Nonu

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="539842" data-time="1446846997">To be fair to France, where would Georgia be as a rugby nation without them?</blockquote>
 
I've seen people from the nh trying to claim credit for helping out lower tier nations, I don't buy it at all. Firstly it's not intentional at all, the players are not selected with a mind to helping out Georgia etc rather trying to fit within the team budget . Second the club owners are often very reluctant to release the players for international duty or pay them incentives to end their test careers. 
The last reason makes me not at all displeased that France are reaping what they have sown in the past .

taniwharugby

thing is, if these club owners are making money, then they arent gonna change anything are they, and the French Union will have a battle on its hands to restrict overseas players from these wealthy owners too (although surely the paying public would rather see local players running out each week and strengthening French Rugby?)

canefan

Central ownership and contracting is our ace in the hole. The overall goals are consistent from the top of the NZRFU down

Virgil

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="539894" data-time="1446865516">yeah it's fuckin laughable in one sense but sad in another. The day this happens in NZ or soup rugby we can forget international rugby.</blockquote>
 
Should really have said NH rugby, not just the French.

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="539894" data-time="1446865516">
<div>
yeah it's fuckin laughable in one sense but sad in another. The day this happens in NZ or soup rugby we can forget international rugby.
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</blockquote>
 
but why would they wanna play in nz? nz don't have the money to attract players like the NH teams..
we rely on aura.. as long as she can keep the boys happy, we'll be right

Crash

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="539894" data-time="1446865516">
<div>
yeah it's fuckin laughable in one sense but sad in another. The day this happens in NZ or soup rugby we can forget international rugby.
</div>
</blockquote>
Xactly. France and England tend to put club before country. Meh, as soon as you do that, - not only your national side, but your whole club rugby structure suffers.

nostrildamus

I am just happy the RWC was one long Aura Show. But now Hansen admits he trained them ragged in the pool games I feel doubly sorry for Aaron Smith, he must be very fit or very buggered.

Canerbry

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nostrildamus" data-cid="539974" data-time="1446887666">
<div>
I am just happy the RWC was one long Aura Show. But now Hansen admits he trained them ragged in the pool games I feel doubly sorry for Aaron Smith, he must be very fit or very buggered.
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</blockquote>
 
He did fall off bigtime towards the end.

nostrildamus

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canerbry" data-cid="539977" data-time="1446891760">
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He did fall off bigtime towards the end.
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</blockquote>
I should set my watch by your Aaron Smith comment response time..

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="nostrildamus" data-cid="539979" data-time="1446891895">
<div>
I should set my watch by your Aaron Smith comment response time..
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I think his watch permanently reads 'stuck in the past'

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crash" data-cid="539972" data-time="1446886340">Xactly. France and England tend to put club before country. Meh, as soon as you do that, - not only your national side, but your whole club rugby structure suffers.</blockquote>
 
I thinkEnglish Rugby would like to change, but is pretty much powerless, whereas you don't get the impression the French Federartion give a crap, I might be wrong, but it doesn't come over that way.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="539904" data-time="1446869922">
<div>
I've seen people from the nh trying to claim credit for helping out lower tier nations, I don't buy it at all. Firstly it's not intentional at all, the players are not selected with a mind to helping out Georgia etc rather trying to fit within the team budget . Second the club owners are often very reluctant to release the players for international duty or pay them incentives to end their test careers. 
The last reason makes me not at all displeased that France are reaping what they have sown in the past .
</div>
</blockquote>
 
It's not why the French clubs do it but it still does have positive benefits. If teams were only allowed 5 overseas players, the Georgians would be the first to go. You are correct about the reluctance to release players though.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="539832" data-time="1446843502">
<div>
Or how much better he might make Kwaiyde look, potentially lethal backline, although, MIchalak at 9?
 
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12191786_937141063044417_1584099977646319333_n.png?oh=beb18042d1a327e45ee9f2f3ee7bf546&oe=56F42CEB&__gda__=1459070713_9da5e8c1d1510104f657df73e2a61daa" alt="12191786_937141063044417_158409997764631">
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Quade played his first game for Toulon last night. This was the line-up:
 
1. Xavier Chiocci 2. Guilhem Guirado 3. Matthew Stevens 4. Samuela Manoa 5. Romain Taofifenua 6. Juan Smith 7. Juan MartÎ¯n Fernandez lobbe 8. Steffon Armitage 
9. Jonathan Pelissie 10. Quade COOPER 11. Lachlan Turner 12. Maxime Mermoz 13. Mathieu Bastareaud 14. Josua Tuisova 15. Delon Armitage
 
16. Anthony Etrillard 17. Florian Fresia 18. Konstantine Mikautadze 19. Mamuka Gorgodze 20. Theo Belan 21. Thomas TAYLOR 22. Sebastien Tillous borde 23. Levan Chilachava
 
 
Cooper played the full 80 minutes but didnâ€t get to kick the conversions and penalties. First Pelissie was on kicking duties, then Delon Armitage took over.
Also playing his first game for Toulon was Tom Taylor, who got 9 minutes of game time (when Delon Armitage was subbed off) and converted a try (his only kick of the game).

Stargazer

Off-topic, but I noticed that Tameifuna played his first game for Racing 92 on 23 Oct from the bench (came on the field in the 54th minute) and his second - also off the bench - last week. Last week he came on early in the 22' and collected his first yellow card 15 minutes later. Surprise, surprise. Tonight he will get his first start.

sparky

Nonu is being left out by Toulon at the moment. I'm hearing that he's not very happy there. I doubt he'll stay there beyond June. 
Interested to see where he goes next...........

leytonandamanda

Back to Nz I hope 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="leytonandamanda" data-cid="568053" data-time="1459218932">Back to Nz I hope 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk</blockquote>Not impossible. I know he did the sabbatical in Japan but maybe he's realised his heart is back home

taniwharugby

Toulon really need an 'all black' kit or a black and yellow one...seems the only things that bring out the best in Nonu.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="568080" data-time="1459222473">
<div>
Toulon really need an 'all black' kit or a black and yellow one...seems the only things that bring out the best in Nonu.
</div>
</blockquote>
Maybe he's discovered that spending a whole season with a bunch of mercenaries isn't what he thought it would be

sparky

Amazing that he can go in five months from the world's best player in October tearing defences to pieces and scoring a try from 50 metres in the RWC final to being unused and left in the stands by Toulon in March. 
It would be fantastic to see Ma'a back in Hurricanes and All Blacks jerseys next year.

The Silver Fern

Nonu