European Club Rugby
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<p>I have looked a bit at the stats of NZ players (or other players who used to play in NZ) in the Aviva Premiership.</p>
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<p>It's interesting that three players who debuted in the comp recently scored a try on debut:</p>
<p>Bryce Heem - Worcester Warriors (has played 2 games)</p>
<p>Teluse Veainu - Leicester Tigers (has scored 4 tries in 5 games, incl 2 Eur Champions Cup games)</p>
<p>Brendon O'Connor - Leicester Tigers (scored that try in his first of 2 Eur Champions Cup games; has played 3 games in total for LT)</p>
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<p>Other players debuting in England this year:</p>
<p>Charles Piutau - London Wasps - has scored one try and played 3 games (one Eur Champions Cup game)</p>
<p>Frank Halai - London Wasps - has scored 2 tries in 5 games (one Eur Champions Cup game) </p>
<p>Jeremy Thrush - Gloucester - has played 3 games (two Eur Challenge Cup games)</p>
<p>Willi Heinz - Gloucester - has played 6 games (one Eur Challenge Cup game)</p>
<p>Ben Franks - London Irish - made his debut this weekend (a loss to London Wasps)</p>
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<p>Of the other players, Nick Evans - Harlequins - is leading the Premiership's top points scorer's list at the moment with 84 points from 5 games (2 tries, 7 conversions and 20 penalties).</p> -
<p>goo to see pat and his boys going well</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="545140" data-time="1448762379">
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<p>Pat Lam's Connacht have gone top of the Pro 12 after beating Munster in Limerick this morning. He's been doing great over there to turn that club around.</p>
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<p>They went top last weekend after their 33-19 win against Treviso in round 7.</p>
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<p>Long way to go in the season, and Lam has benefited from having very few RWC absentees from his squad so their next matches against Cardiff, Ulster and Leinster will tell a lot. Teams need to win approx 12 games to be in the mix for the top 6 European Cup spots. They've 7 in the bag so far. If they can stay in the top four, it would be one hell of an achievement.</p>
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<p>Last night was a strong win for the men in green, and the combo between Henshaw and Aki for the last minute try was great to watch as part of a Connacht desire to go for the hammer blow rather than try hold out for a one-point win.</p>
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<p>Lots of talk of Henshaw being snaffled to cross the Shannon and join Leinster next season - hopefully he stays put with the promise of H Cup rugby next season. </p> -
So is Brendan O'Connor English qualified?
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<p>Thought Veainu was a bit unlucky down here. Deserved a lot more super rugby time than what he got.</p>
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<p>How soon will Steddie rush him in then I wonder?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="545337" data-time="1448829287">
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<p><strong>Bundee O'Aki</strong> going great and has some Jerry Collins tribute guns to go with it. Must be nothing to do in Connacht except hit the gym.</p>
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<p>If he had stayed here he could of been a contender this year. Aki/ Fekitoa midfield anyone? </p>
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<p>You're not doing it right.</p>
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<p>Bundà O'AkÃ</p>
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<p>Always rated him higher than Saili, but it was Francis who got the AB caps. Think there is about 18 months until BA can theoretically swap the Connacht green for the Irish green.</p>
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<p>Not sure Bundee was quite at the level to become a permanent fixture in black, but certainly a talented player.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://vine.co/v/iaw6vFnUxdX'>https://vine.co/v/iaw6vFnUxdX</a></p> -
Heenan is perma-injured Jegga. Already 2 shoulder reconstructions I think.
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<p>Daniel Kirkpatrick (Castres) had a tackle gone wrong badly this weekend. Totally knocked-out. He tweeted early this morning he was okay, fortunately.</p>
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<p>It happened at 1'20''</p>
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<p>[media]
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<p>Not long after, former NZ7s, Wellington & Taranaki player Alex Tulou scored his 5th try of the season (in 7 games, including one Eur Challenge Cup game).</p>
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<p><em>Edit: yes, in the beginning of the video they briefly discuss/show the ref who officiated the semi-final between the All Blacks & Springboks.</em></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="545346" data-time="1448832551"><p>Heenan is perma-injured Jegga. Already 2 shoulder reconstructions I think.</p></blockquote>
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That's no good , he was in this article a couple of months ago <a class="bbc_url" href="http://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/72159970/The-lives-and-times-of-players-in-exile">http://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life/72159970/The-lives-and-times-of-players-in-exile</a> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="545346" data-time="1448832551"><p>
Heenan is perma-injured Jegga. Already 2 shoulder reconstructions I think.</p></blockquote>
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His contract is up in May next year, BT. There's going to be a few provincial dances and shuffles by season end with a lot of Irish players at end of contracts and negotiating for better terms. <br><br>
Heenan isn't a project player and prone to injury. The IRFU may think their national back row stocks are sufficient and it'll be up to Lam as to whether he's worth renewing. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="545342" data-time="1448831828"><p>
You're not doing it right.<br><br>
Bundà O'AkÃ<br></p></blockquote>Neither are you. <br><br>
It would be Bun D. O' Kee <br>
Or possibly Bundy McKee
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Pot Hale" data-cid="545473" data-time="1448901391">
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<p>Neither are you.<br><br>
It would be Bun D. O' Kee<br>
Or possibly Bundy McKee :)</p>
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<p>I'll defer to a true Irishman on how to give a Polynesian an Irish flavour to their name...</p>
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<p>I thought Heenan IS a project player?</p> -
<p>Pat Lam is certainly making waves in Connacht. A young team playing the best rugby in the pro12 and winning. Its his third year there and was given time to build the squad.</p>
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<p>Jake Heenan had shoulder surgery and came back too early last season and damaged the same shoulder. So he has missed about 2 years through injury. </p>
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<p>The Aki try is here. Good finish. <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href=' -
<p>Connacht have done brilliantly - it's only a few years ago that their die hard fans had to march on Dublin to save the team from the axe. They have gone from being an underfunded feeder team in the GAA heartlands, everyone's favourite second side, to top of the pile and I can't think of anyone in our league who would begrude them their hard-won status right now.</p>
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<p>Night's over in Galway were never easy with that wind whipping up what seemed like half the Atlantic Ocean to sting opponents faces, and now they have a beast of a pack and are not afraid to play wide -</p>
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<p>Gwan the Wesht,</p>
<p>(unless you're playing Edinburgh or Glasgow)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="545481" data-time="1448907740"><p>
I'll defer to a true Irishman on how to give a Polynesian an Irish flavour to their name...<br><br>
I thought Heenan IS a project player?</p></blockquote>
BT - He's been cited as being one by some media largely because he fits the profile of uncapped young player from another country (apparently he's third generation Irish as well which means nothing for qualification thankfully). <br><br>
However, Heenan is quoted as saying it would be a good achievement to be asked after his 3 year contract is up, but he's not sure that's the route he'll want to take. Doesn't sound very project-like to me. <br><br>
I remain highly sceptical about the whole programme, which players fall into it, and how realistic prospects are. More than happy for the players to stay on and enjoy themselves playing for the provinces, but don't stand in the way of the domestic players for test caps remains my view. Hopefully WR change it to 5/7 years residency soon and that'll can it pretty good because it's effective immediately since it's not contractual - a bit like the foreign player provincial restrictions which curtailed renewal of some contracts in last few years. <br><br>
Be interesting to see what happens with Payne when he recovers from injury. Does Schmidt continue with him or start to look at some other domestic prospects for midfield and developing them? Hopefully so. <br><br>
And will Schmidt call up CJ Stander now that he's passed the 3-year mark at Munster? Probably the best No 8 out of the other choices beyond Heaslip - Conan, Murphy, etc. Stander is a highly popular player down south and made captain and very committed to the cause it would appear. A bit like Richardt Strauss who became an Irish citizen last year along with Joe Schmidt and even took the time to learn the Gaelic words to the Irish national anthem. <br><br>
You've got to admire the commitment of some of these players but it's the thin edge of the wedge and it has to be stopped.
