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Reports: Another experienced All Black set for Japan stint in 2022

By Sam Smith
The All Blacks perform the haka. (Photo by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport)

Having just seen Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick return from spending the latest Super Rugby season in Japan, another senior All Black is expected to take a break from the competition in 2022.

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Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu is the latest played believed to be heading to Japan on a temporary deal.

According to reports from Stuff, Tuipulotu will play for Toyota Verblitz in next year’s replacement for the Top League, the Japan Rugby League One – but has also agreed to extend his current contract with the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman champions.

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The All Blacks have put in a strong performance in their final game of the Steinlager Series.

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The All Blacks have put in a strong performance in their final game of the Steinlager Series.

Tuipulotu signed a long-term deal with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby at the beginning of 2020, agreeing to remain in NZ until the 2023 Rugby World Cup, but is now set for an even longer stint with the Auckland franchise.

With Barrett returning for next season, coupled with the arrival of NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, all signs were pointing to the Blues boasting perhaps the strongest squad they’ve been able to pull together since the heydays of the early 2000s.

The loss of Tuipulotu will hit the franchise hard, however, given his importance to the Blues’ engine room. Fellow lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti is also heading to Japan next season, meaning the Blues have two specialists contracted for next season, Joshua Goodhue and 20-year-old Sam Darry.

Tom Robinson has regularly slotted into the second row in the past for the Blues and with Akira Ioane set for an extended run with the All Blacks this season, Robinson could shift back into lock to accommodate for Ioane’s return to the starting loose forwards trio. Youngster Taine Plumtree, who made a sole appearance for the Blues off the bench in his debut campaign this year, can also play at lock.

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Otherwise, Blues coach Leon MacDonald will likely have to pluck some new talent out of the upcoming NPC – or extend their search for talent to outside New Zealand, as they did when they brought England centre Joe Marchant into the mix last year, and tried to sign Argentina midfielder Santiago Chocobarres for the most recent campaign.

Like Barrett and Retallick this year, and Samuel Whitelock last season, Tuipulotu will be able to link back up with the All Blacks as soon as he returns from Japan.

Barrett and Retallick were both first-choice selections for the national side before they headed overseas but have had to bide their time this year to crack the starting team. Tuipulotu is not in quite such a strong position, however, and is likely the third or fourth top lock in the national pecking order. Any move overseas – even a temporary one – could harm his future prospects, but with a one-season salary of $1.4 million reportedly on offer, the positives evidently far outweigh the risks for the 28-year-old.

Fellow All Black Damian McKenzie is also supposedly weighing up a one-season sabbatical for next year.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 5 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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