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Sean Fitzpatrick -
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Was Sean Fitzpatrick out of line?
Former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick came out earlier this week with a scathing attack of the Super 14, saying he would rather watch, cough, the Guinness Premiership than the Southern Hemisphere competition he once played in.
He went as far to say that the Chiefs and Blues try-feast was the worst game he had ever seen.
Now, no disrespect Fitzy, but let's get something straight. The frivolity of the competition is no worse now than when you lead the Blues to the inaugural Super 12 title in 1996.
That year when the Blues played the Chiefs, the score was 39-31. Or how about when the match against the Waratahs resembled a circus when 100 points were scored? Even the final was a 45-21 blow-out of the Sharks.
Hypocritical comes to mind here, but I guess the real insult is dialogue was virtually impossible with him half a world away.
Who is winning the halfback battle?
The battle for the All Blacks halfback spot is heating up with at least five players in contention for the two available spots.
The All Black selectors were no doubt considering six until Taniela Moa had a turps-inspired brain explosion. But they need not worry with Jimmy Cowan, Brendon Leonard, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis and Alby Mathewson still in the mix.
You can probably discount the latter two - who neither possess the presence or form of a Cowan or Leonard.
Unfortunately Weepu's halfback prospects have been hindered by the insistence of the Hurricanes to play him at first five-eight, though; he should appeal as a super-sub to allow an extra forward on the bench.
So that leaves the incumbent Cowan and the comeback kid Leonard fighting it out for the prized number nine.
Both have been in inspirational form for their respective teams, Leonard arguably more so, but Cowan is coming off a strong end of year tour for the All Blacks and it would be a huge surprise to see the feisty Southlander demoted.
The current pecking order could be:
1-Jimmy Cowan, 2-Piri Weepu, 3-Brendon Leonard, 4-Alby Mathewson, 5-Andy Ellis, 6-Tanila Moa.
Should there be more day games?
As the clocks tick back, the temperatures plummet and stumps are called for the summer, we finally feel like the rugby season has a rightful place in our weekend diary.
But ironically, with daylight saving comes more night games where the only winners are television networks capitalising on higher advertising revenues.
The Blues' match against the Sharks on a balmy Saturday afternoon at Eden Park and the Highlanders match against the Bulls in Palmerston North were both glowing advertisements for having more afternoon matches.
Bumper crowds were greeted with a faster game, slicker skills and more tries. If there ever was an easy step for the game to reconnect with its fans, we say, surely this is the answer.
No question here, just condolences.
RIP Shawn Mackay.
New Zealand sport fans had a similar tragedy occur earlier this year with young Sonny Fai presumably drowning at a West Auckland beach.
And while Mackay's death hasn't hit us directly, we certainly have empathy for the Brumbies and the Australian rugby community.
Are Leila Masaga's All Black chances over?
The form winger of the competition has a bitter pill to swallow following his ankle ligament tear that will see him out of action for six-eight weeks.
Joe Rocokoko's wayward form and Hosea Gear's season ending injury had Masaga poised to make his All Black debut come June but only a Chiefs semi-final berth, which is - admittedly - looking likely, will see the 'Flash' come back into calculations.
The most likely outcome for Masaga will be a Junior All Black berth and one last stint with Counties Manakau to push his cause for the end of the tour.
Are the Sharks assured of a home semi-final?
Of course, as with everything in life, nothing is for certain but the Sharks are seriously looking like a shoe in for a home semi-final.
Last year just 43 competition points was enough for the Waratahs to sneak into second and a semi-final in Sydney and with the Sharks already on 31 points only a major loss of form will see the South Africans denied.
Helping the Sharkys further is that four of their last five games are at the cauldron of ABSA Stadium where 45, 000 plus makes for one hell of a challenge.
MVP round eight?
The Tahs may have been dubbed the most boring team since well, ever, but that didn't stop Lachie Turner single-handily elevating his side to a crucial victory over the Stormers.
His first try, in particular was stuff of genius, individual brilliance that only a few players are capable of.
Match of the round?
While this match has little bearing on the play-off race, the sheer emotion will make the Brumbies home match against the Stormers a stirring occasion.
Quote of the week?
"The whole country will be waiting and wondering," Judge Lex de Jong warned one Sione Lauaki who was appearing in court for willful damage to a motel on New Year's Day.
What's going on with the uniforms?
2009 will forever be remembered for the global credit-crunch, Twittering fools and Super rugby uniforms.
Following the grey disease that infected the Crusaders and Hurricanes away uniforms, we the saw the comical sight of the Cheetahs playing the Brumbies, both in white jerseys.
Referee Matt Goddard, not one to hold back, was incensed with the confusion and demanded one of the teams change at halftime.
Of course, this didn't end up happening; the Cheetahs are apparently banned from wearing their orange number and for good reason.
But really how hard is it to get two teams in contrasting kits? After all, reliable sources have revealed that there are indeed seven colours in the rainbow.
What are your burning questions? Feel free to comment below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentsamuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
samuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Waikato Burn
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
I've always been of the opinion that the Force should recognise Perth's rich maritime history by renaming themselves the Western Australian Anchors, or WAAnchors for short.
Zaz01 said on 2009-05-15 @ 12:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
Canterbury All We've Got Is Rugbys or Waikato Wish We Were Aucklanders