Patience is wearing thin with Carl Hayman, who continues to dither about whether he wants to be set up for life or be an All Black again.
Having convinced the New Zealand Rugby Union, Hurricanes and Taranaki that he was desperate to come home, Hayman is now believed to be swaying towards signing a big money deal that will take him to France.
Those with a direct stake in bringing him home say they are braced for rejection. Only weeks ago, there was confidence Hayman would return in June. As the process has dragged on, confidence has waned and Hayman shifting to France is seen as the more likely outcome.
We would love to see Hayman back playing for the All Blacks next year, but only if that's what HE wants. If he has doubts, or isn't 100% committed to winning the Rugby World Cup, let him chase the big bucks and secure his financial future. The NZRU should give him an ultimatum; take their offer by a specified date. If he doesn't, they should call off the dogs and adandon the chase.
To win the RWC, the All Blacks will need to be a disciplined and cohesive unit. There is, in our ever-humble opinion, no room for players who may or may not want to be there. It's far better for the NZRU to establish that now with Hayman, so that the resources can be redirected towards those players who ARE committed. Hayman would be a great asset, but only if the motivation is there.
6 comments:
Has he not signed with Toulouse yet? Planet Rugby were telling me the other day that he had!
It wouild be sad not to get him home, but the reported fee was GBP300,000 per year, which I am sure the NZRFU just could not match.
Hayman's people are not confirming that he has signed, which in all probability means that he has.
He would be great for next year, but only if he coms back for the right motives.
The problem we have is that without Hayman we have only one decent tighthead in the All Black frame - Franks.
Over the last year or so our scrum has gone backwards while Henry & co persist with people like Tialata.
Having just watched the 5 Nations France, Ireland, Scotland and Italy have better scrums than last years All Blacks. Australia are on the improve and SA were 15/20 points better than the AB;s last year.
Something needs to happen - how is Clint Newlands going this year?
Completely off topic but what a piss poor batting effort by NZ aided and abetted by a farcical final dismissal of Southee.
You're not wrong on either count pdm. The Southee decision was baffling. For it to be overturned, there had to be convincing evidence that he didn't hit it. There was, but nothing changed.
An old saying almost never heard anymore - "A willing worker is better than ten pressed men".
kurt
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