Exodus 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570820" data-time="1460108964">
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<p>Let's not pretend Bundee is Irish. He was probably told he wasn't in the ABs frame (<strong>how he wasn't capped and Saili is was one of Hansen's less notable selections</strong>), and along came Eire with cash and a promise of international rugby...</p>
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<p>That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="570825" data-time="1460109624"><p>
That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.</p></blockquote>
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Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster. <br><br>
Definitely a dud AB selection and his tests were memorable for the wrong reasons. <br><br>
We agree to disagree I suppose <br><br>
(Don't think Aki would have been more than 1 or 2 caps either but he is better than Saili IMO) -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570836" data-time="1460111103">
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<p>Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster.</p>
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<p>How on earth does that confirm form in 2013, Aki's first year in Super Rugby where he was doing fuck all, next to Saili who was in very good form for the Blues and in his 2nd year of Super rugby?</p> -
<p>OK, I can't be bothered getting into a big debate, I really don't care. I consider Saili a pretty ordinary player, with the occasional outstanding game, Aki is better.</p>
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<p>You are welcome to disagree, and it's not skin off my nose.</p>
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<p>I suppose I should throw in a "fuck" to give the post more gravitas.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570839" data-time="1460111731">
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<p>OK, I can't be bothered getting into a big debate, I really don't care. I consider Saili a pretty ordinary player, with the occasional outstanding game, Aki is better.</p>
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<p>You are welcome to disagree, and it's not skin off my nose.</p>
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<p>I suppose I should throw in a "fuck" to give the post more gravitas.</p>
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<p>Nah he's not, this is obviously confirmed by Saili having a much more substantial Wikipedia page.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570836" data-time="1460111103"><p>Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster.</p></blockquote><br>That's more a reflection on Munster's current issues IMO.
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<p>My point on Aki was, he's bought into the province since getting here, as opposed to (say) Payne, who is basically only involved in provincial games now in order to be ready for Test windows, which reduces the credibility of his commitment to the whole package.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="570854" data-time="1460114767"><p>My point on Aki was, he's bought into the province since getting here, as opposed to (say) Payne, who is basically only involved in provincial games now in order to be ready for Test windows, which reduces the credibility of his commitment to the whole package.</p></blockquote>
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Is Aki available for Ireland already? Nope, so how can you compare him to Payne who is already in the team? <br><br>
I assume, that since he went there for his career, he is all about Connacht, right now. He clearly wants to play for Ireland, after giving up on the ABs (see link above).<br><br>
He was all about the Chiefs when he was there, until he wasn't.<br><br>
It's not that I'm bagging him, specifically, but I'm a bit lost about why you continue to suggest that these professional sportspeople, who are contracted to play for that team, are so involved, when:<br><br>- His kids and family don't live there<br><br>
- he is trying for national honors<br><br>
And<br><br> - he is paid to be there<br><br>
Come post about how great he is as a club man next year if he doesn't get selected for Ireland, and then doesn't decide that he can make better money in England or France.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="570825" data-time="1460109624">
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<p>That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.</p>
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<p>He was but the problem with Saili was that he was more concerned with pulling off miracle plays every time he touched the ball. More often than not you would see his 4000 chips he's put in during a game land straight down the fullbacks throat or big cut out passes go straight into touch.</p> -
<p>Let's not forget Connacht won a bidding war with their provinicial rivlas for Aki's services.</p>
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<p>I do think he has been committed to the Connacht cause, but as posted above if he doesn't play for Ireland (but I think he will, they'll cap him at the first opportunity to lock him in), will he stick around at Connacht...?</p>
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<p>A non-exodus 2016: Kerr-Barlow staying on until at least 2017.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570820" data-time="1460108964">
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<p>Let's not pretend Bundee is Irish. He was probably told he wasn't in the ABs frame (<strong>how he wasn't capped and Saili is was one of Hansen's less notable selections</strong>), and along came Eire with cash and a promise of international rugby...</p>
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<p>The fact is Aki was never good enough to be selected. The fact that Saili did get a test, and was proven not up to it, has nothing to do with that. The above statement implies Aki was robbed of his spot by Saili, he wasn't.</p>
<p>Of course all of that has nothing to do with which one is the better player. I would probably rate Aki higher however not by much and neither were ever that great in Super rugby.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570861" data-time="1460116565">
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<p>Let's not forget Connacht won a bidding war with their provinicial rivlas for Aki's services.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I do think he has been committed to the Connacht cause, but as posted above if he doesn't play for Ireland (but I think he will, they'll cap him at the first opportunity to lock him in), will he stick around at Connacht...?</p>
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<p><strong>A non-exodus 2016: Kerr-Barlow staying on until at least 2017</strong>.</p>
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<p>That re-signing already happened in July 2015: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/27708/kerr-barlow-signs-for-two-more-years'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/27708/kerr-barlow-signs-for-two-more-years</a></p>
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<p>Weird how that old media release re-appears on the Chiefs website (looking at the last two sentences, that text is also from July 2015): <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/119-chiefs-re-sign-halfback'>http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/119-chiefs-re-sign-halfback</a></p> -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326</a></p>
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<p>Not to be sneezed at.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="571777" data-time="1460481407">
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326</a></p>
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<p>Not to be sneezed at.</p>
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<p>From that article:</p>
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<p>"<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">Australia doesn't have an established domestic competition so the $285 million it is being paid is largely for Super Rugby, Rugby Championship and domestic tests.</span><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">"</span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:16px;">Then what exactly is Australia's National Rugby Championship, which is a professional rugby competition? It started in 2014 and has secured funding until the 2020 season.</span></p> -
Depends how you define "established".<br><br>
The comp is already undergoing changes, with two NSW teams changing the underlying alliances that hold them together. <br><br>
And the ARU aren't in a position where the NRC is going to stand alone like the NPC or CC as a product. -
<p>McNiccol (J) is off to Wales (Scarlets) at the end of the year.</p>
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<p>Not a huge loss, but it felt like he was starting to find his feet at Super Level this year. He was excellent in our win v the Lions</p>
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<p>Now that he's leaving perhaps we could give Macalai a few more minutes before he decides to bugger off too.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="571857" data-time="1460514963">
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<p>McNiccol (J) is off to Wales (Scarlets) at the end of the year.</p>
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<p>Not a huge loss, but it felt like he was starting to find his feet at Super Level this year. He was excellent in our win v the Lions</p>
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<p>Now that he's leaving perhaps we could give Macalai a few more minutes before he decides to bugger off too.</p>
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<p>Has that been confirmed? There's nothing on the Scarlets website, Twitter or Facebook. I've only read that the Scarlets are in talks with McNicholl - and other players - but that nothing has been finalised. Example of an article below:</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810</a></p>
