Chiefs spend up to snare big prop
Even with megastars Richie McCaw and Dan Carter easing the pressure on the Crusaders’ budget, Todd Blackadder maintains the franchise couldn’t afford to re-sign Nepo Laulala.
Laulala has confirmed he will join the Chiefs next season, leaving Blackadder without a highlyranked specialist to back up All Blacks tighthead prop Owen Franks.
While the Crusaders will be well satisfied to re-sign All Blacks Ryan Crotty, Wyatt Crockett and Andy Ellis – as well as Tim Perry, Codie Taylor, Scott Barrett and Robbie Fruean – it is a surprise they haven’t been able to lock-in Laulala too.
Wider training group members David Havili, Richie Mo’unga and Jed Brown have also re-signed on the promise they will be promoted to the full squad next year.
The departures of All Blacks Colin Slade, Tom Taylor, McCaw and Carter were expected to give the Crusaders more spending power as they look to rebuild for the future, but that doesn’t seem to be the case when it came to putting a contract in front of Laulala.
‘‘Obviously Nepo’s been here a long time and the reasons for him leaving are family – and we just couldn’t match the financial offer that the Chiefs put to him,’’ Blackadder said.
No-one could blame Laulala for wanting to join the Chiefs as a replacement for Ben Tameifuna who has signed for French club Racing Metro; he has struggled for game-time ahead of Franks and the chance to record more minutes under Dave Rennie should enhance his hopes of joining older brother, Casey, in the All Blacks ranks.
Laulala has started for the Crusaders four times in 14 appearances this season and Blackadder admitted that not being able to guarantee him a starting spot had played a part in his departure.
‘‘For a lot of the props, it doesn’t really matter who starts, they all get 40 minutes these days,’’ Blackadder said. ‘‘But it was important for him, he really wanted to start and we can’t guarantee that with us, the Chiefs can.’’
The Crusaders have chosen to look within their own ranks to replace the 23-year-old with Joe Moody, Alex Hodgman and Perry. Blackadder was optimistic the combination of youth and older heads in his front line means the Crusaders will be competitive.
‘‘We’ve still got Wyatt Crockett, so we’ve still got a lot of firepower. You know while you lose one, you keep ten and we’ve got some good men.’’
Blackadder also confirmed Ben Volavola’s transfer from the Waratahs had been completed, with another first five-eighth signing to be announced within the week. Mo’unga will be eager to confirm he can contest the vacant No10 jersey.
‘‘The contracting has certainly changed. Even what [we] saw at the start of the year with Tom Taylor and Colin Slade,’’ he said. ‘‘Usually you could wait until the end of Super Rugby before you could confirm, but not any more. It’s such a moving feast all the time. Our guys are calling the shots on their own teams, almost, and we’re just a little bit reactive sometimes.’’