Frank Halai . . .

Get ready for a lot of hype around the Blues sensational giant winger Frank Halai . . . because the comparisons with Jonah Lomu are there for all to see.

The Blues would appear to have some real unpolished diamonds in their team. Apart from Halai, Charles Piutau, Francis Saili, James Parsons and Steven Luatua have all impressed early on . . . while more recognisable players like Rene Ranger, Piri Weepu and Charlie Faumuina are looking revitalised under John Kirwan/Graham Henry (not quite sure who is having this positive effect on the Blues!)

Have recorded that game. Was looking on the Blues site the other day and they seem to have a whole host of 20 odd year old backs who are monsters.

Hell knows where they come from as I dont recall such brutes playing for the AB U20 sides in recent years.

I reckon Kirwan is on the road to big things as a coach, its only a matter of time before the AB job is his

Dave, Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua, and Francis Saili have all played NZ U20's.

Happy for the Blues that there exceeding expectations early on, most people myself included had them pegged to the bottom of the NZ conference after cutting Gareth Anscome loose and then getting royally screwed by Ma'a Nonu.  Halai was a demon for NZ Sevens so it's good to see him making the most of his shot.  Steven Luatua looks very promising too (born in NZ too Dave, not a poach!!)

John Kirwan is a fair way away from the AB job though, Dave Rennie would get a look before JK's name is even considered as a coach, he's got a handy technical advisor in Graham Henry to help out remember.

Yeah I see Frank is a Tongan and thanks for the heads up on those 3 having played AB U20's.

Kirwan and co seemed to have turned the Blues around - was always a matter of time given the Blues pedigree.

As for the poaching, I have always been under the impression that talented young South Sea Island kids are offered places at NZ schools, sounds like one of those urban myths?

 Dave just ask yourself why South Sea islanders have no side in the Super 15 and no place in the 4 nations and never will. Its because both nz and Oz want to exploit their rugby talent. 

Strategically SARFU has been to dumb to ensure the S/S Islands are separated from NZ and Now Oz and able to compete in competitions under their own banner etc. Something I mooted many years ago.

The surprise in store for nz is that oz will be getting on S/Sea talent as much as them.  

No its all been exploitation and its been going on for years. 

Well Sas reckons the majority of the players playing for the current NZ S15 sides are NZ born. I am taking his word for that as I can't be asked to check! He mentioned that Lomu and Umanga were NZ born and to be honest I would have said they weren't, but he is right.

I had a quick look and one of them has Jerry Collins as a cousin, who is not NZ born!!

Saffex, urban myth that continues to perpetuate I suppose because so many class players coming out of NZ are polynesian.  What Beeno forgets to take into account is that Auckland is the largest Polynesian city in the world, polynesians are very family orientated so when they do immigrate from the islands it's to places where they have family...like say NZ....rugby is NZ national game, polynesians love impact sport so they play.....rugby, if they beome good enough they eventually play for ....wait for it...the AB's, hope that little bit of logical progression wasn't hard too follow Beeno. Hell SA exploits players like "the Beast" yeah right just how did he get to play for the Boks!

The Beast is a pretty rare exception. There aren't many Bok players who weren't born in SA. In fact in our last match 22 against the Poms, every Bok player was born in RSA.....although some might say Coetzee who was born in Potchefstroom, might as well have been born on the moon, for all the amenities Potch provides.

NZ is different, totally legitimate, but the basis for competition has changed. You have tapped into a wider pool.....it's no longer the white farmers in the pack, and a few brilliant Maoris spicing up the backs. It is in fact a mix of talent. Which is fine. Many of the players involved were born in NZ or played school rugby there. They are 100% NZ kids.....and make the game in NZ special.

But the rivalry is not on the same basis it was. There was SA vs the All Blacks pre isolation, which was a very even contest.....and SA vs the All Blacks since readmission, played against a different AB team. We are behind in that battle....except in RWC matches where we lead 2 to 1.

You know Mozart you hit it right on the head, with the wider pool. As you send it use to be a white dominated sport in NZ but the demographic shift has seen more ethnic diversity and a change in say a winger like Terry Wright who was 80kg soaking wet to Jonah Lomu. I am happy that the AB's are leading at the moment...but I grew up in the 70's at a time when Bok/AB tests matches were the epitome of sporting contests and rivalries, getting up in 76 early morning to watch the test matches in SA., these matches are why kiwi's love rugby, but have the upmost respect for the Boks, like I have said in the past AB's are my number 1, but outside them support Boks no matter who they play...even in RWC and RC matches.