Thorn signs with Landers
18 Oct 2012
Brad Thorn has penned a deal to play for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.
Days after announcing the signing of midfielder Ma’a Nonu, the Dunedin franchise named the 37-year-old Thorn as their latest recruit. He moved to Japan after the All Blacks won the World Cup then signed a short-term contract at the conclusion of the Japanese season with Irish side Leinster.
‘Brad brings a great deal of professionalism to any team he plays for,’ Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said. ‘His work ethic, experience and leadership will add a great deal to our team and have a very positive influence on the younger players. Brad is a very competitive athlete and from what I saw in Japan recently he is still playing rugby at an international standard.’
The Landers will also sign All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock, who already boast internationals Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Tamati Ellison.
26 Comments
18 Oct 2012, 09:08 am
Thorny dragon!!!!
18 Oct 2012, 09:12 am
This is awkward… Super Rugby Champions…?
18 Oct 2012, 09:17 am
We started talking Highlanders and ended up with Chiefs… A merger to accomodate the Lions? Hehehe
18 Oct 2012, 09:34 am
“Hamilton outfit”? Shoddy journalism Ryan!
18 Oct 2012, 09:35 am
@Tarlo-2: Still lacking a top-class flyhalf. Will it be Slade or Sopoaga if they’re not injured?
18 Oct 2012, 09:58 am
Top 6
1 Cheifs
2 Stormers
3 Highlanders
4 Brumbies
5 Crusaders
6 Sharks
Its too early to tell but may aswell have a cheeky guess
18 Oct 2012, 10:00 am
@whatever-4: Lol amateurish.
37 years old! Will he be able to cope?
He hasnt met Eben Etzebeth before, will be an interesting clash when they meet.
18 Oct 2012, 10:03 am
@Rhys7-6: Brumbies will be third in that line up seeing that they are the top placed Aus team. Sharks will also be higher i think.
Chiefs without SBW wont be as strong.
18 Oct 2012, 10:15 am
@Sasuke-7: This is why we usually see copy-paste jobs on Keo.
He’ll be fine at 37, he’s just getting started! Hopefully we’ll see Tony Brown get another run too.
18 Oct 2012, 12:33 pm
@Sasuke-7:
Well if Etzbeth manage to keep his head to himself it could be interesting.
Fact is Thorn has come across bigger and more angry players than him.
But 37 years old is a big ask….but he is one of the best locks NZ has had for a while.
He should be ok
18 Oct 2012, 13:20 pm
his son
is probably
chairman
of the
highlanders
franchice
by now
i smell pure
unadulterated
nepotism
18 Oct 2012, 13:21 pm
@Porra-11:
No
just
you
that
smells
18 Oct 2012, 18:20 pm
Brad Thorn… The poor man’s Bakkies.
19 Oct 2012, 04:16 am
@Kaizan-13:
Prefer Brad thorn actually.
Perfect for the way the ABs played.
One of the best at rugby league in his time, Won so many games with Ozzie.
Started in Union, made it into the best team in the world, won the 3 nations, won super rugby and won a RWC.
19 Oct 2012, 10:31 am
@Hurricane-14: Bakkies has Super rugby titles, Trinations, RWC and has the official title “The Ultimate Enforcer”. He achieved all this in a team that was not ranked number 1 as often as the ABs.
Not to mention the Victor/ Bakkies combination was hailed as the best lock combination of all time by your own former player, Sean Fitzpatrick.
19 Oct 2012, 10:37 am
@Kaizan-15:
lol
I know kaizan, no doubt about it Bakkies is/was a great player for the Boks…but we had Thorn.
Nothing to be proud about the ultimate enforcer though, i think he kept trying to live upto the name and got himself in more trouble than he should off.
Funny how South Africans quote Sean Fitzpatrick now and believe him….
19 Oct 2012, 11:25 am
consummate professional is what mr Thorn is , Bakkies no where hear that . bakkies spent more time off the field than on it, cited for dirty play or injured from playing dirty
19 Oct 2012, 13:03 pm
@nkqo6-17: All great players push the boundaries of what is legal. Bakkies’ dominance over the opposition not only gave us the physical advantage in many circumstances, but the psychological one too… He may have been cited along the way, but he kept the opposition honest and timid.
The Ultimate Enforcer.
19 Oct 2012, 13:09 pm
@Hurricane-16: Thorn was a good player, but Bakkies is a Hall of Famer. Not only was he the Ultimate Enforcer, but he was used in the lineout a lot too and has a very high lineout-steal record to his name (much higher than the average no 5 lock)… That in itself is an impressive achievement.
Opposition fans hate him (understandably), and will say anything to take away from his achievements, but the truth of the matter is that Bakkies is an all time legend.
19 Oct 2012, 13:21 pm
@Kaizan-19: I hate Bakkies Botha passionately but theres no denying he was the ultimate enforcer. people try take away from Richie McCawesome’s achievements too calling him a cheat. truth is as you say all great players push the boundaries of legality on the pitch.
19 Oct 2012, 20:23 pm
@Kaizan-19:
nothing but a
filthy
T H U G
19 Oct 2012, 20:26 pm
@The Donkeys Egg-21:
shut up blackpants.
19 Oct 2012, 20:46 pm
Suspended after his debut Test.
Headbutter
Headbuttered’er
Gouger
serial repeat-offender
dumb
THUG
19 Oct 2012, 20:49 pm
serial twat.
19 Oct 2012, 21:22 pm
yep ultimate enforcer Bakkies.
while he was doing this, the bokkes come dead last in the 3Ns in 2006,2007,2008,2010,2011.
certainly did his job well.
19 Oct 2012, 21:25 pm
@Hurricane-16:
> Funny how South Africans quote Sean Fitzpatrick now and believe him
We hated him while he was playing, but he’s a great guy
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