Exodus 2016

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">
<div>
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.
</div>
</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.
</div>
</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.
</div>
</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.

SammyC

McNiccol (J) is off to Wales (Scarlets) at the end of the year.
 
Not a huge loss, but it felt like he was starting to find his feet at Super Level this year. He was excellent in our win v the Lions
 
Now that he's leaving perhaps we could give Macalai a few more minutes before he decides to bugger off too.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="571857" data-time="1460514963">
<div>
McNiccol (J) is off to Wales (Scarlets) at the end of the year.
 
Not a huge loss, but it felt like he was starting to find his feet at Super Level this year. He was excellent in our win v the Lions
 
Now that he's leaving perhaps we could give Macalai a few more minutes before he decides to bugger off too.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Has that been confirmed? There's nothing on the Scarlets website, Twitter or Facebook. I've only read that the Scarlets are in talks with McNicholl - and other players - but that nothing has been finalised. Example of an article below:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810</a>

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="571875" data-time="1460517075">
<div>
Has that been confirmed? There's nothing on the Scarlets website, Twitter or Facebook. I've only read that the Scarlets are in talks with McNicholl - and other players - but that nothing has been finalised. Example of an article below:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810'>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/scarlets-boss-wayne-pivac-confirms-11174810</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Heard it on the radio sport news, Crusaders have apparently confirmed it.
 
EDIT - here you go: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78861178/Crusaders-wing-Johnny-McNicholl-being-chased-by-Welsh-club-Scarlets'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78861178/Crusaders-wing-Johnny-McNicholl-being-chased-by-Welsh-club-Scarlets</a>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="571878" data-time="1460517170">
<div>
Heard it on the radio sport news, Crusaders have apparently confirmed it.
 
EDIT - here you go: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78861178/Crusaders-wing-Johnny-McNicholl-being-chased-by-Welsh-club-Scarlets'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/78861178/Crusaders-wing-Johnny-McNicholl-being-chased-by-Welsh-club-Scarlets</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Cheers SammyC! Here's hoping they'll sign Tongia. Put Macilai on the left wing to replace Nadolo next year, and Tongia would be perfect on the right wing.

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="African Monkey" data-cid="570859" data-time="1460116516">
<div>
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.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Agree with this. I think Saili 'carving up' Super Rugby at the time is a stretch. If I remember correctly he was actually relegated to the bench for the Blues at the time he was named for the All Blacks June series.
 
He also wasn't hugely physical in contact and would go down quite easily, meaning that he was quite susceptible to being turned over/isolated, especially when his decision making wasn't always the greatest so he would often run it himself. Also defensively he wasn't the strongest. I remember on here at the time there was a bit of debate around Aki missing out to Saili.

Billy Tell

McNichol: not a loss for NZ in the AB sense but a more than useful Crusaders player. However wings are a dime a dozen in NZ so we'll survive. 
When the ABs play Wales in 3 years I guess we'll see how good McNicholl is at international rugger...

sparky

Scarlets confirm signing of New Zealander Johnny McNicholl:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/11306.php#.Vw4S3E32apo'>http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/11306.php#.Vw4S3E32apo</a>
<div>
<div> </div>

<div>
<div> </div>
<div>Scarlets are today delighted to confirm that winger Jonny McNicholl will join the region on a three-year deal.</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
Recently named Super Rugby's player of the week after a career high performance, beating six defenders and making two try assists it has been confirmed that Kiwi McNicholl will make the move to West Wales later this year. 
The 25-year-old winger made his debut for the Crusaders in 2013 following an outstanding season with the championship Canterbury team in the 2012 ITM Cup, in which he headed the top try scorers list with ten tries, three ahead of his nearest rival. 
A versatile player, able to cover both wing and fullback McNicholl's ability to break through tackles, a handy right footstep and acceleration make him dangerous on attack, an exciting addition to the Scarlets squad alongside international stars DTH van der Merwe and Liam Williams. 
Jon Daniels, Scarlets General Manager of Rugby, said: "We are now in a position to confirm that Johnny McNicholl will be joining the Scarlets later on this year. Johnny is an exciting young player but also brings with him vast Super Rugby experience and has proved himself on the provincial stage and is a proven try-scorer. 
"As we've previously stated any addition to the Scarlets squad needs to add value not only on the rugby field but also in the wider squad environment. We are building a squad over time that can compete in the Guinness PRO12 and in the top flight of European competition, which means our recruitment and development strategies are stringent. A player of Johnny's caliber will not only see us gain an experienced on-field player but will also aid us in the development of younger members of the squad going forward." 
Speaking exclusively to Radio NZ Johnny McNicholl said; "This is a great opportunity to experience living and playing in a different part of the world. I am at a stage in my life that I would like to do some more travel while I don't have family commitments back in New Zealand, and I am so fortunate to be able to do that with my rugby career. 
"The Scarlets club appeals because they are a successful team that plays a similar brand of rugby to the Crusaders, and working under a Kiwi coach in Wayne Pivac will make that transition easier."</div>

Stargazer

According to <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.laprovence.com/actu/region-en-direct/3888958/rct.html" title="External link">this article</a> in the French paper La Provence, Toulon is interested in signing Luke Romano. Heâ€™s 30, so you couldnâ€™t blame him for wanting to earn some Euros in France before he has to retire.
 
We knew a lot of players would be leaving after the RWC, and every year we lose a few, but somehow I still get annoyed when those European clubs go after our NZ players.

Catogrande

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="572445" data-time="1460699105">
<div>
 
According to <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.laprovence.com/actu/region-en-direct/3888958/rct.html" title="External link">this article</a> in the French paper La Provence, Toulon is interested in signing Luke Romano. Heâ€™s 30, so you couldnâ€™t blame him for wanting to earn some Euros in France before he has to retire.
 
We knew a lot of players would be leaving after the RWC, and every year we lose a few, but somehow I still get annoyed when those European clubs go after our NZ players. 
 
</div>
</blockquote>
Two sides of the same coin SG. I still get annoyed when overseas players come over here for the dosh and take places away from developing English players. But, this is now the norm, your guys are looking for a payday and our clubs are looking for instant success. Happy days for both parties, it's just a shame that this is possibly not conducive to the longer term development of your provincial rugby and our hopes for English (or French/Welsh/Irish/Scottish) rugby development.

The Silver Fern

Exodus 2016