before joining the Northampton Saints in 2005.

He scored 608 points for the Blues in Super rugby between 1996 and 2005.

Meanwhile, the Lions will have to wait until at least 21 January before knowing whether they will be able to consider JP Joubert as Spencer’s halfback partner.

Joubert’s dispute with the Free State Cheetahs has gone to arbitration.

[Hooroo]

Hey! That is pretty cool. How old is he now? 35? 34?

Edit: Dhur! Just re-read it! 34. Nice one

Edited by Hooroo, 07 January 2010 - 01:19 PM.

[mc mong]

wow if this is true it could be the best news of the S14 for me!!

[Nepia]

WTF!!! I wouldn't have minded seeing him at the Canes .....

[BartMan]

waaaaay cool. WElcome back Carlos, even though you will be with the Steriod Brutes. Will makew Lions games worth wtaching!

[Virgil]

Great news, dammit though just checked the draw.
Blues play the Lions away, would have been great to see Carlos back home (even if it was as the enemy)

[Kirwan]

Nooooooooo not for the steroid brutes! Will be good to see him running around again though

[Razbra]

How on earth will they handle the creativity? They'll have to tie his show laces together...

Massive to see him go round one more time! Genuine reason to be excited about S14.

[Blue]

Problem for the Lions is that their two most destructive runners - Jacques Fourie and Louis Ludik have both left. Carlos with the cutout pass to put Fourie into space had potential.

So it will go something like this:

Carlos with a brialliant pass to Earl Rose. Earl Rose pulls off another monumental fuckup (replay for 14 games).

I'll dig around to see what the Lions backline options are.

[Blue]

No formal squad announcement anywhere to be found but I see they have signed JP Joubert who is a good 13 with decent pace and a good step. Carlos will have Jano Vermaak at 9 who I think is an excellent player and his service is snappy. They are likely to have Doppies la Grange ar 12 and he is a carthorse at best.

Other signings include Tonderai Chavanga (I think) so expect some cross kicks from Carlos. Chavanga is very quick.

[BartMan]

a carthorse at 12 is good - Carlos trties magic, does not work - dump onto carthorse - smash it up, repeat until the damn rabbit comes out of the hat...

[reddog]

The backs around Carlos really mean very little. It is the ball he is getting from up-front that impacts on his performance more. He was a great on the front foot. I saw him play the Wallabies in November and he still looked sharpish when Gloucester had momentum. When the Wallabies started getting ascendancy that same old Carlos instinct of trying to do too much to cover others frailties emerged. He also looked like a 34-year old balding, grey-haired old guy. He was moving well but he looks much older.

True Bart. The 12 beside him is important. Sammy T was a special help for Carlos.

[mc mong]

seriously, this really has boosted my interest in the comp this year!

anyone seen how he's been playing lately? since he left the saints i havent heard much about him. i expect his speed has gone but the cheekiness remains!

the 5 try finger-pointing performance at eden park.
the under the legs pass to rock in 03 quarter final.
that 80th minute slowly walk all the way to the corner of the in-goal before touching down at jade.

oh the memories... how i could go on and on!

[KiwiMurph]

Awesome News!!!

Looks like the Lions are playing in Sydney this year too - definitely have to head down to catch that one!

He might be passed it but he should still be fun to watch!

[G-Man]

Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah

Dam what good news to wake up to.

Blue, JP Joubert is a scrummie and with Jano still injured the Lions had to get another #9. RE JF, good riddance. The man has lost my support and I hope the Lions smack the Stomers around come crunch time and end up higher on the log then them.

Also Louis Ludik (LL), him and Willem Alberts (WA) have not followed the correct procedures to be able to play for the Guppies, well their agents didn't and they are still officially with the Lions. The Lions are willing to let them go, but they need to follow the procedures. That is why the contract's are there for and if this does go to court LL and WA + agents will fall hard.

Back to topic.

The probable backline of the Lions could be, if JP does come to the Lions.

9. JP Joubert
10. Carlos Spencer.
11. Dusty Noble
12. Doppies la Grange
13. Walter Venter
14. Tondy.
15. Earl Rose (Eish)

[rustycruiser]

Finally some good news in Jozi. For the last year plus the news from Lions country has all been prettyy bad. Coaching debacles, player contract debacles, racism accusations, you name it.

[G-Man]

rustycruiser said:

Finally some good news in Jozi. For the last year plus the news from Lions country has all been prettyy bad. Coaching debacles, player contract debacles, racism accusations, you name it.

Yes there has been some bad news coming out of the Lions camp, but since Kevin de Klerk took over the presidency the winds of change has been blowing through. Time to clean the cabinet trophy of the cobwebs.

[Kirwan]

Dusty Noble is a great handle.

[G-Man]

Kirwan said:

Dusty Noble is a great handle.

Handle, meaning??

PS. Why must messages be longer than 10 characters?

[Snowy]

A "handle" is slang for a name G-man.

i thought you would be all over this thread (smilie if I knew where they were). You still need some forwards though and your fav Mr Rose is still there...

[Kirwan]

G-Man said:

Handle, meaning??

PS. Why must messages be longer than 10 characters?

It's the default setting on the new software. Was going to change it but I think it's good to discourage one word posts.

[taniwharugby]

interesting this is the 3rd ex-AB to make a stop off in SA on his way home...maybe if the new law of playing in any of the 3 Nations and still eligible to be selected for the AB's comes in, a few more may head home that way?

Great to see if the old magic is there on the hard fast pitches in the republic!!

[BartMan]

and make it more interesting to watch the plonker teams - Lions, Reds and company. I can't wait actually. C'mon the Super season.

[Red Beard]

I wonder how many players who debuted for the All Blacks in the 1990s are still playing the game at professional level? I can think of Spencer, Merhtens, Hoeft, Royce Willis, Marshall, Kelleher and Thorne off the top of my head. The longevity of these guys is amazing although to be fair I think anyone who has played pro ball in Japan has had a much easier ride.

[taniwharugby]

BartMan said:

and make it more interesting to watch the plonker teams - Lions, Reds and company. I can't wait actually. C'mon the Super season.

Am starting to look forwar to the season too, think the complete lack of any sport this past few weeks in NZ has really increased my apetite for it (also getting MySky on Tuesday - finally)

[mariner4life]

Hope he goes well, loved Carlos in his prime. And as others said, will actually watch Lions games now.

I think Peter Thorburn is losing his mind, as according to the report i heard today he expects Carlos to go well, especially considering todays game being dominated by kicking. I don't remember Carlos' kicking game being his biggest asset.

RB saw Willis in Tauranga the other day, still a massive unit.

[Nepia]

mariner4life said:

Hope he goes well, loved Carlos in his prime. And as others said, will actually watch Lions games now.

I think Peter Thorburn is losing his mind, as according to the report i heard today he expects Carlos to go well, especially considering todays game being dominated by kicking. I don't remember Carlos' kicking game being his biggest asset.

RB saw Willis in Tauranga the other day, still a massive unit.

Carlos had a good kicking game, it's extremely underrated - he had a longer kick than Merhts. So I'm with Thorburn.
Royce isn't playing footy anymore RB, he's doing a bit of teaching.

[G-Man]

Snowy said:

A "handle" is slang for a name G-man.

i thought you would be all over this thread (smilie if I knew where they were). You still need some forwards though and your fav Mr Rose is still there...

Howzit man, yea you know it I would be all over this thread

You did see my eish after I posted the possible backline for Rose.

Anyhoos, you doing the winter routes this year to SA?

PS. So the slang of Handle is ???

Edited by G-Man, 07 January 2010 - 08:24 PM.

[Razbra]

I've gotten progressively more excited since this story broke. It's like when Michael Jordan came out of his second retirement to play for the Wizards. Sure it would be great if it was the Blues(Bulls for Jordan) and he was a few years younger but he'll still have heaps to offer entertainment wise.

[Red Beard]

Nepia said:

Carlos had a good kicking game, it's extremely underrated - he had a longer kick than Merhts. So I'm with Thorburn.
Royce isn't playing footy anymore RB, he's doing a bit of teaching.

In Tauranga?