All Blacks 2025
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet eh? You mean the guy that played half as many games as him and never hit great highs either?
Yeah Charles Piutau. That guy.
I guess in much the same way as Marty Holah could've been as good as Sam Harding.
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Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Yes.
Also the offer he got off shore was bigger and he didn't give NZR right of reply IIRC.
Also have a feeling he came back from off season somewhat under done and didn't like being told ... but may be conflating with Luatua.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us. -
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Nice to welcome back some females to the fern
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
Instant ban.
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us.He was offered the highlest pay in rugby at the time, no brainer for some one wanting to set up his entire family
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@gt12 said in All Blacks 2025:
@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:
In his first super season Ice was freakish at FB for the Canes. He probably should have stayed at FB for longer, and should have stayed in Wellington
Also magic at 12 for the Blues when he got a chance there.
He destroyed the Bulls (I think it was) in SA with his running and passing game. He waa much better there than at 13 IMO.
Your point is fair though, had they asked him to focus on one position, he would likely have had a better career.
Toeava was basically David Havili with impact.
Davidav-ili.
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I think part of the Toeava hate came from him becoming synomous with the All Blacks ability to choke on the world stage. The absolute "possum in the headlights" look of panic on his face as he got subbed onto the field in that infamous 1/4 final against France made him the poster boy for All Black mental fraility.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
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@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
The story circulating when he went was, he wanted the money to help out family.
Don't know if there any other reasons, or how true any of it was/is. Let's face it it all specualtion, only he can really tell us.Seemingly he had a load of them suckling on the tit.
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@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
His ommision from the 2015 RWC was contentious wasnt it? Because I think he did not leave for the NH until after the tournament.
Obviously Ben Smith & Savea were nailed down starters but I think Naholo was coming off an injury and NMS was like an up and comer but a bit of an unknown quantity.
I could be wrong on the above but I just remember thinking it was crazy that such a talent could not get into the squad.
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
His ommision from the 2015 RWC was contentious wasnt it? Because I think he did not leave for the NH until after the tournament.
Obviously Ben Smith & Savea were nailed down starters but I think Naholo was coming off an injury and NMS was like an up and comer but a bit of an unknown quantity.
I could be wrong on the above but I just remember thinking it was crazy that such a talent could not get into the squad.
He announced he was leaving in March 2015
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@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Bridge had deceptive pace.
Well, the idea he had pace sure deceived me...
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@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
His ommision from the 2015 RWC was contentious wasnt it? Because I think he did not leave for the NH until after the tournament.
Obviously Ben Smith & Savea were nailed down starters but I think Naholo was coming off an injury and NMS was like an up and comer but a bit of an unknown quantity.
I could be wrong on the above but I just remember thinking it was crazy that such a talent could not get into the squad.
Looked up his Wikipedia and the comment is
He was not selected for the 2015 World Cup, a factor in his decision to move to play club rugby in Europe.[8]
If I recall it was the other way around: not selected as had signed offshore. The signing being the deciding factor when picking between talented players.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
Bridge had deceptive pace.
Well, the idea he had pace sure deceived me...
Like I said…..deceiving. Bridge was like a slower ball in cricket.
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damn this thread is depressing....the 2025 All Blacks thread has been full of chat about Toeava, Piutau, Bridge and Havili....the future is bright
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@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2025:
damn this thread is depressing....the 2025 All Blacks thread has been full of chat about Toeava, Piutau, Bridge and Havili....the future is bright
At least one of those names is a nailed-on selection this year....
Honestly, now the feet-finding phase is over, can we start giving new players more game time and start building a midfield?
