Rugby: Retention of star duo key to halting exodus

When Brad Thorn signed with the Crusaders until 2011, he took the New Zealand Rugby Union's year-long retention drive beyond even the best case scenario.

Almost 12 months ago to the day, the NZRU embarked on an ambitious plan to secure a core of senior players through to the next World Cup. It was a decision born out of desperation. The expected exodus of 2007 unexpectedly gathered pace in 2008.

Nick Evans and Jerry Collins signed offshore deals during Super 14 and the union knew Greg Somerville and Chris Masoe would likely do the same.

Of the 30 men who played for the All Blacks at the 2007 World Cup, 13 had moved on or had signalled they would be leaving by April 2008.

Other valued players were also packing their bags. Troy Flavell, Craig Newby, Mose Tuilai'i and Scott Hamilton - all capped under Graham Henry - were pulling the plug.

Tom Willis, Nick White, Kristian Ormsby, Campbell Johnstone, Isa Nacewa, Ben Castle, Simms Davison - good, experienced professionals were also leaving.

The big drama, however, was Daniel Carter. The golden one wasn't keen to stay beyond December 2008. And if he were to leave, would that prove the tipping point?

If Carter packed his bags, would that be the catalyst for Richie McCaw to give it all up, too? Carter was the domino that could set off a disastrous collapse as Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Rodney So'oialo, Keven Mealamu and Mils Muliaina were all coming off contract at the end of this year.

"We knew if we could nail Richie and Dan then it would really help in keeping other players," says NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.

So it proved. Andrew Hore, Mealamu, So'oialo and a raft of second-tier players such as Richard Kahui, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Andy Ellis, Liam Messam and Brendon Leonard committed.

Advanced discussions are ongoing with Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu and there is some confidence the first two will sign.

A number of factors have led to the exodus being stopped dead. flexible contracts have been a major pull. Carter's sabbatical was the key to him staying long term while McCaw's deal-breaker was the right to take time out if he felt he needed it.

There has also been a lift in the money offered. We hear so much about enormous deals on offer in Europe that is has gone largely unnoticed that the NZRU has upped the ante for senior players.

"We stretched ourselves [financially] to keep Richie and Dan here and we will stretch ourselves again to keep four or five other senior All Blacks.

"We have lost some players in the middle group. It would have been good to see them stay for Super 14 but we can't keep everyone."

Despite increasing payments to the most senior players, Tew says the union has kept within budget.

What has also helped to win players has been the increased number of Kiwis who have not enjoyed the best experiences overseas.

Carl Hayman was unsettled for much of his first year with Newcastle and word of that filtered through the players here. Chris Jack has been stuffed around by Harlequins and Aaron Mauger took some time to settle with Leicester.

Maybe the biggest factor, though, is the one that is not allowed to be mentioned - the burning desire to win, finally, a World Cup.

The disastrous campaign of 2007 hurt more than has ever been let on. The likes of McCaw, Carter, So'oialo, Williams and Mealamu had been part of the failed 2003 campaign. They were convinced 2007 was going to net a different outcome and were stunned by the loss to France in the quarter-final.

These men and many others within New Zealand rugby want to put it right - they want to end their New Zealand careers with a World Cup winner's medal.

But they have to play that down. The NZRU made the mistake of appearing to be obsessed with the last World Cup.

The focus and emphasis placed on France 2007 was too much and it burned the All Blacks in the end.

This time the obsession will smoulder quietly, but it is there and, more importantly, so will virtually every leading player in the country.