Bath Rugbys big signing?

McCaw is to be given a 6 month sabbatical. Likely to go to a French or Japanese club? Or Bath RFC?

http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/170119.html

Bath don't need him. They've got Mercer and Fearns can cover if he's not available. Sorted.

I reckon it'll be Japan. That seems to be where the big money is now.

From what i read on the nz herald website McCaw won't be playing in europe or Japan and will be taken a total break from rugby for the 6 months to let his body fully rest and to help him reach the next the world cup.

The whole point of the break is that he can stop playing rugby to prolong his AB career.

"Bath don't need him, they've got Mercer and Fearns". Well I'm not sure about that mate, I'm pretty sure we could squeeze in one of the greatest players of all time into our back row, at 6, 7 or 8. I suppose he just edges Skirving or Taylor!

Won't happen though, so let's not get carried away 'HERSH style'

Quade Cooper's ARU contract negotations are currently on the rocks after he took a series of swipes on Twitter at Robbie Deans, the Wallaby team atmosphere and the ARU in general

He's going to League, surely. That seems almost certain to me, whether it's joining up with SBW or not, still think he's destined for the NRL.

Leaves Aus with some interesting dilemmas at 10. Barnes is a 12, Beale is 15 but hugely out of form. Time for JOC to step up to 10 full time?

Although I'd say McCabe at 12 is huge for the Aussies, I really rate Barnes

10 JOC
11 Iaone
12 Barnes
13 McCabe
14 AAC
15 Beale

Bathite wrote:He's going to League, surely. That seems almost certain to me, whether it's joining up with SBW or not, still think he's destined for the NRL.

Leaves Aus with some interesting dilemmas at 10. Barnes is a 12, Beale is 15 but hugely out of form. Time for JOC to step up to 10 full time?

Although I'd say McCabe at 12 is huge for the Aussies, I really rate Barnes

10 JOC
11 Iaone
12 Barnes
13 McCabe
14 AAC
15 Beale

I doubt the Roosters can afford Cooper under salary cap, they've already bought SBW plus a playmaker (who's name I forget). They could try to play Cooper as a fullback as Minichello hasn't got long left, but they've been grooming one of their wingers to replace him. That said, I can see 4 options for QC:
-Deans gets the chop and replaced by McKenzie so QC stays with the ARU
-An NRL club shells out some lucre (Brisbane Broncos anyone?), and he plays in Japan for an off-season payday first
-Toulon are rather flush with inside backs, but Stade Francais are struggling this season

I missed that QC rant. What did he say about Deans and the ARU?

Morgannwg wrote:I missed that QC rant. What did he say about Deans and the ARU?

There's been a few tweets, see http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/7725429/Quade-Cooper-ready-to-quit-Wallabies and http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/7719360/Quade-Cooper-backs-off-Deans-criticism

Thanks KRD, doesn't seem like an attack on Deans though. The first article would lead you to believe that but reading on it still seems he's loyal to Australia.

Morgannwg wrote:Thanks KRD, doesn't seem like an attack on Deans though. The first article would lead you to believe that but reading on it still seems he's loyal to Australia.

I was a bit careless there Morg, the 2nd article actually predates the 1st