Exodus
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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.
@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.
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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.
@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
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@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
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@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
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@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
@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.
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@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.
@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.
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@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.
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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.
@mariner4life said in Exodus:
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.
Minor point but Savea is available for the ABs next year. Also, Cane is still around, just likely won't be starting. Lock and 10 looks very light.
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@gt12 yeah, I don't know why and I know it's pretty much criminal to say here, but I find Retallick rather overrated. I feel like he had a couple of seasons where he was a bit of a beast, but I don't think I'd have him in my all time.
@gt12 yeah, I don't know why and I know it's pretty much criminal to say here, but I find Retallick rather overrated. I feel like he had a couple of seasons where he was a bit of a beast, but I don't think I'd have him in my all time.
Huh there's a loud anti-BBBR squad on here, I see you've already picked up a like from the squad leader.
@gt12 He was in way better form last year than he was given credit for, whereas Whitelock was fawned over for similar form, so it's swings and roundabouts to how they're rated really. That 2015 steal is anything but underrated, it's constantly brought up (and deservedly so).
I love them both, the guy who plays for the Magpies/Chiefs shades it for me over the guy who has the double negative of being from the Poo and plays for the Crusaders obviously.
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@gt12 yeah, I don't know why and I know it's pretty much criminal to say here, but I find Retallick rather overrated. I feel like he had a couple of seasons where he was a bit of a beast, but I don't think I'd have him in my all time.
Huh there's a loud anti-BBBR squad on here, I see you've already picked up a like from the squad leader.
@gt12 He was in way better form last year than he was given credit for, whereas Whitelock was fawned over for similar form, so it's swings and roundabouts to how they're rated really. That 2015 steal is anything but underrated, it's constantly brought up (and deservedly so).
I love them both, the guy who plays for the Magpies/Chiefs shades it for me over the guy who has the double negative of being from the Poo and plays for the Crusaders obviously.
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Liam Allen has signed an injury replacement contract with Lyon, to cover for injured Jordan Taufua (neck injury) and Maxime Gouzou (ACL), starting in March until ????
https://www.lourugby.fr/liam-allen-rejoint-le-lou-en-tant-que-joker-medical
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Blade Thompson retires after head injury -
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-fans-favourite-quits-26257249 -
@Bovidae He's the type of player who unfortunately is a big loss, never going to be an AB , but so important to depth!
@Bovidae He's the type of player who unfortunately is a big loss, never going to be an AB , but so important to depth!
A little more than that IMO.
We are very quick to write players off in NZ if they don't look test standard after a couple of years.
Nankivell is 26 and each year he has shown improvements to his game while gaining experience. He is exactly the type of player that other countries target, qualify then turn back at us (eg Lowe, JGP etc).
Not saying he will be an international elsewhere but does roughly fit that scenario.
The concern isn't the other teams getting him, it is us missing out on possibly having a 28 year old, very experienced midfield player in the best form of his life as all the pieces of the puzzle come together for him.
Evidence in NZ over recen times though shows that those players are usually ignored in favour of some flash young potential that has to learn on the job.
Pity. -
Blade Thompson retires after head injury -
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-fans-favourite-quits-26257249@Daffy-Jaffy said in Exodus:
Blade Thompson retires after head injury -
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/welsh-rugby-fans-favourite-quits-26257249That's sad to hear, he's the third player from the 2015 Hurricanes to retire with concussion issues (Goodes and Broadhurst were the others).
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@Bovidae He's the type of player who unfortunately is a big loss, never going to be an AB , but so important to depth!
A little more than that IMO.
We are very quick to write players off in NZ if they don't look test standard after a couple of years.
Nankivell is 26 and each year he has shown improvements to his game while gaining experience. He is exactly the type of player that other countries target, qualify then turn back at us (eg Lowe, JGP etc).
Not saying he will be an international elsewhere but does roughly fit that scenario.
The concern isn't the other teams getting him, it is us missing out on possibly having a 28 year old, very experienced midfield player in the best form of his life as all the pieces of the puzzle come together for him.
Evidence in NZ over recen times though shows that those players are usually ignored in favour of some flash young potential that has to learn on the job.
Pity. -
@Crucial I would have picked him ahead of RTS, who was only in the ABs on league reputation and perceived potential, and nothing else.
@Stargazer said in Exodus:
@Crucial I would have picked him ahead of RTS, who was only in the ABs on league reputation and perceived potential, and nothing else.
I'm not saying he is AB material at the moment just that he looks to be still on the up and by the time he reaches his 'best' he could be a very good player with heaps of experience. Has some rough edges and decision making issues at times but they usually disappear over time.
It is hard though. What do you do with players in that boat to keep them? Not quite at the level for high salary or high level games but could get there and be very valuable. -
@Stargazer said in Exodus:
@Crucial I would have picked him ahead of RTS, who was only in the ABs on league reputation and perceived potential, and nothing else.
I'm not saying he is AB material at the moment just that he looks to be still on the up and by the time he reaches his 'best' he could be a very good player with heaps of experience. Has some rough edges and decision making issues at times but they usually disappear over time.
It is hard though. What do you do with players in that boat to keep them? Not quite at the level for high salary or high level games but could get there and be very valuable.
