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How the Saracens salary cap scandal could strengthen New Zealand rugby
By Online Editors
By Patrick McKendry, NZ Herald
As Englishman Joe Marchant prepares to start for the Blues in their pre-season match against the Hurricanes today, New Zealand Rugby say they are open to more English players representing Kiwi sides in Super Rugby.
Marchant, a 23-year-old who played three tests for England last year, will start at centre at Onewa Domain in his side's final pre-season game before next Friday's competition opener against the Chiefs at Eden Park.
He is the second England test player to turn out for a New Zealand Super Rugby side following James Haskell's season with the Highlanders in 2012, and, as the Saracens salary cap scandal continues to play out in the United Kingdom, is unlikely to be the last.
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In fact, New Zealand Rugby's head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said it was possible more high-profile players could seek a change of scenery Downunder as the fallout continues.
"It will be interesting to see now that they're relegated what happens with some of their key players – their high wage players, their England players, and how the rest of the competition reacts," Lendrum told the Herald.
"It [salary cap scandal] is not a situation I would ever see happening here, but if some of them are interested in coming out here and playing Super Rugby… we've got Joe Marchant playing at the Blues this year from Harlequins, our partner.
"We're massively excited about Joe and you never know – maybe not in a Lions year next year but if someone else wants to come out and try their hand at Super Rugby we'd be really open to it.
"In those situations players have to drive it. Joe drove his decision to come here, just like James Haskell did seven or eight years ago because they want to try a different style of rugby in a different environment."
"It's been a fast-paced pre-season - everything is done at top speed," Marchant said after being named in the midfield alongside captain Faiane. "It helps having such perfect conditions to train in. I was on the phone with family back home and it's -1 degC and I'm on my way to training in 25degC."
Harbour's All Black prop Karl Tu'inukuafe, who missed the World Cup squad and had surgery in the off-season, will also play the first half for the Blues.
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and was republished with permission.
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i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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