Pat Lam names returning fly-half for 'one of the tougher challenges'

I would be surprised if he doesn’t have a buyout clause in his last year so that NZR can resign him if needed. 2023 he came into the Blues? That would put him at a similar playing condition to a mid 20’s prime winger age for the 2027 WC. Hard to see him holding his standards in Japan though.

Tele’a has only been exerted to that environment for half that amount of time. He’s had half the amount of time to pick up serious injuries or have his body wear due to constant conditioning stress. It’s a long the same lines of AB’s taking sabbaticals to extend their career (amount of WC’s theyre able to contribute towards).

It’s obviously not as clear cut as that, which is why I’m extra dissapointed we don’t get to see how long Tele’a could have performed at the highest level for. He could have been a good example for NZ changing tactics and how players are brought into the system. Of course if it’s your career, you want to raise your earning potential as fast as possible just like anyone else, so it might be hard to convince players, even fans like yourself, that their is more potential in have a longer career down the line, as we’ve seen players well managed now lasting into their 40s.

Officiating has changed a lot over the last few weeks though.

Nobody would suggest that. Maori are the indigenous people of NZ. To play for that team you must have Maori ancestry.