McKenzie eases Kiwi exodus fears

The next to go? Chris Masoe's non-inclusion in the AB training squad may send him packing

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie believes New Zealand's elite players won't be the prime target of European clubs forever after nine of the All Blacks' World Cup squad members moved north after the showpiece event in 2007.

An exodus of top players, mostly to English and French clubs, has blighted the New Zealand game since last year's World Cup but McKenzie suggested it wouldn't continue indefinitely.

"You pay the price for your success," said McKenzie.

"It goes in cycles. You don't need to be worried about it.

"When the All Blacks are at the top of the tree they become very attractive to some countries.

"But the wheel turns. The South Africans will lose a few players as a result of their success in the World Cup.

"Australia, if it gets up there again and starts knocking the All Blacks off regularly, it'll start losing some of its players."

McKenzie, whose team play the Crusaders in the Super 14 Final in Christchurch on Saturday, also reckoned the New Zealand rugby player conveyer belt was still operating smoothly.

A fresh batch of talent had emerged at each of the Super 14 franchises, he said, with a prime example being Stephen Brett's development as an obvious replacement for fly-half Daniel Carter, whose future with the Crusaders and All Blacks is uncertain.

"The quality of players coming into the Crusaders and other teams, okay they're not household names but Dan Carter's not going to play forever so you have to find new blokes anyway," McKenzie said.

"New Zealand has never been down for long. I think they'll ride it out and more players will come through.

"We won't be surprised but New Zealand might surprise themselves with who they have got coming through."

Japan-bound Crusaders veteran Reuben Thorne, 33, also pointed to New Zealand's history of replenishment, but was concerned at the changing nature of the players who are leaving.

"It's a bit of a worry when players leave too early, before their time. I don't think I'm in that category," joked Thorne.

"There seems to be a lot leaving at the moment, hopefully it's the peak of the cycle."

While there was a thinning number of experienced heads for young players to learn from, Thorne said the modern youngster went through a different development process, starting at academies.

"When they get here they're already semi-professional in the way they train with their nutrition and their education and all those sorts of things," Thorne said.

"What they miss out on is mixing with the older heads a wee bit.

"Most of them who come through now are pretty professional in the way they operate. That's different from how it was when I started."

Meanwhile, five Hurricanes players are weighing up European offers.

Piri Weepu and Chris Masoe have confirmed this, while Jimmy Gopperth, Hosea Gear and Thomas Waldrom are also believed to be considering their options.

Masoe's agent Bruce Sharrock confirmed that he was upset at missing out on the All Blacks' training squad. However, he rejected reports that Masoe has sought a termination of his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union.

"Chris is not seeking an early release," Sharrock told The Dominion Post.

"He's had a release option in his contract for the past two years and whether or not he exercises that remains to be seen."

Sharrock confirmed that interest in both Masoe and Weepu had increased after the news of their omission.

Munster are reported to be the front runners to sign Masoe. The Dominion Post also reports that Gopperth will soon depart, while Gear wasn't pleased with Wellington's signing of David Smith from Auckland and could take up one of a number of offers.