Exodus 2018
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@canefan said in Exodus 2018:
@kiwiinmelb said in Exodus 2018:
Big loss but at the same time I wasn’t that convinced he was that great a test 10 , not saying he wasn’t either but jury was still out a bit for me .
But you don’t want to go losing the next in line all the same .
We lost Nick Evans, we survived. Next man up
The 3 years that followed Evans leaving are not something we want to repeat when it comes to 10's.
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I'm not sold on RM at all. Here's hoping his progression kicks up a gear.
The Ben Smith sabbatical and other injuries have been a blessing in disguise now with regard to DMac. If he shows the skills and head at 10 for the Chiefs he now has a lot of test experience (way more than Lima had) to work from. -
It's going to be difficult when you consider that in Super Rugby, LS is holding a spot that is stopping progression of someone else. Doesn't give many options.
We basically have
Canes- BB
Chiefs - first step up in position for DMac
Landers - departing LS
Saders - Mounga
Blues - Perofuture/ GatlandThe ABs are likely to stick with the development of RM and will not want to waste the experience gained by DMac but my pick as dark horse to put pressure on selection is Perofeta. I can't back it up with much, just a hunch. He looks to me to be the guy that once things click he will jump up the rankings fast.
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Is there anything to be said for a project player? Some of the Irish 10s look quite good. Would be ready to roll for 2023, just in time for the defence of Webb Ellis.
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@stargazer said in Exodus 2018:
Midol reported yesterday that Jarrad Hoeata will join Montpellier as injury cover for Jacques du Plessis, who is out injured for the rest of the season. Although it has not yet been confirmed officially by Montpellier, Hoeata tweeted last night tha he had landed in Paris and had one more flight to go, so I assume Midol has got this one right.
Now confirmed by Montpellier: http://www.montpellier-rugby.com/news/joker-medical-jarrad-hoeata-sengage-avec-le-mhr
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@bones just something about him I'm not sure of and don't like...not sure exactly what or why, but just don't see him as anything more than a good mitre10 cup player.
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2018:
@bones just something about him I'm not sure of and don't like...not sure exactly what or why, but just don't see him as anything more than a good mitre10 cup player.
He just wasn't consistent from the matches I saw him play. Some really good stuff mixed in with some rubbish. I wouldn't completely write him off, he's not the first young player to struggle with consistency on the pitch.
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Just to cheer everyone up Munster Rugby have signed 2 promising SA schoolboys to their academy...
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Official:
Sopoaga's instagram:
limasopoaga: It's with a heavy heart that I announce that my family and I will be leaving NZ at the end of the 2018 season. It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make but is one I'm at peace with. I have loved every minute of being a professional footballer here in NZ, I've made life long friends and memories that I'll cherish forever. I'd like to thank the Highlanders, All Blacks, Southland and Wellington for the awesome experiences you have provided me with over the years. Thank you to all the fans for your support it's been one heck of a ride. To my team mates and coaches over the years thank you for everything, I've been blessed to have met so many top men. Last but not least to my family & friends you know who you are the ones who have stood by me through the lowest of lows and the highest of highs you have seen both the valleys and the peaks, THANK YOU will never be enough! So here's to 2018 one last roll of the dice before I head off to experience life on the other side of the world. I'm ready. TheSops LS10.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/31918/lima-sopoaga-to-leave-new-zealand-rugby
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@taniwharugby fair enough, I would've said the same before npc. I obviously missed some telling games though.
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@pakman said in Exodus 2018:
Anyone heard any news on MN5's favourite midfielder?
Marty Berry?
Real Estate Agent over in the Wairarapa last I heard. I'm looking at buying a weekender so might be needing his services. That would be a dream come true.
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@pakman said in Exodus 2018:
Sopoaga seemed to have suffered from too little game time last season. Performances down a notch on previous years.
That said, a substantial loss, and leaves us going into RWC with all our eggs in one basket experience wise.
He certainly did have too little game time - this is from late October.
All up, Sopoaga has started six games this season - the first three and the last three in the Highlanders season. In comparison, the man inside him, Aaron Smith, has started 23 games this season. Sopoaga played the opening three games of the season for the Highlanders before damaging his hamstring on March 11 against the Blues. The No10 then missed 11 weeks before he came back via the bench in late May. He then started for the Highlanders against the British and Irish Lions, the Reds and then the quarterfinal against the Crusaders in July. Since then, he has then been in camp with the All Blacks and sat on the bench five times during the Rugby Championship. He received significant minutes in Cape Town but last Saturday night in Brisbane was his first start for 91 days. And all up it was just his second start in the black jersey. Starting is way, way different to coming off the bench. It is chalk and cheese. For whatever reason, Sopoaga never played any games for his club when coming back from injury or in camp for the British and Irish Lions series. How much benefit he would have got from playing for the Eastern Barbarians against Woodlands on a chilly June afternoon in Gore is debatable. But it is still time in the saddle. Instead, he was holding tackle bags and going to trainings.
Woefully underdone Sopoaga harshly judged
The finger has been pointed at Lima Sopoaga following the loss in the Bledisloe Cup. But rugby writer Steve Hepburn says whatever Sopoaga did, or...
