35 replies to this topic

[Virgil]

From the Herald.

Spencer holds no grudge over Blues

Circle May 8 in your diary and set the alarm for 5am - that's when the team that offered Carlos Spencer a Super 14 lifeline meets the team that denied him.

It is almost too unreal to comprehend. The 34-year-old Spencer, the spark that ignited three Super rugby titles, playing for the competition's biggest underachiever against Stephen Brett, the man the Blues chose to bank on ahead of Spencer.

It could be a beautiful reunion but what it won't be, according to Spencer, is a grudge match.

Although he would have liked to come back and finish his Super rugby career with the only franchise he had played for, he does not spend his spare time sticking pins into voodoo dolls in the likeness of the Blues and New Zealand Rugby Union officials who rebuffed his advances.

"We had little talks but that's all it was, small talk," Spencer told the Herald.

"I wasn't too disappointed. I always said when I left New Zealand that it was unlikely that I would ever go back and play so it's just one of those things.

"One door closes and another one opens."

More specifically, the door to the Lions' den, Ellis Park, opened.

"It was a spur of the moment thing really," Spencer said. "It came up just before Christmas.

"They approached me and I was pretty excited about the opportunity to get into Super 14 again and, of course, there was the coaching side of things. It's something I've always thought about doing after rugby."

Spencer's deal takes in two Super rugby seasons with the Lions - he is seen as the ideal replacement for Andre Pretorius, who has signed for the Western Force - and a Currie Cup campaign where he will double as skills coach.

"To get a coaching job during the Currie Cup was a bonus. That's pretty much what attracted me to going back to Super 14 - to play the rugby and to get that coaching experience.

"It was absolutely perfect timing for me. I'm coming towards the end of my career and to have another season of Super 14 and do some coaching is ideal.

"I'm looking at this long term as well, not just the next couple of years. If anything comes up afterwards I would be more than happy to stay on and plan my future over there."

It is, according to initial reports at least, a nice little earner. When the news first broke that Spencer was headed for the republic, there were rumours that it was the most lucrative deal in South African rugby history, although the actual figure has always remained elusive.

"I don't know about that," Spencer said when asked whether it was a record contract. "I don't where you fellas get your figures from."

At the very least, however, it is nice to know you're still valued, even as the career clock winds down.

"Definitely. It's always nice to have money thrown at you when you're 34 years old, but that wasn't the main motivation for me - it's to play good rugby, to play it back in the Super 14 and help out a team that has obviously struggled in the Super 14."

That last point was also the one thing Spencer replayed in his mind when weighing up the offer.

The Lions have little to recommend themselves on the playing side, and at his vintage, does Spencer want to be spending 80 minutes each week back-pedalling?

"If I'm being honest it was [a concern]. You always have a few queries about joining a team that is struggling.

"But hopefully I can go some way to helping them turn things around, improve and reach their goals.

"I'm not going there expecting to perform bloody miracles, but hopefully with my experience I can help them reach some realistic goals."
By Dylan Cleaver

http://www.nzherald....10621172&pnum=0

[Kirwan]

Sounds like he had his head screwed on straight. Watching him play is going to be one of the highlights of the Super 14 for me.

[MN5]

Will the Lions relatively leaden footed backs be able to support him he way his Blues/AB flyers could ?

will be interesting to see for sure.

[Kirwan]

MN5 said:

Will the Lions relatively leaden footed backs be able to support him he way his Blues/AB flyers could ?

will be interesting to see for sure.

I suspect he'll be picking the leather off the ball more often than not. Getting them to the right areas first, then try the fancy stuff. And he needs a good crash ball player at 12 as a bail out, and the rest just need to have their eyes open and be prepared for anything!

[SidBarret]

To be fair to the lions, their backs have never been a problem (might be this season though). The Problem has always been slack arsed setup with some very average forwards making stupid mistakes.

ps. I don't think Carlos is going to be a very good signing there. Good back five and some decent coaches would have been a better investment I feel. Losing Jaques Fourie, Alberts and Ludik is not a good start. Expect the lions to be fight hard with the Highlanders, Reds, Cheetahs and Force for the wooden spoon this year.

[Razbra]

Seeing Los arrogantly put his face right into the camera after scoring a typical Los try from a goose step or knee chip will almost make my season.

The trickery will be more evident than ever I reckon. Not so much gas so he'll be doing all types of other shit instead of taking the gap.

can not wait!!

[davidav]

Can't wait to see the King back in action. I'm sure he's still got a bit of magic left, even though he's at the tail end of his career.

[BartMan]

Quote

Seeing Los arrogantly put his face right into the camera after scoring a typical Los try from a goose step or knee chip will almost make my season.

Hopefully an older and wiser Carlos won't be doing that sort of shit. Unless the Cheetahs are making finals and that is the winning try in said final...

So we won't be seeing that....!

[Razbra]

BartMan said:

Hopefully an older and wiser Carlos won't be doing that sort of shit. Unless the Cheetahs are making finals and that is the winning try in said final...

So we won't be seeing that....!

the rugby purist in me agrees but as i do not support the lions and watching is usually like getting teeth pulled i'll take the side show clown moments with the brilliant composed ones. as long as they don't come during a hurricanes match up.

[BartMan]

whoops, Lions, not Cheetahs!! And I'll watch some of their games now too, so it is a good ploy in that - for Sky I s'pose as much as anyone!!

[MN5]

OK heres a crazy idea. Imagine if Carlos has a blinder and leads the lions to Super 14 glory. Not fucken likely I know but still...do Henry and co think "wow he's still got it" and select him ?

[Tim]

MN5 said:

OK heres a crazy idea. Imagine if Carlos has a blinder and leads the lions to Super 14 glory. Not fucken likely I know but still...do Henry and co think "wow he's still got it" and select him ?

I'm nominating this one for most fanciful post of the year.

[MN5]

Tim said:

I'm nominating this one for most fanciful post of the year.

I hear ya but then I think of other names in the hat for AB first five after Carter and wonder whether this post is as full of shit as it initially appears !

[HB]

SidBarret said:

To be fair to the lions, their backs have never been a problem (might be this season though). The Problem has always been slack arsed setup with some very average forwards making stupid mistakes.

ps. I don't think Carlos is going to be a very good signing there. Good back five and some decent coaches would have been a better investment I feel. Losing Jaques Fourie, Alberts and Ludik is not a good start. Expect the lions to be fight hard with the Highlanders, Reds, Cheetahs and Force for the wooden spoon this year.

The Highlanders might just surprise you.

[LAKiwi]

I was thinking the same think HB.
Don't think that the Highlanders are going to be challenging for the bottom half this year, think they'll be solidly entrenched in the upper half of the teams.

[FredDagg1979]

It will definitely add interest for me to Lions matches which I've taken little interest in unless they are held in NZ.

The issue for me is I haven't seen Spencer play for 5 years and I can't for a second believe that father time hasn't dampened his spark. He remains one of the most skillful players we have ever seen.

Come to think, he'd have been an epic league player.

[reddog]

MN5 said:

I hear ya but then I think of other names in the hat for AB first five after Carter and wonder whether this post is as full of shit as it initially appears !

Well it won't happen in this postion as he has come back to the competition too late. In 2008/9 maybe but now! Shirley not. And he is not Carter or Luke so has to be playing for a NZ Franchise. Mind you they might change that rule too if Melbourne spend big on younger ABs for their foundation year.

Agree It will be great to see if he still has something. I have seen glimpses of him over the last few years and he is still moving ok but seemed to be surrounded by chumps.

I did not mind the show boating stuff actually. Comes as part of the job description in my opinion. 1st fives have to come across as arrogant show ponies to get loosies focussed on them too much. I liked Goldie doing the same too when he scored his tries. Much better than the unsmiling stuff the try scorers used to do.

[taniwharugby]

the plot thickens, read on Teletext Pat Lam has said that the Blues wanted Spencer, but were not allowed to enter negotiations with him, it was all headed by the NZRU.

[davidav]

I'm also glad to see that Stephen Brett will be playing for the Blues this year. Hopefully that will mean much more game time for him, and an opportunity to grab the AB reserve first five jersey for himself before the RWC. I think Brett has all the skills to be a formidable international if he can find consistency.

[mogwai]

taniwharugby said:

the plot thickens, read on Teletext Pat Lam has said that the Blues wanted Spencer, but were not allowed to enter negotiations with him, it was all headed by the NZRU.

Makes sense eh, we need to work on our depth, much better for All Black rugby to have Brett there than Carlos. Means also that Brett, Cruden, Delany & Robinson (?) are all going head to head. Carlos is one of my favourite ever players, but we should have got him back for the 2009 S14, not this one. Him playing for the Lions is the best of all possible worlds -

1. Carlos makes cash
2. Young NZ 1st fives get a run & develop for the world cup
3. We get to watch Carlos play proper rugby again
4. Some young saffa is missing out on a starting spot, meaning the depth they showed v Sarries & Liecester continues as is
5. England will have more depth when the young saffa moves up north.
6. Its the Lions, so its not like he'll be kicking the winning droppie v the Saders in the final

[semper]

If he is on the anything close to the "most lucrative contract ever" in SA rugby history, then this whole thing is baffling. From the bits and pieces I've seen of him over the past few years in the GP, he hasn't been a dominant player by any stretch of the imagination. Some nice touches, but not an 80 minutes player. I'm sure he'll add something on the coaching side, but there are plenty of better tens out there in Europe who would offer more if the Lions are looking to splash some cash.

[BartMan]

Carlos on the hard tracks of SA, as opposed to the not so hard tracks of a British winter, there could be some life in the old dog yet...!

[taniwharugby]

mogwai said:

Makes sense eh, we need to work on our depth, much better for All Black rugby to have Brett there than Carlos. Means also that Brett, Cruden, Delany & Robinson (?) are all going head to head. Carlos is one of my favourite ever players, but we should have got him back for the 2009 S14, not this one. Him playing for the Lions is the best of all possible worlds -

1. Carlos makes cash
2. Young NZ 1st fives get a run & develop for the world cup
3. We get to watch Carlos play proper rugby again
4. Some young saffa is missing out on a starting spot, meaning the depth they showed v Sarries & Liecester continues as is
5. England will have more depth when the young saffa moves up north.
6. Its the Lions, so its not like he'll be kicking the winning droppie v the Saders in the final

my issue is the NZRU lament when our players buggar off, yet here we have one wanting to come back and they pretty much shut the door in his face.

[HB]

mogwai said:

6. Its the Lions, so its not like he'll be kicking the winning droppie v the Saders in the final

Where do the Lions play the Saders this year in the round-robin?

Who is willing to bet against an upset?

[BartMan]

me - willing to bet against an upset. Always willing to bet against an upset, with anyone!!

[BartMan]

Quote

my issue is the NZRU lament when our players buggar off, yet here we have one wanting to come back and they pretty much shut the door in his face.

Yeah, they should shell out the big bucks for a 34 year old almost was... Perhaps if Carlos was willing to take the same money as an S Brett or the other standard Super 14 players, I am sure the NZRU would have rushed him straight back into the books.

I however, expect that Carlos was not asking minimum wage...

[Kirwan]

BartMan said:

Yeah, they should shell out the big bucks for a 34 year old almost was... Perhaps if Carlos was willing to take the same money as an S Brett or the other standard Super 14 players, I am sure the NZRU would have rushed him straight back into the books.

I however, expect that Carlos was not asking minimum wage...

Who knows what the Blues would have offered him, they weren't allowed to speak to him.

[taniwharugby]

BartMan said:

Yeah, they should shell out the big bucks for a 34 year old almost was... Perhaps if Carlos was willing to take the same money as an S Brett or the other standard Super 14 players, I am sure the NZRU would have rushed him straight back into the books.

I however, expect that Carlos was not asking minimum wage...

point is, it does not appear it got as far as negotiations, plus the Blues were never afforded the opportunity to make that offer to him.

I am sure you may be right, he may have been asking too much, but who knows? He may have opted to play for the Blues for less money, but we will probably never know will we.

[bullet]

From a busines point of view - not that I know much about business, but paying extra to get him back would have generated more publicity (thus free advertising) generated more interest in the competition from fringe fans and rugby fans who have grown a little tired of the competition (thus more ticket sales).

I admit I don't know much about the big bucks and business but that won't stop me from saying what needs to be said: the Blues administrators are a bunch of retards

[rustycruiser]

bullet said:

the Blues administrators are a bunch of retards

Like your reading comprehension skills? Methinks you missed this part of the thread : "the Blues wanted Spencer, but were not allowed to enter negotiations with him, it was all headed by the NZRU."