Exodus 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="551727" data-time="1452462301">
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<p>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) </p>
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<p>"28-year-old (Hadleigh)<strong> Parkes</strong>, also a Kiwi, is one of the men benefiting from Pivac’s license to play and <strong>has been among the best players in the Pro12</strong> so far this season."</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>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.</p> -
They love pat lam out wesht of Ireland. From where I'm sitting Connacht are heading to their usual mid table pro 12 finish and the European challenge cup. Same old same old. Expect lam will hand pick a few more ITM cup journeymen to head there. Dunno what bundee Aki was thinking.
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<p>guess this is as good of a place as any...We all feel bad for the rich French fulla right? maybe he should kit Toulon out in Black as that seems to be what inspires Nonu the best!</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/75800356/toulon-owner-mourad-boudjellal-lashes-maa-nonu-tom-taylor-and-quade-cooper'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/75800356/toulon-owner-mourad-boudjellal-lashes-maa-nonu-tom-taylor-and-quade-cooper</a></p>
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<p>All Blacks Ma'a Nonu and Tom Taylor and Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper have all felt the sting of outspoken Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal who has been critical of their early efforts in Europe.</p>
<p>The big-spending Frenchman has high standards and he expects his players and team to meet them.</p>
<p>But he's not been happy with some of his latest high profile signings as Toulon struggle in fourth in the French Top 14 championship with seven wins and five losses. In their European Champions Cup pool they lie second to London Wasps.</p>
<p>Cooper has had a tough act to follow in the form of England legend Jonny Wilkinson in the red No 10 jersey.</p>
<p><b>READ MORE:<br>
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/75775574/dan-carter-too-good-for-chris-masoe-when-it-comes-to-speaking-french'>Clever Carter bemuses Masoe</a> <br>
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/75796884/all-black-ben-smith-offers-to-host-personal-training-session-for-young-fans'>All Black helps out young fans</a> <br>
* <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/75763162/manu-tuilagi-set-to-miss-start-of-six-nations-despite-premiership-return'>Tuilagi back but no 6N yet</a></b></p>
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<p>Asked how the change was working, Boudjellal told <i>Quinze Mondial</i>: "It's difficult to go from foie gras to pâté."</p>
<p>That translated to having Wilkinson as the duck delicacy and Cooper as the standard fare.</p>
<p>"For now, Cooper is not what I was hoping for. But we have to also give him time.</p>
<p>"Right now if I say that I'm not happy with our stars, it's only because we expect a lot. It's true that in our imagination, we want them to fly across the pitch. </p>
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<div>"We've been spoiled somewhat by [Tana] Umaga and then Wilkinson, so maybe we need to give them time…"</div>
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<p>Earlier Boudjellal had been critical of his two New Zealand signings.</p>
<p>He had labelled some of Nonu's performances as the backline's king-pin as "disappointing" but said he was "not worried" and that the All Blacks double World Cup winner wasn't "a lost bet".</p>
<p>He had told<i> Le 10 Sport</i>: "I can't tell you that I don't have concerns when I see the performances of Ma'a Nonu<i>.</i>"</p>
<p>Taylor didn't escape his frank views either, clearly not giving his boss too much confidence with his goalkicking.</p>
<p>"I have the impression that Tom Taylor, an All Black, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt," Boudjellal said.</p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p> -
<p>you buy blokes on the verge of retirement, and buy a team of players who are playing for the cheque book, pay them an obscene amount of money, and you wonder why they aren't pissing blood for you? What a tool, these guys are test players, Toulon are not a country. </p>
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<p>Nonu was never going to put his body on the line for Toulon. He wouldn't do it for the Blues or the Highlanders, let alone bloody Toulon.</p>
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<p>All I have to say about that is LOL.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="551906" data-time="1452553249">
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<p>Nonu was never going to put his body on the line for Toulon. He wouldn't do it for the Blues or the Highlanders, let alone bloody Toulon.</p>
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<p>All I have to say about that is LOL.</p>
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<p>Forget body on the line - how do you expect these guys to play top quality rugby after playing almost 12 months straight culminating in the biggest physical and mental effort of their careers in late October. They need a serious spell in order to play top quality rugby - if they ever could for Toulon, that's not Nonu specific.</p> -
<p>yep, Nonu was probably in career best form for the whole of 2015, with his AB career coming to an end, going out on the ultimate rugby high, even if he isn't physically drained, he must be mentally.</p>
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<p>Ridiculous comment about Tom Taylor. How does that help his performance in any way?</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I have the impression that Tom Taylor, an All Black, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt," Boudjellal said.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You sir are a dick</span></p> -
<p>Quade doesn't want to be there - was pretty open about that a few months back, but was forced into it by some earlier poor decison making.</p>
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<p>Nonu sounds about as I;d expect, given the previous 12 months and previous provincial form (outside the canes).</p>
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<p>Taylor, pointless comment really. But I'm not sure what his expectations of Taylor are, did he ever watch him play?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="551898" data-time="1452546256">
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<p>Taylor didn't escape his frank views either, clearly not giving his boss too much confidence with his goalkicking.</p>
<p>"I have the impression that Tom Taylor, <strong>an All Black</strong>, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt," Boudjellal said.</p>
<p><strong> - Stuff</strong></p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="552011" data-time="1452575705">
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<p>Taylor, pointless comment really. But I'm not sure what his expectations of Taylor are, did he ever watch him play?</p>
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<p>I think that is the expectation there...</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="552014" data-time="1452576147">
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<p>I think that is the expectation there...</p>
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<p>If that's the case then they've only got themselves to blame, they should've taken a closer look before throwing a shitload of money at him. Even when he made the ABs in 2013, he was still just the fourth choice 10 and by 2015, he'd sunk down to sixth choice.</p>
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<p>As for Nonu, it's not the first time he's had an insanely long season and suffered the consequences. He had a sabbatical in Japan after the 2011 RWC and didn't look too hot when he came back.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="552023" data-time="1452579200">
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<p>If that's the case then they've only got themselves to blame, they should've taken a closer look before throwing a shitload of money at him. Even when he made the ABs in 2013, he was still just the fourth choice 10 and by 2015, he'd sunk down to sixth choice.</p>
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<p>As for Nonu, it's not the first time he's had an insanely long season and suffered the consequences. He had a sabbatical in Japan after the 2011 RWC and didn't look too hot when he came back.</p>
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<p>NOt saying he is right, but that was likely thier expectation; a guy that played for the ABs so the expectation would be to walk off the plane and hit the field running...I expect the fact he had 1 cap following injuries was not a huge part of signing him, it was 'former All Black Tom Taylor' </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="552023" data-time="1452579200">
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<p>If that's the case then they've only got themselves to blame,<strong> they should've taken a closer look before throwing a shitload of money at him</strong>. Even when he made the ABs in 2013, he was still just the fourth choice 10 and by 2015, he'd sunk down to sixth choice.</p>
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<p>As for Nonu, it's not the first time he's had an insanely long season and suffered the consequences. He had a sabbatical in Japan after the 2011 RWC and didn't look too hot when he came back.</p>
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<p>I doubt Toulon has thrown a shitload of money at Tom Taylor. He's just on loan from Bayonne for one year. The money will be good, but no where near as much as Nonu.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="551905" data-time="1452552468">
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<p>you buy blokes on the verge of retirement, and buy a team of players who are playing for the cheque book, pay them an obscene amount of money, and you wonder why they aren't pissing blood for you? What a tool, these guys are test players, Toulon are not a country. </p>
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<p>As he notes tho' thats exactly what he bought in terms of Wilkenson & he was fantastic. Really outstanding. Same with Matt Gittau</p>
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<p>He's bought a few massive semi retired players & they have been among the top performers in Europe, so when he buys others & they don't give a shit he gets miffed.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Siam" data-cid="551975" data-time="1452568218">
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<p>Ridiculous comment about Tom Taylor. How does that help his performance in any way?</p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">"I have the impression that Tom Taylor, an All Black, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt," Boudjellal said.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You sir are a dick</span></p>
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<p>And if there is one aspect of rugby Taylor shouldn't be worried about, it is his kicking. He had the best stats for awhile didn't he? Or did even that go downhill?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="552157" data-time="1452598624">
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<p>As he notes tho' thats exactly what he bought in terms of Wilkenson & he was fantastic. Really outstanding. Same with Matt Gittau</p>
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<p>He's bought a few massive semi retired players & they have been among the top performers in Europe, so when he buys others & they don't give a shit he gets miffed.</p>
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<p>Yeah, he resurrected Juan Smith's career.</p>
