Amobokoboko
Waikato Junglist
Fresh from the Herald.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10685937
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10685937
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Big Chance DC is heading to France after RWC
- Thread starter Amobokoboko
- Start date
Shaggy
First XV
Yup, I read that too ... hardly surprising though, the AB's have done well to hold on to him as long as they have.
Does mean that they need to up the anti on grooming his replacement (who ever that is) though
Black Heart
Bench Player
It's not surprising. Would be a perfect time to leave too particularly if they win the World Cup. I'm sure the same will go for McCaw.
Amobokoboko
Waikato Junglist
With the necessary training Cruden or Slade could be a worthy new n°10, for McCaw I don't have a no clue who could replace him.
Black Heart
Bench Player
I would be more inclined to bring Slade through. He has a very good technical game and he's a good play maker. Cruden on the other hand is a strong ball carrier. Then you've also got guys like Stephen Brett who could possibly make the step up so it will be interesting to see what happens.
Openside will be a great competition. Todd, Latimer, Braid.... take your pick.
Amobokoboko
Waikato Junglist
True, but if Henry needs to start (re)building the squad I would go for young players. So Braid (29) and Brett (25) now wouldn't be my first choice
Black Heart
Bench Player
That's assuming that Henry is still there of course. He hasn't won the wc yet.
I think Brett still has something to prove, but that will all come out next year. As for #7 I would go with
Matt Todd with Latimer as cover.
Amobokoboko
Waikato Junglist
Fair enough, I think we need to wait till after the RWC to see who's leaving and then start puzzling from there.
If this happens, I hope DC takes Donald with him.
You always need a good PA with all that money coming in.
Don't really see Robbie Robinson as a viable 10 though.
I agree with the sentiment that McCaw may be the harder player to replace/emulate.
You always need a good PA with all that money coming in.
Slade, and Cruden are frontrunners.
Don't really see Robbie Robinson as a viable 10 though.
I think McCaw has stated several times that he doesn't want to leave NZ.
I agree with the sentiment that McCaw may be the harder player to replace/emulate.
Black Heart
Bench Player
If this happens, I hope DC takes Donald with him.
You always need a good PA with all that money coming in.
:lol:
I think he was making reference to the fact that he wouldn't leave for money's sake while he still had an opportunity to play for the All Blacks. But he's what 28, 29? He'll definatly go over seas once he finishes with test rugby to make some more cash while he can, and what better time to do it than after a World Cup win? (fingers crossed)
Well, I'd say he could keep in the squad till at least 2013, and money isn't really going to be a big factor for McCaw, he is a trained pilot after all, so I'm sure he'll have plenty of cash and oppertunities to see the world. Not saying he won't go over seas, but he's the kind of player you could see finishing up rugby in New Zealand, getting even more caps. I'm sure winning a World Cup (not a given, but hey), first New Zealand to reach 100+ test caps, 5 NPC titles, 5 Super Rugby titles, most capped All Black captain, two IRB Player of the Year awards and consistantly believed to be the best openside flanker/player in the world for the last 10 years, I'm sure he'll have reached as many career goals as he needs, so he may well look to add onto that by playing over seas.
Amobokoboko
Waikato Junglist
Should be good to see him stay in NZ for a bit longer.
Black Heart
Bench Player
Despite when he decides to finish up, he'll be offered top dollar by most European Clubs (someone say Toulon?) in the region simliar to what Carter's been paid. He'd be stupid not to take a couple of mil for a couple of years of club rugby in France or somewhere.
Shaggy
First XV
I think Brett will go too ... he's got an out in his contract with the Blues and Auckland, if he misses All Black selection next year.
it's probably a good opportunity to start grooming a new openside after the World Cup, regardless of whether Ritchie stays or goes ... it could be Matt Todd or it could be the young guy from the Auckland NPC team this year (forgot his name, sorry) ... i'm sure there's plenty of talent out there that could be developed
markshaw
Academy Player
Shaun Polwart?
Shaggy
First XV
Yep, that's the guy, thanks
I don't think he'd be stupid to turn down the money. He's got the best chance out of any All Black ever since the great Colin Meads to be regarded as the greatest All Black of all time. I have little doubt that when he retires, that will be lucrative for him for not just a couple of years of rugby in France, but for decades.
He needs to achieve some big milestones to do that, the 100+ tests for the All Blacks being one of them. If he stays in New Zealand Rugby for good, he'll be regarded as one of the most selfless and patriotic players in the world during this "me and my money" era.
On top of that, I'm sure he'd like a year of test rugby as "Rugby World Cup champions" (if we win it), rather than winning the title and then just sodding off without getting to play as the champions. Believe me, that'll be very important to many players, the reason they've been leaving after World Cups so much is that the money is harder to turn down after losing a world cup.
He knows these things, he'll be being told by the NZRFU what this legacy (if it comes to pass) will be worth over a very long time for him, not just financially, but as far as the kind of legacy that sticks around long after your dead.
I admit there's a small chance he'll go for a year if he cracks the 100 and wins the cup, but there's plenty of reasons not to as well.
It's not a foregone conclusion that he'll go.
azeli
Academy Player
"At the end of my career, hopefully after a few more seasons in the jersey, I hope people will remember me as someone who was there for a long time and gave everything that he possibly could and hopefully added to the All Black legacy."
Recent quote from DC, NZ Herald article....hope he means it!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10688826
Recent quote from DC, NZ Herald article....hope he means it!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10688826
The big Kangaroo
Academy Player
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he might do a geroge greagan and say he is going to retire after the WC but than whean new zeland dont win, stick arond for the next
