Highlanders, year after year have been a good side without being top echelon. Had some good players from the Dee south but I think the H/Landers have some rebuilding to do.

The Blues are going Ok, they are a big brutal side with an abundance of talent in the pack as well as three quarters. Early days yet though.

I’ve been a Crace fan as an up and comer, but Hoskins Sotutu is playing as well as any No 8 I think (in NZ at the moment that is). He has a lot of skills and being dropped from the AB’s behind Ardie and Luke Jacobson has made him a little hungry again. Looks as though he’s put on a few kilos too.

C’mon OB … your Chiefs have been a bit of a stumbling block for the Blues for a while now. Almost as much as the Crusaders. We have to have a turn again soon 😁

Thanks Geoff, strange ole week for SRP. Didn’t get a chance to watch the game in Fiji but reading about it, perhaps the Canes might have been a little fortunate to get away with that one.

Terrible match to watch on Friday night and agree that Liam Wright’s statement about the Highlanders being a good team (at least in 2024) is surely spoken to avoid insulting the Otago based franchise. It’s going to be a long year for the H’landers I’m afraid.

The “curtain raiser” showed off some of the talent in Blues squad, the most cohesive game they have put together for a while. Eroni’s “little” boy was a handful as was Papali’i and Sotutu (I think he wants his black jersey back).

But the best game of Round 9 was the Force against the Crusaders. It sort of reminded me of the odd game NZ sides played on the way back from the expanded Super rugby years when often a game was played coming back from the Republic. The reminder part of that was the upset!

To me it was a most enjoyable game to watch, the Western Force very much looked like a composed side who had all the answers. Where had they been hibernating for the first 8 rounds!

One plus for the Crusaders, Blackadder appears to have gotten through his minutes unscathed. He is not up to speed yet but understandable after such a long injury break. I suspect he will be somewhere near his menacing best by say his next match against the Rebels 😛 😛

I wasn’t too upset by missing out on a perfect round tipping, as any week a team can get over the Crusaders is good enough mitigation. 😊

Muzzo, how on earth did they leave Currie on?? He was struggling. In Sevens that could have cost them the game, even though defence for 13 of the 14 mins

Hong Kong Sevens is a fantastic tournament, one that I have been to 5-6 times. I used to coordinate buying trips to suit.

I recall one time, a long time ago (early 2000’s) I went up to HK with two mates with no game tickets and we refused to pay the scalpers so watched 2 days of 7’s in a bar in Wan Chai. Actually the HK 7’s is one big party weekend, I think I remember England won that year, cannot remember the year now but it was well before women were playing rugby competitively…when did they start??

On that particular trip went to the Americas Club Restaurant in Wan Chai and ordered “Beggars Chicken” .. brilliant dish, never had it that authentic before nor since, presentation exquisite!

That same trip we were sitting in a bar and a guy fell out of an apartment from 1st floor. We heard the thud as he landed on the pavement. One of my mates attended to him with others until the Paramedics and Ambo arrived, dunno how but he survived!

Reminiscing my past, I can definitely say that is no longer on my bucket list.

100% correct Geoff. This last weekend felt like a lost week of rugby with the byes and the promise of competitive games in the SRP failing to materialise. What is coming to fruition though is the franchises that will not make the playoffs, Force, MP appear to be certainties, the Waratahs likely to join them and probably Highlanders or the Rebels..

Ended up watching the HK Sevens, the last to be held on the island I believe. Shame but it will be what it will be. I thought I read the tournament will be shifting to somewhere near the old Kai Tak airport.

The “World of Susie Wong” might do a bit of a starve, Wan Chai has been like a magnet to 7’s fans.

Of the rugby, a good effort by the Kiwis to win both men and woman’s cups. I never felt the men’s game was really in doubt even though only 3 points separated NZ and France after the final whistle. At 10 nil to NZ with less than 10 secs to play before France scored their 1st points, they were never going to achieve a remarkable victory.

Well I tried the other way Geoff and it didn’t work. They still lost when I was spruiking them! We’ll see how they go after they have their bye next month.

Ha! Yeah Musso Mr Jospeh has a bit of work to do, at least the Blues are winning (except against that pesky team from Wellington). But a way to go yet but the Highlanders better start winning soon or the fat lady will start to sing (is it politcically correct to say that? 😛 😛

Nope Carlin sorry but don’t agree … they had plenty back in a couple of weeks but they have to get games under their belt.

Thanks Geoff.

I really don’t understand. Rugby as a code in Aussie is not quite on its knees but close. If ever pulled together and worked towards some real resolutions, I’m sure they will make worthwhile progress. But no, they prefer to tear each other apart because each own agenda’s.

From 2003 with a surplus of circa $43 mil I dare say there has not been an obvious grasp of the financial management required to prosper and secure the code.

Now, on the cusp of the Lions tour in 2025 and the 2027 RWC, what I see is “kicking the can down the road” and I’d suspect the revenues received will be used to retire debt. In 2028, I reckon there will be a good chance RA will be broke again.

Anyhow back to the weekends rugby. Sorry Geoff but I didn’t see the Blues as particularly impressive. I think any team playing as loose ball as the Moana Pasifika did, they would be asking from trouble from the Blues. Blues have been beaten in the games that matter when they played controlled game. Can hardly wait to see Canes match up with big Patrick’s side.

Crusaders will be in the final eight .. whether they can win it or not is open to speculation. Brumbies and Reds will be there too but I think the Chiefs will return to the top possible playing Blues in the final. Talking rubbish hey? 😊 I see Diggers having a difference of opinion 😛

A very good article Harry. We don’t know exactly what Joe’s final blueprint will be but I for one am certain that many of your arguments and thoughts are on point. A very good article Harry. We don’t know what Joe’s final blueprint will be but I for one am certain that many of your arguments and thoughts are on point.

Joe Schmidt’s has had a long history in coaching both in NZ and overseas. Some of his achievements as a coach are wide and varied and earned him a lot of bouquets.

RA are lucky to secure his services. I feel the 2 years he signed on for will be a test of how his charges react to his coaching style. I believe that the players will respond favourably but with less than 2 years before the Lions tour, miracles may not ‘just happen’. The 2027 RWC might be a better tenure for him to turn around the fortunes of Australian Rugby.

I do however sense that, fans will warm to the 3rd kiwi to take on the task of forging “the Wallabies” back to a world force. To achieve that wins will again be the marker. Good luck!

Dunno why Cotter/Papali’i dint give the ball to Sullivan to kick for goals. He seemed to play 1st receiver quite a bit too, so he might as well have swapped positions with Perofeta.

Thanks Geoff, good stuff again … comp looks more even this year but early days yet

Mz, thanks for that …hmmm don’t worry, you/we have hope., … it’s a marathon not a sprint 😊

At least the rugby’s been good!

Perofeta has, imo not quite lived up to his promise that he showed with the U20’s same can be said about Nock

Blues also have Zane Sullivan who they bought over as a first five … they have options

Thanks Geoff, the weekend started well but soon fell away. I’m talking about my prowess of tipping rugby. I must be a patsy!

Yes started well, Tipped Rebels to get over Moana Pasifika and the under siege Melbourne team duly obliged. Thank you Rebs!!

Next match in, the Tahs in Sydney, had to be a shot’s eye huh? I mean a shoe in, hosting the Highlanders, the perfect opportunity to take another NZ scalp … Nope!! but if Tane kicked that last min goal. It would have been 2 from 2. But I suppose with my history 1 each from 2 games was Ok …

Yeah I know the Crusaders have been done in Fiji before but after 2 losses in a row, unlikely to start the season 0-3. Trouble is no one told Fiji Drua .. their win 20-10 win looked more decisive than that … my tips 1 from 3 .. come on!

Brumbies had to show the loss last week to the Chiefs was a mistake, an aberration, a nightmare of a performance. They will make up the lost ground. So confident I was to took them on the line giving the Force 17.5 start. Nah they were going to win by more than that … easy… Nope, not easy at all. In fact lucky to win. Hey that’s 2 from 4?? My mates were laughing at me. The Sportsbet guys were displaying an apologitic smile .. Yep two from four .. ego a little bruised but knew that the next two games would give me 4 from 6 .. there’s been worse weeks!

Digger’s mob without Jordie were ripe for the taking and the Blues to remain unbeaten over first three rounds looked to restore the balance. I’m starting to dislike Wellington as a venue .. seriously, how could that be. Canes getting over the Blues to remain unbeaten? What would the odds have been on that before the comp started! 2 from 5 … you have to be kidding! Blues have to go home without even a bonus point.. the game had to be rigged surely.

A quick bite of dinner without talking to the missus … I was going to retire to enjoy the last game of the round.

A brilliant game the Reds played very well against the Chiefs, the ‘form side of the comp’ (I thought!). Geoff you might be right that the Chiefs didn’t look like breaking through the Reds defence but in the 23 phases before the pathway was blocked, the Chiefs looked like stealing it at the death! Great game. No so great tipping 2 from 6. Unbelievable! I won’t bother taking a ticket in Lotto.

I’m weird .. I enjoyed the rugby over the weekend (not so much the tipping part of it!!)

Then to wake up on Sunday morning to the news .. England beat Ireland in the 6N and Italy … yep ITALY getting over Scotland. Now all that is needed is for Wales to beat France.

Finally how much did the RWC cost the Wallabies – why is it a big secret now?

🥊

I am not writing off the Crusaders, they will be there come finals time (I also believe the same of the Brumbies)

Talk about depth .. for a side who never won a SR game under Warren Gatland, the Chiefs also lost key players post 2023 RWC but I think they are the most watchable SRP franchise at the moment… they have players ‘who step up’.

Roarers know I like the Chiefs but LOVE the Blues 😊

McMillan must be chuffed …

Also that after Crusaders, Blues had lost more experience than other franchises. But nope I’ve bled blue and white all my life with Chiefs being my No 2 …

Santa Claus coaching the Blues will not make me change my allegiance. I have a lot of respect for Jamie Joseph but the Blues are not ruthless enough … yet.

Look at the Chiefs 1st half last weekend .. fantastic rugby. Everyone is blaming the Brumbies poor day out but it’s my belief that Chiefs took it all away from them.

That’s where I’d like to see the Blues back too … like they were in the 80’s. Totally dominant! That’s not too much to ask is it? 😊

The Chiefs first half was as good as I can recall for many years Muz. The attack was relentless, they played the game at high speed with a lot of continuity, the whole pack played well and the support play … just sublime..

Sone were saying the the Brumbies played poorly. I have so much respect for the Brumbies but they were not allowed to play their game (they’ll be back).

“Anyone who tipped 6 from 6 for this round, deserves high praise indeed.”

Anyone who claims to have tipped 6 from 6 I think is a liar’ 😊

That maybe so but it will be a pity in my opinion. Melbourne is such a great sporting state but it needs a concentrated effort by RA, Vic Government to come to terms with that and a strong marketing campaign, no lip service type stuff. RA (or ARU as it was) should remember why it entered the Victorian market in the first place.. im sure they did their due diligence.

I think this is a problem with Federation in the sense that each State and Territory has its own agenda.

Do I have the answer .. no, I’m not that clever but I see even with the change of leadership in RA, there is still little transparency.

Impossible for tipping .. I was out after Blues game backed them to beat Highlanders by 15 in a multi at the TAB… I won’t talk about the other results.

BTW … Best provincial competition in the world? No, but when the South African teams and the Sunwolves and Argentina was involved, imo it had the potential to be if marketed properly