Exodus

All Blacks Test and Highlander’s centurion Aaron Smith has announced he will spend time playing overseas at the end of 2023.

Smith and Beauden Barrett have signed with the Toyota club in Japan and while Smith has committed to a long-term contract, New Zealand Rugby is working with Barrett on a return to playing on home soil.

Stargazer

Toyota Verblitz' announcements:

https://twitter.com/toyotaverblitz/status/1622837695348346881

https://twitter.com/toyotaverblitz/status/1622837762004234241

I wonder where Hansen plans to use BB, at fullback or at 10. The current starting 10 is Tiaan Falcon. Can't see him staying at Toyota if BB is going to take that 10 jersey, unless they shift Falcon to 15. Or Falcon is coming back home ...

Mackerzzzz

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

Plenty of rumours, but nothing official about Retallick, so not posting that.

This is official:

https://twitter.com/Highlanders/status/1622839620034777090

From the media release (link in tweet):

All Blacks Test and Highlander’s centurion Aaron Smith has announced he will spend time playing overseas at the end of 2023.

Smith and Beauden Barrett have signed with the Toyota club in Japan and while Smith has committed to a long-term contract, New Zealand Rugby is working with Barrett on a return to playing on home soil.

It doesn't seem to say how longs smith's contract Is? Anyone know?

Stargazer

@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.

gt12

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.

I had a quick look at the Japanese media and couldn't find anything.

Mackerzzzz

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.

So long term is the same length as not long term? (Aka Barrett) sound about right

mariner4life

So weird to think we are what, 16 months from an AB test that will feature a new coaching group.

And that new coaching group will be without the following stalwarts that will feature all this year

Our two veteran starting locks
Openside and Captain
Starting #8
Our starting #9
BOTH our starting options at 10, one who is the starting 15.

This alone would be huge if it wasn't also followed up by the fact that, barring one lock and the openside, there is literally no one to step in that has TEST PLAYER written all over him.

Even with the ATGs that left after 2015 we were comfy that there were replacements.

2024 will certainly be interesting. If Foster already knows he is gone come November, then he won't spend even a micro-second doing anything to build depth this year either, he'll be focused on his top 23 being 100% ready for the RWC.

Chester Draws

@mariner4life said in Exodus:

2024 will certainly be interesting. If Foster already knows he is gone come November, then he won't spend even a micro-second doing anything to build depth this year either, he'll be focused on his top 23 being 100% ready for the RWC.

Which won't necessarily be bad for the players moving in. I haven't seen much sign that the current AB camp is making players any better. Especially as the current selection strategy means that the new players almost never get a game.

KiwiMurph

@mariner4life The other way of looking at is players have 2 Super seasons to put their hand up for those spots - that's a long time where a lot can change.

Bovidae

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

Plenty of rumours, but nothing official about Retallick, so not posting that.

https://www.chiefs.co.nz/news-item/brodie-retallick-to-play-offshore-in-2024

Yeetyaah

@Bovidae obviously expected but God fucking damn I'm gonna miss the big guy. Arguably our greatest ever lock. Man deserves some extra cash and a cosy retirement.

Dan54

@Bovidae I actually thought this was announced a weeks back, maybe Lurch had just said he wasn't available for ABs after WC.

Stargazer

@Mackerzzzz said in Exodus:

@Stargazer said in Exodus:

@Mackerzzzz I haven't seen the exact duration published anywhere, but "long-term" contracts with Japanese clubs are often 3 years.

So long term is the same length as not long term? (Aka Barrett) sound about right

Huh? Barrett hasn't signed a 3-year contract.

gt12

@Yeetyaah said in Exodus:

@Bovidae obviously expected but God fucking damn I'm gonna miss the big guy. Arguably our greatest ever lock. Man deserves some extra cash and a cosy retirement.

I love me some Guzzler, but he’s been mostly living off past form for a couple of years due to absence, injury, and pretty average play. This year is quite important in terms of where he stands against others. If he gets back to his best then I think he retires the best of his generation.

If not, he will shaded by Whitelock IMO. I still believe that his line out steal in 2015 is criminally underrated, and although he had a similar lack of form through 2017-2019 (that fucking semi final push), he’s been fucking excellent the last two years.

The Silver Fern

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