Exodus 2018

[taniwharugby]

@kiwimurph good move...now the shitstorm if Eddie actually selects him from within England!

[Bovidae]

NZR comes up smelling of roses (pun intended).

[Machpants]

Not really, they should have let the RU go to WR and ask for Shields release, proven that their interpretation of that sub clause is correct, egg on Eddie's face - then release him.

Gregor is talking himself in knots:

"NZR, in announcing their decision to release Shields, remained adamant they had a strong case to not do so"

"Across New Zealand there are significant numbers of dual-qualified players who may now find it easier to commit their international allegiance elsewhere in the middle of their Super Rugby contracts, knowing NZR, despite insistence otherwise, is powerless to stop them."

How does it go from NZR say they don;t have to release players to powerless to prevent it? God journos talk arse to stir shit.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12049027

[Stargazer]

[Machpants]

Officially name, along with crazy Danny Cips!

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/44066387

[Chris B.]

@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/

[Machpants]

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

[Chris B.]

@machpants I'd pick him because he's about five times bigger than a lot of the others!

[Machpants]

So's his beard!

[Chris B.]

@machpants The people who were stickmen a couple of minutes ago (Hill and Spencer) have become giants!

[Machpants]

@chris-b PED testing required on this tour, methings

[Chris B.]

@machpants Probably.

Are you going to create a new thread for this?

[Crucial]

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.

[MajorRage]

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.

[Chris B.]

@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.

[MajorRage]

@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?

[Paekakboyz]

and it looks like they've photo-shopped Mark Wilson's head on!! Shields def looks the most badass

[Chris B.]

@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]

@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?

[Chris B.]

@majorrage No - but, almost no-one is signed from the NH to play rugby in the SH, whereas the NH spend millions each year to sign people based on Super rugby evidence.