Just as I settled into a restful bye week, the biggest New Zealand rugby story of the year hit.
Daniel Carter resigned to the NZRU and committed to a flexible four year deal.
The addition of Carter to the NZRFU’s stock of post Rugby World Cup players came as no great surprise. We had been tipped off to it earlier the previous week, when wounded Highlander Colin Slade had signed an extension on his current contract by two years. Slade’s signature signalled a clear smoke signal that Daniel Carter would be staying with the Crusaders and therefore Christchurch boy Slade would have to find a new hometown.
The Carter deal was not really the big news. The big news was the public reaction. The New Zealand rugby public like the South African can be a fickle bunch. As soon as the news broke my immediate reaction was well done NZRFU. This really just came from a fans point of view. However deep down I knew the contract negotiations to keep arguable the best and most sort after rugby player on the planet needed to be very flexible. The flexible nature of Carter’s contract allows him to take a sabbatical for a year at any stage. The money and the finer points of the contract’s detail will only be known to the concerned parties, but one does realise that there is a huge amount of trust between the two parties in order for each of them to live up to their end of the bargain.
With Carter granted a sabbatical in the middle of his contact effectively he will become an overseas based player eligible for the All Blacks. However some have gone to lengths to explain that he must be back playing in the country before technically he is allowed to be picked to play for the national side. That said there has been an onslaught of pundits saying that Carter is getting special treatment and that the retention of Carter on this sort of deal could be divisive within the All Black environment. Other critics voiced the concern that Carter being signed to a four year deal was too long. The argument continued along the lines that it would stifle all the flyhalf talent coming through and that every flyhalf who planned on pushing for higher honours would leave for off shore immediately. Others claimed that we simply couldn’t afford him and that the money was wasted. Many thought that it would be better spent on grass roots rugby.
Carter’s deal is a radical rugby contract for the NZRFU. They have had to be very flexible in order to keep Carter. With Carter and Richie McCaw represented by the same management company a similar announcement is expected this week. McCaw’s deal looks similar to Carter’s with the option within it for the player to take a period of extended leave be it a break or the opportunity to play overseas. It should look a carbon copy of Carter’s contract only with a few less zeros on it.
I’m sure our whinging public will again have their say about the All Black captain’s retention.
With NZRFU’s chief executive Steve Tew on a plane to London to attend a meeting of the IRB, realise that revenue sharing will be high on his agenda. Fresh from the signing of the biggest name in the game, expect Tew to want a larger slice of the IRB revenue pie. Tew left New Zealand with the feeling that he did not think the All Blacks’ should be making more money for their hosts than their bosses and that the Tri Nations countries should stick together on this one. Tew signalled that if increase revenue did not flow from the EOYT’s south of the equator then there would be consequences – fighting talk indeed.
With Carter landed and McCaw hooked there quickly remains only one signature left to focus on. Yes no article out of New Zealand is complete without mentioning his name – Sonny Bill Williams. If the New Zealand rugby public found room to whinge about the very flexible Carter contract, I hate to think what they will make of the document in front of SBW. Williams has said to have expressed an interest in continuing with his rugby playing career in New Zealand as long as flexible conditions are met. It is rumoured that Williams will also have a sabbatical period built in like Carter and McCaw. There is also the now mandatory allowance to box throughout the duration of his contract. The most interesting clause which is sure to get the talkbacks’ humming is the allowance of Williams to play both rugby and rugby league during the course of his employment with the NZRFU. In an interesting sideline SBW’s agent is the same as good friend Quade Cooper and it is rumoured that both would be offered in a twin rugby and legue package at the end of the 2012 season, food for thought. The deal with Williams is most likely to either be really flexible and for a 4 year period or more rigid and only a yearlong allowing him to entertain other offers for the 2013 season. The ball looks fairly and squarely in the NZRFU negotiators court.
If the NZRFU can pull off all three Crusaders then it will be a marvellous coup from a very pragmatic organisation. Thinking outside the box is a requirement if you have no money and want rock stars in your stable.
It will be interesting the reaction to McCaw’s decision this week and then we will all just hold our breaths and wait for the third instalment. However no matter what the outcome I’m sure the New Zealand public and pundits alike will find reason to whinge.
Personally I’ve always thought ‘Good things come in threes’.
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How can Sonny-boy play union and league at the same time? Aren’t they played at the same time of year?
These guys obviously realise they have the NZRFU by the short and curlies and are taking full advantage.
@McLovin (Comment 1) :
I think what they are getting at is that he can take a sabbatical away from union when ever he wants and is free to play league. 😎
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 3) : I see. 🙂
He’ll probably take that sabbatical during the year that the Crusaders are due to visit Bloem again. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 4) : Wise move
It is the nature of the game today.
Those wanting to hold on to ‘old values’ will find themselves only having memories of those years to hang onto and nothing more, because their current team will be shyte.
Nice read dude!
Just to be clear. I take it that during their sabbaticals they won’t be eligible to be selected for the All Blacks?
@Morné (Comment 7) : Cheers mate! 😎
@McLovin (Comment 8) : True 😉
……. must be playing in NZ to play for AB’s 🙄
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 9) : Must they be playing rugby or just as long as whatever they are playing happens in NZ? 😉
@McLovin (Comment 10) : 😆
SA just scored against Oz at the 7’s.
Some of you might remember yesterday where I said SA beat Fiji. That in fact did not happen. Had my lines crossed. 😐
contract negotiations in NZ are such a big thing, in our country we just have a blanket press statement telling us that Wynand Olivier ALSO has a bok contract along with Adi Jacobs, Spies & co
hehehe
SA 10 – 0 Aus
4min to go.
3rd try for Boks.
SA to join NZ & Fiji in the semi’s. 😎
SA 17 – 0 Aus
@McLovin (Comment 16) : ..and Wales.
Fiji taking NZ apart in the 1st semi.
FULL TIME
Fiji 42 – 19 NZ
SA vs Wales cup semis
SA 7 – 0 Wales
2min to go in the 1st half.
Make that
SA 14 – 0 Wales
HALF TIME
SA 14 – 0 Wales
HALF TIME
SA 14 – 0 Wales
Fiji is going to be VERY tough in the final.
Wales strike back.
SA 14 – 7 Wales
Wales score straight away
And again. 👿
Shit, scores level!
14 all now.
Boks gone to sleep.
Boks score.
Yes! Cecil Africa is awesome. Prinsloo scores
SA 21 – 14 Wales
1 min left. SA still leading by 7
FINAL SCORE
SA 21 – 19 Wales
FULL TIME
SA 21 – 19 Wales
SA v Fiji in the Final.
@McLovin (Comment 37) : Fiji to smash us in the Final.
@McLovin (Comment 39) : Any idea what time?
@Ben (Comment 41) : 18:22 London time.
@Ben (Comment 40) : They only beat us 12 – 7 in the pool stages, so you never know.
@McLovin (Comment 43) : They were awesome in the semis. I predict them to thump us. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 42) : Cool so its 19:22 here?
@Ben (Comment 45) : Think so.
@McLovin (Comment 46) : Yes it is.
Shield Final
England vs Portugal
Half Time
England 15 – 0 Portugal
FULL TIME
England 22 – 7 Portugal
Bowl Final
Scotland vs Kenya
Leon Adonga, related to Daniel Adonga??
Half Time
Scotland 7 – 5 Kenya
Weekend attendance at Twickenham. 100 094 that’s huge. Most ever at a sevens tournament.
@Ben (Comment 52) : His Older Brother.
FULL TIME
Scotland 21 – 19 Kenya
@Danman110 (Comment 55) : Leon the older one?
Plate Final
Australia vs Samoa
@Ben (Comment 57) : Yes he is the ou boet.
Apparently Paul True wants to give Daniel a go in sevens.
@Danman110 (Comment 59) : That would be good.
Missed the score but Samoa won the Plate.
Cup Final
SA vs Fiji
Fiji score 1st
Fiji strikes again. 🙄
Prinsloo scores for SA
Oh dear 🙄
Bernado Botha scores.
HALF TIME
SA 10 – 14 Fiji
We HAVE to starve Fiji of the ball.
Botha scores. SA take the lead
Very clever play from SA.
Super effort.
FULL TIME
SA 24 – 14 FIJI
@Ben (Comment 44) : You were saying? 😈 😉
Steven Hunt scores in the corner
Wonderful performance from SA.
😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎
@McLovin (Comment 71) : 7 man line out! Rolling mauls! Very clever. Played a forwards game and took fiji out of the game.
@McLovin (Comment 73) : Hehe great game. Paul Treu is an awesome coach.
Maybe Treu should coach the springbok backline?
Wow! Did we actually beat Fiji?? Paul Treu proving to be a real innovator.
Cecil Afrika awesome player!!! Respect this guy a lot. His vision, decision making and leadership in his play is outstanding. How old is he? Will he play on 15s? I wonder if he can play for the Sharks, but what position ? He would make a good flyhalf imo. Or scrum half? Or maybe fullback?
O Lay, o lay…. Something to cheer about 🙂 home again from durbs, not to successful tour 🙁
Knock knock
@franshark (Comment 82) : Who’s there? 🙂
Cecil Afrika hails from the Griffons, being a fullback…
@Ben (Comment 83) : Sharks!
@Ben (Comment 34) : how much would it take to get this guy in a sharks jersey!
@franshark (Comment 85) : Well in that case I’m not opening the door! 🙂
@franshark (Comment 86) : Who Afrika?
@Ben (Comment 87) : u supose to ask sharks who 🙂
@Ben (Comment 88) : yes africa
@franshark (Comment 89) : Sharks who?
@franshark (Comment 90) : Personally I don’t think its such a great idea. Cecil Afrika plays well when there is a lot of space to work with. Not so sure he would do well in the 15’s game. But he does punch well above his weight. Tackles guys 2 times bigger than him. Would want to see him first in 15’s before I would call for us to sign him. Imo he won’t be close to so effective in 15’s as in Sevens.
@Ben (Comment 91) : sharks stop knocking and start catching that passes!
@franshark (Comment 93) : You lie. I have never heard off someone like that! 😉
@Ben (Comment 92) : yes I know the 7’s guys normally don’t make great 15 players, but this guy just amaze me with the difference his making when his playing.
@Ben (Comment 94) : I was so involved with the our ‘tour’ this weekend, so missed a lot off comment reading. What’s the take on saterdays game?
@franshark (Comment 95) : He is an extraordinary Sevens player! Reads space well. Very strong for his size. Extremely fast and his got a pretty decent pass on him. I think he’ll go on to become a Sevens legend. Don’t think he will come to the 15’s. I might be wrong. Would like to know which Union Steven Hunt belongs to.
I saw the game live and did not watch it on tv yet, will thou as soon as I have a bid off time. Only saw the buggerups off ST and the poor lineouts(again). And all the knocks, most felt when we were on atack(right infront of where we were seated).
@franshark (Comment 96) : Some still have hope for the Season. I for one have pretty much given up. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll back my Sharkies till the end but its time for me to become realistic. There are problems in that team that will not be sorted over night and if there were it would have been fixed already. We got Bullied on the park and didn’t have a plan B. I blame the coaching for this even though some of the Players really didn’t do themselves any favours.
@Ben (Comment 99) : there’s no way we will get to playoff playing like saterday. Yes I still have hope too but we have to be honest and say_ its just not working.
@franshark (Comment 100) : And even if we get to a play-off there is no chance in hell that we will win it playing like this. The only strong opposition we have beaten this season is the Blues. All our other wins were against pretty ordinary teams form wise. A lot of people on here are living on false hope thinking we can win this competition. Well that’s just my opinion.
@Ben (Comment 101) : we all don’t wanna just give up hope, and your right… We have to face the music and realise there areas were absolutely not good enough in to go all the way.
@Ben (Comment 101) : mate, this is SharksWorld! Have you forgotten where you are? 😉
@franshark (Comment 102) : Miracles still happen, so just maybe this team will catch a wake up and start showing the commitment that they showed at the end of the Currie Cup. I guess the Sharks came into this years Super 15 expecting to waltz into the Play-offs and to the top of the SA conference. Reality Check!
@Megatron (Comment 103) :where there is hope 🙂 hi meg. So what u say?
@Megatron (Comment 103) : Hehe like I said its time to start to get realistic. 😉
Ben #101: Very good comment!
@wpw (Comment 107) : My unbiased side is starting to kick in! 😉
@wpw (Comment 107) : hey you problems guy, no knocking my team while we’re down. Imo the stormers where the tread all along but they doing better than I expected at the start.
@Ben (Comment 104) : this s15 is just way different level than cc, players weak sides come to the forth on a more regular intervals because of the opponents exploding them.
Anyways I’m out. Have a good one people.
@Ben (Comment 111) : cheers dude, sleep well,
@franshark (Comment 110) : Playing players out of their positions and poor player management doesn’t help either.
franshark
Not knocking your team at all!
I think the Stormers have THE best forwards coach in the country and we are doing exceptionally well because of it. Add Allister Coetzee’s excellent player management skills as well as his and Rassie’s tactical nous and we have a very good coaching team. 😎
@wpw (Comment 114) : yea I know, needed to punch someone and you’re the closest. 🙂