Exodus 2016

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
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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.
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 And other franchises fans are used to having their talented age grade players plundered by your bloody academy. So boo-fuckin-hoo.

Cantab79

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="551332" data-time="1452169839">
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 And other franchises fans are used to having their talented age grade players plundered by your bloody academy. So boo-fuckin-hoo.
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</blockquote>
 
They're upset that the Crusaders take promising schoolboys, invest significant time and resources into them, and turn them into All Blacks?
 
BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local? I also see a heap of Canterbury age level players playing for other franchises. That's what happens when there are only 5 franchises to sign to.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
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.
</blockquote>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551342" data-time="1452175452">
 
BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local?
</blockquote>
 Funny

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551342" data-time="1452175452">
<div>
They're upset that the Crusaders take promising schoolboys, invest significant time and resources into them, and turn them into All Blacks?
 
BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local? I also see a heap of Canterbury age level players playing for other franchises. That's what happens when there are only 5 franchises to sign to.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Yeah, I'm sure guys like Richie McCaw and Keiran Read would've been everyday journeymen if Canterbury hadn't poached them and [i]turned[/i] them into All Blacks.
 
Don't worry though, buddy, I'm not really complaining. If the Crusaders had just put a bit more effort in, perhaps Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Tucker, James Lowe, Nepo Laulala and Dom Bird would've been more willing to stay local instead of playing for the Chiefs.

mariner4life

Glory days well they'll pass you by glory days, in the wink of a young girls eye glory days 
 
gloryyyy daa-aa-a-aays

MN5

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="551400" data-time="1452208700">Glory days well they'll pass you by glory days, in the wink of a young girls eye glory days 
 
gloryyyy daa-aa-a-aays</blockquote>
 
As I read that the boss was belting out that very tune on the Sound. 
Eerie.

Cantab79

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="551400" data-time="1452208700">
<div>
Glory days well they'll pass you by glory days, in the wink of a young girls eye glory days 
 
gloryyyy daa-aa-a-aays
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</blockquote>
 
Yeah fair call. I guess when I long for the bygone glory days of the Crusaders I'll just have to make do and comfort myself with Canterbury's seven provincial titles from the past eight seasons.

Cantab79

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="551369" data-time="1452202296">
<div>
 
Yeah, I'm sure guys like Richie McCaw and Keiran Read would've been everyday journeymen if Canterbury hadn't poached them and turned them into All Blacks.
 
Don't worry though, buddy, I'm not really complaining. If the Crusaders had just put a bit more effort in, perhaps Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Tucker, James Lowe, Nepo Laulala and Dom Bird would've been more willing to stay local instead of playing for the Chiefs.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
No franchise can keep every player they develop. And as much as I'd have loved for the Crusaders to have been able to keep Laulala, Bird and Whitelock (three CRFU academy graduates who our system turned into All Blacks) the reality is none of these players were guaranteed starters at the Crusaders. Such is their depth in the forwards.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551431" data-time="1452228158">
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Yeah fair call. I guess when I long for the bygone glory days of the Crusaders I'll just have to make do and comfort myself with Canterbury's seven provincial titles from the past eight seasons.
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You're embarassing us other Crusaders fans. I thought this one-eyed provinical BS was from a bygone era.

Cantab79

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="551447" data-time="1452232221">
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You're embarassing us other Crusaders fans. I thought this one-eyed provinical BS was from a bygone era.
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</blockquote>
 
May as well scrap ITM Cup Rugby and Super Rugby if taking pride in one's province and franchise is considered "BS" from a "bygone era". Just play a series of AB trials and then start the test season.

No Quarter

Sounds good to me.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
<div>
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.
</div>
</blockquote>
Spoken like a typical Canterbury supporting muppet.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551433" data-time="1452228318">
<div>
Bird and Whitelock (three CRFU academy graduates who our system turned into All Blacks) the reality is none of these players were guaranteed starters at the Crusaders. Such is their depth in the forwards.
</div>
</blockquote>
Hahahahahahahaha you really are a clown.

Crucial

I haven't watched any NH rugby so forgive me if my comments are misguided, but the cynical among us really wonder about the quality level of the game up there when you read quotes like this (from a respected rugby press) 
 
"28-year-old (Hadleigh) Parkes, also a Kiwi, is one of the men benefiting from Pivacâ€™s license to play and has been among the best players in the Pro12 so far this season."

mariner4life

I have just discovered Eurosport has heaps of French and Japanese rugby on. 
 
I watched some of a Japanese game the other day, it was fucking atrocious! Holes everywhere, guys looking at rucks, people walking. No wonder guys take the money and play there, it's shit and the money is unreal. How is that a fully professional comp?!

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="551742" data-time="1452466687">
<div>
I have just discovered Eurosport has heaps of French and Japanese rugby on. 
 
I watched some of a Japanese game the other day, it was fucking atrocious! Holes everywhere, guys looking at rucks, people walking. No wonder guys take the money and play there, it's shit and the money is unreal. How is that a fully professional comp?!
</div>
</blockquote>
 
so what you are really saying is, if I was 10 years younger I'd be al over that shit!

mariner4life

pffft i wasn't even close to being good enough even for that, but i can see why it's an attractive offer, especially for the injury prone, it doesn't look too rough. But i will take any comment that someone will be ok for international rugby because they are killing it in japan with a huuuuge grain of salt.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="551727" data-time="1452462301">
<div>
I haven't watched any NH rugby so forgive me if my comments are misguided, but the cynical among us really wonder about the quality level of the game up there when you read quotes like this (from a respected rugby press) 
 
"28-year-old (Hadleigh) Parkes, also a Kiwi, is one of the men benefiting from Pivacâ€™s license to play and has been among the best players in the Pro12 so far this season."
</div>
</blockquote>
 
To be fair, Pro 12 is like the 3rd division. Its a stack of shithouse Italian, Irish & Italian teams. And the Welsh. Its a very shallow talent pool, you don't have to be very good to be one of Zebre or Glasgows top players
 
You want to watch top flight Welsh players you watch the HC teams from France.

ulsterman

The best 4 or 5 teams in the Pro12 - on current form Ulster, Leinster, Scarlets, Glasgow and Ospreys - could just about hold a game against (say) the worst 5 teams in Super Rugby.
 
The rest of them would have trouble in the ITM Cup.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="551727" data-time="1452462301">
<div>
I haven't watched any NH rugby so forgive me if my comments are misguided, but the cynical among us really wonder about the quality level of the game up there when you read quotes like this (from a respected rugby press) 
 
"28-year-old (Hadleigh) Parkes, also a Kiwi, is one of the men benefiting from Pivacâ€™s license to play and has been among the best players in the Pro12 so far this season."
</div>
</blockquote>
From what I have seen (mainly the Irish sides play), Leinster would finish mid table SXV, Ulster have decent enough backs but woeful forwards, Munster are a complete shadow of their former selves and ITM cup material. Ditto for Connacht.
 
The Pro 12 is losing relevance outside of the teams that participate, the vast majority of SH players are heading to UK & France with the odd exception (eg Piutau). Francis Saili has been very poor for Munster.

The Silver Fern

Exodus 2016