Highlanders vs Rebels: Super Rugby live scores, blog

To be honest, as a Highlanders fan this result does not please me. Of course I wanted the win but these blowouts aredoing nothing for the game in Australia, which is a bad thing for everyone.

Nah, I mean bon voyage to the west islands, of NZ.

The problem, Whaktaata, is the assumption that going back 1-2 teams will make us as competitive as we once were. Unfortunately, we will be even more decimated by players heading overseas as there will be less revenue and fewer professional opportunities for Australian players.

Over 40 years of rugby love is hard to give up. Theses matches are no doubt great fun for you and other Kiwi supporters but they do harm the game in Australia. Constant one sided results that stem from a lack of depth and quality players are nothing but boring and a great turn off for fringe and welded on supporters both. We can match it with the best in the World but only with one set of 22 at a time for the Wallabies and probably only with three x 22 for SR. I have never said anything different and have always acknowledged the incredible depth and quality of NZ rugby. But our teams play your teams far too much. Australians want local derbies, fringe fans want to jump on board Qld v NSW etc. When you live in Australian society and your friends are not dominated by expats (like the roar is) it becomes very clear exactly what the paying public want. Competitive games and most involving local tribal teams. You know what I mean by tribal in this context.

The reality is, it doesn't work for you. Australian fans are turning off in droves, Australian rugby is on a downward spiral and fast. This holding onto teams for the sake of holding onto teams idea is ludicrous and is damaging to a tournament that is already struggling for any relevance. The thing is your teams aren't just bad they are pathetic, Australian rugby was much stronger with three teams.

Damn...had high hopes this year?

Yep the Force have attitude... expect a good competitive game from them today even tho i have tipped the blues, .

With Aaron Smith back in his chirpy form i am now confident the Lions are in big trouble. It will be a conundrum for them, they wont know whether to hit A Smith, B Smith or B Barrett late...

West OB ? you don't mean Perth (:

Oz won the cherry spitting contest vs NZ last month - a bloke from manjimup here in WA won.... i put a post up about it, :)

Time for a drink !!!

Plenty of others have offered options for oz rugby that doesn't include blaming NZ. Rebels were poor but they were under pressure and anyone who things that dropping balls and not knowing where the sideline is is not due to the pressure the players are putting on themselves then they're dreaming. Same will happen in some matches tonight and it will take a huge effort to be competitive with all the negativity surrounding them at the moment.

Obviously not enough of the sour ones though. Dont worry, the weekend is young zero. Plenty of time before the bus to the fold heads out. ? Others have explored the options without the need to blame NZ rugby on that as well.

The Rebels were mostly completely awful in that game. Listless, largely clueless and for the most part executionless. Poor buggers, it's a bloody sorry time for Oz rugby. The famed Aussie rugby spirit has been totally drained from it. While the kiwis are rolling their sleeves up and happy in their work the Aussie teams are making it look like an intolerable chore. The sword of Damocles hovering over it doesn't help. I just hope the unfathamable lack of transparency and leadership from the ARU will reveal itself to be a cover for frenzied and innovative activity to save the 5 franchises in a masterplan to be revealed any day now. But I'm not holding my breath.

It's the system that is broke, not the teams. Our philosophies, coaching, talent identifying, the competition and the attitude. The clubs can be very successful, we have just simply lost a generation of talent through the lack of opportunities, engagement with fans, poor coaching, an unwillingness to move forward from by gone glories and poor pathways. Generally all caused from petty agendas from the people in powerful positions and a competition that isn't set up to maximize the potential playing and commercial market. Australia could/should/would but simply isn't a powerhouse in world rugby. Something other than repackaging what bought us here is what is needed. It is either now or potentially never with regards to Australia ever being a world rugby force again.

Yep .... the memory of Eden Park is not good.... and the 'Landers will be stronger...... but so will be the Blues... *S*

CP Good point on the excessive kicking but gee, if the HL's had decided to run rather than kick, I fear the score would've been nearing, Hurricane scoreline territory. I will say one thing though - if AU fans are still keen on hiring NZ fringe talent, than I'm sure we might be able to find another Garden-Bachop gem, hidden away in our wee valleys. He was an absolute marvel for the Rebels - he kicked every time he touched the ball. So, even though I'm dead against ARU clubs pursuing NZ players, when the money is too good to be true and they are fringe players like this young fella, well I'm sure, no matter how much I/we remonstrate in NZ, there's just some players, who will find it difficult to say no, to the cash. To those players, I wish them bon voyage and go west young man, to exhibit your wonderful talents.

Great comment Boom

Absolutely Fionn. I was just thinking how three of the deadest clubs in the AFL world were once Sydney, Hawthorn and Foot-es-cray. My club, Carlton, were always a big deal. The worm seems to always turn and I look forward to the day it does with our rugby. I'm passionate for the Waratahs, but my loyalty is to Aust.

And don't forget that hundreds or even thousands of peoples' livelihoods depend on the clubs. All for one and one for all. We shouldn't let any single club be sacrificed. We sink or swim together.