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All Blacks set to be paid over $1m for Japanese training camp

By Online Editors
Steve Hansen leads an All Blacks training session. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have added a Japanese-based training camp to their World Cup preparations as they pursue an unprecedented third successive world title.

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According to a report from the New Zealand Herald, New Zealand Rugby has accepted an offer from Kashiwa City officials for the All Blacks to train in the city, which is 50km northeast of the Japanese capital Tokyo, midway through September.

The deal presents New Zealand with a chance to avoid a rusty start to the tournament, as happened against Argentina four years ago, when they were pressed for the entirety of the contest before eventually running out 26-16 winners at Wembley Stadium in London.

It is believed Kashiwa will pay the All Blacks in excess of $1 million to train and stay in the city for four days.

It is likely that commercial obligations will need to be upheld by Steve Hansen’s men as part of the offer, but it will provide the reigning back-to-back world champions a chance to acclimatise in Japan before their blockbuster World Cup opener against South Africa on September 21.

The All Blacks will travel to Kashiwa two days after their World Cup warm-up clash against Tonga in Hamilton on September 7, before transferring to Tokyo about a week before their Springboks fixture.

That winner of that encounter will likely top the group, with minnows Italy, Canada and Namibia the two side’s only other opponents in Pool B before the quarter-final stage of the competition.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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