NPR

Enjoyed that 1st half! Reds usually bring on Thor in 2nd half to do the business but can’t do that this time around. I feel the ref hasn’t got a clue at scrum time.

Scores like this will soon have many switching off.

The fact the tournament is one round, and just the top teams.

Just another kiwi final.

No Aussie teams can win now. I presume.

So this competition is demonstrating why a permanent trans Tasman comp is a bad idea. The Aussie sides are shite and can’t compete.

Super Rugby Aotearoa is a top quality, internationally saleable competition. This isn’t worth paying money for.

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 2:25 pm So this competition is demonstrating why a permanent trans Tasman comp is a bad idea. The Aussie sides are shite and can’t compete.

Super Rugby Aotearoa is a top quality, internationally saleable competition. This isn’t worth paying money for.

Impulse purchase regret ??

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 3:11 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 2:25 pm So this competition is demonstrating why a permanent trans Tasman comp is a bad idea. The Aussie sides are shite and can’t compete.

Super Rugby Aotearoa is a top quality, internationally saleable competition. This isn’t worth paying money for.

Impulse purchase regret ??

Didn't buy it in the end. Pretty sure I made the right decision.

This is a makey-up tournament to fill time. Boring as hell really and not a good advert if you are trying to sell pay-TV subscriptions.

I will watch the Chiefs games with interest and have the other games on (it is rugby after all) but the comp itself can suck a fat one.

Ive been saying for ages you should stick to your own SR comps and then have a Heineken Cup style tourney for either SH or pacific area.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 7:02 pm This is a makey-up tournament to fill time. Boring as hell really and not a good advert if you are trying to sell pay-TV subscriptions.

I will watch the Chiefs games with interest and have the other games on (it is rugby after all) but the comp itself can suck a fat one.

Yup. It's sh*te. Roll on Mitre.

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 7:02 pm This is a makey-up tournament to fill time. Boring as hell really and not a good advert if you are trying to sell pay-TV subscriptions.

I will watch the Chiefs games with interest and have the other games on (it is rugby after all) but the comp itself can suck a fat one.

Disagree. The format means the Aussie teams were always going to struggle (this year), but just like the SAs in 2019 — their soup teams are crap but they have some dynamic players (e.g., Bell, Hosea, Valentini, Gordon, O'Connor, Wright) who can do the business at international level. That makes it interesting.

Yeah, the Aussie national team will be much more formidable than their national comp would lead you to expect. You can get 23 good enough players from those 5 teams. The talent's just too thinly spread.

Certain Navigator wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 8:01 am

Enzedder wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 7:02 pm This is a makey-up tournament to fill time. Boring as hell really and not a good advert if you are trying to sell pay-TV subscriptions.

I will watch the Chiefs games with interest and have the other games on (it is rugby after all) but the comp itself can suck a fat one.

Disagree. The format means the Aussie teams were always going to struggle (this year), but just like the SAs in 2019 — their soup teams are crap but they have some dynamic players (e.g., Bell, Hosea, Valentini, Gordon, O'Connor, Wright) who can do the business at international level. That makes it interesting.

Training games for internationals doesn’t make a tournament.

14-6 to the Canes, making easy meters out wide, Rayasi, PUJ and Aumua looking the goods so far. 24 minutes in...

Aumua took a decent shot to the head there, looked wobbly getting up...

19-6 now, weak defence, looks like another routine win for the NZ side.

ASMO wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:48 am 19-6 now, weak defence, looks like another routine win for the NZ side.

Yep, looking that way although the Canes haven’t been convincing.

Force robbed.

Utterly bummed.... 43-6 Ardie Savea really put in a good cameo performance.

It can’t go on like this

That last few minutes was all about Billy Proctor. Terrific, hounding defence leading to the turnover, then the great pass for the try. He's my ABs bolter at this early stage.

Reckon Flanders is in with a shout as well.

Anyone else finding these matches against Aussie sides a tough watch?

If I hadn't watched the NZ series first I may be able to tolerate them... but the NZ sides though winning all the games seem to have been dragged down to a lower form of rugby intensity...

I'm grateful the whole gig is only going to cost me $60 or so. I'm too lazy to cancel my sky sub and spark it up again for the All Blacks.

I think most people had the idea this was where a trans tasman comp was headed. I suppose we can be grateful NZR by design or complete accident gave separation to a local only format and then the mixed format.

There must be quite a few subscribers thinking they've paid for a meal but been served a plate heaped with fresh shit, but been asked for patience in waiting for the shit to taste good eventually.

Always understood the Aussie insistence in maintaining stretched resources with 4+1 teams and their reasons for that, but this clearly isn't working or sustainable.

Just over two weeks in and everyone is switched off and wondering which of the Kiwi teams will get the home final because they didn't drop any bonus points.

Another beasting for the Tah's against the Crusaders, 54 - 28, love the optimism of the Aussie commentaters saying it was a "good performance" by the Waratah's....ermmm they conceded 54 points at home, how is that good?

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:00 am Another beasting for the Tah's against the Crusaders, 54 - 28, love the optimism of the Aussie commentaters saying it was a "good performance" by the Waratah's....ermmm they conceded 54 points at home, how is that good?

Balls, I missed this. Will watch highlights later.

Will post the link for the Blues game in a sec

The Blues should win this easily.

Blues...should...uh oh!

https://www.vipbox.lc/brumbies-vs-blues-1-live

Here you go

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:15 am The Blues should win this easily.

Blues...should...uh oh!

Blues are doomed, they have 2 gingers in the side.

The power of Papalii made that try. Straight into the ABs, with him, please.

Zarn Sullivan should be nowhere near this Blues team. He’s much too competent and intelligent.

FujiKiwi wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:38 am Zarn Sullivan should be nowhere near this Blues team. He’s much too competent and intelligent.

I reckon he’s the most complete Fullback currently running around in NZ. All the others have a flaw or two. Sullivan seems to have it all on a cool head. Too soon for AB selection though and with the WC only a couple of years away he’s gonna have to wait.

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:00 am Another beasting for the Tah's against the Crusaders, 54 - 28, love the optimism of the Aussie commentaters saying it was a "good performance" by the Waratah's....ermmm they conceded 54 points at home, how is that good?

What I like about the Aussies commentators + Merhts is that they have a positive attitude about the game, no complaining about ref decisions, forward passes etc. Just talking about what’s good about the game. Kiwi comms on the other hand, especially Ian Smith, feck me, it’s like a funeral.

Will the Blues be the first team to lose to Aussie opposition?

Great try Christie! Brumbies tackling hahahaha

ASMO wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:59 am Will the Blues be the first team to lose to Aussie opposition?

Not with that sort of Ginga power in our arsenal.

Black is ordinary. Wouldn't mind seeing what Sullivan can do at first five.

Hard to stay interested in the comp. Chiefs dropped a point in the first round and that will be a killer I reckon.

I also think we could well lose more than that tonight against the Reds in Townsville.

Blues will cruise this game

Bryce Heem, try scoring machine!