Exodus 2017
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@Billy-Tell hopefully. Losing Ben and Israel would be a major setback
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@canefan said in Exodus 2017:
@Billy-Tell hopefully. Losing Ben and Israel would be a major setback
Ben Smith will be 31 come the Lions series, we are going to lose the Ben Smith we know and love due to age/injury sooner rather than later.
I would honestly be more worried if they bet the farm on Smith and that meant the funds weren't there for the next round of guys.
We gutted the entire 10-12-13 nexus and turned it over to career fringe players, rookies, and Barrett who had barely played 10 at test level and things were - fine. The removal of Smith and Dagg would have far less of an effect than that turnover.
Pau certainly seem to have a type of player in mind with Conrad Smith, Colin Slade and Tom Taylor already at the club.
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@rotated there was lots of concerned mutterings when NZR signed McCaw & DC on for long term contracts
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2017:
@rotated there was lots of concerned mutterings when NZR signed McCaw & DC on for long term contracts
I'd be half wary of throwing too much money at a 30 year-old outside back. They tend to find their form (speed) suddenly falling off a cliff, and then you are left with a white elephant. They should offer Ben Smith a very good contract, but no way they should match the sums reportedly being offered by Pau.
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@Billy-Tell well I am sure NZR know what they are upto and will only offer a contract they feel with get the best for both party's...I dont mind if whatever contract they offer sees him here a year or 2 into his twilight, better here than in the NH, and this is what the big money deals they sign are for.
NZR usually seems to know which players to fight for (Piutau the obvious exception, although not sure they were in that fight)
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@Unco Piutau barely got a chance to start for the ABs - and when he did he crushed it. NMS has had one rookie season in black. Not a fair comparison. Id have taken Piutau over Savea on the left wing last year in a heartbeat. But yes Dagg on the wing had a great season.
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@taniwharugby said in Exodus 2017:
@Billy-Tell well I am sure NZR know what they are upto and will only offer a contract they feel with get the best for both party's...I dont mind if whatever contract they offer sees him here a year or 2 into his twilight, better here than in the NH, and this is what the big money deals they sign are for.
NZR usually seems to know which players to fight for (Piutau the obvious exception, although not sure they were in that fight)
NZR had been negotiating a contract with Piutau for two months and he was sent a final draft for a further 2-year contract. Piutau even signed it, but it wasn't returned to NZR. He suddenly changed his mind after receiving an offer from Ulster and surprised everyone, including NZR, by signing with them instead. If anything, NZR didn't even get a chance to fight for him.
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I honestly think Piutau will look back at that decision with some regret. When he's an old fart looking back on his life I think an illustrious career in black would mean more than a bit of extra $ when he was young.
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@No-Quarter said in Exodus 2017:
I honestly think Piutau will look back at that decision with some regret. When he's an old fart looking back on his life I think an illustrious career in black would mean more than a bit of extra $ when he was young.
It all depends on what your priorities are at the time I suppose. Family to support/opportunities to travel & experience life vs Jersey. Everyone has their price.
NZ simply cannot compete with the coin that is on offer overseas.
I do think in years to come the likes of Piutau, Bundee Aki and Fritz Lee may be viewed as ones who "slipped through the net" -
@Crash said in Exodus 2017:
@No-Quarter said in Exodus 2017:
I honestly think Piutau will look back at that decision with some regret. When he's an old fart looking back on his life I think an illustrious career in black would mean more than a bit of extra $ when he was young.
It all depends on what your priorities are at the time I suppose. Family or Jersey. Everyone has their price.
NZ simply cannot compete with the coin that is on offer overseas.
I do think in years to come the likes of Piutau, Bundee Aki and Fritz Lee may be viewed as ones who "slipped through the net"Not sure that applies to Fritz and Bundee to be fair.
Both were players that in NZ, cut it up at NPC level but never really hit the highlights enough at Super level. Both found that their play was considered excellent in Europe. I can't really see the alternate universe where they stayed in NZ and became ABs -
@Crucial Yep agreed. Only so many AB jerseys available. Just disappointing that millionaire backers in France seem to be using us as a breeding ground for their marquee clubs - add to that the Kiwi sway in Ireland and management handing out Ireland jerseys two a penny.
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@No-Quarter said in Exodus 2017:
I honestly think Piutau will look back at that decision with some regret. When he's an old fart looking back on his life I think an illustrious career in black would mean more than a bit of extra $ when he was young.
I still don't understand his decision. Honour the contract he had already signed (but not sent back in) and enjoy a RWC 2015 winner's medal and a Lions series. Then f*ck off to Ulster to coin it if that is what floats his boat.
Instead, he will coin it, then either return in 2018/2019 and maybe win a RWC 2019 medal...or else continue his nomadic lucrative voyage in Europe (I can't imagine he'd want to stay at Ulster), and become the next Nick Evans/Luke McAlister etc.
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@Billy-Tell said in Exodus 2017:
I still don't understand his decision. Honour the contract he had already signed (but not sent back in) and enjoy a RWC 2015 winner's medal and a Lions series. Then f*ck off to Ulster to coin it if that is what floats his boat.
There's no guarentees tho'.
You're writing it like he had the AB starting spot at the WC in the bag. He didn't, he had an on again / off again AB bench spot & direct competition for a spot with Dagg, NMS, Nahalo. And the selectors were said to be leaning towards taking Slade as back 3 cover.
What he had in the bag was a life changing chunk of cash.
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@gollum said in Exodus 2017:
@Billy-Tell said in Exodus 2017:
I still don't understand his decision. Honour the contract he had already signed (but not sent back in) and enjoy a RWC 2015 winner's medal and a Lions series. Then f*ck off to Ulster to coin it if that is what floats his boat.
There's no guarentees tho'.
You're writing it like he had the AB starting spot at the WC in the bag. He didn't, he had an on again / off again AB bench spot & direct competition for a spot with Dagg, NMS, Nahalo. And the selectors were said to be leaning towards taking Slade as back 3 cover.
What he had in the bag was a life changing chunk of cash.
We will never know but imo he would have gone ahead of naholo if he had been staying in nz.
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Reports Pau are convinced they've got Ben and Conrad's signatures.
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Pau is gradually becoming a very Kiwi team in France, with not just a possible signing of Ben Smith and possible re-signing of Conrad Smith, but also Colin Slade, Tom Taylor, Chris King, Daniel Ramsay, Masalosalo Tutaia (or is he Samoan?), and - dare I say it - Jamie McKintosh as injury replacement player. Carl Hayman is their forwards coach.
The presence of players like Conrad, Slade and Taylor must certainly have contributed to them staying in the Top 14, considering this is only their second year in the highest division in over ten years. They were last relegated from the Top 14 to Pro2 after the 2005-06 season. You can't help but think that their attempt to sign Ben Smith reflects an ambition to go for higher honours in the Top 14.
They're a bit similar to La Rochelle in that respect, who also have quite a few Kiwis and - after promotion from Pro2 in 2014, and two season finishing mid-table, are now making life difficult for Clermont at the top of the Top14 table. La Rochelle has Victor Vito, Jason Eaton, Hikairo Forbes, Romana Graham, and also David Raikuna and Uini Atonio on the books.
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@Stargazer said in Exodus 2017:
Pau is gradually becoming a very Kiwi team in France, with not just a possible signing of Ben Smith and possible re-signing of Conrad Smith, but also Colin Slade, Tom Taylor, Chris King, Daniel Ramsay, Masalosalo Tutaia (or is he Samoan?), and - dare I say it - Jamie McKintosh as injury replacement player. Carl Hayman is their forwards coach.
Black Pauer gang one could say.
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@Billy-Tell Looks pretty white to me
/mad butcher mode
