TagMeInSkipIGotThis

We're in the middle of the 3 bye weeks where each round 4 teams sit down and have a break. So the table looks a bit odd but because of the way the draw plays out at least teams in the top 5 are settled through to the end of Week 9.

At the end of next week the possible changes I see are:

• Fiji might get up over the Hurricanes playing at home, but the latter are playing so well and have such a strong squad it seems unlikely. The 'canes would still be top of the table on a loss I think, while Fiji would possibly sneak up to 6th depending on other results.
• The Blues play the Brumbies at home and while either could win you'd hope the home advantage means the Blues get a better hold on 2nd place. But with 6 rounds to go after next weekend there's still plenty of movement possible.
• Queensland are at home against the Highlanders, and were so woeful against Moana Pasifika that you'd expect some form of response so I don't see the Highlanders moving up the standings in round 9.
• The Crusaders managed to lose to The Waratahs who have been decidedly average, leaking a bunch of points in the process. Next they are up against the Force who have been mostly terrible but also managed to beat Queensland at home, so anything's possible here. Either result just shuffles teams around in the group currently outside the playoffs so doesn't impact the top 8.
• On the Crusaders, a bunch of their supporters have been holding on to their playoff pedigree and their more than mathematical chance of getting into the playoffs in 8th place, making them a real banana-skin game for whoever is 1st. Stuff like 'If you were in 1st place you wouldn't want to come up against the Crusaders in 8th'. Well, any other year's Crusaders sure, but so far nothing about this year's Cru with their horrid injury toll should cause the Hurricanes, Blues or Brumbies much concern. They will get Scott Barrett back soon, and probably Fergus Burke - though given he's heading off up north i'd just invest the time in Rivez Reihana & Riley Hohepa if I were the coaches. But the bigger loss for mine is Will Jordan not there to offer a spark on attack from 15, and none of their options at 9 offer what Bryn Hall did.

I love the work The Spinoff does.

It feels a bit mean to enjoy the Crusader's pain so much; but heck - they won 7 in a row so they've had plenty of joy in seasons past.

This story keeps on giving. He lives in Auckland, Parliament was not in session, but hosted a party for his extended family at this unlivable place, and then it turns out he's actually stayed there at least a couple of nights.

I wonder who paid for the private Christmas do at the place he doesn't live. Did he have it in the apartment or in the public reception areas. Some other articles suggest he's also stayed there other times as well.

So, very unlivable then. I wonder, was he even staying in the apartment he was claiming the $52k benefit on?

Saw this shared on Mastodon and it really made me think of National and their Atlas Network aligned astro-turf organisation the Taxpayer's Onion who campaigned against what they termed the 'ute tax'.

If the results of this 2004 study hold true 20 years later, and in New Zealand, then knowingly or not, they in effect have campaigned for and enacted legislation that will kill more New Zealanders.

"A 2004 study found that for every life saved by a motorist who switched from a car to a light truck (SUV or pickup), 4.3 other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists were killed. "

That statistic also suggests that the safety fears driving people to SUVs are completely overblown and over-egged.

Figured I'd start a thread in honour of the initiative nobody asked for, and seemingly hardly anybody wants. The Super Round!

All of this weekend's games are held at AAMI park in Melbourne; so yeah, of the 12 teams, 6 of them are missing a home game. But I believe they're compensated by the Victoria State government so they go along with it.

Last weekend the Melbourne Rebels had 4000 in the crowd for a home derby against the Brumbies. It'll be interesting to see if they get much of a crowd for any of these games which for the home fans are all bar 1 neutral games.

Does anyone know what streaming options are available for watching MLR and Japan League One games that aren't geo restricted?

We're a week out from the Japan season starting, and despite increasing their fees twice in the last 12 months or so Sky in NZ haven't bought the rights this year. As far as I am aware they never bothered with the MLR rights.

There's so many kiwis playing in both comps that i'm pretty keen to watch a game from time to time so wondering if there's any globally available (and legit) streaming services that show either of these comps?

Article summarises statistics provided by Opta and some from Warren Gatland; with headline stats:

1. This RWC saw fewer offloads per game than any other.
2. The average number of phases per possession dropped to 1.8, compared to 3 in 2019.
3. Ball in play time dropped marginally to 34.18 minutes / game - but excluding halftime breaks some games took over 100 minutes total to play out.
4. Tackles per game have grown to 169, up from 129 in 2019 & 119 in 2015.
5. Kicks per game (might) have grown, Gatland suggesting 57 per game, the highest since 1995.
6. 25% of all kicks are box kicks.

How he thought he could stay on after the fractious last couple of years, and disastrous time since sacking Rennie and hiring Eddie is baffling.

NZR and most of the Super Rugby clubs will probably be glad to see the back of him as he was constantly holding a sword over any progress and change for that competition.

I'm not sure if this is a new intiative to get folks fizzing for next year's season, but there's a gap in Rugby news coverage with the World Cup over and no November tours so today starting at 10 NZDT every hour two teams will announce their squads for next season.

10am: Chiefs and Fijian Drua 11am: Highlanders and Rebels 12pm: Moana Pasifika and Waratahs 1pm: Hurricanes and Brumbies 2pm: Blues and Reds 3pm: Crusaders and Force

I may be the only Southern Hemisphere rugby nerd here, but if I can spare some time amidst my work day i'll post links to the teams as they come out. Given its a World Cup year there'll be more churn than normal and there's already been a lot of moves pre-announced. Eg some of the big moves are Leigh Halfpenny coming down to the Crusaders, Angus Ta'avao returning to the Blues.

What's potentially more interesting off the back of another great NPC season is the wider squad players who will almost certainly be needed as injury cover. Given the departure of Mounga, and uncertain international future for Beauden Barrett, the Flyhalf stocks in NZ are a bit pressed, so one to watch is whether Josh Jacomb gets picked up by anyone.

Excited to see how Stephen Jones improves Lincoln McClutchie's game; and Tom Coventry is a well proven forwards coach.

Going to be some holes to fill; and while I don't watch a huge amount of Super Rugby I think in most places its apparent who the replacements already are. I think its interesting in a way that for some of these players the replacement is already neck & neck with them anyway.

Brodie / Sam is kinda a combo - I think Scott Barrett is already obviously our #1 lock so its really who comes in as more of a lineout operator I think. Josh Lord is probably first cab off the rank but there's a few other young locks in NZ that look the goods too.

Nepo Laulala - obvious replacement is already an All Black in Fletcher Newell, so we're probably looking at who would be the 6th prop in the squad and I have no idea.

Aaron Smith - Cam Roigaard will be there, Finley Christie probably in the squad and then there's lads like Cortez Ratima or Folau Fakatava as well. NZ is not short on decent half backs, we're just short on ones that have got some international rugger under their belts.

Dane Coles - another instance of replacing a squad member rather than a starting 15 player which is a position NZ isn't often in. Taukeiaho was the #2 #2 already. Of the players coming through, I think Asafo Aumua has been tried and found wanting - if I were NZR i'd be investing time into Tyrone Thompson and Brodie McAlister.

Richie Mo'unga - Interestingly neither Beaudie or Ardie are listed as departing, so they presumably are both eligible for more games. DMac is the first cab off the rank at 10 for mine. Behind him there's a bit of a gap, Perofeta doesn't even play 10 at NPC and didn't get much time at the Blues. I think Blues should go all in on Zarn Sullivan at 10 anyway. Fergus Burke being out injured next year doesn't help, and Reuben Love looks good but needs a campaign or two at 10 to be sure. Big hole for the ABs unless BB is there as cover.

Shannon Frizell - Had a great year but I wished he wasn't in the ABs after his off field stuff. Todd Blackadder, Samipeni Finau - younger dudes but just need time in the saddle.

Leicester Fainga'anuku - Probably should have got more game time, but didn't because you can't deny Telea & Jordan and he was off overseas too early. Jordan will probably play 15, which leaves Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson or Telea.

Ardie/Beaudie - I dunno how ready for international rugby Ardie will be after playing so much rugby back to back. At 8 we've got the likes of Cullen Grace or Devan Flanders, plus Hoskins Sotutu might find some form too. BB gets replaced by Jordan at 15, but if he's still around as a backup 10 that'd be very much a nice to have; albeit Perofeta fills the same role.