Kelleher backs Carter’s French fling
6 Oct 2008
Former All Blacks scrumhalf Byron Kelleher believes Dan Carter’s spell at French Top 14 side Perpignan will make him a better player.
Carter has signed a short-term contract with Perpignan and Kelleher, in his second season with Toulouse, believes the experience will invigorate him.
“I’ve wound him up about having to learn Catalan and how the French will welcome him at the bottom of a ruck,” Kelleher told the Daily Telegraph. “It is a great move for Dan and will give him a fresh rugby and mental perspective to take back to New Zealand.”
Kelleher had a successful first season with the southern France club, winning the Player of the Year award, and seems to have carried that form into the 2008/09 season.
76 Comments
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6 Oct 2008, 08:22 am
DragonCarter.
6 Oct 2008, 08:23 am
Cheetah Champ is ‘n stadige draak
6 Oct 2008, 08:43 am
can he get any better??? bliksem man…..he is already upstaging superman and spiderman and all the rest…..
6 Oct 2008, 08:54 am
#2 Koos: Dammit jy’s reg. Ek is.
How is this for an “Unavailable All Black” Side. If they played in the Tri Nations they would probably have ended second !
15 – Nick Evans
14 – Rico Gear
13 – McAlister
12 – Mauger
11 – Doug Howlett
10 – Glen Jackson / Dan Carter
9 – Kelleher
8 – Xavier Rush
7- Jerry Collins
6 – Marty Hollah / Braid
5 – Chris Jack
4 – Cant think of someone now. Flavell?
3 – Carl Hayman
2 – Anton Oliver
1 – Tamoupeaou (cant spell his damn name)
Then there is still okes like Tuitupo lying around !! Hate to say it, but Kiwis have unbelievable depth.
6 Oct 2008, 08:58 am
Until Kelleher returns to super 14 and realises he is still **** and it was just the lower level that is making him look good.
6 Oct 2008, 09:53 am
#4 Cheetha Champs: a lot of those players have looked ordinary in NH rugby, only a couple of standouts
#5 Sonito: He’s playing for the best team in the league (perhaps in Europe) so his ride is that much easier
6 Oct 2008, 10:17 am
#6 Big Hit:
God you talk some *%* … According to you most are “ordinary” & the ones that aren’t merely shine because they are surrounded by stars
6 Oct 2008, 10:31 am
#7 Rugby_Princess: well its true. The guys who have shone are Kelleher and Howlett and they are in the two strongest teams in Europe, Munster and Toulouse (the European Cup finalists). Of the rest only McAlister has stood out and credit to him for doing so.
6 Oct 2008, 10:55 am
#8 Big Hit:
Maybe they are playing in the only two teams who can keep up ?
Look, not saying every kiwi export is great – just saying you are harping on the other end of the scale & that is not true either.
Clearly you missed the class on the art of compromise at the charm school you attended
6 Oct 2008, 11:01 am
#9 Rugby_Princess: except I wasn’t harping on the other end of the scale. I said they were ordinary and didn’t stand out, not that they were poor. Many just do a job without excelling.
6 Oct 2008, 11:12 am
always hated this Byron boy..attitude annoyed me.
an assh*le if ever saw one
6 Oct 2008, 11:14 am
#10 Big Hit:
Sorry, don’t buy that – it really would cause you physical injury to compliment an NZer wouldn’t it ?
6 Oct 2008, 11:18 am
#9 Rugby_Princess:
He (Big-oted ) carries a bitter heart and has only contempt for all things Kiwi.
You are a little more diplomatic than myself Your Highness.
6 Oct 2008, 11:22 am
#13 cane:
How are you handsome ?
6 Oct 2008, 11:25 am
#12 Rugby_Princess: I complimented McAlister. He has shown his worth at a middle of the road club. Rumour has it he’s in contract negotiations to stay on for another couple of seasons.
6 Oct 2008, 11:25 am
#13 cane: lighten up son
6 Oct 2008, 11:35 am
#16 Big Hit:
” lighten up son”..
.
Why?
6 Oct 2008, 11:38 am
#17 cane: because life’s too short to be miserable
6 Oct 2008, 11:39 am
just think, its a whole 365 days since NZ were knocked out of the RWC, its getting further and further away and the next one is coming closer. Cause for joy, no?
6 Oct 2008, 11:43 am
#18 Big Hit:
Life’s too short not to speak your mind.
8)
6 Oct 2008, 11:44 am
#15 Big Hit:
Probably the least praise worthy of almost all of them
#19 Big Hit:
I see you are channelling Stephen Jones today
6 Oct 2008, 11:50 am
#20 cane:
That is assuming of course you have enough to spare a bit
6 Oct 2008, 11:50 am
#21 Rugby_Princess: I’m trying to be positive for you pair of misery guts. Just back on topic, its noticeable that many of the Nz imports who do really well up north are actually ignored by the ABs such as Glen Jackson and Riki Flutey who outperform their more vaunted international counterparts like Aaron Mauger and Carlos Spencer.
6 Oct 2008, 11:56 am
#23 Big Hit:
Hey who is a “misery guts” & is there really any need for name calling ? I think not !
Good God, who you comparing to Carlos Spencer ? Is old Carlo still even playing ? Heavens to Besty
What did you team take away from tour down under other than the obvious – police reports ?
How is JW doing these days ? Up & about again is he ? Do you think he will be fit for the AB EOYT tour ? I am sure there a plenty of lads looking forward to welcoming him back
6 Oct 2008, 12:09 pm
#24 Rugby_Princess: I just watched the Wilkinson incident, he was bridging at a ruck and the offside fullback thought it would be funny to lie on his supporting leg. Dislocated kneecap and torn muscle around it. He won’t be playing before Christmas.
I was comparing Glen Jackson to Carlos Spencer, the former outperforming the latter in the NH despite never becoming an All Black.
Danny Cipriani will in all likelihood be facing off against Dan Carter. He may well be better than him already.
6 Oct 2008, 13:03 pm
Hey, BIG ****/BIG ***
are you doing cipriani now or are you still stuck with wilkinson?
6 Oct 2008, 13:21 pm
#25 Big Hit:
Cipriani better than DC alreasy – God I love you sense of humour
Do me a favour & look up he Jackson & Spencer’s respective ages will you ?
6 Oct 2008, 13:44 pm
#27 Rugby_Princess: alreasy fo’ cheezy
6 Oct 2008, 14:06 pm
#27 Rugby_Princess:
You know what I meant you cheeky Pom !
6 Oct 2008, 15:53 pm
#25 Big Hit:
Who cares he’s past it anyway, was never that good. Why don’t you stick to something your qualified to comment on like pub darts / fighting or shagging cheap north east slags like your sister.
6 Oct 2008, 15:57 pm
#30 NZINCHINA: I agree Carlos Spencer was never that good
6 Oct 2008, 16:37 pm
#23 Big Hit:
the Big Twit at it again.
this is the same Twit who has previously said Hayman had been woeful at Newcastle. Well Newcastle are woeful but, lets think again, its probably all Haymans fault…
Hayman is THE best tighthead in the World because he has proved that again and again. I recall the Twickenham match 3 (?) years ago when Sheridan was labelled by Big Twit and other whining Brit journos as going to show Hayman “a lesson”. Well Sheridan had ONE cap at the time, Hayman about 35 ! I had front row seats at HQ and Hayman p*ssed on Sheridan, it was a no-contest.
And Os du Randt rated him head’n'shoulders over everyone over the past 4 years, so who to believe…..
Chris Jack is playing well at Sarries, esp going on the 2 games at Vicarage Rd Ive attended. In fact Eddie Moans has so much faith in him (or is it so little in the others ?) that Jack has even started games at blindside. Jack has also had to overcome a hand-injury which halted his 1st season. Or, as Big Twit would tell you, he “wasnt selected”.
Nick Evans has received rave reviews at Quins who are sitting 2nd in the Premiership with Evans pulling the strings. He has received no less than glowing praise. Or, as Big Twit would tell you, he has “been anonymous”.
Marty Holah has been in great form for Ospreys and is picked for all the big games. Ospreys are by far the best Welsh side despite being hampered by the overrated Henson and his hairdos. Oh, yep, Henson is also ‘the best inside centre in the World’ according to S.Jones. So JdV and Mauger and MacAlister should take some notes.
Mauger is Captain at Leicester. Gee, he must be playing poorly to be picked as Captain, especially as Tigers remain 2nd= on the table and are winning tough matches away.
Xavier Rush, no NZers’ 1st/2nd/3rd choice as an AB, is considered 1st among equals at Cardiff and they coerced him in to signing a further contract to keep him for the remainder of his career.
Anton Oliver is now a student at Oxford University having quit his final year at Toulon where he helped them to promotion to the French Top 14.
Kelleher was recently named as the Best Player in France.
Howlett has been in superb form for Munster. Altho he would be given that he’s playing outside that most mecurial of flyhalfs (*cough* ~splutter~) Ronan O’Gara (who Big Twits hero, S.Jones, recently rated far superior to Dan Carter – HA !!!)
MacAlister has been influential in every match for Sale whether in terms of making breaks or his kicking.
Rico Gear struggles to get selected at Worcester who compete with Bristol as the lamest of the lame teams in the Premiership. He has also been struggling with injuries. Altho, unlike Big Twit, I think most of us have already had beeter chance to assess his skill level previously. If there is a better winger at Worcester then he is yet to show why.
As for Glen Jackson and Riki Flutey succeeding up north, well thats because the opposition doesnt – how shall we say – stack up ! Good solid players they do the percentages well. And thats all you have to do up north, the percentages. Houggard will indeed be a Star up here whereas the Safas know he could only take them so far.
I also like the way the Brits have been blaming the current English rugby season – it has been of dire quality – on the ELVs. The ELVs, that is, denuded of the main thrust heaped on the TriN in that there are no ‘short-arm’ pens etc. Also, apparently, on the decreasing gates. Oh, I know they would otherwise have you believe that stadiums are SO full here that they struggle to accomodate all the fans and they love to talk about the expotential growth of their game while mocking at gates in NZ/Aus. Well, a little context never goes astray now does it…. when I arrived in UK 15years ago, 1st Division matches generally got 500-1500 people with Leicester/Gloucester/Bath and Northampton being the exceptions. So the fact that figures over the professional years (helped by the introduction of all these ‘average’ stars from NZ/Aus/SA) has grown from 1-man-and-his-dog to 5-10,000 has allowed the Big Twits of this World to get up on their soap-boxes and talk gleefully about ‘growth’ – from what, zero ?!. The truth is a little less rosey – Sale/Newcastle/Saracens/Worcester/Bristol all now regularly play to crowd in the 2-5,000 region. So this equates roughly to the ‘dwindling’ crowds in the Air NZ Cup (effectively 3rd-tier rugby in NZ).
And the much-derided Super14. Well in NZ & Aus they still get 20,000+ and in SA the crowds are often 30,000+.
Its called ‘context’.
So let them continue to pull the wool all they like if it amuses them. Apparently ‘all’ the NZ players here are average/woeful. And all the stadiums are packed.
Yeah, right.
6 Oct 2008, 16:46 pm
#32 BlackPanther: Be serious and at least try to be accurate.
Hayman has been a disappointment at Newcastle, everyone’s wondering why they spent so much on him when he’s had so little influence. Jack can’t even take a 2nd row spot at Saracens and as you say has been injured for most of last season. Evans is injured, as per usual having only played one game. Corry is captain at Leicester, Mauger was made captain for a game or two but was generally awful last season. Gear is average. So all in all, the All Blacks haven’t fared well with only McAlister really excelling in the GP.
Your stats on attendances are wrong too and the SH players are only a mere part of the reason for the growth of the game, the main reason was the success of the England team between 2000-2003 and again in 2007 when they reached a place no current All Black has gone before, the RWC final
6 Oct 2008, 16:51 pm
#33 Big Hit:
The official crowd stats from England were posted here a few weeks ago, would you like me to re post them?
6 Oct 2008, 16:54 pm
has there ever been a bigger bulsHITter than this guy ?
‘crowds’ are dwindling ? gee, Suncorp was full on the w/e. 58,000 fans treated royally to a magnificent match.
When I was back in NZ a few weeks ago, I watched Counties vs Auckland in front of 11,000 fans. Lets not forget that the NPC is now Tier 3 rugby behind International and S14.
and if you wish, by all means follow Big Twit on his ‘Everything in the North is better’ campaign. Well I live in UK and the reality is so much different. Lets just check todays papers quickly….
Wasps, the team ‘full of England Internationals and perrenial challengers of trophys’ ? they played at home in front of 7,668 fans. And many of those tickets are giveaways (I know because I recived some thru kids school)
Newcastle vs Northhampton ? – hero Jonny W making his comeback vs one of the biggest clubs in Eng ? attendance = 4,602. More people turn up to watch school 1st XV games in NZ !
Harlequins vs Bristol ? biggest club in London full of Kiwis/Safas/Aussies filling their retirement funds ? 9,214
Bath vs Gloucester is the biggest derby match in the English premiership season by far – how many think that was important ? 10,600.
and the biggest crowd across the border ? (Llanelli) Scarlets vs Connacht – 6,041
If you WANT to believe Big Twit by all means do. He’d like to think every crowd in England was like the promotional games put on by Stade Francais (they give away 40,000 tix and play in PINK !) or by Toulouse. But dont forget Stade and Toulouse are effectively 1-city teams and have owners rich enough they make Toulon look like paupers.
Like it or not Big Twit, the ONLY reason Kiwis/Aussies/Safas go to England to play their footy is because the dosh is bigger. Thats why Im here too. But dont for a minute let him preach about how the game is ‘growing’ up here or that the rugby is ‘better’. The rugby is DIRE and the crowds reflect that. I coach kids at Junoir level and their parents have no idea about which players are at which clubs because they simply dont attend club games. They watch England games, maybe even go to Twickenham, but thats it
6 Oct 2008, 16:55 pm
#34 NZINCHINA: the crowd stats were in the paper the other day. I don’t believe huge crowds were ever claimed in the GP, the Top 14 in France however is another story. What is clear is that the game and attendances are growing steadily in the NH even through difficult economic times and the clubs have rich backers (including those from the SH in Saracens case) capable of buying almost whoever they please.
6 Oct 2008, 16:56 pm
#36 Big Hit:
Read post 35 you farking clown.
6 Oct 2008, 16:56 pm
#35 NZINCHINA: I thought you were in China bro?
6 Oct 2008, 16:57 pm
Were you one of the 4,062 that watched Newcastle, mate your full of ****.
6 Oct 2008, 17:05 pm
#33 Big Hit:
so my stats on attanedances are wrong huh ?
from todays papers:-
Worcester vs L.Irish – 5,600
Bristol vs N’hampton – 6,200
Sale vs Cardiff – 7,400
Gloucester vs Wasps – 7,800
So youre right, in fact, Big Twit. Where I indicated that N’hampton, Leicester and Gloucester could muster large (ie 10k+) crowds, I was being inadvertently kind. In the most recent round of Air NZ Cup on the same w/e, even minnows Tasman vs Manawatu had bigger gates than that. In fact, there were 2nd Div (‘Heartland’) NZ games with bigger gates !
So Hayman, at prop, was supposed to turn perennial losers, Newcastle, in to World-beaters ? Oh, but since Jonny can supposedly beat teams all on his lonesome, why did they need anyone let alone a tighthead ? I suggest the ‘everyone’ in your analysis should drop the ‘every’ for sake of accuracy. How many of their best players did Newcastle lose last year – Toby Flood, Matt Tait, and a couple of forwards ?! and yet, tightheads are expected to turn water in to whine….
Gee amazing how Leicester, the most traditional of English clubs, went ahead and appointed a player who was “awful” as their Captain (stand-in or not).
All those Quins fans I know have been praising Evans to the hilt. Crickey, what would THEY know ?!
Big Twit, every example of hypocricy will eventually be revealed for the sham that you are. But please, go ahead, continue to make a complete twit of yourself, its fun for the rest of us.
6 Oct 2008, 17:06 pm
Rapid Guinness Premiership attendance growth drives record revenues
The latest research by the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, the business advisory firm, shows that rugby union’s Guinness Premiership is enjoying one of the highest rates of match attendance growth of any major UK sports competition. This, in turn, is driving record revenues. The average attendance at a Premiership match this season was over 11,000, nearly 3,000 above the average five years ago. This represents an average annual growth rate of 7% over the period. These increases have been the major contributor to Premiership club revenue growth which reached £85m in 2005/06, an increase of £30m since 2001/02.
Deloitte’s Guinness Premiership key findings:
Average per match attendances in 2006/07 of 11,117 equates to an average annual growth rate of 7% over the past five years.
Attendance increases have been a major contributor to Premiership club revenue growth which last season reached £85m, an increase of £30m since 2001/02.
Since 1996/97, the first full season of professional rugby in England, the average match attendance has more than doubled from 4,600 to over 11,000.
Total attendances passed 1.5 million in 2006/07.
Half of the Premiership’s 12 clubs had a capacity utilisation of over 90% in 2006/07, indicating that clubs’ current stadium capacities may be restricting further growth. Several clubs have plans to expand their existing facilities, as can be seen in the table below.
6 Oct 2008, 17:06 pm
#40 BlackPanther:
Huge crowds the atmosphere must be electric.
6 Oct 2008, 17:10 pm
#41 Big Hit:
So essentially nobody watches rugby in England.
6 Oct 2008, 17:11 pm
is Big Hit ok??????? he talks some sense sometimes but sometimes its just kak.cipriani better than DC please im sure you were kidding mate so il let it go
6 Oct 2008, 17:21 pm
#44 kace:
dont forget, Big Twits idol S.Jones called Cipriani (3 Tests, 18pts) already better than DC (54 Tests, 825 pts). Oh and Ronan O’Gara was also seen as ‘markedly’ DCs superior (hey YOU AT THE BACK – try to contain your laughter !).
The Poms love this tactic of trying to pull the wool over the naive antipodeans eyes with layers and reems of bullsh*t. Then if/when they get found out they call it ‘irony’ as if we dont have a grip on that either.
Whatever **** he’s given you above, Ive got my stats directly from todays UK newspaper. Like I said, if you start off with crowds of 500 then 7% growth is achieved by men bringing BOTH dogs.
6 Oct 2008, 17:28 pm
#40 BlackPanther: you do realise these were in the EDF Cup (a tertiary competition) and not the Guinness Premiership? attendances are higher for GP and Heineken Cup games as I’m sure you’re aware.
#44 kace: have you ever seen Cipriani play? I was actually teasing joking but I don’t think he’s far off and many of the scribes up here reckon he’s on that level already.
6 Oct 2008, 17:34 pm
#45 BlackPanther: If you want to rank players on tests/points scored no one touches Wilkinson but I think you’ll agree thats quite a stupid way of arguing. 7% per year is quite a growth rate given S14 audiences and viewing figures are heading in the opposite direction. John Smit himself said there was no need for ELVs in Europe as the stadiums are packed, I suppose you’re going to call him a liar too but then I guess most of you did when he was spear tackled.
6 Oct 2008, 17:36 pm
#47 Big Hit:
Does the stadium at Newcastle have a capacity of 4,062?
6 Oct 2008, 17:40 pm
The best spear tackle was on the Irish clown, when we white washed the kittens in 2005.
6 Oct 2008, 17:42 pm
#49 NZINCHINA: just made everyone laugh all the harder at the World Cup this day last year, justice was served
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