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George Bridge reportedly set to call time on All Blacks career

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks wing George Bridge will reportedly call time on his Test career and link up with French powerhouse Montpellier following the conclusion of the NPC.

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Bridge made his international debut against Japan in 2018 and forced his way into the first-choice 23 ahead of Rieko Ioane in the build-up to the following year’s Rugby World Cup.

The 27-year-old never fully entrenched himself in the No 11 jersey, however, with injuries curtailing his 2020 and 2021 seasons, and Bridge was a notable omission when the All Blacks named their first squad of the season ahead of their July series with Ireland.

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With the likes of Leicester Fainga’anuku and Braydon Ennor emerging for the Crusaders, Bridge also found himself competing for jersey throughout Super Rugby Pacific and managed just eight stars for the champions this year.

Ample outside backs are also cropping up around the country and Bridge would be facing a significant challenge to force his way back into national contention, especially if he’s not able to lock down a starting role with the Crusaders.

According to reports out of France, Bridge has now made the decision to head offshore and will turn out for Montpellier in this year’s Top 14 competition.

At just 27 years of age, many around New Zealand would have hoped to see the relatively young outside back attempt to fight his way back into the All Blacks, even if that meant having to look elsewhere for Super Rugby game time. While the Crusaders and Blues boast considerable talents out wide, the Chiefs, Highlanders and even Hurricanes could do with a man of Bridge’s talents.

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Generally secure under the high ball and with deceptive top-end pace, Bridge’s skill set will suit the long and attritional French club season, where he could eventually find himself facing off with a number of former All Blacks teammates.

Bridge will depart New Zealand with numerous accolades to his name, including one Rugby Championship title, three Bledisloe Cup defences, six Super Rugby crowns, two NPC titles, a North vs South victory and a World U20 Championship title.

Scoring 37 tries in his Super Rugby career, Bridge will also end his NZ career as the Crusaders’ fourth-highest try-scorer of all time.

Bridge is currently playing a key role in Canterbury’s impressive provincial season, which sees them sit atop the Evens conference in the NPC with just two weekends left of action before the finals.

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Easy_Duzz-it 22 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

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LONG READ Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline? Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?
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