isthatrightref says...

@ JasonHarrison... there may well be 200+ kiwis playing overseas but how many of them are guys who missed out on a S15 contract so headed overseas (think Toby Lyn)? Or are at the end of their career & looking for something better paying and/or easier on the body (Brad Thorn)? Or were never gonna be an AB so moved on (Thomas Waldrom)?

Only 125 central contracts available plus whoever the franchises contract directly so there's always going to be a surplus of players. The time to worry will be when we're losing guys like the Franks bros, Read, Cruden etc i.e. the basis of our next (hopefully) RWC-winning side - or to put it another way if a "NZ-origin" side would beat the AB's.

No room for complacency at HQ but they seem to be doing OK in terms of keeping most of our best prime-of-career talent in NZ.

Posted 20:52 20th February 2012

sandal says...

@JasonHarrison

You say: ""New Zealand's playing stocks have been plundered to the tune of close to 200 players plying their trade overseas, something no other country has to deal with.""

That's an interesting point. It was certainly the case 10 or 12 years ago that England, in particular, was plundering New Zealand, buying up large quantities of players, many of them 18- and 19-year-olds. One year NZ lost all three of its national under-19 wingers to English clubs before they could play another season down here. (Oh the irony! This was happening while English fans lapped up Stephen Jones's nonsense about NZ plundering the Pacific.)

I hadn't realised that the situation continued to be that bad. I think you're right; it's a severe burden for NZ to carry, one most Kiwis are remarkably complacent about.

Posted 11:05 20th February 2012

ABlack says...

Crusaders will win NZ conference. Blues are erratic in both playing and coaching, coaching more so.

Why Lam dropped Mat Luamanu for effectively brad Mika is incomprehensible.....!!!

Posted 00:53 20th February 2012

jappers1983 says...

@NHsaints

Are you mad?! All they have is Dagg? Try Freuan, Maitland, Read, Todd, Crockett, the Franks....they're very well stocked for the opening rounds!

Posted 21:00 19th February 2012

quietbrit says...

Players they will really miss:

Thorn, McCaw, Carter. Each top 2 in the world in their position...

Players they will be surprised by how little they miss:

SBW - Fails to seal the deal, he feels like a Chabal or a Cipriani. Talented, high maintenance, hasn't stepped up to be a world beater yet. I have a nagging feeling he is a flat track bully - you don't hear about him saving tight games or lifting the team out from under.

Posted 19:15 19th February 2012

NHsaints says...

I think it could be the blues year this year, if their backline gels then it will set the world on fire. All the crusaders have to set the world alight until DC gets back is dagg and he can't do it all alone...

Posted 16:00 19th February 2012