New Zealand's soft underbelly in the player retention war has been exposed twice in recent weeks, first by Steven Luatua and now by James Lowe. These so-called upper-mid-tier players - men who have five years-plus of Super Rugby experience and have either tasted or nearly tasted test football - are the ones New Zealand Rugby find hardest to protect from offshore predators. The Chiefs didn't want James Lowe to go. And so it is the likes of Lowe and Luatua, who end up feeling the pinch and overseas clubs, have come to understand this. Leinster, where Lowe will head after Super Rugby, were chasing Israel Dagg initially.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 06, 2017 21:59 UTC