Exodus 2016
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="550078" data-time="1451525613">
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<p>So your love affair with HB inside backs is over? Sweet.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>He's a competent NPC player that's all. Or maybe backup s18 level.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But if the Blues want to be title contenders again</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="550170" data-time="1451547395">
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<p>I remember a time when Canterbury had like 4/5 top first fives, and pretty much kept them all.. Playing them at 12, fullback and wing.. </p>
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<p>well they have to want to leave too, at the time, it was easier into the ABs as a back-up Crusader than starting anywhere else! </p> -
Back in the day the franchise would pick their players from their region, protect a given number, and then a NZRU appointed commissioner (Peter Thorburn) would distribute the rest of the talent. I preferred that system.
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Saracens have signed Schalk Burger for 2016/7 and 2017/8:<br><br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.saracens.com/news-article/saracens-sign-springbok-legend-schalk-burger'>http://www.saracens.com/news-article/saracens-sign-springbok-legend-schalk-burger</a> -
<p>I imagine a South African exodus thread would run to many more pages. When I first went to Japan in 2000, I don't think there were any South Africans playing in the top-league at all.</p>
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<p>Now there are possibly more of them than there are NZers.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NZ Rugby Quizzes" data-cid="550599" data-time="1451937306"><p>I imagine a South African exodus thread would run to many more pages. When I first went to Japan in 2000, I don't think there were any South Africans playing in the top-league at all.<br><br>
Now there are possibly more of them than there are NZers.</p></blockquote>
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Yeah, it's mad over here now. Lots of older and younger talent that would drive the depth of the 6 Soup teams... -
<p>nz coaches must have 9 of the top 20 teams? more?</p>
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<p>Yeah, 9:</p>
<p>NZ</p>
<p>Wales</p>
<p>Ireland</p>
<p>Scotland</p>
<p>Georgia</p>
<p>Samoa</p>
<p>Fiji</p>
<p>Canada</p>
<p>USA</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It'll be 10 if Jamie Joseph ends up coaching Japan. The papers were talking about it as if he'd already signed just a month ago but apparently they're still negotiating.</p> -
<p>James Marshall to London Irish after this year's Super campaign.</p>
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<p>Keiran Crowley has apparently just resigned as coach of Canada to take up a job with a European team, this apparently only a couple years after signing an extension to his Canadian contract.</p>
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<p>I'm actually very positive about the Crusaders prospects for this year. We have a great mix of youth and experience, which I think is extremely important at SR level. Moreover, all of established ABs will have had a better preparation than they've had in years. At no.10, Mo'unga has had as good an apprenticeship as anyone could expect from a young first five, and will be good at this level. Whilst Dan and Richie will be missed, lets be brutally honest neither have really excelled at S15 level for a number of years. I like the fact that we'll have a hungry squad with a point to prove. I'm very disappointed about the losses of Laulala, Bird and Luke Whitelock, I believe all three players are developing into fine rugby players. But Crusaders fans are used to having our talented academy graduates plundered by other franchises, that's what happens when you invest heavily in youth development programs.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
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<p> I'm very disappointed about the losses of Laulala, Bird and Luke Whitelock, I believe all three players are developing into fine rugby players. But Crusaders fans are used to having our talented academy graduates plundered by other franchises, that's what happens when you invest heavily in youth development programs.</p>
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<p>This has to be a piss take right?</p>
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<p>You must be the only Cantab whose dissapointed to lose Luke Whitelock, lets be honest his brother George makes him look dynamic.</p>
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<p>I am excited as well I want Dagg to go out and throw down this year and earn his ABs spot back. I hope he gets the chance.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
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<p>I'm actually very positive about the Crusaders prospects for this year. We have a great mix of youth and experience, which I think is extremely important at SR level. Moreover, all of established ABs will have had a better preparation than they've had in years. At no.10, Mo'unga has had as good an apprenticeship as anyone could expect from a young first five, and will be good at this level. Whilst Dan and Richie will be missed, lets be brutally honest neither have really excelled at S15 level for a number of years. I like the fact that we'll have a hungry squad with a point to prove. I'm very disappointed about the losses of Laulala, Bird and Luke Whitelock, I believe all three players are developing into fine rugby players. But Crusaders fans are used to having our talented academy graduates plundered by other franchises, that's what happens when you invest heavily in youth development programs.</p>
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<p> And other franchises fans are used to having their talented age grade players plundered by your bloody academy. So boo-fuckin-hoo.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="551332" data-time="1452169839">
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<p> And other franchises fans are used to having their talented age grade players plundered by your bloody academy. So boo-fuckin-hoo.</p>
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<p>They're upset that the Crusaders take promising schoolboys, invest significant time and resources into them, and turn them into All Blacks?</p>
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<p>BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local? I also see a heap of Canterbury age level players playing for other franchises. That's what happens when there are only 5 franchises to sign to.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551267" data-time="1452145625">
<p>But Crusaders fans are used to having our talented academy graduates plundered by other franchises, that's what happens when you invest heavily in youth development programs.</p>
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<br><br><p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551342" data-time="1452175452">
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BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local?</p>
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<br><p>Funny</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cantab79" data-cid="551342" data-time="1452175452">
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<p>They're upset that the Crusaders take promising schoolboys, invest significant time and resources into them, and turn them into All Blacks?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>BTW if these other franchises made a bit more effort with their own academies perhaps their junior players would be more willing to stay local? I also see a heap of Canterbury age level players playing for other franchises. That's what happens when there are only 5 franchises to sign to.</p>
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<p>Yeah, I'm sure guys like Richie McCaw and Keiran Read would've been everyday journeymen if Canterbury hadn't poached them and [i]turned[/i] them into All Blacks.</p>
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<p>Don't worry though, buddy, I'm not really complaining. If the Crusaders had just put a bit more effort in, perhaps Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown, James Tucker, James Lowe, Nepo Laulala and Dom Bird would've been more willing to stay local instead of playing for the Chiefs.</p>