NZRU set to overlook Gatland and Deans

[ranger]

Wouldn't hold your breath on that, he is studying towards an MBA over in London; aiming for a business career rather than one in coaching.

The Canterbury set up tends to get all the good young guys as they have the (well earned) reputation of turning good players into great ones. The likes of the Whitelock's were well known in Manawatu rugby while they were at high school but they all chose Canterbury for the development side of things so their talent spotting isn't all that special they just tend to get first right of refusal on a lot of players so cherry pick the best ones and the cycle continues.

Meh, it could still happen. His business aspirations could fall through at any time and he probably has an open invitation in Otago.

As for the Canterbury situation, there is an aspect of that but its not that straight forward. With these young players, it often turns into a bidding war between unions in offering them guaranteed playing time, Super 14 wider and train on squad contracts, sorting accommodation, setting up apprenticeships and union development jobs etc, etc. There is only a finite amount of these perks that any one union can offer and limited spots in their academies. Canterbury may get a lot of players approaching them, but they also know which players will be stars and which to break the bank to secure if another union wants them.

Youre right in that the Whitelocks were well known in Manawatu (although they weren't always, college house was full when George Whitelock applied to Palmy Boys in 3rd form, there was an exemption in place for top sportsmen but he didn't make the cut.) But even though George was interested in going to Canterbury, other unions were in the race, and could have snagged him if not for Canterbury pulling out all the stops. A great example is Keiran Read, he was a skinny kid from an average rugby school at Rosehill, he was a solid national schools player though and Auckland, Counties and Waikato were interested in him; but straight out of highschool Canterbury saw his potential and offered him one of the best deals they could possibly muster. Auckland were focusing too much on the likes of James Somerset to compete, Messam was by far and away the highest priority for Waikato and Counties just couldn't match what the Canterbury were offering. It seemed like a foolish decision at the time but its paid off.

You can see where all the unions place their bets, the Hurricanes made well sure that Savea and Parenara weren't going anywhere, Waikato tied up Kerr-Barlow etc. It seems that when all the other unions are paying too much for the most obvious hyped up talent, Canterbury is able to spot the bargains and slip them out from under the other unions noses (If Waikato knew how good Maitland would get, they wouldnt have let him go.)

 

[Ma'a Nonu Junior]

Sorry to inform you that george whitelock made his npc debut for otago from which he made nz u20's. canterbury diddnt discover him at all