Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5
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From
Peter Samu ruled out of Ireland Test series after Rugby Australia turn down New Zealand cash
AUSTRALIAN Rugby has turned down a Kiwi demand of financial compensation for the services of Crusaders flanker Pete Samu.
In an outcome which rules Samu out of making his Test debut for the Wallabies against Ireland this month, New Zealand Rugby confirmed its stipulations hadn’t been met.While neither national union has publicly said what the deal entailed, it is widely believed NZR required cash compensation before it would grant the 26-year-old a release from his Crusaders contract.
In a written statement, NZR head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum confirmed trans- Ta$man bosses hadn’t come to terms.
Pete Samu's Australian debut will have to wait a little longer.Source: AAP
“We have attempted to resolve this matter in good faith but our proposals have not been accepted,” Lendrum said.
“New Zealand Rugby remains open to resolving the issues.”RA hasn’t commented although Wallabies coach Michael Cheika
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@rapido said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
@kiwimurph said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
Why should NZR foot the bill if the ARU are the ones that want him? The NZR haven't stopped him from going - they've put a proposal to the ARU to allow Samu a release. NZR just want some compensation. It works both ways - NZR had to cough up $ to get Naholo out of his overseas contract a few years back.
Foot what bill? The bill is surely un-issued? The Ta$man season is still 2 months away from even starting.
The money Ta$man have set aside to pay Samu in from August to October is retained, they pay that to someone else.
They're trying to make a profit out of him moving? They will retain the budgeted 25-50k they would have paid him plus they're now trying to obtain 50k from the ARU (if rumours are to be believed). Are they going to replace him with two players?
Fuck them, they can buy out the contract as compensation for Samu being paid extra to be a New Zealander. He wants out if the rest of that contract then he, or someone, forks out to do so. Simples.
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@barbarian said in Paddy on Tour Down Under - Number 5:
I see your point, M4L, and I don't expect the NZRU to roll out the red carpet. But 50k? Come on.
Especially after the Rebels allowed Tyrel Lomax to leave his contract a year early to go to NZ to follow his dream of being an All Black. He hadn't played any pro rugby in NZ, and had actually been developed in the famous heartland you speak of - Melbourne.
But fundamentally this is all just a game and people should be allowed to represent their chosen country if at all possible.
Getting bogged down and demanding payments makes me feel a little dirty about the whole thing. I'm sure they can find another way to compensate the Crusaders/ Ta$man.
- $50k for a test player is chook feed
- Samu's chosen country was NZ until last week, because it suited his back pocket. NZ compensated him respectively so that he would remain NZ eligible. He wants out of that contract he pays or waits. NZR should have done the same with Shields.
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Oh re Lomax I reckon that's completely different to both Shields and Samu. Have the AB selectors chased him? Or was that a personal decision?
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Lomax has potential : he is a big man, a young Jamie MacIntosh. I don't see him in an AB jersey before 5 or 6 years though. Owen Franks is not that old for a prop, then there is Nepo Laulala, Ofa T, Michael Alaalatoa and Atu Moli who are all young THP.
The other THP with AB potential are JTA and ATM who are younger than Owen Franks. -
The Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship - MERC for short.
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Latu named as Uelese's Wallabies replacement
Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu has officially been named to replace injured Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese. Uelese's season was ended by an ACL injury he suffered against the Blues last Saturday, with Cheika keeping Latu in Brisbane after the Waratahs' clash with the Reds as he mulled a replacement. Latu hasn't started a Super Rugby game since round 15, 2017, and was out of favour in the Test fold last season, with questions around his fitness and attitude, but those have seemingly been addressed. The 25-year-old has played just four times for the Waratahs this season, coming off the bench in the last three Super Rugby rounds, and showing some positive form for NSW. Latu will be the only capped Wallabies hooker in the squad, with four to his name, competing against Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Folau Faingaa for a spot in Saturday's matchday 23.
Cheika said Uelese's Rebels teammate Anaru Rangi was still a chance of being involved with the team despite being overlooked as a possible replacement. "Right now he’s our most-capped hooker in Australia, so he’s got that little bit of experience playing in the big match atmosphere," he said. “Anaru Rangi has had a really good season with Melbourne too so he’s definitely not out of the equation. I’m just keen for the two uncapped hookers (Paenga-Amosa and Fainga'a) to have a little experience around."
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The Irish Times (normally a good informed predictor) has this as the possible Ireland team for Saturday:
Back three: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Jacob Stockdale;
Midfield: Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki
Half-backs: Joey Carbery, Conor Murray;
Front row Jack McGrath, Rob Herring, John Ryan;
Locks: Iain Henderson, James Ryan;
Backrowers: Peter O’Mahony (capt), Jordi Murphy, CJ Stander.No Sexton, Leavy, Ringrose, Furlong, Healy, Toner, Cronin to start, but some could be on the bench.