Rugby

Pretorius signs with Force

2009-06-19 07:03
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Andre Pretorius (Gallo)

Perth - Former Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius has signed to play for Australia's Force in the next Super 14 season, team officials said on Friday.

Pretorius, 30, will join his new Perth-based team from the Lions after the completion of the South African Currie Cup season in November, the Force said.

He fills a void at flyhalf for Force following the recent departure of the Wallabies No 10 Matt Giteau back to the Brumbies.

Rugby Western Australia General Manager Mitch Hardy said Pretorius brought experience and leadership to the Force.

"Andre is a game breaker with significant international experience and he can control a game, which is exactly what we were looking for in a number 10," Hardy said.

Pretorius said it was one of his biggest decisions to leave South Africa and play in Australia with the Force.

"My loyalty has always been with the Lions and the 11 years I spent there have been tremendous and they assisted me in becoming a Springbok. That's what made this decision difficult," Pretorius said in a statement.

"I am excited about the opportunity to play for the Force. I will be surrounded by great players which makes it easy to focus only on what you have to do."

The goalkicking flyhalf was a member of the world champion Springboks squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and has amassed 645 points in eight seasons of Super Rugby for the Johannesburg-based Lions.

His tally ranks him seventh on the all-time list in Super Rugby with more than 200 penalty goals and conversions at provincial level.

Pretorius has also scored 171 points in 31 Tests for South Africa since his debut against Wales in Bloemfontein in 2002.

 

Your Comments

Anonymous User6/19/2009 9:40 PM
Good bay
Anonymous User6/19/2009 5:16 PM
Hey all Earl Rose fans out there! It's late, you're tired and you're making fools of yourselves. He just simply is not in the same league as the best players in the country. You're chat is race-based and smelly. Anon at 11:33 - really terrible chat mate. Methinks you be an old hater who will never be the bigger man!
maxie6/19/2009 3:29 PM
@Skeletor, he is a BAD player.
Gtr6/19/2009 2:42 PM
All Black, that's about the only way WP will win anything.
Marcus6/19/2009 1:58 PM
@ Dick King: The Force will probably put out this starting XV next season: Sheperd, Cummins, Cross, O'Connor, Sare, Pretorius, Sheehan, Brown. Pocock, Hodgeson, Sharpe, Hockings, Dunning, Fitzpatrick, Cowan. That's at least 10 internationally capped players, plus Hodgeson if he playes a Test, and you think they're going to finish at the bottom of the log?!
Jason6/19/2009 1:48 PM
Tito please don't make me laugh out loud like that in the office... I've read some crap in my life regarding rugby but your comment has to be in the top five so far. You must be super intelligent to play the race card over and over and over again. It just never ends with you. You must have some serious hang up about being black. Funny thing is I know Earl Rose personally and he really doesn't consider himself black, infact most coloureds dont.
All Black6/19/2009 1:47 PM
Make all the Bulls Stormers
Gtr6/19/2009 1:42 PM
It will be a lot of fun when the Western Force meet the G Lions in next years S14, so AP shows ER how to play Rugby. It will do Andre good to get away from that wannabe ER.
Dick King6/19/2009 1:20 PM
I think we need a hostile takeover of the GLRU. Better Management, more money and better players. I think we also need to move the stadium to a better loacation. The loss of Andre Pretorius is a favour to the Lions. I look forward to seeing the Force at the bottom of the log next season.
Johnny6/19/2009 12:58 PM
Anonymous, 11:33 , ....I presume you also want Earl Rose to Captain the Boks.... hie, hie hie hie...!!!
Johnny6/19/2009 12:46 PM
Please send Earl Rose back to Province/Stormers....or to England...
Skeletor6/19/2009 12:32 PM
@Anon 11:33 and @Tito 11:43. You guys must be kidding. Earl Rose as a player has got nothing to do with colour. At 10 do you really think he is better that Morne, Pienaar and at 15 better that Frans, Zane, Ludick or Stefan. Please come on. There is better atacking and goal kicking players in South Africa than Earl. Maybe he should go and play for the Southern Kings, Cheecky Watson will take him. At least all the lion supporters would be happy.He is not a BAD player but not as good as the others. GO BOKKE!!!!!!!!!
Petoors fan6/19/2009 12:22 PM
Petoors would never make fun of someone especially not a Lions supporter regardless of how old his jersey is. In all his interviews he has expressed gratitude toward this union and he himself has been loyal over the years. He could have left on numerous occasions but chose to stay. The Lions have to build again and the Force don't so the move was a no brainer. CAPTAIN you obviously made that story up because anybody that has met Andre will tell you he is nothing like that. Andre good luck with your move I also believe they will get you back to your best.
Gareth6/19/2009 12:02 PM
@Anon 11:33 Are you Earl Rose's mother? Only a mother can say that about a pathetic, overrated player like Earl. Everything you said was bulls#@$ but the part about him having a "better rugby mind than Naas Botha", wow! Thanks, that was the funniest thing I've read in weeks!
Tito6/19/2009 11:43 AM
Good riddance to an overrated has been!!! Hope you bench your @r$& off at the force!!! The lions couldnt even count on your experience when they needed you. Now Rose can get a decent run unless they feel another useless white player should be tried before the BOK flyhalf...
Anonymous User6/19/2009 11:33 AM
Why going on about Rose. He is a brilliant player but due to politics he did not get the opportunaties which he rightly deserve. Loffie (that's why he's been fired) selected a out of date player like pretoruis before Rose due to skin colour. Now at least Rose will be selected solemly due to his brilliant rugby skills. He kicks well out of hand and is stable when kicking at goal. He is fast, strong and got a better rugby mind than Naas Botha. Rose should take over the captaincy of the Lions as he will be the Boks captain in the near future. Earl Rocks.....
AJ @ AJ - Lions Supporter6/19/2009 10:56 AM
"You deserve to be playing against the B&I Lions in a springbok jersey!" - Sheesh AJ let's not get too carried away.
Johnny6/19/2009 10:48 AM
Andre Pretorius must loose some weight, ..otherwise the Force might use him as a prop....
Tim6/19/2009 10:13 AM
Scary thing is that Pretorious will probably go over there, have his injuries sorted out and then play the best rugby of his life without all the political crap he would have to deal with here. Pretorious hasn't been at his best this year but he has always been one of the better flyhalfs in South Africa. Jake White rated him very highly and considering they replacing Giteau with Pretorius they obviously see a lot in him that was not seen here. Captian are you sure you not earl rose?
maxie6/19/2009 10:11 AM
What a mistake by the Force. They`ve just booked their place in the last 4. To go from Gitteau to Pretorious is like taking one step forward and 9 steps backwards.
Pretorius supporter6/19/2009 9:57 AM
Good move Andre, SA rugby hasn't treated you well over the last few years! Looking forward to seeing you play for the Force next year! Best of luck!
Riaan6/19/2009 9:43 AM
South-African players being stolen might not be such a bad idea after all. If we can get rid of no-brainers like Pretorius, Watson, etc(Somebody please steal Rose) in the prosess, we can surely afford to loose a couple of good players.
Captain6/19/2009 9:28 AM
I first met Andre after a super 12 game at Ellis on the field. He wasn't playing in the game but he was walking around like he owned the place and got into a fight with a Cats supporter. He was making fun of the guy because he was wearing an old warn out Transvaal top. I tried to defuse the situation but Andre then turned on me and wanted to give me a klap. It took me 3 years to get some respect back for that man. Now he is leaving the one franchise that stood by him during all his long layoffs. When the going gets tuff the not so tuff gets going. Good buy Andre, we will see you on the field.
Frans6/19/2009 9:21 AM
I've been a Transvaal/Golden Lions supporter 34 years and I have ONLY enjoyed the releative little bit when Francois Pienaar was still captaining them.Jannie Breedt was a dismal failure as captain.My loyalty towards this PATHETIC side has been tested continuously but one always hopes and PRAYS.......and then they loose against the B&I Lions without putting up any form of resistance - I thought I was watching a Pro 20 match??The Golden Lions have made up my mind.....if you want loyalty GET A DOG!!!! I will be burning all my red and white stuff this week end during an official ceremony.My new team will also be officialy the BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!They've got B........LS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Skeletor6/19/2009 9:19 AM
The Golden Lions is falling appart. Maybe Jacque Fourie is up for sale. Maybe the Bulls can buy him, Damn!! can you see that backline of the Bulls; Fourie, Morne, Bryan, Wynand, Jacque, Ndugane, Zane. This could be amazing. Bulls, please don't buy Rose, even their own suppoerters don't want him. Go Springboks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous User6/19/2009 9:05 AM
The force must be run by a bunch of morons. Andre is is an injury prone has been. If he gets fit and has a good medical team we might see something but i really dont think so."i hope im wrong ". Good move on Andre's part though. it would make more business sense to sign Conrad Jantjies with a broken leg!
stu6/19/2009 8:49 AM
@ uncle H - good one - lmao!
RQ6/19/2009 8:44 AM
Pretorius is clearly rated by the Aussies, and for good reason, they'll get him into shape (round is not a shape when you're a pro rugby player) and he'll do well. As long as he doesn't get injured again...
Gavin6/19/2009 8:42 AM
Please dont go we dont need an "ALCOHOLIC" playing for us
Marcus6/19/2009 8:40 AM
Good news for us Force fans! 31 Test caps is nothing to sneeze at, and his signing all but guarantees that we retain James O'Connor for the next season at least. (Incidentally, I'm sure that if he wanted to, O'Connor could play flyhalf full time for us with no problems- but of course he stands better chance of Wallaby selection as a full-back or centre) As far as the goalkicking is concerned, I remember reading that Cameron Sheperd is going to handle the Force's goalkicking next year anyway. Gordo, unless we get Dan Carter (who's already spoken for) then no one will be as good as Giteau- but a 31-Test Springbok is good enough for me. Anon at 7:20- who finished higher? ;-)
jakes 6/19/2009 8:40 AM
Please andre , take Earl Rose with you !!!!
Lions supporter # 16/19/2009 8:38 AM
now it is time for many other to go and start afresh with building the Lions. Not sure why the Lions is persisting with the current squad, for the past 3 to 4 years there were no trophies. they must rebuild and make sure there is no politics and prejudice when doing so!!!!!
Uncle H6/19/2009 8:16 AM
The Lions apparently offered Pretorius and Rose for the price of one.The Force declined the Rose offer.
Blue Bull Charlie6/19/2009 8:07 AM
Its about time! Andre you had your best days and making a few bucks before you retire from rugby is not a bad idea! See if you can find a place for useless Earl Rose there as well!
Anonymous User6/19/2009 8:04 AM
You Pretoors - with Loffie gone, the Lions are going absolutely NOWHERE!They deserve to lose their best players.
mmmm6/19/2009 7:58 AM
Great news!!!! now we just need to get rid of earl rose too
Chris6/19/2009 7:49 AM
I've been a Lions supporter all my life and will definitely NOT miss Andre Pretorius. His goal kicking the last year has been under par and general play has just not been up to scratch. I think he was part of the problem at the Lions and instead of having an injured player on their payrole they should now look at contracting a young flyhalf.
Anonymous User6/19/2009 7:47 AM
No great loss - well past his sell by date and too injury prone
Dee6/19/2009 7:46 AM
I wonder if the Force have taken into account how many games Pretorius will sit out during the season cos of his avbility to consistently remain injured. One just has to look at how he lost almost an entire season of rugby after "pulling a buttocks muscle on a flight to Durban". Lions will do much bettter without him.
Gordo6/19/2009 7:46 AM
Poor force..... You can't compare him to Matt....
AJ - Lions supporter6/19/2009 7:40 AM
Oh no! this may mean they play Earl Rose full time! Andre, i'm sad to see you go! You deserve to be playing against the B&I Lions in a springbok jersey! Good luck!
Anonymous User6/19/2009 7:37 AM
This is only the start for the Lions - rats off a sinking ship. The next "big names" to go will be Heinke, Jano, Jacque & Loui Ludik. Who can blame them. Players need management and that isnt in place at the Lions. How about Solomans as a coach and bring in some of his mercenaries to start the re-build.
John6/19/2009 7:36 AM
Great Andre we looking forward to welcome you over in Perth!!!
Anonymous User6/19/2009 7:20 AM
This will lift the average ability/skills of both the Lions and the Force's teams.... :-)
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