England to whitewash Australia
-
<p>We could pick</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Owen Franks</p>
<p>Dane Coles</p>
<p>Joe Moody</p>
<p>Brodie Retallick</p>
<p>Sam Whitelock</p>
<p>Elliott Dixon</p>
<p>Sam Cane</p>
<p>Kieran Read</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Aaron Smith</p>
<p>Aaron Cruden</p>
<p>Nehe Milner-Skudder</p>
<p>Charlie Ngatai</p>
<p>Ryan Crotty</p>
<p>Ben Smith</p>
<p>Israel Dagg</p>
<p> </p>
<p>...which would be pretty good without anyone( I think) with recent, significant "Island" heritage. Leaving aside the obvious and awkward fact that we're a Pacific Island.</p> -
They can play against...<br><br>
- Tu'ungafasi<br>
- Mealamu (bring him out of retirement)<br>
- Faumuina<br>
- Tuipoluto <br>
- Luatua <br>
- Kaino<br>
- A. Savea<br>
- A. Ioane<br>
- Pulu<br>
- Sopoaga<br>
- J. Savea<br>
- Fekitoa<br>
- Tamanivalu<br>
- Moala<br>
- Naholo
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="585211" data-time="1465113792">
<div>
<p>So funny!<br>
Guess who wrote this<br><img src="http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160605/3b024c224be45fd578c4a7c011f00a0d.jpg" alt="3b024c224be45fd578c4a7c011f00a0d.jpg"></p>
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</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones</p> -
<p>I always thought he lived <strong><em>under</em></strong> a stone</p>
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="585234" data-time="1465122654">
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<p>We're lucky the island nation of Tokoroa isn't currently represented.</p>
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<p>Yeah, it simply won't be the same without Quade Cooper. He could often be relied on to increase the points against column on the Wallabies side of the scoreboard!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="585211" data-time="1465113792">
<div>
<p>So funny!<br>
Guess who wrote this<br><img src="http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160605/3b024c224be45fd578c4a7c011f00a0d.jpg" alt="3b024c224be45fd578c4a7c011f00a0d.jpg"></p>
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<p>No worries. If the Poms do away with Vunipola they can replace him with an English No. 8. Like Waldrom. Oh wait. Ok then Nathan Hughes. Hang on. Ok what about Teimana Harrison. I suppose there's Jack Clifford. Oh wait he's sort of Australian.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Are there any pure-bred English No. 8s, for crying out loud?!</p> -
<p>Josh Beaumont</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You don't get any more English than the son of the RFU Chairman.</p> -
<p>The day he stops complaining about us having PI players is the day the NH teams have the wood over us. May that day never arrive.</p>
-
I reckon we might actually see Jones's vision start to come true. Eg there might actually begin to be a regular supply of one or two guys who came on scholarships in the team for the next however long.<br><br>
It's about 20 years late, but may as well actually finally live up to the reputation we have 'earned'. The mud has already stuck, so I'm ok with it now anyway .....<br><br>
Been hearing about scholarships for a long time, but like London buses, you wait 11 years since the last one (Sivi) and then suddenly 2 come along at once (Fekitoa and Taminvalu). (Yes I know Fekitoa self-auditioned rather than on the back if a tip from any scout for the high schools).<br><br>
What is Fifita's background btw? A scholarship, or did he make his way here after school? -
This is off topic, but not worth a thread of its own. But kind of on topic in the diverted poaching tangent .....<br><br>
I see about 3 or 4 Japanese names in Wellington club rugby. Anyone in the know with welly rugby tell me if these are Japaese guys over here for the rugby? Or are they kiwis with Japanese names?<br><br>
Either way is pretty awesome IMO anyway. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585373" data-time="1465251752">
<div>
<p>Been hearing about scholarships for a long time, but like London buses, you wait 11 years since the last one (Sivi) and then suddenly 2 come along at once (Fekitoa and Taminvalu). (Yes I know Fekitoa self-auditioned rather than on the back if a tip from any scout for the high schools).</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Naholo makes it 3 in recent times. But we did have Taumoepeau and Devine around the same time as Sivi, so it may not be a trend at all. Vidiri and Vanisi were just a egregious in the previous era.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585377" data-time="1465251966"><p>
This is off topic, but not worth a thread of its own. But kind of on topic in the diverted poaching tangent .....<br><br>
I see about 3 or 4 Japanese names in Wellington club rugby. Anyone in the know with welly rugby tell me if these are Japaese guys over here for the rugby? Or are they kiwis with Japanese names?<br><br>
Either way is pretty awesome IMO anyway.</p></blockquote>
<br>
That's interesting , there used to be an all Chinese club . Not sure if they are still around -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585377" data-time="1465251966"><p>This is off topic, but not worth a thread of its own. But kind of on topic in the diverted poaching tangent .....<br><br>
I see about 3 or 4 Japanese names in Wellington club rugby. Anyone in the know with welly rugby tell me if these are Japaese guys over here for the rugby? Or are they kiwis with Japanese names?<br><br>
Either way is pretty awesome IMO anyway.</p></blockquote>
<br>
I can't speak for Wellington, but I know of two young players who've gone to NZ for rugby - one plays for Rotorua boys (reserve halfback - was recently featured on tele over here during Sannix HS tournament) and the other is from our school - was a JP high school rep (apparently) and has gone to NZ to try to break in to club rugby and hopefully ATM cup. He's also a halfback and is meant to be quite good.<br><br>
In the past, I used to play with two other guys who had gone to NZ to play club level, but both of them were on working holidays and not trying to advance - that's probably the difference, after seeing Tanaka and Horie do well, more younger players will go with higher goals.<br><br>
Finally, the JP name thing is worth remembering. My sisters are married to JP blokes, so their kids have JP names but go to school etc. etc. in NZ (they seem to like Cricket). I have a bunch of other friends (most of them Australian and Welsh) married to JP blokes, so we'll probably get more 'halfs' turning out in different places. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585379" data-time="1465253595"><p>
Naholo makes it 3 in recent times. But we did have Taumoepeau and Devine around the same time as Sivi, so it may not be a trend at all. Vidiri and Vanisi were just a egregious in the previous era.</p></blockquote>
<br>
True. I guess I'm talking more scholarships. So I've discounted Naholo.<br><br>
I don't know the number of scholarships, I actually suspect they are very few, but I've been expecting to see more come through - as the practice spreads outside of Auckland over the last decade - and it start to become an 'issue'. But it really hasn't.<br><br>
Apart from Sivi, the only other I know of before these 2 is David Smith; he had to serve 3 years after leaving school and then got into the NZ 7s. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="585383" data-time="1465254340"><p>
I can't speak for Wellington, but I know of two young players who've gone to NZ for rugby - one plays for Rotorua boys (reserve halfback - was recently featured on tele over here during Sannix HS tournament) and the other is from our school - was a JP high school rep (apparently) and has gone to NZ to try to break in to club rugby and hopefully ATM cup. He's also a halfback and is meant to be quite good.<br><br>
In the past, I used to play with two other guys who had gone to NZ to play club level, but both of them were on working holidays and not trying to advance - that's probably the difference, after seeing Tanaka and Horie do well, more younger players will go with higher goals.<br><br>
Finally, the JP name thing is worth remembering. My sisters are married to JP blokes, so their kids have JP names but go to school etc. etc. in NZ (they seem to like Cricket). I have a bunch of other friends (most of them Australian and Welsh) married to JP blokes, so we'll probably get more 'halfs' turning out in different places.</p></blockquote>
<br>
The Jaoanese 10 at the last World Cup spent a few years at, I think, CBHS. Not sure of his circumstances. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585379" data-time="1465253595">
<div>
<p>Naholo makes it 3 in recent times. But we did have Taumoepeau and Devine around the same time as Sivi, so it may not be a trend at all. Vidiri and<strong> Vanisi </strong>were just a egregious in the previous era.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>I think he came to NZ as a kid with his family.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="585388" data-time="1465255012">
<div>
<p>I don't know the number of scholarships, I actually suspect they are very few, but I've been expecting to see more come through - as the practice spreads outside of Auckland over the last decade - and it start to become an 'issue'. But it really hasn't.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Good point. I would say a lot of it has to do with top tier PI talent going with other options (GPS Queensland, GPS NSW, NRL U20s, Europe). Certainly seems like scholarship players are on the rise in NZ, but from a pure $$$ and opportunity standpoint playing schoolboys rugby in Australia or going onto a contract at the U20s is going to give you more cash sooner - I would dare say those outfits are more aggressive recruiters also.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585391" data-time="1465255878">
<div>
<p>Good point. I would say a lot of it has to do with top tier PI talent going with other options (GPS Queensland, GPS NSW, NRL U20s, Europe).<strong> Certainly seems like scholarship players are on the rise in NZ</strong>, but from a pure $$$ and opportunity standpoint playing schoolboys rugby in Australia or going onto a contract at the U20s is going to give you more cash sooner - I would dare say those outfits are more aggressive recruiters also.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Is it really (I don't actually know)? There's always been lots of PI scholarships in NZ (Josh Kronfeld's grandfather came out on one in the 1930s. ;)).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="585394" data-time="1465256817"><p>
Is it really (I don't actually know)? There's always been lots of PI scholarships in NZ (Josh Kronfeld's grandfather came out on one in the 1930s. ;)).</p></blockquote><br>
Anecdotally, I think it is. Article in the weekend about Naholo - that he has managed to get 2 of his brothers out here on scholarships now. One at Hastings Boys and the other at NPBHS. Did these schools have any scholarship places 10 yeas ago? I know my school which is a super 8, did not 20 odd years ago. Actually I don't know if they do now ..,,
