waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
^ Wales are as bad & it gives me the shits, too, but it's the price we have to pay unless we want Samoa & Tonga to be made up entirely of residents & expats.
Where to for Super Rugby?
- Thread starter Quick Hands
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kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Meh. I'd reckon all that 2019 backline went to school in Australia, except Marika.
Will Genia
Nic White
Bernard Foley
Christian Lealiifano
Samu Kerevi
Tevita Kuridrani
James O'Connor
Matt To'omua
Adam Ashley-Cooper
Reece Hodge
Marika Koroibete
Jordan Petaia
Kurtley Beale
Dane Haylett-Petty
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
I can’t think of many from Wales. The likes of Halaholo moved to Wales to play club footy, and were not paid proactively from the national union. I have no issue with people like that playing for them. He was signed to play club rugby and just happened to be there long enough to qualify. Lowe was the opposite, signed to play international rugby and then allocated a club.
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Pretty much. With the exception of Koribete. All of those players were either born here or moved to Australia as young children/adolescents.
Rebels3
Jim Lenehan (48)
Parkes I don’t think was ever targeted by the National union, as in they never thought we will sign him from NZ to specifically play international rugby. Pretty sure he was a club led signing that happened to stay long enough to qualify. Aki and Lowe were strategically sat down with the IRFU and told they will be assigned a club and then in 3yrs time they will play international rugby. They are the situations that are wrong. The welsh clubs are at war with the national union too much to have that much collaboration
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Mate, I thought someone was training with Wallanies either last year or this, and waiting to be eligible for Wallabies. Not a huge problem , but to me there are not degrees of being right or wrong, I just think we can't point finger at NH or Japan when all all countries do it. You not going to tell me Tanialla Tupou wasn't bought to Australia to play rugby? Hell that was after he left school. I was never comfortable with Fekitoa playing for ABs, and even Sevu Reece who came to NZ and atteneded school, so I can't point finger at other countries. To point fingers at other countries is a little arrogant to me.
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
So why do you bring it up, Dan?
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
I haven't , I was replying to posts. And trying to help Derpus get the thread to 1000 pages
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Yep no way do I think anyone thought Parkes was Test quality, but seems he was. I always worried that anyone called Hadleigh couldn't be taken seriously on rugby fields downunder anyway, if ever a name rings toff to me.........
Rebel man
Jim Lenehan (48)
The difference is that Japan are importing kids and getting them to sign to say they will play for Japan it’s discussed on Ocean’s Apart where as Tupou elected to come here as an adult as he wanted to represent the Wallabies.
Is it an issue, yes the talent drain for the pacific island nations is an issue. But how Japan separates kids from there family and promise them a better education and better future if they commit to playing for Japan
kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Need to stand up for yourself. Be out and proud.I haven't , I was replying to posts. And trying to help Derpus get the thread to 1000 pages
See, I'm openly pointing the finger at
#this. Just won't be dragging it on for the mythical thousand, though, because that would be boring.
Rebel man
Jim Lenehan (48)
Koroibete first came to Aus to play for the Tigers
WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Yep. And that's something many miss on the few guys that could be considered 'poaches' from afar. Rugby never actually pursued them for the specific reason of qualifying. At least in the cases of Koribete and Naivalu. Koribete came after being signed by League and Naivalu from memory came to Melbourne as part of some Rugby based program run completely separately from the Rebels. I actually don't think Dauganu or Naisarani were targeted either. More they came to Australia like many before them for the economics opportunities and just rose through the ranks.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Oh I am mate, but as you can see I find it rude not to reply. And I am ever the gentleman.
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
I don’t think it’s arrogant, some countries are running a deliberately recruitment programming targeting juniors. If an adult chooses to move to another country, then that’s a different story but separating kids from their families for the sake of rugby, is wrong IMO.
Now I’m not accusing New Zealand of targeting juniors, but I listened to a podcast with Taniela Tupou on it, and he spoke about how he was recruited from Tonga for his rugby skills but he did it for his family, he spoke about how he struggled going to school and not understanding a word been said. Said it was really challenging and rugby was he outlet through it all. Also said moving to Australia really forced him to work on his English since less people spoke Tongan then where he went to school.
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Exactly mate, I know schools offer scholarships to these kids, and even Taniela is a good case, he gets a scholarship to NZ school when he was probably too young, and was still only about 17-18 when he was bought to Aus with promises of Super rugby and Wallaby carrot. So what do we do? Stop the scholarship system? I not sure what it is, I sure it hppens in kids here and in Aus where kids are even seperated from families to go to schools that offer offer scholarships in other side of country. But you right was it Kerevi talked of arriving in Aus to play with very little english ability. I was at a Southport/Nudgee college game in Brisbane a couple of years back when there was a moment taken to all wave something to show family support for a boy that was in spinal unit from rugby injury, it was for his Mum that the school had flown out from overseas to be by his side. I remember thinking then how hard it must be for these kids at times. I know they trying to get a better education etc ,, but when that happens and you in another country away from family .
Dan54
David Wilson (68)
Anyway fellas back to what thread is about, I have just been listening to Ian Kirkpatrick (ex All Black great for you Aus boys) and he was talking about how a group of ex ABs are trying to get changes made to game etc. He was talking how Super rugby has lost a lot of appeal to the point where Earle Kirton (Ex AB coach) says he doesn't watch it anymore. Anyway the discussion was really the comp structure was not the problem, but the game that is being played is where it going wrong.
Now we all talk how bloody good Super 12 etc was, and thinking on it why was it so bloody good? Because we had a beautiful game where players like Cullen, Spencer, Eroni Clarke etc in NZ and Larkham, Horan, Latham etc all were able to play with a bit of freedom and show there skills. Now the game is getting to the point where gain line is everything, lets put a bash boy in midfield and let him bend the line and keep grinding them down. By the way they are not all Kirkie's words, it was what I took from it and perhaps threw in my own thoughts a bit. But one thing Kirkie did say with the way game is played we going away from a game for everyone to a game for big fellas only and not enough seperation between forwards and backs roles almost. Most time is spent on defence. And honestly, if we were still watching the games we watched at turn of century, do you think we would be wondering what Super needs to do to be successful?
Now we all talk how bloody good Super 12 etc was, and thinking on it why was it so bloody good? Because we had a beautiful game where players like Cullen, Spencer, Eroni Clarke etc in NZ and Larkham, Horan, Latham etc all were able to play with a bit of freedom and show there skills. Now the game is getting to the point where gain line is everything, lets put a bash boy in midfield and let him bend the line and keep grinding them down. By the way they are not all Kirkie's words, it was what I took from it and perhaps threw in my own thoughts a bit. But one thing Kirkie did say with the way game is played we going away from a game for everyone to a game for big fellas only and not enough seperation between forwards and backs roles almost. Most time is spent on defence. And honestly, if we were still watching the games we watched at turn of century, do you think we would be wondering what Super needs to do to be successful?
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