All Blacks 2024
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Crusaders respond as Scott Robertson hunts Sam Whitelock for All Blacks return
The 35-year-old is wanted by his former coach to return from Europe.
“Sam left an enduring legacy here at the Crusaders, and we can see that in the quality of locks we have, now under the tutelage of Scott Barrett,” said chief executive Colin Mansbridge.
“Once a Crusader, always a Crusader, but as far as we know he’s on a two-year deal with Section Pau.”
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@mariner4life did you hear the one about George Bridge….
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@ACT-Crusader is Luke Whitelock available
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@ACT-Crusader is Luke Whitelock available
No, but Adam and George are
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@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Are people getting outraged over rumours…or is there a thread of hard evidence that Robertson is begging whitelock to come back??
Just the 'Surf Jesus' crew.
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Clearly lock is the biggest issue for us over the next couple of seasons.
We have Barratt - world class lock, Lord - who has potential, injury prone, inexperienced - Vai’i who needs to improve a huge amount.
Holland - not eligible yet
Of all the players overseas, Whitelock would make the most sense, help shore up locking position adding depth, mentoring the younger crop of locks coming through to get them ready to become world class.
So he would be a player, mentor, pseudo specialist coach
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Rassie is just trying to excuse the boks not being the dominant side year after year.
They have a great RWC record, no doubt about it, but they should be better outside of that as well.
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Seems to be getting a bit of traction. Would not be surprised if a few more are added to this list. Would it be possible to bring Mounga back?
All Blacks icon tapped for shock Test comeback
The 35-year-old retired from Tests after the All Blacks lost last year's Rugby World Cup final to South Africa in heartbreaking fashion.
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I'm just waiting for Robertson to start talking up Ma'a Nonu next.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
I'm just waiting for Robertson to start talking up Ma'a Nonu next.
that’s just silly, he already has Crotty back in Nz and ready to go
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@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Seems to be getting a bit of traction. Would not be surprised if a few more are added to this list. Would it be possible to bring Mounga back?The 35-year-old retired from Tests after the All Blacks lost last year's Rugby World Cup final to South Africa in heartbreaking fashion.
No he's signed for a few years.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Seems to be getting a bit of traction. Would not be surprised if a few more are added to this list. Would it be possible to bring Mounga back?The 35-year-old retired from Tests after the All Blacks lost last year's Rugby World Cup final to South Africa in heartbreaking fashion.
No he's signed for a few years.
Whitelock was signed for 2. So anything is possible, with contract buy outs etc.
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@Chris said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
Yeah you want your war horses in the RWC year - not in the year after the RWC.
Not the point more up sides to young players learning off Whitelock a real test lock than Vaai pretending to be one.
Short sighted not looking at the potential overall long term benefits.Ironical this statement as Vaai has already had years of "learning" off Whitelock and it hasn't really helped has it?
If Whitelock is to come back because he's simply better than everyone else playing and deserves to be there on merit that's fine, short sighted consdiering he defiently wont be there come the next RWC but ok.
If he's there with a transition into a coaching role then that's great.
I'm also not sure that the Whitelock we got at the RWC last year is going to be the same Whitelock we get back in 2024. He mentally checked out from the game at the top level to retire - history is littered with atheletes who retired, came back and were a shadow of their former selves.
It just seems to me that time and effort would be better spent on developing the talent we have here.
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@Machpants TSF: Rumour = Fact
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@Windows97 Vai'i plays for the Crusaders? Because that is where your base of learning happens, day to day rugby, not the short sharp fine tuning that happens in limited times with national teams, IMO
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@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:
NZR must be rolling in cash if they can buy-out these lucrative overseas contracts.
Yeah the details matter
If Pau lets him go out of the kindness of their heart (why would they?) and Whitelock signs to NZR for a lower contract than he was previously on (there's no way he's worth the same as his previous deal now) that's not a huge issue
If NZR was paying for him twice, or whatever break contract fee? Fuck that
