Exodus 2018
-
Officially name, along with crazy Danny Cips!
@machpants Ha - a few of these photos "are not like the others".
Based on these I'd pick Shields over Willis!
http://www.englandrugby.com/england/senior-england-men/squads/
-
Most manly beard on tour award goes to Shields, for sure
Jeez some of those pics are awful, bad shots poorly photo shopped onto a white background
@machpants I'd pick him because he's about five times bigger than a lot of the others!
-
@machpants The people who were stickmen a couple of minutes ago (Hill and Spencer) have become giants!
-
@machpants The people who were stickmen a couple of minutes ago (Hill and Spencer) have become giants!
-
@machpants Probably.
Are you going to create a new thread for this?
-
Basically journos on both sides of the world got exposed for not doing their homework and verifying the drivel they jumped at. NZ Rugby was fully within their contract rights to make Eddie wait.
The only complication as far as NZ goes is the position the Hurricanes were placed in. Let him go and he gets hammered with travel/training and playing before the pointy end of the season. Make him stay and he will be pissed off that his chance to cement a place in Eddie's squad may have been squandered and his attitude could change.
The other thing NZR would want to keep promoting is the concept that they are fair to those in the NZ Rugby family. I note that they emphasise the 'best wishes' part of things.It is probably a masterstroke in that it will be Shields that shells a pass with the line open and signs England's death warrant at the RWC.
-
Basically journos on both sides of the world got exposed for not doing their homework and verifying the drivel they jumped at. NZ Rugby was fully within their contract rights to make Eddie wait.
The only complication as far as NZ goes is the position the Hurricanes were placed in. Let him go and he gets hammered with travel/training and playing before the pointy end of the season. Make him stay and he will be pissed off that his chance to cement a place in Eddie's squad may have been squandered and his attitude could change.
The other thing NZR would want to keep promoting is the concept that they are fair to those in the NZ Rugby family. I note that they emphasise the 'best wishes' part of things.It is probably a masterstroke in that it will be Shields that shells a pass with the line open and signs England's death warrant at the RWC.
-
Everything aside, I still think this is lame of Eddie.
Picking Shields means an up and coming number 6 already in the England setup misses out. You'd think Shields would at least have to prove himself up here first.
-
@majorrage On point one and two, yes.
On point three, no. Hansen, Chieka and whoever the new Bok coach is can all pick pretty effectively from Super rugby.
-
and it looks like they've photo-shopped Mark Wilson's head on!! Shields def looks the most badass
-
@chris-b said in Exodus 2018:
@majorrage On point one and two, yes.
On point three, no. Hansen, Chieka and whoever the new Bok coach is can all pick pretty effectively from Super rugby.
Sorry don't follow on your point 3?
@majorrage I don't see why Eddie would need to watch Shields play rugby in the NH.
Hansen, Chieka etc can pick pretty good teams just by watching their players in Super rugby.
I'm sure Eddie can also watch Shields in Super rugby and have a pretty good idea of his capabilities.
-
@majorrage I don't see why Eddie would need to watch Shields play rugby in the NH.
Hansen, Chieka etc can pick pretty good teams just by watching their players in Super rugby.
I'm sure Eddie can also watch Shields in Super rugby and have a pretty good idea of his capabilities.
-
@chris-b ah, got ya. Yep, fair point.
Lets flip it though. Would you be happy for Hansen to select a NZer who had never played in NZ (NPC, Super) as had been based in England and played Aviva Prem & Champions Cup?
-
Actually, I should probably quantify that to not appear too "arrogant".
There's quite a few people from that Lions squad last year that I'd be comfortable selecting for the ABs. But, none of them are eligible.
But, I can't imagine picking anyone uncapped from a Euro club.
-
@chris-b ah, got ya. Yep, fair point.
Lets flip it though. Would you be happy for Hansen to select a NZer who had never played in NZ (NPC, Super) as had been based in England and played Aviva Prem & Champions Cup?
@majorrage said in Exodus 2018:
@chris-b ah, got ya. Yep, fair point.
Lets flip it though. Would you be happy for Hansen to select a NZer who had never played in NZ (NPC, Super) as had been based in England and played Aviva Prem & Champions Cup?
I think there is some validity to that angle.
Super Rugby and NH rugby are different in their styles. There is no denying that when players that can't cut the mustard in Super Rugby find their niche up north and are touted as being very good (eg Jason Woodward). There are also players whose games suit SH rugby, go north for money and find that their skillset doesn't translate as well.
It isn't a case of the NH 'style' being a lesser product. It is a different product that suits different skillsets.
Surely that also moves into the international arena. Until we can see if Shields 'fits in' with the instincts of those around him we don't know his worth. Eddie is taking a punt.
