Rugby Most Superb in the land of the long white cloud, TYOOL 2022 edition, now with 20% more Pasifika!

[morepork]

Nothing screams heartland as much as playing rugger in the Rod and Gunn nightmare that is Queenstown.

[morepork]

I know it's the "other" code, but Pasifika sporting cultural icon Olsen Filipaina passed away today. A role model for generations of young talented Polynesians. RIP.

[J Dory]

Has RTS had a run out for the blues yet?

[morepork]

RTS has some of that Ruben Wiki mana about him. He might not adapt to kick and clap but he won’t die wondering.

[Cameo]

I only saw the first half last night but he looked very good. His feet are obviously amazing but he also got a few great offloads away. Wasn't paying enough attention to see how he was in defence but that might take time.

[zer0]

Those punisher-in-chiefs TJ and Marshall bitching about a Highlanders knock-on advantage being over from a lame duck clearing kick that led directly to a Blues was erotically delicious. A good five minutes of solid bitching from tired old TJ and Marshall. Then wounder Wheeler gets in on it post-match. ToUgH sOuThErN mEn. You love to see it.

[zer0]

They only really came back into it because old Ben O'Queef decided that a #8 completely detached from the scrum and playing the ball, somehow, means the ball is still in the scrum. He must've been bitterly disappointed to have been defeated on consecutive weekends.

[Cameo]

First win for Moana Pasifika! And they did it in style too. Clinging on first half, much better in the second to finish 19 all against the Hurricanes, and then Danny Toala scores a length of the field try to win it.

Weakened Hurricanes team but frankly who cares. In one night they have turned what was in danger of being quite a chastening first half of the season into one full of promise. No, they won't compete for the title, or even the playoffs, but they have given hope for the future.

I also think it is important in terms of attracting a few stars back from overseas. Cash is one thing but it must mean something seeing a team so clearly enjoying battling to a win together.

[Puja]

First win for Moana Pasifika! And they did it in style too. Clinging on first half, much better in the second to finish 19 all against the Hurricanes, and then Danny Toala scores a length of the field try to win it.

Weakened Hurricanes team but frankly who cares. In one night they have turned what was in danger of being quite a chastening first half of the season into one full of promise. No, they won't compete for the title, or even the playoffs, but they have given hope for the future.

I also think it is important in terms of attracting a few stars back from overseas. Cash is one thing but it must mean something seeing a team so clearly enjoying battling to a win together.

Excellent news. I was a bit worried that the two PI sides might go winless given their lack of stars, but they've both got an early victory under their belts which will do big things to establish their legitimacy.

Puja

[Cameo]

First win for Moana Pasifika! And they did it in style too. Clinging on first half, much better in the second to finish 19 all against the Hurricanes, and then Danny Toala scores a length of the field try to win it.

Weakened Hurricanes team but frankly who cares. In one night they have turned what was in danger of being quite a chastening first half of the season into one full of promise. No, they won't compete for the title, or even the playoffs, but they have given hope for the future.

I also think it is important in terms of attracting a few stars back from overseas. Cash is one thing but it must mean something seeing a team so clearly enjoying battling to a win together.

Excellent news. I was a bit worried that the two PI sides might go winless given their lack of stars, but they've both got an early victory under their belts which will do big things to establish their legitimacy.

Puja

The Drua have gone very close a couple of other times too (though they may regret not winning those as they have their easier part of the season first up before having to play the NZ sides).

[morepork]

That Moana win was ferkin ace. The team looks like it has a great positive culture for young Island boys exposed to professional footy.

[zer0]

Chufs thoroughly spanked by a Blues team playing half the match with a rugba league team. Crusaders are next up for the spanking.

[J Dory]

That was a pants down spanking complete with red hand prints.

Looking forward to the game with the Cru. Anyone fancy taking a stab at a form ABs 15?

[J Dory]

That was worth waking up at 3am for, Dalton Papalii is the man.

[zer0]

Crusaders given a thorough spanking. A dozen of the best, trousers down. Great to see Auckland Blues legend and undefeated captain Luke Romano not putting up with these local whipper snappers getting up to any nonsense on his lawn.

[morepork]

Once every two decades seems about fair.

[Cameo]

A bit late to the party here but that was a great game. That cover tackle! Every lock's nightmare being given a clear run to the line but not having the gas to make it!

[Cameo]

Week one kinda went as expected though a good win for the Brumbies against an underperforming Highlanders.

The competition should have a better feel to it next year when the fixtures are more mixed up. At the moment, you feel all the NZ teams will surge up the table in the next few weeks.

Only need to be in the top 8, which is an issue. I hope over time they at least move to playoffs of the top 6 with the top two going straight through to a semifinal.

[morepork]

So what’s the barometer for AB potency here? Crusaders got bullied off the ball (which seems a template for recent AB losses) while the Bloos seem to have a more dynamic response to confrontation. Have the Bloos finally left behind the 90’s where their infrastructure was defined by school zone? I hope so.

[morepork]

What about locks? White lock and Retalika are getting on. I really like the cut of DP’s jib. The Irish visit will tell us a lot about how we adapt to these annoying Northern heathens.

[morepork]

Well the Bloos are looking pretty capable of lacerating defences right now. They even extend charity to ginger people scoring.

[J Dory]

Jordan, Clarke, Beauden and Ioane, that would be a seriously pacey backline that I hope we see for the ABs. 12 and 14 up for grabs for me.

[Cameo]

At 10, despite having always been a massive BB fan, I would actually go for Mounga. I think the articles suggesting he has never performed on the international stage are pretty unfair. They basically discount any game that the ABs have won. I get that easy wins are easy to perform well in, but sometimes he has been pretty central to it being an easy win. The argument also takes the sample size down to about 3 games. BB's kicking from hand has been a bit average for me this season too.

At 9, Fakatava has come with some hype but I think the last few weeks off the bench he has been living up to it. Wouldn't be surprised to see him get a shot even if he hasn't been one of the three best 9s so far. Equally, TJ always seems to get a shot though I think his time has come and gone.

[morepork]

Sooo....gotta be Bloos as favourites, no?

[morepork]

They gave it a good go, but sit down Hamiltron. Crusaders adopting a bit of cynical play to contain threats. Pablo takes another hit for team cynical. A tasty stand off at 10 beckons if the Bloos and Bouncy castle do meet up.