Ranger needs to stay
4 Mar 2013
RICHARD FERGUSON updates keo.co.za followers of the latest Super Rugby from New Zealand.
Ranger needs to stay
Rene Ranger has proved to be a key factor in the Blues’ resurgence, and coach John Kirwan is expecting the NZRU to keep him in New Zealand.
Ranger’s shift to midfield, a position that many might think is a change from wing, is in fact the player’s original position of choice. Ranger has been a catalyst in the Blues backline, having scored 10 tries in two matches, the most of any of the teams so far.
Rumours indicate that Ranger has signed a lucrative contract in Europe, where he is set to earn mulitples of his current salary, and this concerns Kirwan.
It should concern All Black coach Steve Hanson as well, seeing as his midfield stocks are pretty low after the loss of Sonny Bill Williams, Richard Kahui to Japan at the end of the season, and Conrad Smith’s current sabbatical.
We can just hope that sanity prevails and the current All Blacks are signed into water tight contracts.
Kaino ponders comeback
World Cup winning All Black Jerome Kaino is back in New Zealand and looking for a team to represent.
Kaino left for Japan after the 2011 World Cup, taking a break from the intense Super Rugby and making some money, but wants to return earlier than expected to try and win back his International jersey.
Kaino was nominated as the IRB Player of the Year in 2011, and was unlucky not to win it, but will be a forgotten man when All Blacks coach Steve Hanson puts his team together for the June Internationals.
In Kaino’s absence, players like Victor Vito, Liam Messam and even Brad Shields have put their names in the hat, and will all be in the running to run out in the six jersey for the All Blacks.
When asked about Kaino, Blues coach Kirwan indicated that he would like to have Kaino back, but so would any of the other New Zealand franchises. The Highlanders would like to replace Adam Thomson with a player like Kaino and it will come down to which team can afford to match his Japan contract that will sign the player.
12 Comments
4 Mar 2013, 09:20 am
Form Dragon.
4 Mar 2013, 09:29 am
After the two good performances by Rene, a good French name who probably has some Tahitian blood, I still for some reason have reservations about him taking the next step up to consistent performer in the Black…The player from the Blues who looks likely for the Abs is Charles Piutau who I would look to turn into a utility.
4 Mar 2013, 09:31 am
As for Kaino…a certainty for the Abs..
4 Mar 2013, 11:13 am
If I were AB coach Rene Ranger would be my man to replace SBW even if he does it at 13 not 12
4 Mar 2013, 13:33 pm
Kaino… oh ****!
4 Mar 2013, 13:58 pm
Ranger needs to stay http://t.co/8dBbzizfLm via @sharethis latest NZ Sup Rug news
4 Mar 2013, 15:25 pm
@Te Rangatira-2: i read that he hails from the Cook Islands. i saw an interview with him saying if it wasn’t for rugby he’d certainly have been in trouble with the law. he admitted he didn’t take rugby seriously until the blues picked him & he focussed on losing weight.
he had an outstanding ITM Cup last year for the team that plays in light blue – north harbour i think. he has continued on that form.
4 Mar 2013, 15:31 pm
@Transformation-6: He has already had trouble with the law…
Makes me wonder what goes on in Kiwiland.
4 Mar 2013, 16:17 pm
He must stay.
I say fck those convicts why pay for parasites like them – we need a super 12 with 6 kiwi and 6 SA teams based on the 6 qualifying teams from the Currie Cup and NPC.
4 Mar 2013, 16:25 pm
@willievz-7: he meant BIGGER trouble not just petty fights, thrashing the odd motel or *beating the missus…serious gang stuff.
* not saying spousal abuse is not serious crime!
4 Mar 2013, 21:18 pm
@willievz-7:
Well we dont have to wonder what goes on in SA…..its on the news here quite a bit.
4 Mar 2013, 21:28 pm
@Transformation-6:
Hi Trans….Ranger is definitely Cook Island Maori, but many from there also have Tahitian connections. He plays for North Auckland in the ITM Cup.
Perhaps I’m going on some of his past performances where he failed to impress and if he continues the way he’s going at the moment, he’ld have to be on Hansens radar.
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