Exodus 2016

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">
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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.
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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">
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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>
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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">
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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>
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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">
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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.
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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>
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<div>Scarlets are today delighted to confirm that winger Jonny McNicholl will join the region on a three-year deal.</div>
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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">
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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. 
 
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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.

Billy Tell

<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. 
 
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Wouldn't really have a problem with the likes of Romano going. Overseas signings are inevitable. Once a player knows he'll never make the ABs, or he's made the ABs but has fallen off the radar, or he is still an AB but at the end of an illustrious career, I don't mind too much. What annoys me are
 
1) Celtic nations buying project players because they can't produce their own and they'd rather be made up of Kiwis than sitting lower down the world rankings
2) Piutau-type signings

Catogrande

Excuse my ignorance William, but what is a Piutau-type signing?

No Quarter

A talented young kid on the verge of a long AB career chasing the money instead. The AB coaches invested a huge amount of time and effort into him.

Billy Tell

Anti-exodus 2016. 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79002645/All-Blacks-lock-Patrick-Tuipulotu-set-to-re-sign-with-NZ-rugby-for-four-years'>http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/79002645/All-Blacks-lock-Patrick-Tuipulotu-set-to-re-sign-with-NZ-rugby-for-four-years</a> 
Nice.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="571888" data-time="1460518200">
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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. 
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I just watched most of Connacht schooling Munster. Aki gave a MOTM performance, Saili wasn't bad, but not really in the same conversation. Yer man from the42.ie had this to say "For Connacht, the good times keep on rolling and they were once again led by the utterly outstanding Bundee Aki. The centre qualifies for Ireland in 2017 and on recent evidence, the IRFU must be preparing a new contract offer for when his current Connacht deal expires next year."
 
Pat Lam is doing a pretty decent job with Connacht, of the Irish provinces they are certainly playing the most like what we know and love from NZ rugby sides, with lesser cattle to choose from.

Bones

I guess you're right then. We should probably question why Sopoaga wasn't selected in 2011 too, he's way better than Weepu and Donald in 2016.

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="572485" data-time="1460706888">
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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.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Would be interesting to see a cross-code study done of the impacts of club/county imports on the strength of British national teams. There's been periods where rugby, football and cricket have allowed more/less imports - my perception is that overall, club-level imports have weakened national teams - perhaps by providing elite coaching to West Indian cricketers, Samoan rugby players and Brazilian footballers, which is then used against the Brits.

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="572969" data-time="1460871692">
I guess you're right then. We should probably question why Sopoaga wasn't selected in 2011 too, he's way better than Weepu and Donald in 2016.</blockquote>
 
Oooh. You could cut diamonds with that sharp wit and sarcasm.

Billy Tell

My next anti-Exodus 2016 post. This is fun and deeply satisfying all at once.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79239464/all-blacks-lock-romano-declines-french-deal-and-set-to-stay-in-nz'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/79239464/all-blacks-lock-romano-declines-french-deal-and-set-to-stay-in-nz</a>
 
He'll have his work cut out what with Brodie & Sam, being, well, locks for the ABs (get it, ha ha), Tuipolotu likely to be retained more on potential than form at present, Barrett among others putting his hand up, and Hansen known to be on the look out for a 6/lock. I'm not complaining, though.

Tim

Is he definitely staying with the Crusaders?

Billy Tell

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="573996" data-time="1461300290">
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Is he definitely staying with the Crusaders?
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Well, no, like all men from the South he harbours secret desires of playing for the Blues...
 
Reading the article, I'd say he's staying in NZ, though.

The Silver Fern

Exodus 2016