Exodus 2017

[mariner4life]

@antipodean subtle. But that would be "another championship"

How are the Waratards looking?

[taniwharugby]

@antipodean or maybe none of them like Colin Cooper

[Frye]

@mariner4life said in Exodus 2017:

@antipodean subtle. But that would be "another championship"

How are the Waratards looking?

dogshit.

But apparently they have been exceptional on the training field.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/14/hoopers-training-gaffe-shows-tahs-heads/

[antipodean]

@mariner4life said in Exodus 2017:

@antipodean subtle. But that would be "another championship"

How are the Waratards looking?

On track for another championship. We haven't had the luxury of some easy derbies like you. We've been touring the Republic.

[mariner4life]

@antipodean ah yes, the 90s, when that meant something...

[Bovidae]

TKB leaving is a huge loss for the Chiefs but he's got a young family to support so good luck to him. I don't think he is that injury-prone either it's just that his one major long-term injury was pretty fuckin' horrific. He did bloody well to recover in time to make the RWC squad and become the bench HB.

So next year the Chiefs will (likely) have the smallest 9-10 combo in Super rugby.

[Tim]

Interesting that TKB has not received the same treatment as Luatua after his announcement.

[Crucial]

@Tim said in Exodus 2017:

Interesting that TKB has not received the same treatment as Luatua after his announcement.

What treatment from who?

Maybe the argument has already been had and there's no need to re-hash it.

Like Luatua he is a bench player at best for the ABs. Pulu or Weber can take up that mantle.

[Tim]

The media and on here. No comment from Steve Hansen either.

[Bovidae]

@Tim TKB did say he had been in constant contact with the Chiefs and NZR, and the lack of communication seemed to be Hansen's beef about Luatua.

I don't remember any negative comments about Faumuina either.

[pakman]

@Crucial I have to disagree with you putting Luatua and TKB in the same boat. No quibble that they are clearly behind the incumbents, but in TKB's case Nugget will (we hope) be around for years. Read on the other hand will probably retire post RWC and at this stage Luatua has the best skill set to replace him. May not be a coincidence that he is suggesting he will return post Bristol. Aviva rugby lacks athleticism but will force Luatua to be more physical.

[Stargazer]

@pakman I think the likes of Akira Ioane and Whetu Douglas have a better chance of playing 8 for the ABs after Read retires than Luatua after his stint with Bristol. Luatua is not exactly going to play for a top club and is more likely to get worse than better.

[Bones]

Colour me unimpressed by Douglas.

[Stargazer]

@Bones He's been way better in his first 3 Super Rugby games than Akira Ioane, who many on the Fern seem to consider as having AB potential.

[Bones]

@Stargazer How would you define "way better"? He seems pretty ordinary to me. Plus is almost 26....

[Crucial]

I'd like to see Shields have a long term crack at 8. He is wasted in the backlog at 6

[Stargazer]

@Bones The stats confirm what you can see on the field.

By the way, I don't see either of these two as All Blacks. I just mentioned them to illustrate the unlikeliness of Luatua returning from Bristol and making the ABs again.

[Billy Tell]

Luatua is not and never will be a long term AB number 8. We have problems if he is. He's a decent enough player, but not 1st XV material. Hence the move off-shore.

[taniwharugby]

@Stargazer said in Exodus 2017:

@Bones The stats confirm what you can see on the field.

By the way, I don't see either of these two as All Blacks. I just mentioned them to illustrate the unlikeliness of Luatua returning from Bristol and making the ABs again.

How do we know the one on the right really is Douglas, there is no picture, it could be anyone!

[Bovidae]

@Crucial said in Exodus 2017:

I'd like to see Shields have a long term crack at 8. He is wasted in the backlog at 6

Shields would have to find himself a pair of hands first!