Last year saw the single greatest player exodus that any major rugby nation had even seen. No fewer than 14 past or present All Blacks signed lucrative Northern Hemisphere contracts which many thought would fatally weaken the New Zealand game. Certainly, it was not beneficial to the ill-fated World Cup campaign, where an overwhelmingly powerful and justifiable favourite team crashed to an average French team that simply tackled the Blacks out of the contest.

Having one third of your World Cup squad on the verge of moving to Northern pastures was not a suitable mindset for elite players in the one tournament that has proved to be the Achilles heel for an otherwise dominant team.

The recent World Cup review commissioned opinion as to why so many senior New Zealand players are moving to Northern contracts. The results were damning, saying that, quite simply, the money, lack of politics, lack of expectation and a long off-season were too compelling for young men who also were offered Northern experiences. 

‘The 2007 World Cup taught one painful lesson to the New Zealand public. It does not matter if you have 100 top-level players – competitions and games are ultimately won with only 15 to 22 men’


In the short term, one of the more controversial policies of the Graham Henry regime was rotation with a view to be able to field “two to three international-quality players in every position”. While this proved to be a weakness come World Cup time – with even the coaches unsure as to their first choice XV – its benefits will no doubt be exhibited this year. Even with now upwards of 20 top-level players having confirmed New Zealand departure, this year’s Super 14 proved that has not weakened their stocks, with four Kiwi outfits filling the top seven in the table.

The naming of the 26-man 2008 All Blacks squad again proves this point. While the usually massive depth is not so apparent, what will be the starting XV looks typically strong.

But what of the players who are now plying their trade elsewhere? They are no doubt valuable additions, with an All Black being the hottest commodity on the player trading market. But there is a simple fact that will over time weaken the Northern game. These players are filling important positions that would ideally be filled by local players. Where are the up-and-coming European players to ply their trade? Will a promising English or French player receive a spot in the Top 14 or Guinness Premiership sides when they can field an ex-All Black? There are few Northern Hemisphere internationals playing in Southern teams, hence the reason why the big SANZAR nations continue to unearth playing talent year on year.

New Zealand always seem to unearth players – where were Kieran Read and Adam Thompson last year? Australia had no back-up to Stephen Larkham two years ago, now they seem to have an abundance of fly-halves (Quade Cooper, Berrick Barnes and Kurtley Beale). And the South Africans clearly have a genetic hive where they breed their monster forwards.

Meanwhile, with New Zealand losing so many quality players, the reality is that young tyros will step up to the mark through an impressive system that earmarks players before they reach their teens. While this accounts for less experience as Test rugby is a more vicious beast, the All Blacks still have numerous core players and debutants can be fast-tracked on to the international scene. Meanwhile, ex-All Blacks, still with years left in their playing careers, are adding to their experience with exposure to the Northern game

Dan Carter – a special case, and no doubt having a six-month “tour of duty” in Europe – will no doubt return a more complete player. Likewise, Luke McAlister and Aaron Mauger. Both have expressed the possibility of returning to the New Zealand fold. Is the playing exodus only going to benefit the All Black team in the long run?

This, of course, is the sticking point. What will happen to the up-and-comers? Are they holding their spots for the players on sabbaticals? Will Stephen Donald, now the second All Black first five (fly half), just move aside forCarter when he returns? Again the question of depth and saturation of players will haunt the All Black game.  The 2007 World Cup taught one painful lesson to the New Zealand public. It does not matter if you have 100 top-level players – competitions and games are ultimately won with only 15 to 22 men.

If it is managed effectively, the exodus will not weaken the New Zealand game but too often the All Blacks' corridors of power seem to make mistakes that even the basic armchair coach can pick. It will ultimately be up to the brains, and not the players, as to whether the All Blacks home tilt at the 2011 World Cup will be successful.