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REPORT: Bath may have found their new 10 in Tian Schoeman
By Ian Cameron
Bath may finally have secured their long sought after new flyhalf signing, at least according to reports coming out of South Africa today. Netwerk24 are reporting that Cheetahs flyhalf Tian Schoeman is set to leave the side to pursue a career in the English West Country with Bath.
Schoeman (5'11, 90kg) joined the Toyota Cheetahs in 2018 ahead of the Currie Cup and 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 seasons. He had committed until October 2020 but now looks Premiership bound.
According to the report, Schoeman will remain at the Cheetahs until December before making the trip north.
The 29-year-old had been playing for Bordeaux in the French Top 14 during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Between 2013 and 2016 he represented the Blue Bulls in 29 matches and the Bulls in 35 SuperRugby matches.
Tian was also included in the Springbok XV team for 2016 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
Bath had been linked with Handre Pollard, but those rumours have been put to bed by the player himself. They have also been linked with Aaron Cruden and Gareth Anscombe in the past.
With the future of the Cheetahs in some doubt, many of their squad are seeking opportunities abroad. The Cheetahs have been turfed out of the PRO14, along with the already redundant Southern Kings, in favour of an expanded league that includes the Stormers, Lions, Bulls and Sharks.
The Cheetahs also appear to be losing hooker Reinach Venter, who is likely heading to Top14 giants Clermont Auvergne.
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Latest Comments
Not sure I understand. Its not obvious how you prioritize URC, Champions/Challenge Cup, Internationals, and rest. And if you add player development plans (eg experience of positions, playing conditions, game plans, opponents playing styles etc) it becomes harder. Additionally, consistency of selection helps with making adjustments to systems and tactics, so that further constrains your options. Travel challenges don’t make it easier.
Jake White has effectively decided that he would rather have a chance of success in one competition, at the expense of the other competition, than a near certainty of heroic failure in both. And he has implied that over time he plans to build enough depth to give the Bulls a chance in both the URC and Champions Cup simultaneously.
Not sure what is being proposed here that is supposedly a better plan.
Go to commentsIndeed he has STARTED more test games at 8. I actually said he’s PLAYED more games at 7, though. Do you remember where he tended to play when he came on wearing #20?
He likely will select on the basis of win ratios. IRE and ENG won 4, SCOT won 2 and WAL won none. 6 Irish, 6 English, 3 Scottish seems about right for the starting 15.
Yeah, I think he’ll definitely bring Beirne to have as a utility lock/flanker. Doris’ discipline and leadership has maybe rocked a little this year but he’s still the best 8 in the game.
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