World Cup swan songs

[Fiery]

Originally Posted by Perm

I realise that, hence my "Oh, for sure". It's not like he is earning a pittance here in New Zealand, only when it's compared to other countries does he look like he's being paid poorly.

ok

[KennyD]

And how old is McAlister, 23?

[Fiery]

Originally Posted by KennyD

And how old is McAlister, 23?

bout that

[Perm]

Originally Posted by KennyD

And how old is McAlister, 23?

Yep, he'll be 24 once the time the World Cup rolls around, so he'll play overseas for three years, presumably returning to New Zealand in 2010 in preparation for the World Cup the following year.

[Jamee999]

Originally Posted by Perm

**** it's ridiculous how many of our players go overseas to chase the big bucks, do they have no ****en loyalty? I mean Luke McCalister, FFS, how many Tests have you played? Just shows how worthless the black jersey is in these guys eyes, I don't care how often I hear "I feel great pride everytime I pull it on" because you obviously don't, otherwise you wouldn't be ****ing off overseas you unloyal ****.

Pot
Kettle
All Black

[BoyBrumby]

Christ, half our squad are pensioners. 30+ off the top of my head: Catt, Robinson, Lewsey, Dallaglio, Corry, Worsley, Chuter, Kay, Vickery, Freshwater, Yates, Shaw, Regan & Farrell.

Mind you, Catt was 32 last time around & he's still going so as for swansongs, I dunno. Robinson, certainly as he's retiring from all Rugby and guys like Catt, Dallaglio, Yates & Regan are all 34-36 now so it's stretching credibility to think they'll be around in 4 years.

[Perm]

Originally Posted by Jamee999

Pot
Kettle
All Black

I'd give one of my testicles to play for the All Blacks, I just hate the rugby public over here that are a bunch of tossers.

[BoyBrumby]

Maybe the NZ union will move with the times & start to select players for the national team regardless of where they play their club/provincial Rugby if enough of their top players migrate up here. Union in NZ & Oz & league in Oz must be the last closed shops with regards to international recognition.

[ohtani's jacket]

Originally Posted by Fiery

Make it a 4-nations with the Argies every 2 years. Super 14's fine iyam

The problem with the Tri-Nations is that it's too predictable. You know that Australia will lose in South Africa and SA will lose in Australia, meaning NZ can split their away games and win the tournament. When they expanded it last year it was too long and NZ had already won it before departing for SA. It's no surprise that the Bledisloe Cup Tests were always more important to NZers than winning the overall tournament. Maybe we need to lose the Cup again.

[chaminda_00]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Maybe the NZ union will move with the times & start to select players for the national team regardless of where they play their club/provincial Rugby if enough of their top players migrate up here. Union in NZ & Oz & league in Oz must be the last closed shops with regards to international recognition.

It's a massive problem in Australia in rugby, you just got to look at how many players in the last two years have come back to Australia and walked into the Super 14 sides and got back into Walliabies squads. Australia doesn't have the depth to just pick home based players and the players know they have short career so they do to Europe so they can make some money off Rugby. The real stupid thing is how little guys who came through the juniors get paid in comparsion to league recuits, but thats another discussion.

If Australia are serious about winning future World Cups, they have to start picking players in Europe. Holding national selection as ransom for not moving overseas, no longer works. Time to get with the times. The same people who love the professionalism in Rugby, are the same ones that have a go at players moving overseas. If you want a professional sport, you got to accept an open market for players. The other problem is Super 14, which is joke and no longer much stronger then European comps.

[Son Of Coco]

I like this one:


The Swan Song by Within Temptation

Winter Has Come For Me, Can't Carry On
The Chains To My Life Are Strong But Soon They'll Be gone
I'll Spread My Wings One More Time

Chorus

Is It A Dream?
All The Ones I Have Loved Calling Out My Name
The Sun Warms My Face
All The Days Of My Life, I See Them Passing Me By

In My Heart I know I Can Let Go
In The End I Will Find Some Peace Inside
New Wings Are Growing Tonight

Chorus

As I Am Soaring I'm One With The Wind
I Am Longing To See You Again, It's Been So Long
We Will Be Together Again

Chorus

[cbuts]

Originally Posted by ohtani's jacket

Who are the players leaving the international game after the World Cup?

New Zealand: Luke McAlister, Aaron Mauger, Byron Kelleher, Chris Jack, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Greg Rawlinson and Rico Gear.

Doug Howlett?

Australia: George Gregan, Stephen Larkham

South Africa: Victor Matfield (rumoured).

McAlister hasnt signed for anyone yet

[Fiery]

Originally Posted by cbuts

McAlister hasnt signed for anyone yet

Looks like he will sign for Sale soon...

[cbuts]

Originally Posted by Perm

I don't have a problem with him looking after himself, while it's a bit selfish it's the way the world works these days. What I do have a problem with is that he needs to go overseas to do it, he could quite easily stay put in New Zealand and earn quite a bit of money while getting to play for the All Blacks. Maybe it's just me but it seems that the boyhood dream of the wearing the black jersey is slowly dissolving because of these kind of players.

Thats bull****, there are so many reasons why the head overseas - as you say he already makes a fortune over here - so i dont really think the money is one of them.

One of the major attractions for these players is that they can go over there and be virtual no bodys. The amount of crap that our media and the public put these guys through - who would want to stay? The media constantly hounds McAlister about his divorce - does that have anything to do with him as a rugby player? Another classic example of the tall poppy syndrome in this country.

Also its a chance that for these guys to do an OE, just like most young New Zealanders, i think you are going to find more and more young players going over, and coming back in there late 20's - like Flavell and McDonald

[cbuts]

Originally Posted by BoyBrumby

Maybe the NZ union will move with the times & start to select players for the national team regardless of where they play their club/provincial Rugby if enough of their top players migrate up here. Union in NZ & Oz & league in Oz must be the last closed shops with regards to international recognition.

It would be the death of rugby in New Zealand. All the super14 level players would go... the public would soon get sick of watching rugby the quality of the heartland cup every week.