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'We're disappointed' - Hurricanes react to Matt Proctor's impending departure

Matt Proctor. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee has revealed the club’s feeling after the end-of-season departure of midfielder Matt Proctor was announced Saturday.

One-test All Black Proctor will join former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd at Premiership club Northampton after the 2019 Super Rugby season.

“We’re disappointed,” Lee said in an interview with Stuff.

“I’ve been in touch with Matt myself and said that we’re really disappointed that you are going but we respect the decision and understand his reasons.

“As a rugby fan first and foremost someone like him, who has been in and around the All Blacks for a while, been a strong Super Rugby player, only just been capped, you could see it and say he’s just kicking on the door, but he’s got his own reasons.

“Clearly the financial offer is significant and a big part of it, but if he was an established All Black I don’t think he’d be doing the same thing.”

https://twitter.com/SaintsRugby/status/1083710116258594816

26-year-old Proctor made his lone test appearance for the All Blacks against Japan at the end of last year, where he scored a try. Lee shed light on how Proctor’s relatively late inclusion within the All Black side may have influenced his decision.

“From our perspective we can see that progression, but you could also argue he may have had more of an opportunity over the last three seasons within the All Blacks that might have changed his decision,” he said.

“He would have loved to have played more games for New Zealand and been a core All Black, but there’s a lot of talent around in that position.

“He could have signed on for one more year and seen what happens beyond the World Cup, but clearly he’s got an offer in front of him that’s he’s decided to accept.

“I’m not critical of Matt Proctor. I would have loved to have seen him stay longer at the Hurricanes and become a 50 or 60-cap All Black because we genuinely think he’s that good.”

Proctor’s Hurricanes teammate and fellow All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder is also set to leave the club after the 2019 season, with the electric 28-year-old linking with French club Toulon.

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Nickers 29 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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