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Minnows question Pacific Nations Cup
1st July 2008, 10:15 WST
Pacific Island nations are questioning whether the Pacific Nations Cup tournament is achieving its objective of developing rugby in the region.
The six-nation tournament, involving Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Australia A and the New Zealand Maori, is intended by the International Rugby Board to build the strength of the island nations through regular Test play.
But lopsided results, including victories by Australia A over...
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Yeah, I've been wondering about this too. Especially if there is prize money involved for the winning nation. The money would be better spent in Fiji or Samoa's coffers (for example) than in Australia's.
I thought the idea was to have some tough competition in addition to competition of a similar level - this way they get to (hopefully) improve. I do however think it is a bit rough if there are $$$ on offer, then the playing field should be a bit more even, or perhaps have a 'handicap' to decide who gets any prize money?
Big even matchups this weekend should make for good viewing.
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 Tonga v Fiji
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 Samoa v Japan
Sat, 05 Jul 2008 Australia A v New Zealand Maori
KQ do you have times? :)
top right of the main page...
Im in agreeance coach...they need consistent tough competition to get betterQuote:
Originally Posted by Coach
well IMO Japan have being slowly improving..
I dont know if it can be directly attributed to the competition or there own improvements back home, but it would defintley be helping i think.
TOCC, I reckon their recruitment of Kiwi's and tough local competition would be keeping their best in Japan.. the Islanders are missing many players to Europe..
In breaking news, Australia and New Zealand agree to send their respective Under 15 National Sides to next years PNC so that the minnows can enjoy handing out some floggings...
That said, Australia could possibly look to running only Under 23's.
i dont really understand what your point is in regards to japan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moses
I dont really have a issue with the recruitment of NZ players through the system, the vast majority of the team is still Japanese, and having players of higher skill around is only going to help them improve faster anyway.
I watched some of the game on the weekend, there were ALOT of foreign players in the team.....Quote:
Originally Posted by TOCC
well the All Blacks arent all exactly NZ born either, i dont see what the problem is.Quote:
Originally Posted by BLR
Quote:
Originally Posted by TOCC
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moses
Sorry, I could have explained it better. I agree that Japan are on the improve, and argue that this is facilitated by a strong domestic structure allowing them to hold onto their own talent, combined with recruiting of (mostly) kiwi's for the positions where they are lacking.Quote:
Originally Posted by TOCC
Clearly money is the key - if the Islanders had electronics giants willing to buy them a competition then they'd be much stronger, and in fact they all gave the RWC a good nudge when their European players were available.
Not quite the same, very few All Blacks don't come to New Zealand as children, however I strongly doubt much of the foreign players in the Japanese team have been in Japan since they were children.Quote:
Originally Posted by TOCC
no but its still achieving the same thing
Only if it helps the development of homegrown Japanese rugby, they can't rely on mercenaries if they want to be sustainably successful.Quote:
Originally Posted by TOCC
Especially when the mercenaries are making so much more than the local players.
well i would hope that in the future they wouldnt need the kiwis in there sides.Quote:
Originally Posted by BLR
but, i think that at the moment, having these players in there sides would probably be helping them develop faster, they are playing alonside higher calibre players with different skills.
well, thats my opinion anyway.
Agreed. The problem is that the foreigners are getting paid enough to be full-time professionals while the local players all have day jobs. Until that's fixed, I think they'll always have problems.