Exodus 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="550054" data-time="1451522185">
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<p><strong>West is not even close to being good enough at this level.</strong></p>
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<p>McKenzie junior is the one I would try for if coaching the Blues</p>
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<p>So your love affair with HB inside backs is over? Sweet.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="550019" data-time="1451512274">
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<p>@SouthernMan</p>
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<p>I'm probably just depressed when I see the Crusaders' halves for 2016: Drummond, Ellis, McKenzie (the less talented one), Mo'unga (who?), Volavola</p>
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<p>...as gentle and uninspiring as Blackadder at interview time.</p>
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<p>I sense a long season of mediocrity. Probably end up supporting the Canes in their bid to break their duck - might come down to whether they can beat World Rugby's 5th ranked team in the final...</p>
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<p>Oh boohoo. The Crusaders made their bed, now they have to sleep in it, same as every other franchise over the last twenty years.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="550076" data-time="1451525531">
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<p>I think that is short sighted, the NZRU fund the salaries of the Super teams and so should want to have a say in how their investment is run.</p>
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<p>We don't want to get into situations again where Mark Robinson misses out on a Super spot because each region was only wanting to hold on to their players and not pick the best players in the country.</p>
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<p>Also, and I say this as a fan of the team and the coach, it's ultra stupid for the Chiefs to have 3 AB halfbacks (or 3 of their quality if you want to denigrate their AB status).</p>
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<p>Are we pretending that the NZRU don't already dictate a shitload of what every franchise does? Forcing selections onto teams in the effort to spread out talent seems like a step too far IMO.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="550140" data-time="1451535205">
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<p>Oh boohoo. The Crusaders made their bed, now they have to sleep in it, same as every other franchise over the last twenty years.</p>
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<p><strong>Are we pretending that the NZRU don't already dictate a shitload of what every franchise does? Forcing selections onto teams in the effort to spread out talent seems like a step too far IMO</strong>.</p>
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<p>Why? They pay the bulk of the salaries, having an even comp is better for the long term viability of NZ rugby so they are entitled to have a say as to who goes where if it is in the best interests of NZ Rugby, or would we better if the franchises made all the decisions, like the clubs in the NH?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="550141" data-time="1451535472">
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<p>Why? They pay the bulk of the salaries, having an even comp is better for the long term viability of NZ rugby so they are entitled to have a say as to who goes where if it is in the best interests of NZ Rugby, or would we better if the franchises made all the decisions, like the clubs in the NH?</p>
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<p>No but I think there's a balance. If the NZRU dictated everything, the only difference between the five teams would be where they're based and at that point, who gives a shit who wins?</p> -
<p>Well, TBH I dont really care who wins when it comes to S1? just that NZ teams beat other countries and they dont ruin the other Kiwi teams chances if they are shite...</p>
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<p>But yeah, there needs to be a balance for sure, for the most part I dont think they are far off.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="550078" data-time="1451525613">
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<p>So your love affair with HB inside backs is over? Sweet.</p>
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<p>He's a competent NPC player that's all. Or maybe backup s18 level.</p>
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<p>But if the Blues want to be title contenders again</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="550170" data-time="1451547395">
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<p>I remember a time when Canterbury had like 4/5 top first fives, and pretty much kept them all.. Playing them at 12, fullback and wing.. </p>
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<p>well they have to want to leave too, at the time, it was easier into the ABs as a back-up Crusader than starting anywhere else! </p> -
Saracens have signed Schalk Burger for 2016/7 and 2017/8:<br><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.saracens.com/news-article/saracens-sign-springbok-legend-schalk-burger'>http://www.saracens.com/news-article/saracens-sign-springbok-legend-schalk-burger</a> -
<p>I imagine a South African exodus thread would run to many more pages. When I first went to Japan in 2000, I don't think there were any South Africans playing in the top-league at all.</p>
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<p>Now there are possibly more of them than there are NZers.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NZ Rugby Quizzes" data-cid="550599" data-time="1451937306"><p>I imagine a South African exodus thread would run to many more pages. When I first went to Japan in 2000, I don't think there were any South Africans playing in the top-league at all.<br><br>
Now there are possibly more of them than there are NZers.</p></blockquote>
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Yeah, it's mad over here now. Lots of older and younger talent that would drive the depth of the 6 Soup teams... -
<p>nz coaches must have 9 of the top 20 teams? more?</p>
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<p>Yeah, 9:</p>
<p>NZ</p>
<p>Wales</p>
<p>Ireland</p>
<p>Scotland</p>
<p>Georgia</p>
<p>Samoa</p>
<p>Fiji</p>
<p>Canada</p>
<p>USA</p>
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<p>It'll be 10 if Jamie Joseph ends up coaching Japan. The papers were talking about it as if he'd already signed just a month ago but apparently they're still negotiating.</p> -
<p>James Marshall to London Irish after this year's Super campaign.</p>
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<p>Keiran Crowley has apparently just resigned as coach of Canada to take up a job with a European team, this apparently only a couple years after signing an extension to his Canadian contract.</p>
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<p>I'm actually very positive about the Crusaders prospects for this year. We have a great mix of youth and experience, which I think is extremely important at SR level. Moreover, all of established ABs will have had a better preparation than they've had in years. At no.10, Mo'unga has had as good an apprenticeship as anyone could expect from a young first five, and will be good at this level. Whilst Dan and Richie will be missed, lets be brutally honest neither have really excelled at S15 level for a number of years. I like the fact that we'll have a hungry squad with a point to prove. I'm very disappointed about the losses of Laulala, Bird and Luke Whitelock, I believe all three players are developing into fine rugby players. But Crusaders fans are used to having our talented academy graduates plundered by other franchises, that's what happens when you invest heavily in youth development programs.</p>
