Transfers rumours

[ratsapprentice]

He didn't have it renewed - who's to say a new coach might want him though.

 

[Big Ewis]

Mourad Boudjellal said in an interview he wanted to try something huge, a crazy dream. He wants to try to get the "Fantastic Four" of Rugby to Toulon. There's speculation around who they could be. He apparently gave a clue by saying "they wear black jerseys". A french website speculates on which All-Blacks that could be (if it is indeed All-Blacks he meant):

- Israel Dagg: but they did already get Halfpenny...
- Nonu: 32yo, could be tempted by a European adventure and a nice big juicy contract. And he already had shown interest in coming to Europe before...
- Kieran Read: but he's too precious to the AB, and being captain for his country...he couldn't refuse that.
- McCaw: quite probable. He's 33, played 124 games for NZ, nothing to prove there anymore after lifting the Webb Ellis trophy. He could be tempted by a last battle and challenge in France. He too had shown interest in previous contracts...
- SB.Williams: could come back to Toulon. 28yo and 19 caps, and seems like the kinda guy who's interested in fame and money and all that crap, so Toulon could be prestigious enough to seduce him and his big ego.
- Dan Cahtah: as Rugbyrama says, quite possible because he's already been in France (Perpignan) and NZ will want to forget all about him past 2015 and will look for younger options at FH. He's done his time in the black jersey, just about.

Maybe Boudjellal didn't mean they all wore black. Other suggestions, says the article, include: Heaslip, Warburton, Mike Brown or Farrell, or Dusautoir. From the south: Genia, Quade Cooper, Etzebeth, BDPlessis, JdV...

 

[ratsapprentice]

McCaw has said in the past he can't see himself playing in Europe.
SBW will almost certainly play in the RWC and then try and play 7s in the Olympics, after that he might go back to league or Toulon.

Nonu, Dagg and Carter maybe.

 

[Big Ewis]

I know all that. But moneh moneh moneh mohhhneh.....MOHNEH !!!!
People say all kinds a shhit you know...until they SEE THE CASH...then they "reconsider".......then they actually do come.

But this is all speculazione. But without parmesan. And we know not yet what the Budgetlal will conjure...
(mmm....Italian food..)

 

[ratsapprentice]

McCaw knows he'll break if he's forced to play any great number of games - and I genuinely don't think he wants to leave ENZED.

The Olympics is far bigger than European rugby for someone like SBW - a lot of people, in fact... which might be enough to keep a large number of Australians in Australia - for a year at least.
The NRL can compete with France monetarily too - their top guys are ****ing minted.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Whatever he does conjure up it will be better than Des pates avec parmizano he has the cash and it will happen the guy is nuts!!!!!!!!!!! but very likeable he should just put brain into operation before opening mouth sometimes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Reckon Carter, Conrad Smith, and Maybe the Franks.

going on players they may need.

 

[big ginger 8]

Maybe Boudjellal didn't mean they all wore black. Other suggestions, says the article, include: Heaslip, Warburton, Mike Brown or Farrell, or Dusautoir. From the south: Genia, Quade Cooper, Etzebeth, BDPlessis, JdV...

They already tried to get Heaslip this year and he signed a contract for three years with the IRFU continuing on as our highest paid player so it certainly won't be him.

Black jersies eh?...Connacht had a black H Cup jersey, Marmion, Henshaw, McKeon and Kearney you heard it hear first.

 

[Big Ewis]

never underestimate the power of pasta, senior gastoni maccaronni. And I think the Budgetlal knows exactly what he's doing. He's not the type to throw himself into the unknown or attempt something uncalculated, he only likes to appear like he is.
He looks like he's going with a simple plate of bolognieze, but really he's preparing the finest coffee tiramisu you've ever set your eyes on. He is a prestidigitator of sorts...a Batman of the finances.

They already tried to get Heaslip this year and he signed a contract for three years with the IRFU continuing on as our highest paid player so it certainly won't be him.

Black jersies eh?...Connacht had a black H Cup jersey, Marmion, Henshaw, McKeon and Kearney you heard it hear first.

first sentence, useful. Second one, not so much

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Also BDP has a Black sharks jersey.

 

[Big Ewis]

Also BDP has a Black sharks jersey.

wait....Scotland plays in black some times...Okay, I'm going to remap the entire speculation sheet:
Boudjellal wants Cusiter, Ross Ford, and uhm Beattie and Ross Ford again.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

wait....Scotland plays in black some times...Okay, I'm going to remap the entire speculation sheet:
Boudjellal wants Cusiter, Ross Ford, and uhm Beattie and Ross Ford again.

Since when have Scotland ever played in Black? it very dark blue at most. Honestly.

could be Hong Kong?

Although Edinburgh play in black.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A fantastic four of All Blacks, in my mind, would be McCaw, Carter, Smith, Jane - all of whom would be of the "pension topping up" age after the RWC.
I don't think McCaw or Smith would leave NZ, though.

 

[Peat]

A fantastic four of All Blacks, in my mind, would be McCaw, Carter, Smith, Jane - all of whom would be of the "pension topping up" age after the RWC.
I don't think McCaw or Smith would leave NZ, though.

No Read? U wot?

 

[Draggs]

They wear black...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Read? U wot?

I was thinking in terms of the kind of player Toulon would sign. Read is probably the best player in the world, but I don't think he'll be looking to leave NZ any time soon.
Toulon like to sign the big names from a couple of season ago rather than the current superstars and ones that are at/nearing the end of their international careers (with exceptions, obviously).

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

wait....Scotland plays in black some times...Okay, I'm going to remap the entire speculation sheet:
Boudjellal wants Cusiter, Ross Ford, and uhm Beattie and Ross Ford again.

scotland never played in black.

 

[Big Ewis]

uh oh...my tendency for color-blindness exposed on TRF...
uhm yes, of course, dark blue for Scotland. I knew that, I was obviously just testing you. Well done Scottie boy/Tigs person.

Boudjellal is thinking of all that after the RWC, so ages must be considered...although nobody in that list would be clearly too old to refuse. I can easily see McCaw being tempted by the idea of yet another chapter in his career, and at his age, not a whole lot to lose if he's on a good team with good players all over the 15 and well coached, and especially if there's that nice big check that comes with it too. There's little risk as the players are past their primes and failure wouldn't be dealt with lots of criticism. In McCaw's case, everybody would say 'well he was old, and he's proved himself so much anyways when it mattered...'.

 

[Gavin]

All Blacks fantastic four? Steven Luatua, Aaron Cruden, Conrad Smith and Julian Savea

 

[Big Ewis]

All Blacks fantastic four? Steven Luatua, Aaron Cruden, Conrad Smith and Julian Savea

no man, we've already established other sides play in black too, like Hong Kong.