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New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
Show-n-go said:
Like the article suggests just sign him for mitre 10 or super rugby for next year and he should be good to go. Probably works in their favour the Sunwolves have been cut and don’t know what’s on the cards for next year
Click to expand...

Apparently he's locked in with 'wolves for next year but keen to return to Clan after that.

I'm still thinking they'll bring someone (most likely Black) into the environment, give them a bench spot v Argentina then possibly a start v Tonga. Won't go to RWC but will be on standby if Beaugan or RM break down. TJP to cover 9 & 10 v Namibia & Italy, Beaugan starts one & RM the other.
 
Dan54

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
waiopehu oldboy said:
Apparently he's locked in with 'wolves for next year but keen to return to Clan after that.

I'm still thinking they'll bring someone (most likely Black) into the environment, give them a bench spot v Argentina then possibly a start v Tonga. Won't go to RWC but will be on standby if Beaugan or RM break down. TJP to cover 9 & 10 v Namibia & Italy, Beaugan starts one & RM the other.
Click to expand...

No he's not signed with Sunwolves next year WOB, apparently he signed with Kobe Steelers for next year, and they won't even release him for Sunwolves, apparently Japanese comp running late this year because of WC, so Sunwolves might be without a few players.
 
Dan54

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
This is real good news, got the next AB captain signed up until next WC
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https://bit.ly/2WflNWe?fbclid=IwAR0JXUyHlipK4ANvfHShKBA5gtZGwiTxWKTnFi1-A3hRFLzsNynitEhrQ40&h=AT2hSWiTbuRiwvssRMrUkgiqjhiFpxRRyy3Kl_YD53hPTYn9hQ97wNZeacQkMfooNFdAgWM67k9arIwIG-UB66g_BF_7NZPq-Qad8KkVD4rDvxuYwVDK0WVal02CSRIK0e35vwhA6TI9BmwB2XJSHdEPn2FCib_wWbrf9R2PhBNBzmgk-OLGJwZo_QvpxFbJDOSMRb-i8Kyf43fKx3TPpMNahWlR0ufw6-wBzzS6w0_TYQyVVRgRMn_18W9NI5Tv6W2rZDhbOgfUO3G9fLa35Aeb_VQwJBd02Su7sF__mhgOUj0V8_8X6TIRfbdSJgWpWCx6x-JrbOGVZvtQ9r1AwVcZHJpBhzssSyRnSvnK-5a4Jpd7Bn6kPaw4D_4Zu96aw0i7KZ4KegOl8Eu-wZmNbWGCBGVWgKE41dxeWrq7TjgBJvNzY5NEpll0N8fs8liNU15sLC-qTJQVqcQYEXBXIyQSfE4WdEbgbLfXNdqfcyETZS9wlwssv9CSm9gk4HJHkiaFgrKM50Xwkv-6JNQG4mhxwX8Re0CSfThyddZ9QSb7-Vbj_hM-NIHl4-b7ohlDlddZaWdzSxfB1hW97Vr5VkFojGm2nYlkpn0KckOg8OrRCtphJ7WHDw
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
^ awesome news, now we just need Lurch & Beaugan to re-sign.

EDIT: this is interesting:

"Tew said NZ Rugby will allow Whitelock to be selected for the All Blacks in 2020, a decision made on the basis of his long-standing service and the fact he had signed a four-year deal."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...s-fouryear-extension-granted-japan-sabbatical

Provided it's done case-by-case & sparingly I don't have a problem with it but I can see the "thin end of the wedge" arguments getting dusted off.
 
Dan54

Dan54

David Wilson (68)
waiopehu oldboy said:
^ awesome news, now we just need Lurch & Beaugan to re-sign.

EDIT: this is interesting:

"Tew said NZ Rugby will allow Whitelock to be selected for the All Blacks in 2020, a decision made on the basis of his long-standing service and the fact he had signed a four-year deal."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...s-fouryear-extension-granted-japan-sabbatical

Provided it's done case-by-case & sparingly I don't have a problem with it but I can see the "thin end of the wedge" arguments getting dusted off.
Click to expand...

Agree about thin edge etc, but realism has to play a part in it too!!
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
^ it's being reported he'd have walked had NZR not agreed to it.

It's also being reported that officials in Kashiwa City, Japan have offered AB $1Mn (currency unspecified) to hold a four day camp there in September.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...apan-training-camp-to-rugby-world-cup-buildup

They must think half of NZ is heading to the Cup & every one of them is just dying to visit some place they've never heard of 50km NE of Tokyo to watch AB train & do photo ops for four days. Doesn't make much sense otherwise.
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
Hard-copy Hurld reports that Lurch will play two seasons in Japan post-RWC & sit out the int'l windows in between. Back for AB 2021 & whatever replaces Super Rugby 2022. Beaugan also close to re-signing, probably including a season in Japan & missing AB 2020.
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
Re: RWC squad there seems to be a consensus emerging that it'll be 17 forwards/ 14 backs with 3 x hookers, 5 x props, 3 x 9's, 4 x midfield. Still some debate over 4 locks v 3 plus a lock/6, five loosies v six, three 10's v two, four back-3 v 5.

Sir Ted on Breakdown was adamant you've gotta have three 10's therefore only four back-3 & reckons three locks plus a lock/ 6 is all that's needed. Didn't really specify who the third 10 or the lock/ 6 should be, just that they need to be playing a coupla Tests pre-RWC. So nothing the rest of us haven't been mulling over this last little while but interesting to see the maestro's thought processses mapped out & very interesting to see the deference shown by the other panelists (Ali Williams, Sir JK, Marshall) & host Goldie even eight years on from Sir Ted's glory days.
 
zer0

zer0

John Thornett (49)
I mean, he is the best NZ coach of the professional era. Probably the best coach of that era, period. He could say something absolutely outrageous, like playing Mo'unga at 10 and B.Barrett at 15, for instance, and the entire country would be on board with it.
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
Days until first RWC pool match v South Africa (21/09): 134

Days until first RC match v Argentina (20/07): 71

Still plenty of time if Shag & co. are only picking from the Foundation Day group but not so much if they're planning on bringing in some newbies to either be part of RWC squad or backup for when the inevitable injuries occur.
 
waiopehu oldboy

waiopehu oldboy

George Smith (75)
Interesting stat from last night's 1014 Rugby (obscure name, great show - check it out on YouTube): of the five guys who've taken 40+ lineouts in Super Rugby this year the top four are locks & the fifth is Vaea Fifita. He's also racking up some impressive tackle numbers so if they're looking for a heavy-hitter six who can cover lock v one or two of the minnows........

Or if Squire doesn't make it & they want a heavy-hitter six who's also a genuine lineout option.......

On the subject of lineout options, KRead has now won 14 with three steals in just over 400 min of Super Rugby: last year it was three & one in just over 300.
 
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