Don't call it a comeback

[Puja]

Well, at least one Englishman's getting to play rugby.

What do you think of the proposed scenario of a cross-Tasman only Super Rugby? Australia are looking to copy your 5 team comp by bringing the Western Force back into the fold and combining the two at some point would seem to make a lot of sense in terms of rivalries, travel, and markets. Okay, so the overall level will be lower without the South Africans, but keeping it only within 4 hours of time zones (and with most games being only 2) would surely make for a more cohesive competition that's easier to market and sell. Not to mention that the two of you are the closest to having Covid under control.

Puja

[zer0]

Will be interested to see how the teams play this. Seems likely they'll be the only rugby show in town, and one of the few sports running on the planet. I wonder if NZR (and maybe even WR?) will ask them to put on a show to try and advertise the sport as best they can and draw as many newcomers in as possible. Of course that would also require SANZAAR not to be colossal dicks about footage being used online.

[Puja]

Will be interested to see how the teams play this. Seems likely they'll be the only rugby show in town, and one of the few sports running on the planet. I wonder if NZR (and maybe even WR?) will ask them to put on a show to try and advertise the sport as best they can and draw as many newcomers in as possible. Of course that would also require SANZAAR not to be colossal dicks about footage being used online.

You'd've thought there's fairly sizeable sponsorship opportunities out there, as well as television footage sales. Japan were getting record viewership for the Top League before it was cancelled, the Yanks will be missing their contact sports, the UK is missing any live sport at all. As the only show in town, there's surely money to be made.

Puja

[zer0]

Well, at least one Englishman's getting to play rugby.

Is Marchant still here? Hope so. Had just assumed he'd headed back to the UK.

What do you think of the proposed scenario of a cross-Tasman only Super Rugby? Australia are looking to copy your 5 team comp by bringing the Western Force back into the fold and combining the two at some point would seem to make a lot of sense in terms of rivalries, travel, and markets. Okay, so the overall level will be lower without the South Africans, but keeping it only within 4 hours of time zones (and with most games being only 2) would surely make for a more cohesive competition that's easier to market and sell. Not to mention that the two of you are the closest to having Covid under control.

There will still be travel restrictions/quarantines in place for a while yet I think, so anything over and above a Bledisloe series later in the year seems unlikely.

As a more general concept, I guess so. RA would need an absolute nuclear cleansing though. Seems to have the full blazer brigade thing going on, but without the decency of the English stiff upper lip. Instead the farm is ablaze and they're out brawling each other in an outback pigsty to see who can be king of its ashes.

[Puja]

Well, at least one Englishman's getting to play rugby.

Is Marchant still here? Hope so. Had just assumed he'd headed back to the UK.

What do you think of the proposed scenario of a cross-Tasman only Super Rugby? Australia are looking to copy your 5 team comp by bringing the Western Force back into the fold and combining the two at some point would seem to make a lot of sense in terms of rivalries, travel, and markets. Okay, so the overall level will be lower without the South Africans, but keeping it only within 4 hours of time zones (and with most games being only 2) would surely make for a more cohesive competition that's easier to market and sell. Not to mention that the two of you are the closest to having Covid under control.

There will still be travel restrictions/quarantines in place for a while yet I think, so anything over and above a Bledisloe series later in the year seems unlikely.

As a more general concept, I guess so. RA would need an absolute nuclear cleansing though. Seems to have the full blazer brigade thing going on, but without the decency of the English stiff upper lip. Instead the farm is ablaze and they're out brawling each other in an outback pigsty to see who can be king of its ashes.

A google says that Marchant's still in NZ. He had a six month loan from January, although I'd imagine that'll be extended to give him a chance to play more of this NZ-only Super Rugby. Frankly, this is probably better for his development than playing the Rebels and Sunwolves.

Your description of RA is absolutely on the button, although in brighter news, they do appear to be taking this opportunity to quietly back down from abandoning the Force - the one team with both avid support and funding. I'd say your lot taking them on into a 10 team league would be partly an act of charity and partly a calculated investment in future value, cause right now they're a dumpster fire that I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to get near to.

Puja

[Lizard]

I could maybe see a "final" between the NZ and AU champs, if Covid remains under control in both places by then.

More interesting is that in the draw above, you'll note that although some venues are named stadia, others are just cities. Apparently the Blues can't afford to open Eden Park without their usual two men and a dog turning up to buy shitty beer in a warm plastic bottle and an inedible hotdog. They might end up at Albany or even Mt Smart. Frankly, if there's no crowd allowed, afternoon matches could be at Western Springs or anywhere.

[Puja]

It's probably a better atmosphere in an open field than an empty stadium, although I'd question if the broadcast facilities would be good enough for Sky.

Puja

[morepork]

Where’s Carlaw park when you need it?

[Lizard]

I guess broadcast needs will dictate that they play in a proper stadium, but are people really going to switch off if the only live footy has slightly shaky cherry-picker camera angles? They've broadcast club matches from Western Springs before.

[zer0]

Albany suffers from the fatal flaw that it is, indeed, Albany.

[Cameo]

I suspect the not naming the stadium yet has something to do with not knowing if/when crowds will be allowed yet. It's not far from a month away so could possibly be in level 1 by then which doesn't have the same limits on crowds (or at least, it doesn't at the moment).

Time will tell though

[Cameo]

I'm kind of expecting there'll be crowdless fixtures for the foreseeable future.

That's what I had been assuming until the last week or so but not so sure now. They'll be cautious about it but I wouldn't rule out crowds at some point if the numbers carry on this way.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Where’s Carlaw park when you need it?

What a place that was, had some very drunken afternoon/evenings there.

[morepork]

Where’s Carlaw park when you need it?

What a place that was, had some very drunken afternoon/evenings there.

Good times. The ever present smell of weed and spilt Lion Red in the stands. I got sparked out playing a grand final at Carlaw when I was 16. True story. Probably fucked me up for life.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Where’s Carlaw park when you need it?

What a place that was, had some very drunken afternoon/evenings there.

Good times. The ever present smell of weed and spilt Lion Red in the stands. I got sparked out playing a grand final at Carlaw when I was 16. True story. Probably fucked me up for life.

First day in NZ in 91 ended up there with two other poms spent the arvo getting free piss off the bar fella as a welcome to NZ, got bloody steaming with a lack of sleep and then ended up at a party with a maori bird. Hotel/hostel the agency we were working for was some god botherers place, we got kicked out the next day. Oh to be young and reckless again...

[Cameo]

Now talk of at least some fans for the initial matches - either in groups of 100 under the current rules or more if the rules are relaxed again by then (Eden Park say they could arrange 10 blocks of 500 each with separate entrances etc).

[morepork]

The Warriors won.

Just thought I'd share...

[J Dory]

They didn't just win, they broke records for .... effort.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

[morepork]

Jesus christ...

[J Dory]

So the Blues go from years in the first five wilderness to an embarrassment of riches. Nice to see Carter have another run in NZ.

[Cameo]

Thoughts on law change? 20 minute red card (then replaced by another player) is an interesting one. Can either be seen as a cop out or just a sensible recognition that it can be a bit of a lottery what gets picked up and there are borderline interpretations so let's not ruin a game over them. The golden point one seems good too.

Australia has gone more all out. I don't have a firm view on whether the 50/22 and the 22/50 are good ideas or not. Theory that they will pull defenders out the line makes sense but we will see. I'd also like to see full backs go for the short kick from their own 22 just over the half way line, get it wrong and face a counter attack with no one back to help them.

[Puja]

I am fascinated to see the 50/22 law in a high level rugby situation. It feels like a very sensible solution to the wall-o-death defences that teams have, as well as an encouragement to a kick that's not a box, but I want to see how it plays out in a real world scenario.

The 20 minute then replacement for a red makes a lot of sense. A red in the 2nd minute currently is a lot more punitive than one in the 60th and, now that you can (rightly) get a red for being careless, it was too much of a lottery (and I think scared refs from giving them). This is much more equitable.

Puja

[Lizard]

I'm gradually coming to terms with the fact that having carefully nurtured (Auckland-born) Lizard Jnr into the proper way of thinking as a Chiefs fan, as a Kiwi dad I'm going to have to take him to a Blues match to see Dan Carter play.

[Mellsblue]

I’ve coughed up for Sky Sports specifically for this. Any players, beyond the usual suspects, I should keep and eye? Blues players would be appreciated as I’ve decided to ‘support’ them due to Carter.

[Puja]

Will there be crowds now that you're officially Corona-free?

Puja