Luke McAlister gives up on his World Cup hopes

[psychic duck]

Former Blues centre/fly half Luke McAlister, has said in an interview with French media that he has given up on being selected for the Rugby World Cup later this year and will join Toulouse with immediate effect at the beginning of the Top 14 season in August.

After previously quitting the All Blacks for two seasons after the 2007 World Cup, aged 24, to spend two seasons with Sale, he has struggled to find his best form back in New Zealand, and was not required by the All Blacks at all during 2010, but had still been widely tipped as being a contender to be backup fly half for Dan Carter, and he even won a poll recently on scrum.com as the fans choice to be Dan Carter's backup a position that the All Blacks have struggled.

He says "The selectors are searching for a back up for Dan Carter at fly half, I haven't really played there. Therefore it's difficult for the selectors to consider a player like me. I played at the last World Cup in 2007, so it won't be the end of the world for me if I'm not selected this time. Life continues and I will join Toulouse very soon".

He went onto to say how much he admires Toulouse and that he is very happy to join one of "the best French teams" and play in a "beautiful town" and that he always wanted to play in France.

The full article is here in French.
http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2010-2011/mcalister-en-rouge-et-noir_sto2862378/story.shtml​

 

[FlukeArtist]

Got to say- as a Blues fan, i'm glad to see the back of him.

 

[Shaggy]

It's unlikely that he would have got the starting 12 jersey for the Blues in 2012 anyway, with Ma'a Nonu signing for them

As for his RWC aspirations, maybe he could have stuck around for the ITM cup ... he might have got some game time for North Harbour in the 10 jersey to help press his claim ... form and injuries happen, so who knows, he might have played himself back into contention

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Shame, I'm a fan of McAlister, however you can see where he comes from
He's never going to beat SBW or Nonu to the 12 shirt, and hasn't played enough (or well enough at) flyhalf to be a realistic backup there
He could've made a useful squad player in case of injury etc. but if he wants to concentrate on his move to Toulouse then that's up to him really

 

[FlukeArtist]

And now he has failed to show up to Harbour training claiming a sick child.
Apparently the child has been sick for 10 days, yet there hasn't been a spare minute to call/text his employer and tell him he won't be coming in??
A likely story.
Reminds me of the time he claimed a "back injury" kept him out of the Harbour v Japan match a year or so ago.... that was funny because it was 2 days after another time he didn't make the ABs squad then as well....

I seriously doubt his and his father's credibility.

Good luck in France buddy- you won't be missed.

 

[TRF_woosaah]

yeah i am not a fan of him, and the way he is being portraid in the media currently isnt helping. aparenlty he will be at North Harbour training on saturday.

he wants an early release from his contract? good luck with that, if i was the NZRFU i would say no, it looks bad for other players who are leaving at the end of the season as well. and the way he has been acting id make him play. just to annoy him

 

[FlukeArtist]

And he has a sick child, but he wants to up stumps and head off to France??
Something dosn't add up.

 

[nickdnz]

yeah i am not a fan of him, and the way he is being portraid in the media currently isnt helping. aparenlty he will be at North Harbour training on saturday.

he wants an early release from his contract? good luck with that, if i was the NZRFU i would say no, it looks bad for other players who are leaving at the end of the season as well. and the way he has been acting id make him play. just to annoy him

Bring him on every losing game in the last 5 minutes.

I don't mind McAlister. This whole North Harbour thing is a real shame and I think he would have shown a lot of class to give his all for his last season of rugby in New Zealand. Since his return, he's probably gotten less oppertunities than he deserves. I think when he returned he saw that there was no decent backup to Daniel Carter and he could win back a test spot. Injuries, mixed form and in my opinion, a few poor selections obviously have left him feelling that his return was a waste of time.

If anything, it actually makes me really appreciate how classy guys like Chris Jack and Daniel Braid are. They clearly were enticed by the oppertunity for a test spot when they returned to New Zealand and for some reason or another were not given any real chances (Chris Jack doesn't even have a bench spot for the Crusaders it seems), however every time they play they give it 100% with total commitment off the field as well. It's one of the reasons I'd have loved for those two players especially, to make the Rugby World Cup.

 

[Amobokoboko]

It's indeed a pity but we can only respect his decision. I wish him all the best in France and I do hope Northland has a good ITM cup

 

[nickdnz]

It's indeed a pity but we can only respect his decision. I wish him all the best in France and I do hope Northland has a good ITM cup

I think you'll find that their situation has changed little with McAlister leaving, North Harbour on the other hand...

 

[DonBilly]

It's unlikely that he would have got the starting 12 jersey for the Blues in 2012 anyway, with Ma'a Nonu signing for them

As for his RWC aspirations, maybe he could have stuck around for the ITM cup ... he might have got some game time for North Harbour in the 10 jersey to help press his claim ... form and injuries happen, so who knows, he might have played himself back into contention

When Nonu signed for the Blues, hadn't McAlister already signed for Toulouse?

 

[welshglory]

Its a shame but i think international rugby has moved on from his type of player. AKA second five eight. If you look at the teams now you dont see many of them i presume its because of the 5 metre scrum rule, having a big crashing 12 is more useful now. Even Australia who have usually played 10s at 12 are changing e.g. Mccabe.

 

[TRF_woosaah]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/5292151/Luke-McAlister-back-training-with-Harbour

he is back at training for north harbour while he is still trying to get a release from his contract. If i was the NZRFU id drag this out as much as i could

 

[Larksea]

kinda a real shame about McAlister

It was only ~10 weeks ago he was odds on to backup Carter. He was kicking 74-75% for goal including some impressive long range shots.

He had at least one full game at 10 and was much more impressive than Brett.

But everything just seem to fall apart at the blues about the same time Toeava went down with his injury. McAlister seem to lose confidence and his goal kicking suffered as well.

Only took 4-5 weeks for him to go from odds on to backup carter to only an outside chance.

I honestly thinnk he would have done the job for the AB's. Things just weren't ticking over well at the blues over the last half of the season. Being in teh AB's would have lifted McAlister I think.

 

[Rhyer]

kinda a real shame about McAlister

It was only ~10 weeks ago he was odds on to backup Carter. He was kicking 74-75% for goal including some impressive long range shots.

He had at least one full game at 10 and was much more impressive than Brett.

But everything just seem to fall apart at the blues about the same time Toeava went down with his injury. McAlister seem to lose confidence and his goal kicking suffered as well.

Only took 4-5 weeks for him to go from odds on to backup carter to only an outside chance.

I honestly thinnk he would have done the job for the AB's. Things just weren't ticking over well at the blues over the last half of the season. Being in teh AB's would have lifted McAlister I think.

Friday will reveal all about Colin Slade and if this decision was the right one...

 

[Bangkaew]

Its a shame but i think international rugby has moved on from his type of player. AKA second five eight. If you look at the teams now you dont see many of them i presume its because of the 5 metre scrum rule, having a big crashing 12 is more useful now. Even Australia who have usually played 10s at 12 are changing e.g. Mccabe.

I think Henry is looking for a more conservative and defensive back line? Kahui, Conrad Smith are more thinking defensive players while Nonu and Sonny Bill bring their bulk in to defense. In the last world cup the approach was that the ABs could outscore any one and Mcalister being one of the best attacking 12s there is was the preferred choice. Mcalister although good in defence, is not always the most enthusiastic defender.

 

[Muzzy]

kinda a real shame about McAlister

It was only ~10 weeks ago he was odds on to backup Carter. He was kicking 74-75% for goal including some impressive long range shots.

He had at least one full game at 10 and was much more impressive than Brett.

But everything just seem to fall apart at the blues about the same time Toeava went down with his injury. McAlister seem to lose confidence and his goal kicking suffered as well.

Only took 4-5 weeks for him to go from odds on to backup carter to only an outside chance.

I honestly thinnk he would have done the job for the AB's. Things just weren't ticking over well at the blues over the last half of the season. Being in teh AB's would have lifted McAlister I think.

an even bigger shame, he's now playing some of the best rugby he's ever played for Toulouse, why couldn't he play like that here, he must have been unhappy with Harbour

 

[Surefire]

an even bigger shame, he's now playing some of the best rugby he's ever played for Toulouse, why couldn't he play like that here, he must have been unhappy with Harbour

Just saw the replay of Toulouse-Clermont and he is playing awesome. He looks like he has been playing with the Toulouse side for years! It looks like Toulouse are going to be hard to beat. Nothing new though.

 

[TRF_RC]

Just saw the replay of Toulouse-Clermont and he is playing awesome. He looks like he has been playing with the Toulouse side for years! It looks like Toulouse are going to be hard to beat. Nothing new though.

Yeah, i hear he's getting on really well there. Good on him, i say.

 

[TNT88]

He is on fire. French rugby seems to suit his skillset well.