Definitley no surprise there. For all his promise he just seemed to hit his peak very early, and as you point out Jacomb has been developed by Chiefs and is honestly abetter 10 I believe. Not quite sure what it is with Ioane, he is a good player, shows flashes at times, but hasn't quite got that last bit to be a top player here. All the best to him anyway, hope it goes well.
Yes, and no, I think we've an incredibly talented next crop coming through (Jacomb, Cashmore, Millar, Sullivan, Godfrey, Faleafaga to name a few) who are all between that 20 - 25 age bracket, I'd imagine Ioane was only ever going to occupy that 10 / 15 bench slot, where Jacomb would be preferred at 10 going forward. I think with McKenzie, Plummer, Cameron, Perofeta, and Barrett as older 10s, we've got the players who can safeguard that next crop of 10s coming through, which I think is one of the best groups I've seen in years. Certainly better than the 2010s which seemed to cough up a handful of gems, and a lot of journeymen.
I think a signing like this makes it the other way around...
Oh, I wasn't disagreeing that people would say it, just more stating that that's not what this is.
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Interesting potentially had 2-3 years of the ABs 9 and guide the younger roigard and ratima over the next year or two and get some starting games instead of being behind smithTJP has confirmed he's off to Japan at year-end:
Timing is everything: Perenara reflects after confirming move to Japan
All Black will head to Japan on a three-year-deal after the 2024 season.
Three-year contract so that's presumably the end of his pro career.
