Aaron Cruden to Montpellier?

According to this article, Aaron Cruden has signed to play for Joke White's Montpellier, effectively ending his All Black career.
I remember a time not too long ago when everyone was talking Cruden up as the next big thing. When I dared to suggest that Cruden was in fact a small, slow and rather average little chap I was scorned and ridiculed and when I said Beauden Barrett was a better player I was in a minority of one . . . on this board anyway.
How times have changed! Beauden Barrett was named 2016 World Player of the Year while Cruden has packed it in and is going after the money.
I see he's replacing Demitri Catrakilis at Montpellier . . . I'd say that's like for like.

 This gives information on the Goosen's case.

 ...yea fairly old rumour this... but he won't be playing for Jake the flake because that dopey old yarpy is getting the boot...i'd say a few more of those tired looking Montpelier Saffas need kicking out as well after their last pathetic performance.....from what i've read, French rugby is in serious decline and if ever a French club needed a booster from a few Kiwis its Montpelier... with the new Kiwi coach next season they should see big improvements..

True . . . I'd forgotten that Joke had been dumped. Maybe not such a bad move then for Cruden now that he's given up test rugby.
Traditionalist: "This gives information on the Goosen's case"
Just so we're clear, did you think that was an article on Johan Goosen rather than Aaron Cruden?

...can see with Dave Rennie leaving the Chiefs at the end of this year and the Lions tour crossed off the bucket list, Cruden will have achieved everything he could of in NZ with the Chiefs and in an All Black jersey...not to mention captaining his provincial side and also captaining the NZ U20s side to victory...

...or the two Super rugby titles, the RWC medals....what else is there left to prove?...just that Lions Tour holding him back from making the big dollars overseas...and lets not forget there's still another SR trophy to contest in 2017...the Chiefs having a good chance of winning that too being the most exciting counter attacking team in the competition...
...So lets see what happens in the Super rugby this year before we decide who the best 10 in NZ rugby really is...the jury is out but Barret certainly excelled last year when he replaced an injured Cruden in the AB 10 jersey...although alot of Kiwis were calling for him to be dumped after that historic loss to Ireland..
...And of course it's not just him but also fellow All Blacks Ben Smith and Israel Dagg also reportedly negotiating overseas contracts...makes you wonder just how strong our next RWC campaign will be if the ABs can't pay their best players enough to stay in NZ...Maybe it's time to look for a sponsor with deeper pockets..

 What's the Pound to NZ Dollar like ...1 to 1,5 or thereabouts? Chasing the cash or just a change of scenery and pace? Can't say for France but here in the UK big Southern Hemisphere names get a cult following, looking at you Charles Piutau.
Hayden Triggs is becoming quite popular aswell.

 Just so we're clear, did you think that was an article on Johan Goosen rather than Aaron Cruden?

Goosen was linked to Montpellier to play the same position.

That Goosen's case is haunting, no a day without thinking of the guy, how he lives, what he has to go through.
Who knows? He might end with Afriforum or the Kommandokorps.

 ..And of course it's not just him but also fellow All Blacks Ben Smith and Israel Dagg also reportedly negotiating overseas contracts...makes you wonder just how strong our next RWC campaign will be if the ABs can't pay their best players enough to stay in NZ...Maybe it's time to look for a sponsor with deeper pockets..


The AB story is a tragedy. They are loved around the world for the legend of their invincibility. Yet the closer they get to be up to the legend, the more they threaten the rugby business.

As no rugby can contend, the AB side must be destroyed one way or another.

The ABs can not win the next two WCs. Winning four in a row is too much. It cant be afforded.
Already, winning three in a row might be too much.

 Good luck to you sir Crude. All the very best with your future.