Exodus 2016

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="570657" data-time="1460101449">
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It depends, player to player. Someone like Jared Payne - a fullback who has been shifted to 13 purely to fill a gap at Ireland level, and has barely made an appearance for Ulster since qualifying for Ireland - feels a little plastic, as you get the feeling he's there for the professional challenge, rather than the "national" challenge. Other players though, like Stander, Robbie Diack (though his national involvement has been minimal) or Richardt Strauss have clearly got more buy-in (for some reason Saffers often seem to fit better in Ireland), and it's a better fit.
 
EDIT: Would also add, Bundee Aki would be another who would fit into the "genuine buy-in" bracket. It was partially a career consideration, yes, but he's very clearly becoming a Connacht man, which is nice to see.
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What? 100% career decision. You almost had me until you started on Bundee the Irish.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/bundee-aki-interview-i-m-a-different-person-with-that-jersey-on-1.2515795'>http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/bundee-aki-interview-i-m-a-different-person-with-that-jersey-on-1.2515795</a>
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
Akiâ€™s entire family, including his two daughters, still live in New Zealand
 
â€œIâ€™m here at the moment by myself. Itâ€™s tough knowing my family are back home. You just do what you have to do.â€
 
 
why leave the Chiefs? Doesnâ€™t make sense.
Family security is the overriding reason.
 
â€œAw, there was a lot of different reasons why I left. I just thought at the time it was the right time to move to try to do something different. Rugby is only a short-term career. I talked to a few friends, a few coaches and just went with it. As soon as I made the decision, I have never looked back. Itâ€™s paying off really well.â€
 
</blockquote>

Billy Tell

Let's not pretend Bundee is Irish. He was probably told he wasn't in the ABs frame (how he wasn't capped and Saili is was one of Hansen's less notable selections), and along came Eire with cash and a promise of international rugby...

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570820" data-time="1460108964">
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Let's not pretend Bundee is Irish. He was probably told he wasn't in the ABs frame (how he wasn't capped and Saili is was one of Hansen's less notable selections), and along came Eire with cash and a promise of international rugby...
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That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="570825" data-time="1460109624">
That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.</blockquote>
 
Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster. 
Definitely a dud AB selection and his tests were memorable for the wrong reasons. 
We agree to disagree I suppose 
(Don't think Aki would have been more than 1 or 2 caps either but he is better than Saili IMO)

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570836" data-time="1460111103">
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Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster.
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How on earth does that confirm form in 2013, Aki's first year in Super Rugby where he was doing fuck all, next to Saili who was in very good form for the Blues and in his 2nd year of Super rugby?

Billy Tell

OK, I can't be bothered getting into a big debate, I really don't care. I consider Saili a pretty ordinary player, with the occasional outstanding game, Aki is better.
 
You are welcome to disagree, and it's not skin off my nose.
 
I suppose I should throw in a "fuck" to give the post more gravitas.

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570839" data-time="1460111731">
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OK, I can't be bothered getting into a big debate, I really don't care. I consider Saili a pretty ordinary player, with the occasional outstanding game, Aki is better.
 
You are welcome to disagree, and it's not skin off my nose.
 
I suppose I should throw in a "fuck" to give the post more gravitas.
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</blockquote>
 
Nah he's not, this is obviously confirmed by Saili having a much more substantial Wikipedia page.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570836" data-time="1460111103">Nah Saili was a very ordinary player. Which has been confirmed in Ireland where Aki is playing much better for Connacht than Saili is for Munster.</blockquote> That's more a reflection on Munster's current issues IMO.

ulsterman

My point on Aki was, he's bought into the province since getting here, as opposed to (say) Payne, who is basically only involved in provincial games now in order to be ready for Test windows, which reduces the credibility of his commitment to the whole package.

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="570854" data-time="1460114767">My point on Aki was, he's bought into the province since getting here, as opposed to (say) Payne, who is basically only involved in provincial games now in order to be ready for Test windows, which reduces the credibility of his commitment to the whole package.</blockquote>
 
Is Aki available for Ireland already? Nope, so how can you compare him to Payne who is already in the team? 
I assume, that since he went there for his career, he is all about Connacht, right now. He clearly wants to play for Ireland, after giving up on the ABs (see link above). 
He was all about the Chiefs when he was there, until he wasn't. 
It's not that I'm bagging him, specifically, but I'm a bit lost about why you continue to suggest that these professional sportspeople, who are contracted to play for that team, are so involved, when:

His kids and family don't live there
he is trying for national honors 
And
he is paid to be there 
Come post about how great he is as a club man next year if he doesn't get selected for Ireland, and then doesn't decide that he can make better money in England or France.

African Monkey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="570825" data-time="1460109624">
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That's just silly, Saili was carving up the year he was selected for the ABs, Aki didn't really get close to AB level.
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</blockquote>
He was but the problem with Saili was that he was more concerned with pulling off miracle plays every time he touched the ball. More often than not you would see his 4000 chips he's put in during a game land straight down the fullbacks throat or big cut out passes go straight into touch.

Billy Tell

Let's not forget Connacht won a bidding war with their provinicial rivlas for Aki's services.
 
I do think he has been committed to the Connacht cause, but as posted above if he doesn't play for Ireland (but I think he will, they'll cap him at the first opportunity to lock him in), will he stick around at Connacht...?
 
A non-exodus 2016: Kerr-Barlow staying on until at least 2017.

pukunui

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570820" data-time="1460108964">
<div>
Let's not pretend Bundee is Irish. He was probably told he wasn't in the ABs frame (how he wasn't capped and Saili is was one of Hansen's less notable selections), and along came Eire with cash and a promise of international rugby...
</div>
</blockquote>
 
The fact is Aki was never good enough to be selected. The fact that Saili did get a test, and was proven not up to it, has nothing to do with that. The above statement implies Aki was robbed of his spot by Saili, he wasn't.
Of course all of that has nothing to do with which one is the better player. I would probably rate Aki higher however not by much and neither were ever that great in Super rugby.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="570861" data-time="1460116565">
<div>
Let's not forget Connacht won a bidding war with their provinicial rivlas for Aki's services.
 
I do think he has been committed to the Connacht cause, but as posted above if he doesn't play for Ireland (but I think he will, they'll cap him at the first opportunity to lock him in), will he stick around at Connacht...?
 
A non-exodus 2016: Kerr-Barlow staying on until at least 2017.
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</blockquote>
 
That re-signing already happened in July 2015: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/27708/kerr-barlow-signs-for-two-more-years'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/27708/kerr-barlow-signs-for-two-more-years</a>
 
Weird how that old media release re-appears on the Chiefs website (looking at the last two sentences, that text is also from July 2015): <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/119-chiefs-re-sign-halfback'>http://www.chiefs.co.nz/news/news/latest-news/119-chiefs-re-sign-halfback</a>

Sapetyvi

Frank Halai and Charles Piutau(twice, including the last one) scored for Wasps today and Jimmy Gopperth converted Piutaus second score to snatch the win against Exeter Chiefs to clinch a place in the championship semi finals

Bones

Champions cup? Not championship!

Sapetyvi

Yes Champions Cup semi-final

Billy Tell

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326</a>
 
Not to be sneezed at.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="571777" data-time="1460481407">
<div>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11621326</a>
 
Not to be sneezed at.
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</blockquote>
 
From that article:
 
"Australia doesn't have an established domestic competition so the $285 million it is being paid is largely for Super Rugby, Rugby Championship and domestic tests."
 
Then what exactly is Australia's National Rugby Championship, which is a professional rugby competition? It started in 2014 and has secured funding until the 2020 season.

NTA

Depends how you define "established". 
The comp is already undergoing changes, with two NSW teams changing the underlying alliances that hold them together. 
And the ARU aren't in a position where the NRC is going to stand alone like the NPC or CC as a product.

The Silver Fern

Exodus 2016