Yeah true enough Piru which means they will go after potentially very good rugby players for the Wallabies and with real vigilance as well. They will offer bigger contracts and just poach all the best young rugby players which is what they have been doing for decades anyway. It will hurt the Force without question and just as they are starting to hum.

Some of Lynahs tactical kicking was a bit hit and miss and that’s being diplomatic- he is not a test 10 at this point IMO.

Yeah I know Geoff 75 is far fairer 😁 Now there’s a top friend !!!!

Your last point their Geoff could indeed rare its ugly head depending on who stays and who leaves the club between now and then and of course injuries. And the closer he gets to taking over on his own – which will be near finals next year – then will his mind being in two places be a good thing for the Reds? And sorry but yes it has to be in two places as he will be a selector of the side surely? Will he make the mistake of being too Red’s orientated? Let’s face it it would not be the 1st time that has happened to a rugby coach in Australia or anywhere else. You get very close to players you coach week and week out and 50/50 calls can and have in the past led to the wrong player being selected.

Why are world rugby expecting super pacific side to prop up the US? What contemptable BS – The UK and France are closer in a plane ride and their clubs are more cashed up. This is super rugby suicide if they run with this nonsense. The USA side will get thumped almost every game and exp[lain how that is going to strengthen our competition – oner that has only just started to become competitive beyond the kiwi side and the Brumbies…gee nothing like one step forward 3 steeps backwards – the US is also effectively day behind us in terms o playing time. My god Japan is thee way we should be going so this to me is complete stupidity top prop up the US who should never have been awarded the WC in the 1st place at this stage as far as I am concerned.

Also write off the Blues at your peril Geoff – how many sides have put 40 points on Force this year or come away with a bonus point win against them?

I am going to say it now – Barrett at his best is a better international 10 than DMac who is a superior goal kicker but Barrett has an uncanny nous in him to see opportunities where there seems to be none.

Anyway I have gone through the schedule and this is how I think the table will end up and as I said at the start of the season Geoff it will be the usual suspects – in a tight finals numbers game- with one addition.

Crusaders 54 points
Chiefs 47 points
Brumbies 39 points
Hurricanes 38 points
Reds 38 points but drop down due to points difference
Blues on 36 points

The big issue for the Blues in they will play the Crusaders at home 1st up If they win that – IMO they will win the comp

If however, there is an upset like the Chiefs beating the Crusaders at home in the lead up then the Chiefs top the minor premiers table and that means a game for the Blues just down the road against a side they will be more comfortable with than the Crusaders at home

The bad news for Australian is it hard not to see the Reds and Brumbies at 3 and 5 at this point with games to go which means one at the very least gets the chop early IMO and the way the Canes are playing I would back them to beat the Brumbies at home at this point. They have their best side back pretty much and they are humming right now.

Th Final will be two kiwi sides IMO and the Crusaders look as if they will be at least one of them and who will beat them at home in final? The only thing I might say is that I am not convinced they have the best or even 2nd best backline in NZ even with Will Jordan but their 9 and 10 are decent for sure but not that special IMO.

On a side note Rieko had his best game of the season last week and that is a good sign for the Blues – he looked really sharp in attack and the D – and would have bagged a couple is those inside him passed him the ball on two occasions and made a couple of tackles that resulted in turnovers. I think their backline will fire even more when Clerk returns but we shall see. They are outsiders this year but like I say Geoff- rule them out at your peril

Nice rap Geoff as always – I stand by what I say and by what I saw in the weekend- no Australian side will win the final if they do not secure a home final birth. Prediction – the Blues will make the top 6 with a path better than others. After the Force fixture at Eden Park, they play the Drua in Fiji not as unbeatable there as you might think, then Moana Pasifika in Albany and the Waratahs in Auckland. I think they will win all 4 of those and secure a bonus point against either the Drua or Moana and the Tahs and even if the don’t they will still make it in IMO. If they win four they are on 29 points and with one bonus point 30 and with 2 = 31 If they beat their competition in all 4 – three of whom are competing with them for the no 6 spot – I think they will do it. They miss DPap big time and they missed BB at 10 for most of the match against the Reds. One thing they were good at last week was the breakdown area but that ridiculous brain fade in the D that resulted in a score from the kick-off for the Reds should never ever happen again – IMO that hurt the side mentally – intercept tries and those kind of tries always do if they opposition is already ahead on the scoreboard. But at the moment the Blues are their own worst enemy. Too many unforced errors. But sure they need to win all four of their next games to have a chance unless some other results go their way but that is a big if so they must win

Hi Geoff- this weekend exposed a few things in sides before the finals rolls along IMO. The Reds lack depth despite that being a key criteria of Les Kiss and cannot gear players like the very in form Wilson back quick enough and before it’s too late just quietly. The Brumbies – despite all the hoopla about how much better the Australian sides are doing this season, are still their best side. Ardie Savea’s boys have issues at set piece and this will not bode well for them as the competition gets towards the finals even if they manage to make the top six. The Hurricanes inconsistency could come back to haunt them. The biggy, from an international stand point, is that the Tah’s showed that DMac has temperament issues and can be got at. They certainly targeted him and it worked – he looked totally rattled at times. Meanwhile Barrett has looked sublime in his last two games – except his goal kicking last game but DMac sure as hell picked a bad time to look so error ridden and rattled. But with returning big gun players I think the Chiefs will be in the top six come finals.

The Crusaders are getting back to their best and Scott Barrett finally had an excellent game but IMO Ardie should be the AB captain and one game is not a season so he needs to stay in form. The Blues are just getting better and better and their pack was humming finally on Saturday. Their backline is lethal, stacked with AB’s so I am not too concerned about a lack of cohesion every now and then as they only need to click a couple of times in a game and they can tear any defense apart with Barrett at the helm and just as they are getting better each game so will the backlines cohesion.

One thing you have to give the Blues last season was their outstanding defense – missing in the 1st few games this year – but it looked to be back in the weekend. But me thinks – by seasons end – we won’t see too many surprises in the top six – one maybe sure – but IMO it will be the usual suspects for the most part but yes the Blues v Crusaders game and then Blues v Reds games will tell us a lot more. The Blues IMO will be involved in the two ‘Games of round’ in the next two weeks so they will need to be humming. But Geoff – I think we can now say they have turned a corner lets hope it is in car that have no reverse gear!

Geoff on a side note I would be interested in your opinion on the AB captaincy. I do not believe – based on current form – that Barrett is one of the top two – if not even top 4 – locks in NZ right now. And this is the issue with picking a captain who is not even one of the two or three best in his position anymore.

IMO Ardie Savea should play 7 and be the captain – Barrett 10 and be vice captain. Look at Ardies form playing at 7 this season. Surely this will not go unnoticed by Razor – god I hope not.

We do not have anyone as good at seven as Ardie but no 2 for me would be Kirifi at the Canes. And then they can pick lossies that can cover both 8 and 6. etc. Right now, having Ardie at 8 makes picking the lose forwards a far more awkward proposition as he is our best no7. IMO he should have been captain in the first place not Barrett but sorry I don’t think Razor has the metal to dump his former Crusader from the position and I do not think he has the metal to drop the now, clearly endlessly injury prone Blackadder – I mean seriously how many injuries has he had already after coming back from a major injury? His body can no longer handle the physicality yards he has to do anymore but hey he is a favored Crusader so I doubt Razor will drop him either and at 30 – yes not that old, but obviously now injury prone – he is no longer the future of the AB’s. Don’t get me wrong he is very good player but he cannot sustain the physicality of the game anymore as his endless injuries clearly illustrate. He could still make a fortune playing in Europe but his list of injuries would not bode well for him there either I suspect when come to contract negotiation.

Geoff you know as well as anyone that the RA do not want to do that as they fear it will lesson the chances of more than one Australian side making the finals….this has everything to do with television rights in Australia as well – they pretty much run the game now….and sport in general and I am not sure its always great for the game.

All they care about is putting pressure on the powers that be to manipulate laws so more tries are score more frequently. They are not interested in anything else but ratings – they don’t give a crap about the traditions of the game or the contests that make the game what it is…

Look at the new off-side law they are now pushing to get through in football making one of the key components of defense in soccer less effective. I think it is now out of control the way big brokers are now running the game behind closed doors and the so called organizations running the game seem powerless or unwilling to stop it.

Look at the obscene power Indian cricket now has over the game. The recent nonsense at the at ICC ODI world Cup virtually stole the host rights from Pakistan and they admitted they had a huge edge playing all their games at the same venue in front of massive home crowds and home pitch preparation every game. One seriously doubts they would have been under any serious threat in Pakistan as the security at the event was through the roof players said. I think an American cricket team would have far more fears than India despite the history and Kashmir and so on. They event was just shameful to Pakistan IMO but India has the power to dictate terms due revenues the organizers suffer if they threaten to pull out and they wheel it like they own the game these days.

Are we getting the point where TV networks couldn’t care less the game but about themselves? Sure that is business but where’s the balance gone? I also fear where we are going to end up in the future in sport where some sports will become almost unrecognizable as more and more they manipulate they laws of games so it become easier and easier to score points not harder which is the point of it being a contest in first place is it not? The gladiator aspect of contact sports will slowly – as it is already – will be diminished more and more – and no I am not talking about laws to protect players form serious on getting head injury.

Speeding the game up is a good thing but reinventing the game bit by bit is another story.

Hi Geoff great wrap as always. I think the week off was very good for the Blues. Most injured players back as well. The Blues play the Reds at Suncorp in a couple of weeks – a game I am going to which will tell us a lot about both sides I reckon. But I thought the Blues looked very strong in the tight with Sotutu and Segner and Barry having excellent games and they were a man down for a chunk of the game. To hold on by one point against the very good Canes side with plenty on the clock still left was outstanding and reminded me of last season. As the saying goes Geoff “Be wary of the team who peaks early but be very wary of the team who peaks late but not too late” . Barrett reminded us of his class last weekend and he will be a handful for every side with his current form. If anything, it told us how much his injury against the Brumbies was the difference in that game IMO as he was opening up their D with ease at times in the 1st half.

IMO the only way an Australian side can actually take the title is if they mange to get a home final. If they prove me wrong, good on them but….The Brumbies are probably still the one’s best equipped to do it but they have not won convincingly against the kiwi sides they have beaten and need to find a way to the try line more in the games coming up against kiwi sides IMO. Yes a win is a win sure – but if they have semi’s or quarters in NZ it will be close to test match level rugby from the kiwi teams come finals times as it often is, so they are going to need to be better than what they are at present as are the Reds – mind you so too, do the Blues and Crusaders….but history tells us that the top Kiwi sides have a far superior habit of peaking by the time finals comes around. Blues v Reds at Suncorp could be one of the games of the comp. But if the Blues move forward from their win last weekend they will be tough to stop once that side gets any momentum. There were signs last week they may have turned a corner but we shall see….

Well Carrick we could say while the Wallabies were selecting players who were arrested for cocaine possession James O’Conner and James Slipper ( 2018) and others like Quade Cooper for breaking and entering ….etc etc etc spare me

Wrong – Razor has just said in the last week he would be interested in talks with Ponga and thinks he is a special player.

Oh gee look at all the players that play for every nation that play for other nations and the majority of then are Kiwis – Look at Wales – Scotland – England and Ireland players over the last few years or shall we start with the Wallabies over the years? Let’s begin ….Quade Cooper and onward we go….so that statement is plain silly

Well two people who know far more than you do disagree Razor and Vern Cotter. He is extremely poor at distributing the ball is he ? Now there some crap these days. Another Reiko at 13 hater who only sees what they want to see of his game now – still living in the past mate and two people who know a hell of a lot more than you disagree – make it 3 if you include Brian O’Driscoll or do you know more than him at 13 ? Not bloody likely

Hi Geoff, I like the way the Blues are travelling believe it or not as they seem to be getting back to their best week by week and injured players slowly returning and Sotutu from suspension the signs are good as they are building each week and not that far from the top six in points so they have time on their hands. Ioane is having a good season so far as well. Gee his D has been good and he is back to scoring tries. All good signs for the Blues IMO. Segnar is having a blinder of season in the D in the tight as well with some huge hits so far. Crusaders are starting to get their mojo back as well this season which is ominous for every other side in the comp. Brumbies and Reds – again – the best of the Australian sides.

So I will be interested in the end of season finals birth to see just how much has moved in real terms overall not just on game by game basis. But so far so good apart from the half century put on the Force and the game was over well and truly before the finish despite their 33 points. So are we going to see the same usual suspects in finals? Time will tell I guess.

Reiko’s defense at centre has been excellent this season as has his positional play as well and he has saved at least three other players from embarrassment because he can turn and blast back in the D quicker than most players anywhere. But nice to see the Reiko knockers are back. He is back in the try scoring business as well this season but that is not his core role at centre as it was on the wing.

His D last week was outstanding. He straightens the play when he knows he has too which is a core role of a centre so the winger is not pushed perilously close to the line. And despite the predictable knockers on here, his distribution has been very good as well. I would have Reiko over Ikitau any day at this point – that does not mean I don’t rate Ikitau as i surely do – but name one game he has played against Reiko where he has outplayed Reiko?

He never has and very few centres get around or blast past Reiko. His acceleration is ridiculous and Ikitau like many centers struggles to get through or around him these days at 13 as he did against the Blues when Reiko was defending on his line as he often defends 12 on one side when the set piece is in the middle of the park near the line. If people have actually been watching Reiko – his work rate this year has been outstanding and involved a lot in the game. Reiko’s defensive work rate on the line helping his forwards – a role he has clearly has been given by Cotter – has been outstanding as it was against the Chiefs last week.

AB selectors see all the 13 candidates at training including ALB and yet he is selected as the no1 for some time now. May I remind the numerous Roarers on here who claimed emphatically no less, that Razor would not have Reiko as AB centre – I got shot down on here when I said – yes he will. Gee what happen to those predictions and my god there was plenty of them.

Reiko has developed into a world class centre – something the great Irish 13 Brian O’Driscoll has gone record as saying but what would he know right? – and one who offers an x-factor at 13 that few have but yes Ikitau has X-factor as well but he as yet does not have the overall nous at 13 that players like Reiko or Kriel have at this stage.

Firstly, he does not always straighten the attack when he needs to in games something both Kriel and Reiko have down very well in their game these days. Don’t get me wrong Ikitau is very good player and 13 but he not yet at the level of players like Reiko and Kriel and admire Larhkam for putting him in conversation as that is a good thing for Ikitau to hear from his head coach.

Well you cannot window dress it -this is just a really bad look. He will now be wanted by Interpol and if they find him – and they probably will as he is not a member of a major criminal organization who know how to hide people – he will be further charged with evading justice and his prison sentence will be a hell of a lot longer than two years. In other parts of the world, he would be charged with embezzlement so this is not some minor crime and he should consider himself lucky he got only two years. You can’t do the time Rocky don’t commit the crime.

Terminator – He is leaving NZ and going to France at the end of the year. No, the deal is not closed but apparently the offer they have made him is a strong one and in about a year and a half or so he will be eligible to paly for another international side if he chooses.

Well Christy….they were not embarrassed if you want to argue they scored 33 points so fair enough to a point but…and its an important but… they leaked 8 tries on the wide flanks on both sides, so the Crusaders seriously exposed their D out wide and when you get over half a century of points put on you that is slightly embarrassing as it exposes a poorly shaped D in certain areas of the park. Also the game was well and truly over long before the whistle so I am not 100% sure there wasn’t a little embarrassment along the way. But James O’Conner acquitted himself pretty well for the Crusaders. If he is picked, the Wallabies will benefit from O’Connor playing withing the systems and pedigree of the Crusaders and that’s a positive for Australian rugby IMO.

You’re easily pleased Ant but I do understand the celebrations evry time an Aussie side beats a kiwi side in NZ. Pity the Wallabies can’t do the same eh? 🙂

Hi Geoff nice wrap as always but not entirely in agreement on the Brumbies. Blues not at their best and still took a final penalty for the Brumbies to win it Geoff. Segner made some dominant tackle where the Brumbies coughed up the ball as well. IMO Geoff the Blues were easily the better side in the 1st half and the score line showed that. Considering the score line at the end , BB missed conversions – he only had to get one – cost them. What significantly helped the Brumbies was BB injury as he was opening up their D with ease a times. He was the right 10 for this game and Plummer – who I rate highly – b he is a very different 10 whose game suits the Brumbies better. They won by one point – Blues missed two key penalties – one he should have kicked – then Barret get injured at the worst time. I think the Blues will be there at the business end and in much better shape by then with players coming back. About 6 teams are on 9 points and Blues are on 6 so I am not worried at all. The worry for all side is the new found form of the Crusaders.

The Blues were not superb and at the best at all – that is rubbish and as the Blue were he top of the table and final was at Eden Park there was no way the Chiefs were favourite for that game so no it was never an upset. And despite their lackluster start i think they will be in thee final again this year. Remember you heard here first!!

Hi Geoff good wrap as always – you know this may surprise you but after the Blues loss I was disappointed, but I thought maybe the best way to start the season – you learn more from losing than winning as they say – and better to learn now that when its too late. God help the side who plays them next week. Hope Sotutu is fit and Perofeta

Hi Geoff nice read – Yes I am a Blues fan but IMO after looking at all the squads I don’t see any that has the seemingly endless depth all over the park that the Blues have. They will have the best attacking backline – where Barrett plays will be interesting – but their depth at 10 alone is impressive. Barrett, Plummer , Perofeta. Telea and Clerk on the wings Reiko and Lam – gee that is some serious gas and firepower all across the backline with strong backup. IMO Geoff they will win the comp because no other side can match their bench power and IMO they have by far the best coach Cotter is a yard ahead of even Jamie Joseph IMO. Less Kiss the best of the Australian coaches for me and he may get the Wallaby nod as well if the chose an Australian coach. But I cannot see anyone beating the Blues to the title. The Blues had the best D last season as well and that is a big deal in finals footy.

I do agree the Chief are the 2nd with a chance but as we saw last year – they cannot match the Blues depth on the bench and I don’t see that changing. I have a strong hunch that Sotutu will have his best year ever as he has a point prove and rightly so as other players last year did not do enough to say they should have been there over Sotutu and he has age on his side unlike someone like injury prone Blackadder. And here’s a call Segner and Lam with have their best seasons as well. Gee Lam was impressive at 12 at the end of last season.

Yes I realised my mistake immediately after I pushed the add comment and by then it was too late.