Exodus 2016

Bovidae

I'd want a 1st 5 who has demonstrated he can lead his team around the park and win titles. 
 
Barrett's impact would be similar to Evans at a UK club.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="560871" data-time="1456443360">
<div>
I'd want a 1st 5 who has demonstrated he can lead his team around the park and win titles. 
 
Barrett's impact would be similar to Evans at a UK club.
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Sounds like it's Cruden for you.
 
Evans has become a complete legend at Quins is my understanding, not that I follow English club rugby very closely.
 
FWIW, I think Cruden IS the better 1st five.
 
But I think European clubs would pay more for the Barrett package, he's more marketable off the field too I would imagine.

Stargazer

I regularly visit French rugby forums. They absolutely adore Barrett and hardly ever mention Cruden.
 
Barrett is seen as a fast and strong match winner; Cruden as a good 1st five who's often injured.

Billy Tell

Totally off-topic and a bit left field, but I remember when BB first hit the scene. I kept waiting for the commentator to say his first name. Joe Beauden-Barrett for example.
 
Finally the penny dropped...

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="560871" data-time="1456443360">I'd want a 1st 5 who has demonstrated he can lead his team around the park and win titles. 
Barrett's impact would be similar to Evans at a UK club.</blockquote>
That's pro Barrett then right? Evans is a legend in Euro rugby.

Mofitzy

Cruden was the primary 10 during the unbeaten AB run, not to mention during B2B super titles. Not a highlights reel player though, well not as much as Beauden or DC anyway, and is therefore underrated by a lot of people.

Tim

Cruden is the best 10 in the competition. He was sharp as a pencil last week against the Blues. Brilliant after an ACL injury. 
He ain't gonna stop the Blues juggernaut though.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="561112" data-time="1456475958">
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That's pro Barrett then right?
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No, quite the opposite. 
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Evans is a legend in Euro rugby.
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Yes, but apart from one Aviva what have Quins won? Like Barrett, he's a very good player but is style over substance. 
 
While I think Barrett would be more valuable to a club due to his versatility, if I wanted a 1st 5 who offered me the best chance of winning I'd choose Cruden.

bobily

Fonotia is off to the Ospreys after the ITM Cup season
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77366361/crusader-fonotia-signs-with-ospreys'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/77366361/crusader-fonotia-signs-with-ospreys</a>

Stargazer

And here's the official news from the Ospreys about the Fonotia signing:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/44206'>http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/44206</a>
 
 
Edit: I didn't realise he's already 28!

Billy Tell

A good signing for Ospreys and the Crusaders.

gollum

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="561227" data-time="1456520344">
<div> Yes, but apart from one Aviva what have Quins won? Like Barrett, he's a very good player but is style over substance. 
 
While I think Barrett would be more valuable to a club due to his versatility, if I wanted a 1st 5 who offered me the best chance of winning I'd choose Cruden.
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</blockquote>
 
With Evans its more he has often stopped Quins getting reamed, made them a mid table team rather than relegation fodder. He's been consistently outstanding, but surrounded by some very shithouse players. I mean the shining lights of that backline are Winston Stanley & Marland Yarde FFS...

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="561112" data-time="1456475958">
<div>
That's pro Barrett then right? Evans is a legend in Euro rugby.
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</blockquote>
 
Looks to be getting into the coaching game now. Starting at the grassroots with Wimbledon as backs coach while finishing out his playing contract at Quins

Tim

<a class="bbc_url" href="http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11604578">Wayne Smith set to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby</a>

cgrant

Bekhuis has signed with Lyon O.U for next season.

bobily

Motu Matu'u has signed with Gloucester for next season

Higgins

Maybe won't be a loss given that both young hookers at the Canes seem to be going ok, especially Riccitelli who looked pretty good in his debut performance off the bench last week. Still remains to be seen if they can carry on performing at the higher level week in and week out, particularly when they come up against the highly rated/better performed forward packs.
 
You really can't blame him for looking for what must be better financial rewards offshore when reality indicates that it will be sooner rather than later that he would be usurped by the young chargers currently snapping at his heels.

Milk

Matu'u always seems to be injured at the wrong time, so don't feel I get to see him that often. Besides, he can go over there and wreck their players. I spend entire games wincing as NZ players run down his channel.

Winger

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="565302" data-time="1458250459">
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Maybe won't be a loss given that both young hookers at the Canes seem to be going ok, especially Riccitelli who looked pretty good in his debut performance off the bench last week. Still remains to be seen if they can carry on performing at the higher level week in and week out, particularly when they come up against the highly rated/better performed forward packs.
 
You really can't blame him for looking for what must be better financial rewards offshore when reality indicates that it will be sooner rather than later that he would be usurped by the young chargers currently snapping at his heels.
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His lineout throwing was not up to much. And he's often injured. So not really a great loss if we can keep the young guns

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="565302" data-time="1458250459">
<div>
Maybe won't be a loss given that both young hookers at the Canes seem to be going ok, especially Riccitelli who looked pretty good in his debut performance off the bench last week. Still remains to be seen if they can carry on performing at the higher level week in and week out, particularly when they come up against the highly rated/better performed forward packs.
 
You really can't blame him for looking for what must be better financial rewards offshore when reality indicates that it will be sooner rather than later that he would be usurped by the young chargers currently snapping at his heels.
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</blockquote>
 
I think the slog type game up here will actually suit him a lot anyway - he's good in close and around the fringes - he'll get a lot of that up here...

The Silver Fern

Exodus 2016