The Exodus: What Impact?

[Iafeta]

It looks as though New Zealand Rugby are about to lose players on a mass exodus post the Rugby World Cup, as a load of them take up contracts off shore. So far committed to going are:-

Chris Jack
Byron Kelleher
Sam Tuitupou
Aaron Mauger
Carl Hayman
Anton Oliver

Fringe players such as Josh Blackie (Japan) have also confirmed they are leaving.


Others who have their names bandied about as going include

Doug Howlett
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Ma'a Nonu
Luke McAlister
Rico Gear
Marty Holah
Clarke Dermody
Jimmy Cowan



So far the only major one off contract who has re-commited is Tony Woodcock, though it's understood Richie McCaw will likely stay too. It seems to me younger players are now leaving en-mass. Sivivatu, Nonu, McAlister, Cowan and Dermody are all relatively inexperienced All Blacks and probably have fair careers to go, but their names are up for discussion.

Previously it seemed only players with very little All Blacks prospects, or at the tail end of their career, or were nonplussed about non selection headed overseas.

So the question I pose is, will New Zealand Rugby be as strong without these exiting players, or will New Zealand come right back to the field?

 

[Sanchez]

Doug Howlett-resign
Sitiveni Sivivatu-resign
Ma'a Nonu-f**k off
Luke McAlister-resign
Rico Gear-f**k off
Marty Holah- im sure he resigned already
Clarke Dermody-resign
Jimmy Cowan-resign

 

[ozbash]

Chris Jack
Byron Kelleher
Sam Tuitupou
Aaron Mauger
Carl Hayman
Anton Oliver

hayman is the only 'real' loss

Doug Howlett
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Ma'a Nonu
Luke McAlister
Rico Gear
Marty Holah
Clarke Dermody
Jimmy Cowan

cowan and McAlister are the 2 i would try to keep.

its a natural progression with the AB's it seems.

 

[Mal Meninga]

Mcalister is a gun - He should be a priority.

 

[Sanchez]

you wouldnt resign holah oz?

 

[ozbash]

not really, or byron kellerher.

holah's biggest problem is richie mccaw. he is an awesome flanker for waikato/chiefs but will never wear black while richie is around. waikato is full of good loosies, messam, lauaki,latimer (will go all the way) and bates..

holah is better off chasing an overseas contract.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Hayman is the only one I'm really gutted about so far, mainly because I want to see him play a lot more tests for the ABs and cement the title of the greatest prop of all time. If he goes to Epurope and doesn't come back, that won't happen. However hopefully he sticks to his stated aim of spending a couple of seasons OS and coming back for the WC in NZ in 2011.

 

[Sanchez]

latimer is bop isnt he oz

 

[ozbash]

yea, tauranga boys college.

played 7's under titch. very young still.

 

[Sanchez]

so no use to waikato really

 

[ozbash]

only the chiefs i think. who he,ll play for in the Air NZ is anyones guess but i doubt it will be the steamers.

 

[ozbash]

nope, i,m wrong...

Bay of Plenty
Forwards
Aarin Dunster Aaron Rameka
Aidan Kuka Aleki Lutui
Ben Castle Bernie Upton
Colin Bourke James Afoa
John Pareanga Mark Sorenson
Mathew Wallis Nili Latu
Simms Davison Simon Chisholm
Solomon King Tanerau Latimer
Warren Smith

Backs
Anthony Tahana Charles Baxter
Cory Aporo Garrick Cowley
Hayden Reid Jamie Nutbrown
Jeffrey Ierome Lance MacDonald
Mike Delany Murray Williams
Rena Schuster Teu Nafe
Wayne Hughson

http://www.allblacks.co.nz/index.cfm?layout=ancTeams#29

 

[Sanchez]

so still want to let holah go?

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Doug Howlett - cut lose, easily replacable
Sitiveni Sivivatu - resign
Ma'a Nonu - cut lose, he'll never reach his potential and seems the type of lazy f*ck who'd enjoy running over the top of japanese defenders
Luke McAlister - resign
Rico Gear - resign
Marty Holah - resign
Clarke Dermody - cut lose
Jimmy Cowan - cut lose , dime a dozen

 

[Sanchez]

doug howlett isnt easily replaceable

 

[Iafeta]

According to this article, this is the update

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4050191a10295.html

About to confirm as going

Saimone Taumoepeau (few tests as a prop)
Craig Newby (few tests as a loosie)

Likely to Leave

Rico Gear (Test Winger)
Luke McAlister (Test second five)
Marty Holah (Fringe test loosie)
Sitivini Sivivatu (Test winger)
Jimmy Cowan (Fringe test halfback)

Confirmed as going

Aaron Mauger (Test second five)
Chris Jack (Test lock)
Anton Oliver (Test hooker)
Clarke Dermody (Fringe test prop)
Sam Tuitupou (Former test second five)
Carl Hayman (Test prop)
Byron Kelleher (Test halfback)

Uncapped Players going

Kane Thompson
Josh Blackie (Highlanders captain)
Filipo Levi
Paul Tito
Brent Ward
Lome Fa'atau
Joe Tekerai (haven't heard of him before)

Expected to resign

Richie McCaw (test captain)
Doug Howlett (Test winger)
Ali Williams (test lock)

Resigned

Tony Woodcock (test prop)

Uncertain

Ma'a Nonu (test second five)
Joe Rockocoko (test winger)
Greg Rawlinson (fringe test lock)
Sione Lauaki (fringe test loosie)

That's a hell of a long list, and looks likely to cut the depth of the top tier, and now even second tier fairly deep. Surely the NZRU have to do something. Some of those guys are straight out world class - Hayman etc.

 

[ozbash]

hayman and sivi are the only real losses imo, the rest are replaceable or past their use-by.

 

[NOBLE]

I bet Top Dollar that McAlister and Sivivatu won't be going.

McAlister was only going to leave because he wasn't getting enough AB gametime - now that Mauger is gone the 12 Jersey is his to lose so he will stay now.

Sivivatu - I doubt he stood down for 3 Years (despite already doing a 3 Year Period before that) so he could play for the All Blacks to just throw it all away after 2 season, he still has his best years ahead of him and the hunger will still be there.

 

[Iafeta]

According to stuff.co.nz, McAlister has been offered a deal worth $892,000 per year by Toulouse. NZRU can't compete with that, he'd have to take it surely.

Sitivini Sivivatu though is set to resign, with the NZRU helping him out through his domestics situation and he wants to repay the NZRU for their support.

 

[ozbash]

Sitivini Sivivatu though is set to resign, with the NZRU helping him out through his domestics situation and he wants to repay the NZRU for their support.

its interesting that one. maybe that was the deal given to sivi that the nzrfu wouldnt censure him if he signed on the dotted line...

whatever happened, i'm glad he is staying.