Much has been made in the media of the recent flurry of signings of our best and brightest rugby players in the last 6 weeks by those bloody French and English clubs with their Fort Knox's of euros and pound sterling.
As social media and rugby journalists go into overdrive about how to stop our future All Blacks pursuing million euro contracts and only doing what is best for themselves and their families, one should probably take stock and properly analyse the situation to see if we are going to see a perfect storm or just a storm in a tea cup post Rugby World Cup year.
Yes, we've had instances in the past, i.e. 1998 and 2008/09 where player exoduses have affected the ABs in the past, but 2015/16 will be different from those.
Let's analyse the AB starting lineup and bench as well as players of note and see where they will be post Rugby World Cup - I take the starting lineup and bench for the ABs' last test against Wales in Cardiff last November.
Starting XV
1.Wyatt Crockett - likely to stay
2.Dane Coles - re-signed until 2016
3.Owen Franks - re-signed until 2017
4.Brodie Retallick - likely to stay
5.Sam Whitelock - re-signed until 2017
6.Jerome Kaino - re-signed until 2016
7.Richie McCaw - like to retire
8.Kieran Read - re-signed until 2017
9.Aaron Smith - re-signed to 2016
10.Beauden Barrett - re-signed until 2016
11.Julian Savea - likely to stay
12.Sonny Bill Williams - re-signed until 2016
13.Conrad Smith - overseas, off to Pau
14.Charles Piutau - overseas, off to Ulster
15.Ben Smith - likely to stay
Bench -
16.Keven Mealamu - likely to retire
17.Joe Moody - re-signed
18.Charlie Faumuina - re-signed
19.Patrick Tuipulotu - re-signed
20.Liam Messam - likely to stay but could be in the Rio 7s squad
21.TJ Perenara - re-signed
22.Colin Slade - off to Pau
23.Ryan Crotty - questionable
Other All Blacks -
Tony Woodcock - likely to retire
Jeff Toomaga-Allen - re-signed to 2016
Ben Franks - overseas, off
Dominic Bird - re-signed to 2016
Luke Romano - re-signed until 2016
Matt Todd - re-signed to 2016
Dan Carter - overseas, off
Aaron Cruden - re-signed until 2017
Tom Taylor - overseas, off
Andy Ellis - likely to head overseas
Ma'a Nonu - overseas, off to Toulon
Francis Sai'ili - overseas, off to Munster
Steven Luatua - signed on
Israel Dagg - re-signed until 2017
Other Players of Note -
Willie Heinz - off to Gloucester
Waisake Naholo - off to Clermont
In conclusion, the All Blacks have always weathered the player exodus that seems to come every 4 years although this storm will be greater than the one that hit in 2011 as it comes with the end of some of the finest All Blacks careers in history, i.e. Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Tony Woodcock, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, etc.
Nevertheless, there is one key constant - the coach, Steve Hansen, who has proven time and time again that he is a master of blooding talent, as he has done over the last 3 years since taking over from Ted, and I have no doubt that the likes of Nehe Milner-Skudder, Damian McKenzie, Ihaia West, Ardie Savea, Luke Whitelock, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, etc. will be just at home in the ABs environment come 2016 just as Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett etc. were made to feel at home when they made their debuts under Steve Hansen.
We have also learnt from past that there will always be some young fan-dangled player to replace the other - such is our depth. Perhaps, the one negative note here is that we are seeing more of our younger players heading overseas at the peak of their careers, lured by the big wages that New Zealand rugby is not able to offer despite our rockstar economy.
Bad for French and English rugby as evident by France's average performances in the Six Nations over the last few years.
Nevertheless, 2016 will definitely be a very important year for New Zealand rugby and the performances of the new ABs without McCaw or Carter to steady the ship will be of great interest particularly with a British & Irish Lions tour the following year.
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