IRB: Paterson failed RWC drugs test

[TRF_Cymro]

The International Rugby Board has confirmed that the player who failed the drugs test during the 2011 World Cup was the USA's James Paterson.

http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/157891.html
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[Seaton]

Never a good thing to see or hear, hopefully this was a mistake on his part rather than actual enhancing stuff.

 

[Aedaphon]

Never a good thing to see or hear, hopefully this was a mistake on his part rather than actual enhancing stuff.

It was a painkiller but supposedly applied so he could play through an injury... Even so, nothing enhancing

Paterson has been hit with a four-month ban - backdated to October 13, 2011 - and will return to the game on February 13, 2012. Paterson tested positive for the painkiller Oxycodone during the tournament - a substance which is on the WADA Prohibited List.

 

[Melhor Time]

Now it makes sense why he is not playing for the Highlanders in 2012. He is under contract wih nobody and a month after the World Cup said he didn´t want to play right now....... At the time I thought he musy be intending to study.

 

[Darwin]

Now it makes sense why he is not playing for the Highlanders in 2012. He is under contract wih nobody and a month after the World Cup said he didn´t want to play right now....... At the time I thought he musy be intending to study.

This does probably explain why Paterson hasn't signed with a team currently, but isn't the reason he wasn't part of the Highlanders squad.

The reason James Paterson isn't part of the Highlanders squad this year is simply because he wasn't good enough to make the squad. His contract expired at the end of the 2011 Super Rugby season, and it was made pretty clear that he wasn't going to be selected in the Highlanders well before the Rugby World Cup even began. The Highlanders already had Telusa Veainu, Kurt Baker, Siale Piutau and Kade Poki signed as wing options for 2012, and quickly signed Hosea Gear and Tamiti Ellison as well (though what position Ellison will play yet is unknown..), meaning there was no room for Paterson in the squad. He would certainly have been behind Buxton Popoali'i too in terms of Highlanders wing options, with many considering Popoali'i very unlucky to miss out on the main Highlanders squad.

 

[ranger]

Ahh but i think you are forgetting that New Zealand eligible players are inferior darwin

 

[Melhor Time]

This does probably explain why Paterson hasn't signed with a team currently, but isn't the reason he wasn't part of the Highlanders squad.

The reason James Paterson isn't part of the Highlanders squad this year is simply because he wasn't good enough to make the squad. His contract expired at the end of the 2011 Super Rugby season, and it was made pretty clear that he wasn't going to be selected in the Highlanders well before the Rugby World Cup even began. The Highlanders already had Telusa Veainu, Kurt Baker, Siale Piutau and Kade Poki signed as wing options for 2012, and quickly signed Hosea Gear and Tamiti Ellison as well (though what position Ellison will play yet is unknown..), meaning there was no room for Paterson in the squad. He would certainly have been behind Buxton Popoali'i too in terms of Highlanders wing options, with many considering Popoali'i very unlucky to miss out on the main Highlanders squad.

Truely? With Gear arriving I can understand but surely he´s better than some of the others.



Ranger

Ahh but i think you are forgetting that New Zealand eligible players are inferior darwin

If the drug scandal has nothing to do with it then you may well have answered why he won´t be playing for the Highlanders... he´s not an All Black and can´t be. With Siale Piutau already there as a centre or winger and not being an AB elligible player then... its happened before.

Incidently do you still think Juan Imhoff is not as good as Declan O´Donnell..... Pretty hard to forget that piece controversy.

 

[Seaton]

Yaaaasssss min!

Hook. Line. Sinker.

Nom Nom Nom

:lol:

 

[Draggs]

I'm just going to sit right here and wait for a while.

 

[ranger]

No. *Offensive Comment Removed, Please Respect Other Members Opinion*

We have all seen what Patterson has to offer for the last few years. He is good at running in a straight line, he has a decent swerve and is a reliable head on tackler. Thats it. He is simply not as good as the other guys mentioned, and that would be the case if he didnt elect to play for USA last year and was still NZ qualified. If he is "surely" better than some of the other guys, name them and explain why.

He is simply not as good as the other options. As Darwin said, even the reserve outside back (Popoali'i) is far better.

Also, i do think Imhoff and O'Donnell are comparable, and i still think it was ridiculous that you dismissed O'Donnell as a lesser player without giving any reasons. It was only a controversy in the fear and loathing south american wonderland you have constructed in your head.



He scored a hat trick in the NZ sevens final against a strong England team. At 20 years of age. I'm sure if he played a season in the 2nd division of the NPC he could put together a similar highlight reel.

 

[Melhor Time]

*OFFENSIVE COMMENTS REMOVED AS BEING DEALT WITH BY AN ADMIN* (TRF_Getofmeland)

Incidently, Ranger, the All Black is in trouble with the police and may even gon to jail, as I´m sure you know. Looks like you liketo bully people like him. Grow up.

We have all seen what Patterson has to offer for the last few years. He is good at running in a straight line, he has a decent swerve and is a reliable head on tackler. Thats it. He is simply not as good as the other guys mentioned, and that would be the case if he didnt elect to play for USA last year and was still NZ qualified. If he is "surely" better than some of the other guys, name them and explain why.

1. If you can´t spell his name then I suspect you don´t know an aweful lot about him.

2. He played age group rugby for the USA.

3. Has a parent from there too.

4. Went to highschool there.

5. Was a Super Rugby player UNTIL he played senrio level for the USA Eagles

He is simply not as good as the other options. As Darwin said, even the reserve outside back (Popoali'i) is far better.

Also, i do think Imhoff and O'Donnell are comparable, and i still think it was ridiculous that you dismissed O'Donnell as a lesser player without giving any reasons. It was only a controversy in the fear and loathing south american wonderland you have constructed in your head.

Supporting ones own country is natural and to be expected but you go way beyond this. You are a bigot.

The Heineken Cup has shown Imhoff is the better play. End of story.

 

[Darwin]

Truely? With Gear arriving I can understand but surely he´s better than some of the others.

He is not even close to being better than any of the others. There are probably at least half a dozen wings in New Zealand that weren't selected for Super Rugby that I'd prefer over him too. He looks very impressive in the video, but you have to realize that was probably the only good thing he did in 2 seasons with the Highlanders (and it was a very weak tackle by Dagg!), and he did nothing for Southland at ITM Cup level either. He was an ok (at best) defender, but almost never broke the line with ball in hand (he was definitely the least threatening NZ wing in Super Rugby last season). Doing one good thing in 2 seasons with a team (and next to nothing the rest of the time) does not make him a quality player.

Anyone who has watched him play Super Rugby over the last couple of years will tell you the reason that he wasn't selected for Super Rugby this season is simple: he is not good enough!

 

[ranger]

Actually, no.

This deal is really not worth my time any more. The inconsistency, stupidity and plain delusional crazy far outweighs the positives here now.
The sane and good sort minority can track me down on facebook if you want.

Peeeace.

 

[Melhor Time]

He is not even close to being better than any of the others. There are probably at least half a dozen wings in New Zealand that weren't selected for Super Rugby that I'd prefer over him too. He looks very impressive in the video, but you have to realize that was probably the only good thing he did in 2 seasons with the Highlanders (and it was a very weak tackle by Dagg!), and he did nothing for Southland at ITM Cup level either. He was an ok (at best) defender, but almost never broke the line with ball in hand (he was definitely the least threatening NZ wing in Super Rugby last season). Doing one good thing in 2 seasons with a team (and next to nothing the rest of the time) does not make him a quality player.

Anyone who has watched him play Super Rugby over the last couple of years will tell you the reason that he wasn't selected for Super Rugby this season is simple: he is not good enough!

That being the case, and I am not saying it is not, it would seem he was simply not weanted again for the 2012 season. Plausible no doubt. I do question whether it was as simple as this however given that the team has only three genuine wingers - Kade Poki, Telusa Veainu and Hosea Gear. Tamati Elison and Siale Piutau are centres, surely you agree? This is where I am a little suspicious. Sure, I could be totally wrong of course.

About Paterson´s abilities. He did not have a good World Cup. The USA were very, very well organized in defence. Italy needed a penalty try to get the bonus point. Ireland failed to get the bonus point and Russia didn´t score a try. Pretty good. The Australian match was the USA´s reserves so things were not the same. On attack, the USA were the weakest side in the World Cup. Ngwenya failed to score a single try. The team was focused on defence so much that they lacked playmakers at 10 and 12. Nonetheless, Paterson did not deliver. His Super Rugby form saw him take over from Kevin Swiryn - no easy accomplishment. I was thinking, at the time, that the Highlanders would be using him mostly from the bench.

In any event, he is in the USA now not New Zealand.

Quite a big call to say he was definitely the least threatening NZ wing in Super Rugby.

 

[Seaton]

The Heineken Cup has shown Imhoff is the better play. End of story.

Why do people say 'end of story'?

The wolf climbs down the chimney, only to find the pigs are boiling a pot of water, he then runs home. That is an 'End of story'.

'All the better to eat you with'- Nom Nom Nom. A hunter comes and saves Little Red Riding Hood and the Grandmother, they fill the wolf's stomach with heavy stones so he can't do anything. 'End of story'.

Saying 'End of story' on something that is an opinion just belittles your own intelligence, please do yourself a favour and don't do it.

Think of this as a recommendation rather than an attack on character.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

That being the case, and I am not saying it is not, it would seem he was simply not weanted again for the 2012 season. Plausible no doubt. I do question whether it was as simple as this however given that the team has only three genuine wingers - Kade Poki, Telusa Veainu and Hosea Gear. Tamati Elison and Siale Piutau are centres, surely you agree? This is where I am a little suspicious. Sure, I could be totally wrong of course.

how many do you need? three specialist and another four manybe that can cover let alone if we have injuries you can bring in more (buxton for example) as we did with Tony Brown last year

Our style looks like it is going to be based around turn over ball and counter attack, hence why we have gone with a big loosie pack, based on that it all seems to make sense to me

I think you are reading too much into it

 

[Darwin]

That being the case, and I am not saying it is not, it would seem he was simply not weanted again for the 2012 season. Plausible no doubt. I do question whether it was as simple as this however given that the team has only three genuine wingers - Kade Poki, Telusa Veainu and Hosea Gear. Tamati Elison and Siale Piutau are centres, surely you agree? This is where I am a little suspicious. Sure, I could be totally wrong of course.

About Paterson´s abilities. He did not have a good World Cup. The USA were very, very well organized in defence. Italy needed a penalty try to get the bonus point. Ireland failed to get the bonus point and Russia didn´t score a try. Pretty good. The Australian match was the USA´s reserves so things were not the same. On attack, the USA were the weakest side in the World Cup. Ngwenya failed to score a single try. The team was focused on defence so much that they lacked playmakers at 10 and 12. Nonetheless, Paterson did not deliver. His Super Rugby form saw him take over from Kevin Swiryn - no easy accomplishment. I was thinking, at the time, that the Highlanders would be using him mostly from the bench.

In any event, he is in the USA now not New Zealand.

Quite a big call to say he was definitely the least threatening NZ wing in Super Rugby.

Of course this may be very subjective, but can you name a less threatening NZ wing? The only one last year that would come close would be Lachie Munro, but he's not really a wing (he's far more familiar at fullback, and was a 10 until a couple of years ago), and was included in the Blues side largely for his goal-kicking abilities. Paterson scored a total of two tries in his 20 games for the Highlanders (both in that one match versus the Crusaders) so were certainly won't miss his try scoring!

Jabby has already answered the point about specialist wings - in a squad of 30(ish) you can't afford to carry any more than 3 specialist wings. Indeed no other New Zealand Super Rugby squad has more than 3 specialist wings! The Highlanders probably have more wing cover within there squad than any other NZ franchise. Veainu, Gear, and Poki as specialists wings (though Veainu and Poki are probably capable of playing centre). Ellison is equally comfortable on the wing on in he midfield (or even fullback), and indeed he played his best rugby for the Hurricanes on the wing. Piutau is equally capable at wing or centre (though I'd probably prefer him at centre); and all of his starts for the Highlanders last season were on the wing. Baker is a quality fullback, but is more than capable at this level on the wing. Even the likes of Ben Smith and Kenny Lynn are capable on the wing (though Smith is wasted there) - indeed in 2009 Smith and Lynn were the preferred Highlanders wing pairing! And, as Jabby points out, if one of the wings get injured they can simply bring in Popoali'i from the wider training squad!

 

[Kiwiwomble]

and some would say buxton should already be there!

 

[Darwin]

and some would say buxton should already be there!

He certainly wouldn't look out of place at Super Rugby level. I think there still are some reservations about his defense, but it does seem to have improved in recent years. One of the problems the Highlanders have is that they already have a couple of 'smaller' wings (Veainu & Poki) so there isn't a lot of room for another small wing (that's one reason why Gear is such a good addition).

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i'm getting a little excited about the upcoming season