2021 Crusaders
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@yeetyaah There is an interview with Matera in the Midi Olympique. That article itself is behind a paywall, but it's the source of an article in l'Équipe (below).
In the interview, Matera says that Stade Français had offered him a 3-year contract extension, but that - at this stage of his career; he turns 28 in July - he doesn't want to stay at one place for the next 3-4 years. He - and his family - would like to see something of the world, experience other cultures, learn a different style of rugby etc (basically some of the same reasons NZ players go to Europe and Japan, except the dollars). Stade Français was very understanding and suggested that he'd go to the Southern Hemisphere for one year to play Super Rugby, and then come back to Stade Français to play the final year of his contract (2022-2023).
He had had several contacts with SR franchises, but nothing about signing a contract and no name of a specific SR franchise.
Top 14 : Pablo Matera (Stade Français) souhaite rejoindre le Super Rugby
Dans un entretien au Midi Olympique, Pablo Matera, le troisième-ligne du Stade Français et des Pumas, a expliqué qu'il souhaitait rejoindre le Super Rugby la saison prochaine avant de terminer son contrat dans la capitale.
In other media, French and Argentine, the same story, without mentioning a franchise. There is some speculation though:
I guess we'll have to wait and see, but it's likely only to be a signing for one year. -
The NZH has used Pandaram's article as a source, the lazy buggers using third hand info.
However, Matera acknowledged overnight that getting a deal finalised is no easy task for foreign players in New Zealand.
"It's not easy to join a franchise from New Zealand. Firstly you need a visa. The teams have a quota on foreign players," Matera told French newspaper Midi Olympique.
"They prioritise their young players, from their academies. It's very good, but you can't take place of a youngster," he added.And then some blah blah about that racist-tweets (from when he was in the Argie U20s) incident, last year.
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@canes4life I sincerely wish the Crusaders would just fuck off, honestly. How the fuck do they need Pablo fucking Matera?
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Ethan, you've played so well this year that we've decided to bring in your replacement.
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@derpus said in 2021 Crusaders:
@canes4life I sincerely wish the Crusaders would just fuck off, honestly. How the fuck do they need Pablo fucking Matera?
Adds to their depth. Loose forward has been a weak point the last couple of years. Whether or not that should be a foreigner? Crusaders aren't the first team to look overseas.
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@kiwi_expat said in 2021 Crusaders:
Honestly the level of discord on here is reaching a new low..
Derpus is an ozzie, and has been hoping for more variety of tournament winners ...
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but but culcha! internal development! intangibles!
good move, there isn't a team in the world that wouldn't do this deal (although doesn't he play the same position as their two best loose forwards) but let this be the end of the sanctimony aye? The Crusaders are good because the accumulate good talent, and have a coach who points them in the right direction.
i really hope this happens. It's always good to get good players playing here. If i won lotto i would buy players for the Chiefs.
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@toddy said in 2021 Crusaders:
They knew Matera would be a good fit into their culture once they saw the racist tweets.
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@bovidae said in 2021 Crusaders:
Grace or Blackadder will be riding the pine.
Could he play openside instead? Generally the other Argentinean flanker is a lock/loose forward like Kremer, so I don't think Argentina necessarily view flankers in the same way we do.
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I don't think the Crusaders' backrow is half as bad as people are saying. But with Blackadder having relatively few caps for his age due to injury, Grace being 21 years and Christie 23 years old (the top tacler before he got injured, this season), the first choice backrow is pretty green.
Sanders has the expierence at 27, but also breaks regularly, and has been pretty good the last 2 seasons when he played.
Their depth has been lacking with Douglas going downhill since his first year when he replaced injured Kieran Read (2017?). Sione Havili is also only 23, but may not have the potential.
Signing Matera may be a masterstroke. Grace just can't play every game at his age and Matera is a great player he can learn from. In the mean time, Anton Segner and other youngsters coming through can learn as well, before they're thrown into the deep end.
Still not a fan of signing foreign players, but maybe there are not enough good NZ backrowers at the moment?
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@derpus said in 2021 Crusaders:
@canes4life I sincerely wish the Crusaders would just fuck off, honestly. How the fuck do they need Pablo fucking Matera?
Because we want to keep dominating all the Aussie teams and have to keep up with the Western Force who are the United Nations with Kiwis,Irishman,Argies,SA And English players
Confirmed: Controversial Puma signs with Crusaders
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