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NZRU set to overlook Gatland and Deans
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<blockquote data-quote="ranger" data-source="post: 464944" data-attributes="member: 40555"><p>Meh, it could still happen. His business aspirations could fall through at any time and he probably has an open invitation in Otago.</p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>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. </p><p></p><p>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.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ranger, post: 464944, member: 40555"] 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.) [/QUOTE]
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