Exodus 2017
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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
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@Stargazer Six weeks for an Achilles? Sounds like wishful thinking to me.
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@Bones said in Exodus 2017:
@Stargazer Six weeks for an Achilles? Sounds like wishful thinking to me.
It was an ankle tendon apparently. It just looked like an achilles the way he clutched the back of his lower leg as he went down while running.
World Cup winning All Black Conrad Smith is facing ankle surgery just as he helps unfashionable Pau push for honours in France.
"The club confirmed Smith will go under the knife and face at least six weeks out with an ankle tendon injury suffered in their 32-27 win over Montpellier in the latest round of the French Top 14 championship."
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And now it's confirmed: Mathewson has signed a short-term contract (until the end of the 2016/17 season) with Bristol.
http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/news/mathewson-arrives-until-end-of-season/
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Aaron Cruden has signed for french club Montpellier. He will join them after the Lions Tour.
Rugby / Montpellier : Aaron Cruden a dit "oui" au MHR !
L'ouvreur néo-zélandais, champion du monde 2011 avec les All Blacks, évoluera la saison prochaine au MHR, qui a signé un très gros coup sur le marché des transferts.
