The fact that we don’t get Charles Piutau until June 2016 doesn’t
matter – that is a massive statement of intent. For Ulster to manage to lure
away a player who is more than likely going to head to the Rugby World Cup in
September with the All Blacks is astonishing – don’t forget that by coming to
the northern hemisphere, Piutau forfeits his ability to play for the All Blacks
until 2018 (which includes missing the 2017 visit of the British & Irish
Lions), and this is a guy who was widely being tipped as a fixture in the All
Blacks starting line-up for the next decade.
Yes, maybe our back row needs a big name signing to bolster its ranks,
and maybe there are some who believe that this needs addressed more than our
back line does, however you do forget that when Louis Ludik goes at the end of
next season we will be without a specialist full-back and Piutau fills that void
– and then some. So not only is it a big name signing, arguably it is a very
smart one too.
It also signals that Ulster are not messing around.
They’ve gotten in early, got a name on the books for 2016 and have
guaranteed they will have a world class full back in their ranks for the
2016-17 season. Bryn Cunningham could have very easily looked at
our NIQ situation and decided to sit still for a year before getting into
negotiations with players over potential moves, but instead he has moved
immediately and has reaped the rewards of doing so – take a bow Bryn, take a
bow.
Not only that, but he's also managed to convince a current All
Black to join the set up too, and as I have already mentioned that is no mean
feat. Piutau has given up playing international rugby to join us for two years.
He’s given up what is more than likely his only chance at taking on the British
& Irish Lions to join us for two years. He might even have given up his
place in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad to join us for two years.
The large wage he’s getting may have played a part, but to give all
that up suggests he’s been impressed by something else. There is plenty of time
for guys like Piutau to travel abroad when they’re older and earn a large wage
then when their career is showing a few signs of slowing down – to give all
that up now gives the idea that there’s more at play. True, he can go back to
New Zealand in time for the 2019 World Cup and still win his place back, but by
leaving now he’s put that in doubt too with only a year back in the Super Rugby
competition to impress with.
However the deal went down, the outcome is that New Zealand are losing
a fantastic full-back and Ulster are gaining one. Not only will we have him for
the big games, but we will also have him available for those crucial games
during the Autumn Internationals and Six Nations too – having a player like
Piutau at our disposal during those times is vital. A massive well done to Bryn for getting him here, and hopefully he will be joined by a few other world class signings...
And welcome to Ulster, Mr. Charles Piutau!
NO CHANGE
The controversial change from the Heineken Cup to the Rugby Champions’
Cup promised great changes to the status quo.
The outcome of the quarter-finals proved there has been none.
True there was a dramatic shift in where those quarter-finalists came
from, both in terms of countries and standings in pools, but as far as the
results went there wasn’t much difference from the Heineken Cups of old, and
the semi-finalists show no signs of differing from previous seasons either,
proving that the best four sides in Europe are probably those that we expected.
The yearly away victory went to Saracens, who ground out a victory in
Paris against the inconsistent Racing Metro, and indeed the French side only
have themselves to blame. They played the clock far too long at the end and you
could see that Nigel Owens was itching to find something to penalise them for
during those final few seconds. I have no issues with the penalty that the
Parisians conceded at the end of the game – it was a clear cut penalty – but
Racing should have had that game signed and sealed a long time before then.
Saracens were poor and will not fancy an away trip to Clermont.
Speaking of which, how good were the side from the Auvergne.
Northampton weren’t great, no, but on Saturday no side in the world could have
lived with Clermont the way they played in the first half – their ferocity at
the breakdown, their flowing rugby and the potent threats of Nakaitaci and Nalaga
on the wings meant the hapless Saints didn’t stand a chance. I still back
Northampton to win the Premiership again, but on Saturday they were bettered by
a side who were at their blistering best and deserve to win the tournament
outright on that performance alone.
Leinster and Toulon were thoroughly unconvincing. Leinster have Ian
Madigan to thank for being perfect off the kicking tee otherwise they would
have been in severe difficulties against Bath, who will be disappointed at how
their European campaign ground to a halt, while Toulon made heavy going of it
against Wasps, even with the also perfect off the tee Frederic Michalak on
form. Wasps, to their credit, put up a good fight, but it will be interesting
to see how Toulon approach the semi-final in two weeks’ time given how they
appeared to ease off with a 22-6 lead at half-time.
So it leaves us with semi-finals of Clermont v Saracens (a repeat of
last season) and Toulon v Leinster. It’s very hard to see past a
Clermont-Toulon final, especially given the form the four sides are in, but in
knockout rugby anything can happen and you can never ever rule out Leinster,
who just seem to know how to win when they need to. On paper, it’s an easy
call. In the heart, it’s anything but.
Put it this way: whatever you think is going to happen, probably
won’t.
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