The Hurricanes need the win for the sake of a home semi.

The Crusaders will get one home semi, and won’t lose too many games, so a win over the Crusaders is a four point advantage over the rest of the teams.

Simon

Who said the AB’s played their ‘B’ team against Ireland and their ‘A’ team against Wales? Running my eyes over the two teams at the time I felt they divided the whole squad 50/50 (quality-wise) – right down the middle.

I wouldn’t have liked to have picked a winner between those two AB teams, although I would have loved to see them play!!! What a match!!! The teams against England and Scotland were certainly ‘A’ & ‘B’.

I’d love to see the TriNations extended to take in Argentina – two matches against each team – home and away.

I’d love to see that competition also take place every second year with some tours in between.

The Lions tour was just a brilliant event for NZ. A decent length, mid-week provincial matches, a game against the Maori, and three tests. What more could you want? (Just a shame that the Lions supporters were better than their players!!!)

Imagine a Springbok tour run along those lines – or the Aussies? Or France or England? (Did I say that?!?)

I still remember the Springbok match against Taranaki on the 1981 tour. I was 16 at the time. Actually I don’t remember the match, but I remember the EVENT!!! (Apparantly Charles and Diana getting married on the same day.)

the bulls have an expert foward pack and this pressure is going to make it even harder for Ice at 1st 5.

having said that the blues can just turn it on at the drop of a hat so as much as i think the bulls will win, if they dont im picking the blues to blow them out of the park by 20… catch my drift??

Agree, Yeah my blues are doing real bad, but the memories of yester-years makes up for a shocking season, its that rugby cycle, it will come our way again, and the blues will be champs again, when? who knows. Tokoroa boy, home to keven mealamu, and also scarfie, well enough said about a scarfie, different breed down there, haha.

Yeah me and my wife met at the ’99 RWC and yes we both drowned our sorrows, more me then her after the 3rd and 4th place game.

Anyways we found a channel up in the states, and have to order it, called Setanta Sports from the UK on Direct tv, and we get some of the S12/14 games up there, mainly NH Rugby of course.

Rugby coverage in America is very statistic based, if you the americans and there sports, they love statistics.

Canes to win and the Chiefs, The Blue v Bulls, I honestly couldn’t pick it. what u think? TAB are paying good odds this week on the home derby games.

There is a couple of good local derbys this weekend. it could get spiteful i recon. And im also picking a chief Hurricane double. Will pay well at the tab. The saders have to lose one this year and the canes have forever been there bogy team, and chiefs on form id say…due for a win after some choking in the last two games.

Good man for finding a beautiful Japie girl…

Is there any coverage of games in the states??

From Auckland mate, Married to a South African girl, and living in the USA, I’m home on vacation for a couple of weeks, currently in beautiful Nelson. Where you from bro?!?!

This new world series is a shock reation from the Aussies cause it aint looking to good for Aussie rugby if the Wallabies aint winning the sports popularity might all go to other codes in ten or so years…. but hey i think its a good idea…its following cricket a bit and to tell you the truth it sounds alot better than the current format of boring tri nations. Lets face it, a test is still amazing to a purist like myself, but i fear if we dont move with the times in terms of format (not style of play) then we will be left behind in todays competitive world.

I thoroughly agree that in a rugby utopia we would have tours the focus to give all provincial teams around the globe a crack at international sides. Japies, Blacks, Oz and Poms would be great chances to match club players with world class players. When the lesser nations toured a major country its like a rugby lesson on the style of play at the roots of that country. This is what i would call spreading rugby literally to as many parts of the world as possible. Players everywhere at elite, provincial and even amature level will come against each other which can only enhance and improve the seeds of this great game in all parts of the world.

thats not true, many of those that disagree with the idea mentioned above, are’nt from SA, i.e CSI.

Also, please bear in mind that we needn’t agree with evey idea put forward just becasue its australian. I certainly think Growden writes absolute rubbish, but Peter English seems better on the cricket. Cant be that conservative if we actually rated our chanes of chasing down 438, in fact strikes me as pretty revolutionary.

Full tours are never going to come back due to the UK and French club schedule. The French still play club rugby in June. it is unfortunate but it is a reality and this is the next possible solution.

Ig, the ICC have a test championship trophy

Were it no for innovative ideas, we would not have night cricket and I’m sure 438/9 is something you don’t want to forget!

It’s a great idea because as almost every side who has won the WC has proved, they hardy look like champions post the world cup. This would motivate sides to keep up the standards of playing.

Furthermore, this whingeing about playing too much rugby is ridiculous. Sides like the All Blacks handle this problem by developing a squad. Considering the amount of money rugby players earn, they should stop complaining about playing too muc rugby.

The Rugby World cup is just a ‘nice to have’, no meat and potatoes there. England are the world champs, who cares ? With the whole ‘you’re only as good as your last game’ and ‘anything can happen in a quarter / semi / final’ attitude the RWC is a show,thats all.

Coaches throw the ‘yes,we lost but we’re preparing for the world cup’ excuse around too easily.

I can understand them wanting to put pressure on coaches to pick the best teams. I am not going to fork out R 500 plus to watch the Bokke ‘try out new combos or strategies’. Se gat. If you want to ‘blood new players’, for varks steaks, do so in practise games arranged between countries, off camera and not publicised.

Surely France and SA could arrange such practise games. We need pressure from the sponsors to ensure that coaches always pick their strongest team possible.

Who wants to spend big money to see if a new combo works ? That’s not why I support the sponsors.

your last comment is the wisest advice you have ever offered. now if only you could convey those sentiments to the majority of your populace.

I have yet to experience a graceful pom in defeat, you must be a very rare individual indeed. i must say tho your online persona does you a disservice in this regard, since we only see you banging on about england’s magnifecense when they’re winning. You have been conspicuously hard to find of late Mr magnanimous.