Doug Howlett retires

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Link: http://www.munsterrugby.ie/news/11934.php

 

[nickdnz]

Great player for the Blues, All Blacks and Munster. Had a hell of a career.

 

[lynam1104]

Such a huge part of Munster over the last number of years and still the AB's top try scorer great player best of luck to him.

 

[munstermuffin]

Add in Munsters top try scorer too. A legend but he will be a great asset still to Munster.

 

[nickdnz]

Also the top try scorer in Super rugby. A lot of records for the guy.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Great player and and a real pleasure to watch.

 

[Groundhog]

Absolute legend, best signing we've ever had and a proper gent by the looks of it. Huge servant to Munster and the All Blacks

 

[psychic duck]

Absolute legend, best signing we've ever had and a proper gent by the looks of it.

Not quite Zac Guildford but you could hardly call him the greatest role model.

Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett and other Blues players were thrown out of the exclusive Spy Bar on Quay St while celebrating the team's Super 12 final win on Saturday.Bar manager Chris Barron said the players had been warned to behave themselves, but were asked to leave after Howlett began acting up on the dance floor.
Howlett later abused a female staff member and threw a glass at her, Mr Barron said.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3504176

All Blacks star Doug Howlett was arrested by police after two cars were damaged outside the team hotel at London's Heathrow Airport.
The incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning as most of his World Cup team-mates were already on their way home to New Zealand.
Howlett, 29, was held on suspicion of causing criminal damage and bailed to reappear pending further police enquiries.
"It is a serious matter and we are concerned that something of this nature has occurred at what is already a disappointing time for the team and for our supporters," All Blacks manager Darren Shand said in a statement.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/10/10/howlett.arrest/?iref=mpstoryview

 

[munstermuffin]

Duck always on cue to slate a Munster lad. Not even worth arguing.Just to say though he's had more troubles than that and nobody mentioned role model but he is a gentleman and was superb for us buying in to Munster Rugby from day 1

 

[big ginger 8]

Top player very talented and hard working.

 

[Groundhog]

Not quite Zac Guildford but you could hardly call him the greatest role model.



http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3504176



[/FONT][/COLOR]http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/10/10/howlett.arrest/?iref=mpstoryview[/FONT][/COLOR]

The first of those incidents was extremely serious but it happened ten years ago and ever since he arrived in Munster he has looked a proper professional. Hence why he captained the side this year. He's had a hugely successful career and I'd rather take an appraisal on his personality from how I've seen him act during his time in Munster rather than a story from 2003.

 

[Larksea]

fantastic player, pretty epic in his prime.

Obviously done some great stuff at Munster.

He will long be remembered and discussed in NZ till the end of time for the fact he was not selected for that faitful match for the All Blacks in 2007 even though he seemed to be in ideal form at the right time, like the stars aligning. I think even if the selectors may say they have no regrets about that day and stand by their selections deep down if they could go back and do it all again the first thing they would do is select him to start at 14 for that game knowing without question that he would have been a better option.

They clearly learned from that mistake with selections, going from two brilliant Fijian wingers in 2007 to Cory Jane and Richard Kahui in 2011, a clear and obvious selection policy change.

Besides that he should surely be seen as one of the most gifted sportsmen NZ has ever produced.

 

[irelandfan123]

Can you imagine if he had went to Leinster instead of Munster, he really would have tore **** up

 

[Jaguares]

Long live king Howlett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SelimNiai]

One of the best wingers of the professional era. Simple as that really

 

[psychic duck]

fantastic player, pretty epic in his prime.

Obviously done some great stuff at Munster.

He will long be remembered and discussed in NZ till the end of time for the fact he was not selected for that faitful match for the All Blacks in 2007 even though he seemed to be in ideal form at the right time, like the stars aligning. I think even if the selectors may say they have no regrets about that day and stand by their selections deep down if they could go back and do it all again the first thing they would do is select him to start at 14 for that game knowing without question that he would have been a better option.

They clearly learned from that mistake with selections, going from two brilliant Fijian wingers in 2007 to Cory Jane and Richard Kahui in 2011, a clear and obvious selection policy change.

Besides that he should surely be seen as one of the most gifted sportsmen NZ has ever produced.

Selecting Howlett would have made no difference to that game as opposed to Rokocoko and Sivivatu, who were hardly naff options on crap form (I remember a **** poor pool that the AB's were in made player form judgement hard for Henry in that tournament). I was very surprised that Sivivatu and Gear were both left out of the 2011 RWC squad, both would have been better options than Kahui or SBW on the wing.

Also I think some are overstating his value to Munster in this thread. Whilst he was did all that was asked of him at Munster in solid defence and great finisher, he was severely limited by the fact in playing Munster's negative kick and clap tactics for so long he rarely got the ball. By the time they attempted to change style (poorly) he was past his best and had suffered a long pace curtailing injury and solid player as opposed to spectacular.

Whilst he was good at Munster, I would argue that from a neutral's point of view, it would have been far more exciting to have seen him at a team that would have utilised him more. As irelandfan123 says if he had gone to Leinster then that would have been far better for him as a player and the neutral as a spectator.

 

[munstermuffin]

But Duck he settled in to Munster and still lives here happily now and well a super pro which I was delighted to see has got all he could get in a HEC medal and a Pro12