New Zealand Rugby Team Watch

[Bairdy]

How do the Chiefs manage to hold on to all that talent?

Imagine the size of the potential Chiefs backline next year

9. Kerr-Barlow / Pulu
10. Cruden
11. Lowe / Nanai-Williams / Marshall / Tikoirotuma
12. SBW
13. Fruen / Ngatai
14. Gear
15. Nanai-Williams / Marshall

 

[Braveheart81]

I think when you create a winning culture, you hang onto players for far less money than you would otherwise.

When you break it down though, their only regular All Blacks are Kerr-Barlow, Cruden and SBW when he returns.

Hosea Gear is presumably after a final tilt at a RWC and is probably not demanding a huge salary.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

It's official:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/10402146/Brad-Thorn-signs-with-English-rugby-club

Leicester Tigers for 1 year only.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

How do the Chiefs manage to hold on to all that talent?

Imagine the size of the potential Chiefs backline next year

9. Kerr-Barlow / Pulu
10. Cruden
11. Lowe / Nanai-Williams / Marshall / Tikoirotuma
12. SBW
13. Fruen / Ngatai
14. Gear
15. Nanai-Williams / Marshall

Plus Damian McKenzie as backup 10 for 3 years:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10379686/Damian-McKenzie-signs-three-year-Chiefs-deal

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

No Dan Carter for a while longer yet, targeting Argentina away match on 27 September for his return.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10414446/Recovering-Dan-Carter-out-two-tests-matches

 

[badabing59]

This just in from NewstalkZB : SBW granted exemption to be selected for EOYT without needing to play ITM cup. Details soon

Couple of feathers going to be ruffled here no doubt. Not a bad midfield to take north though-Nonu, Fekitoa, Smith, Crotty and SBW.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

This just in from NewstalkZB : SBW granted exemption to be selected for EOYT without needing to play ITM cup. Details soon

Couple of feathers going to be ruffled here no doubt. Not a bad midfield to take north though-Nonu, Fekitoa, Smith, Crotty and SBW.

Some more detail here:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ny-Bill-Williams-granted-All-Blacks-exemption

EDIT: just re-checked the story & over 200 people have commented. You may find this hard to believe but I'd say half claim to be outraged, some even suggesting that it's SBW who wants the exemption whereas it seems pretty clear that the AB management went to the Board for approval (as they did for [@Dismal Pillock, if you're reading this you may want to look away] Luke McAlister in 2009). Go figure. Haters just gotta hate, I guess.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

 

[ACT Crusader]

And unfortunately for Luke he came back large but not in charge. Jeez I remember feeling nervous as hell when he came on in that 2nd French test in 09. He looked unfit and was running the cutter with Donald getting hurt if I recall. Then it was a huge mistake when we put him at 10 vs Italy. I remember sitting in a Sydney pub watching that game and yelled out - bring back Donald - after another Lucky grubber and getting a laugh from a few kiwis watching the test.

Good luck to Sonny Bill whatever happens, but I'm sure we will see him black

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has made it clear that Sonny Bill Williams will be on the end of year tour, though there are no guarantees he will play any games."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10429427/Sonny-Bill-Williams-tours-at-Hansens-request

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Richard Kahui also possibly homeward-bound:

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_9454593,00.html

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Good news for Horrorcanes fans:

"Key forwards Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Reggie Goodes and Ardie Savea have recommitted to the Hurricanes until the end of the 2016 season"

Read more at http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2014/rugby/story/241301.html#G7Wmc6gPFXz3tGUR.99

Still nothing on Victor Vito, other than speculation he may go to SA when Coles comes home for the birth of his baby.

 

[qwerty51]

Yeah but Chris Boyd.. Wellington coach.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ray Lee-Lo Horrorcanes bound, too:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/10506461/Lee-Lo-returns-as-Boyd-builds-Canes-roster

Good move on his part, don't think he ever really fitted the Crusaders' style.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Never argue with the big dog. The big dog is always right.

"TOP COACH: Former All Blacks coach Graham 'Ted' Henry believes Dan Carter, if fit, ought to be in the team heading to the next World Cup."

End. Of. Discussion.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10514085/Graham-Henry-has-no-doubt-over-Dan-Carter

Down to play for Cantabs v Southland next Sunday, guess we'll see what happens.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Hika Elliot on the bench for Poverty Bay today & looking to make it back to Super Rugby at some point:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/provincial/10521366/Hooker-Hika-Elliot-adds-muscle-to-Poverty-Bay

Not sure he should be risking it, I wouldn't have thought hooker was a good positional choice for a guy who's had to have his neck fused.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11328570

This David Smith from Toulon needs to be rushed into the NZ Rugby Team.

The NZ backline will then contain A. Smith, B. Smith, C. Smith, and D. Smith.

Any Edgar Smith's playing rugby at a decent level in NZ?

 

[Dismal Pillock]

I never thought I would see the day that George Smith turned out for New Zealand.

What a strange day.

D.Smith, what an excitement machine, carved it up for the Blues for a good solid 10 minutes.

In related news, **NATIONAL DISGRACE**

Jared Payne, Bundee Akii, Tom Mccartney, WFT are you doing.

iHomo, the eligibility rule should OBVIOUSLY be 10 years. If you've been there from when youre 12 then good onya fella

IRB chief executive Brett Gosper said. "It doesn't come up very often as a subject.

WELL WFT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT TO TALK ABOUT? It's not like youre discussing the half-blind drug addicted psychos on your referees roster.

 

[Dctarget]

Aaron Cruden to miss the tour of SA and Argentina, after a big night of drinking last Saturday. Looks like J'OC and Aaron should catch up sometime.

Coach Steve Hansen says Cruden went out drinking in Auckland on Saturday night and didn’t fly with the team to Argentina on Sunday. Hansen criticised the 25-year-old, who has been a standout performer for the All Blacks over the last two seasons.
“We are extremely disappointed at Aaron’s actions which are out of character. He is embarrassed at his actions,” Hansen said on the All Blacks twitter account.
“As a consequence of his actions, he has been left at home and will not join the squad for Tests against Argentina & South Africa.”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/t...ght-to-argentina/story-e6frf4qc-1227066088840

 

[Dan54]

And that is a huge plus for Steve Hansen! Ok I know it only one mistake, and Cruden is pretty important to the team, but if he wants to stay in ABs he has to realise that there are rules!! I pleased Hansen is prepared to lose important tests to keep standards!