Stars switches to Naholo
imminent departure, off to join Clermont on a three-year deal.
Others are sure to follow suit sooner rather than later.
There will be a glut of seasoned internationals on the market after 2019’s World Cup and salary caps tend to be hoovered up by southern hemisphere test stars.
Which brings us to Naholo, Todd and Tamanivalu.
All three signed one-year deals with NZ Rugby this year, and will be susceptible to bigmoney offers in 2018.
None are what you would call cast-iron starters in a fullstrength All Blacks team, but Hansen will want to retain all three, if possible.
Naholo had an outstanding November tour, and with Israel Dagg and Nehe Milner-Skudder injured, revelled in a late-season run of test starts on the right wing. Right now he’s the incumbent the other two, and others, have to unseat.
Naholo is likely to be Hansen’s retention priority. With his speed, finishing ability and increasing prowess over the ball, the Highlanders flyer is a potential World Cup starter on the wing.
Todd is an interesting one. He emerged late in the 2017 season as Hansen’s preferred backup to Sam Cane at No 7.
But with Ardie Savea still in the mix, and with the dynamic qualities that make him the ideal bench man when at his best, it will be interesting to see whether Todd’s loyalty continues to win out over the big salary he could command up north. Don’t be surprised if it does. Tamanivalu might be the most vulnerable of the trio. If he looks at the back-three men returning from injury (Dagg, MilnerSkudder, Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett), and at Julian Savea trying to force his way back, he’ll understand it’s going to be a heck of a task to make the World Cup cut.
Much will depend on his patience (he is just 25), his mindset and, of course, the strength of any offers that come his way. But he can rest assured on one front: Hansen will not want him to go anywhere.