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'Waisake is a special member of the All Blacks group... we wish him well for his future ventures'
Steve Hansen has wished Waisake Naholo all the best for the future after the All Blacks winger confirmed he will be playing for Gallagher Premiership club London Irish after this year’s World Cup.
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It was in February, fresh after officially confirming the signing of British and Irish Lions back row Sean O’Brien, that RugbyPass announced Naholo would also be coming to London Irish.
We reported that Irish had beaten Wasps to the Highlander’s signature in what was the latest addition to a growing raft of big name international talent switching to the English club.
It has taken three months before London Irish were finally officially able to pull the trigger, but it has now been confirmed that Naholo will be lining up in the Premiership alongside O’Brien two years after they clashed in the second Test of the All Blacks versus Lions series, an incident which resulted in a post-match citing for O’Brien.
That incident is all water under the bridge now that the pair are ready to become club team-mates with the Londoners who are aiming to be far better equipped for the English top flight compared to how they fared in 2017/18 after their previous promotion from the Championship.
It was February when RugbyPass revealed that Naholo would be playing for London Irish next season https://t.co/iiwxrbfwaR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 8, 2019
“Waisake is a special member of the All Blacks group,” said New Zealand coach Steve Hansen. “He’s an exciting player who brings an infectious sense of energy and humour to the team environment. “While we look forward to seeing him in action in New Zealand in 2019, we wish him well for his future ventures.”
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, who had playing and coaching stints in England at Leicester, added: “Waisake is a unique player who can make special things happen on a rugby field; he is always a threat to the opposition with that blistering pace and strength.
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“He responded well to the Highlanders’ team environment and always seemed to get the best out of himself when playing at home in front of our fans. We wish Waisake and Moana all the best in the UK.”
Naholo reportedly signing for London Irish according to @RugbyPass
That's one of those rumours so ludicrous it might just come off.
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) January 27, 2019
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark said: “Waisake came down from Auckland in 2015 and had an immediate impact on team performance and the way we played the game.
“He is an excitement machine and there is nothing better than hearing his name chanted around the stadium as he runs in yet another try. His deeds will long be remembered by the Highlander faithful.”
? | STATS: @wnaholo has scored 41 tries in 58 @SuperRugby appearances – a @Highlanders record ?#NaholoSigns pic.twitter.com/GfsnUvdSoc
— London Irish (@londonirish) May 8, 2019
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The 28-year-old first played provincial rugby for Wanganui as an 18-year-old schoolboy. He has played 58 games for the Highlanders after shifting from the Blues in 2015. His dazzling form for the Highlanders that year earned him a Super Rugby Championship title and All Blacks selection.
Naholo is also the Highlanders top try scorer with 41 to date. He boasts 26 All Blacks Test caps and has scored 16 tries after debuting against Argentina in Christchurch in 2015.
He said: “I’m looking forward to the opportunity of playing in the UK but I’m still very much focussed on the present and want to work really hard with the Highlanders to ensure we finish our season on a high.
“I feel like I owe it to the Highlanders after all that has happened to me since I came down here in 2015 – it really changed my life. I’m very appreciative of everything the club has done for me and our fans are the best in the world.
“I also have other goals I’d like to achieve with the All Blacks in 2019, and I know our Highlanders fans will be right behind me all the way.”
https://twitter.com/LiRFC/status/1126056646038286336
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments