At a glance

David Havili, Manasa Mataele, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Mitchell Hunt, Mitchell Drummond, Jordan Taufua, Billy Harmon, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Whitelock (captain), Scott Barrett, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Tim Perry. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett, Oliver Jager, Quinten Strange, Tom Sanders, Bryn Hall, Brett Cameron, Braydon Ennor

Warrick Gelant, Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Burger Odendaal (captain), Divan Rossouw, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier, Tim Agaba, Hanro Liebenberg, Roelof Smit, Lood de Jager, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman. Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Lizo Gqoboka, Frans van Wyk, Hendre Stassen, Marco van Staden, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Johnny Kotze

7.35pm down deals for southern hemisphere players.

Instead Taufua, 26, has elected to stay put. His reasons are sound; family, friends and a goal to play 100 games for the Crusaders.

It’s an admirable stance and one greeted with enthusiasm by the Super Rugby title holders and NZ Rugby, who accept they cannot afford to stand idle while the layer of so-called secondtier of players is gutted by overseas raiding parties. But given he has signed for just one more season, you do wonder if he is now in the twilight of his career in Kiwiland.

Although Taufua hasn’t represented the All Blacks, the uberaggressive back rower would have been a good buy for a team wanting a disciplined operator who goes by the name of The Beast.

All Blacks first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga will join English premiership club Wasps on a deal reported to be worth around $1 million a season, and another All Black and Crusaders team-mate Seta Tamanivalu will head to France later this year to be paid around $800,000 a season.

Given maximum retainer for New Zealand Super Rugby players is $195,000, the gulf is considerable.

‘‘If you are chucking that sort of money around it is hard for someone to say ‘no’ if someone wants you to go overseas,’’ Taufua admitted. ‘‘When I made my decision I was really content. There were quite a few clubs out there. I definitely gave it serious consideration but I am happy with my decision.’’

Taufua, despite being able to operate at blindside flanker and No 8, has never been named in an All Blacks squad since he made his Super Rugby debut in 2013.

If All Blacks captain and Crusaders team-mate Kieran Read doesn’t recover from back surgery prior to the three-test series against France in June, the national selectors appear likely to consider Luke Whitelock or Akira Ioane at No 8 rather than seek a replacement in Taufua.

Taufua, given his tireless work with the ball and fearless tackling technique, would be a powerful addition to most test teams but hadn’t had any discussions with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

‘‘No, not really. It is just conversations with Razor [Scott Robertson] and the coaching staff here about what I could do better. That’s all I can wish for.’’

Sydney-born tighthead prop Mike Alaalatoa has also signed with the Crusaders through to 2020. After making his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2014, he shifted to New Zealand to play for Manawatu and later joined the Crusaders in 2016.

Given his brother Allan is a Wallabies representative and their dad Vili represented Samoa, Mike could go several ways if he wanted to follow his bloodlines. He said he had no inclination to declare his allegiance to a particular national side. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika hasn’t been in touch, either.

‘‘I don’t have a long-term plan … I haven’t really heard from him [Cheika],’’ the 130kg Alaalatoa said.

Over summer he joined Allan to train in Samoa. The subject of playing international footy was breached: ‘‘It is something I aspire to do (play test rugby) at one point in my life, but at this time I am not really thinking about that.’’

Taufua and Alaalatoa have been named to start against the Bulls in Christchurch on Friday night.