ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?
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The longer NZ wait to select overseas players, the further they will stay behind the Springboks.
The best Springboks play in Japan. The lighter responsibility and physical demand on their bodies give them a longer playing lifespan.
According to Damian de Ellende.
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@OomPB we let outstanding All Blacks play in Japan. We send them the world player of the year and get back whatever Ardie currently is.
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@antipodean I've upvoted your post due to the wit in it alone.
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The URC/HC season starts now and end in June, when the CC starts and end September. The Japan Springboks have a much shorter season and is available for the Springboks. Our coaches have to plan player management well. The players must get a 8 week break in a year from rugby.
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@antipodean we have Kolbey, Am, Kriel, de Ellende,
Faf, Wiese, Lood, Mostert, Kwagga , PSdT and Marx playing in Japan.Take them out of the Springboks squad and we will struggle.
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@OomPB said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@antipodean we have Am, Kriel, de Ellende,
Faf, Wiese, Lood, Mostert, Kwagga , PSdT and Marx playing in Japan.Take them out of the Springboks squad and we will struggle.
Forgive my ignorance, but do they play the full Japanese Top League season? What other domestic rugby do they play to get up to Test standard?
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@antipodean they went through our structures but end up in Japan, earning top money and play for their country.
Our structures will never change. Youngsters like SMZ and BJD played CC last year.
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@Windows97 I am just trying to paint the Springboks picture. Sorry if it upset you.
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@OomPB said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@antipodean they went through our structures but end up in Japan, earning top money and play for their country.
Our structures will never change. Youngsters like SMZ and BJD played CC last year.
I think that may be the difference in that our pathways aren't a like. There's considerable discussion around the demise of the NPC and our reliance on Super Rugby which is effectively four NZ teams versus the Brumbies.
Hopefully the demise of the Rebels and strengthening of the Reds and Tahs bolsters the competition, but I feel we can't follow SA when the foundations aren't the same.
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I think the players should be allowed to go out and earn what they are worth. The current NZR position is a restraint on their trade.
Super Rugby is not the competition it was. Allowing more players to play in the big European leagues would give them more experience of playing in high pressure, close games in front of big crowds.
Argentina are world football champions despite (or perhaps because of) most of their players playing club football in Europe. A lot of the Springbok squad play outside South Africa.
I think a lot of players would stay in New Zealand for lifestyle reasons so they'd still be stars in Super Rugby and the NPC.
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@sparky there's no restraint on their trade; they're free to play their trade anywhere.
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@Nepia said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@DaGrubster said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@stodders said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@DaGrubster Smith is still good enough I'd bet to bring off the bench to close out a game.
Over the next 12-18 months, he could pass on his experience and mentor the new long term 9s. Same goes for Retallick.
TKB is still plenty good enough for the ABs. Frizell too (unless he has had the mother of all drop offs).
Let the man retire at the age of 35!
TKB was barely good enough when he was in the ABs 10 years.
I can't work out which is the stupidest comment, this one, or @stodders one about Frizell.
Me nethier….what an idiot!
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@antipodean And yet, they lose out on earnings that they could make playing international rugby for their home country if they do sign with a European club. No wonder James Lowe and Bundee Aki opted to play for Ireland and Uini Antonio opted to play for France. That's three world-class talents the NZR position lost right there. They won't be the last.
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@sparky Sione Tuipulotu
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@OomPB said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@sparky Sione Tuipulotu
Born in Australia
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@sparky said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@antipodean And yet, they lose out on earnings that they could make playing international rugby for their home country if they do sign with a European club. No wonder James Lowe and Bundee Aki opted to play for Ireland and Uini Antonio opted to play for France. That's three world-class talents the NZR position lost right there. They won't be the last.
The players mentioned were in the Nz system. James Lowe may have become an AB at some point and Ali was behind Nonu, Williams and Crotty and the all Blacks had unbelievable depth and one of their best evert squads. So you can understand some people leaving as they didn’t see a pathway to the ABs at that point.
Not everything is black and white and they may not have become the players they have without going to a new enviroment and playing in Ireland.
The Nz policy has worked for a long time and it has rarely been an issue for NZ as they have mostly been able to keep the players they wanted to keep.
Of course things evolve and perhaps now is the time to look at changing it. I am on record as wanting to allow a couple of squad positions open to overseas players if needed.
If the NZR business plan has one weakness, it is that the whole thing is dependant on the All Blacks continuing to be the All Blacks i.e being the best, winning trophies and keeping that mystique about them.
Which is why they need to ensure that they have the best AB team they can put out and I think we have got to the point where some overseas players would improve our squad.
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@DaGrubster said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
Which is why they need to ensure that they have the best AB team they can put out and I think we have got to the point where some overseas players would improve our squad.
We've let Super run down to the point where it isn't as good at preparing players for Tests.
I know I'm in a minority, but for rugby reasons NZR should have fought tooth and nail to keep SA in Super. The utter arrogance of thinking they could build their own comp, drag in the 'good' Aussie sides without national body support is astonishing. It's been so short sighted it is a colossal failure.
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Our only real advantage is centrally contracted players managing workloads and being prepped to peak at the right time. Players being contracted primarily to clubs is a headache for NH unions - they have to negotiate to get them, and things like camps are bloody hard.
Pick overseas players and kill your local comp. To be the best oyu have to play the best. Super used to be the best. Now NH comps are the best. And you see that with the international results.
It's no surprise that 2015 SF were all SANZAAR unions. We took that and went backwards - while NH got into gear and lifted their game. Can we do the same?
I think the quality would drop even more if this gets allowed ... it is fundamentally incompatible with Super as a
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@nzzp said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
@DaGrubster said in ABs picking overseas players - inevitable?:
Which is why they need to ensure that they have the best AB team they can put out and I think we have got to the point where some overseas players would improve our squad.
We've let Super run down to the point where it isn't as good at preparing players for Tests.
I know I'm in a minority, but for rugby reasons NZR should have fought tooth and nail to keep SA in Super. The utter arrogance of thinking they could build their own comp, drag in the 'good' Aussie sides without national body support is astonishing. It's been so short sighted it is a colossal failure.
COVID 19 did not help there. There had been rumblings for years and the pandemic gave them the perfect opportunity to make the move. I believe it has helped them and hindered us
