Clermont defeat opens door for La Rochelle, Barba debuts in Toulon loss

As you say the seasonal nature of Japan won’t allow any joint model, 31 degress in tokyo atm. I reckon they could hole a cup competition around March though.

They knew obviously the SR model would work alone in Aus but they would have had a lot of the same benefits if they’d gone with a JRLO model.

Well maybe if they’re really poor they do.

But you expected him to be even better than them? Strange take Wiseguy.

Oh, you would be more comfortable losing would you? Surely you know Christie’s not good enough at test level from historical results…

That said, Noah was a bolt out of the blue last year, even if you considered halfback stocks low, but Roe and Preston have delivered great competition this year so should be in the discussion of course.

For instance the view that it’s the knockout games which coachs pay attention to has always been their, look at that lucky loser game, 18-19 scoreline. The intangibles that the SA sides would bring were their size, not so much their style, we would also talk about bringing in some more beef for the rematch if we lost a game to the Springboks.

Though I guess that could be saying that our coaching teams were never good enough to pay attention to that dynamic, as it used to be said a lot. We would always trying a running game first!

Some NH comps are fast, Prem, URC and JRLO all try to speed the game up. Theres been a few recent articles abuot it, but yes, WR is another matter entirely.

Are you suggesting the Saders should loan him out for the Lions tour?

I certainly hope they can show they can evaluate feedback and reintroduce the idea in an improved concept next year.

two hemispheres.

LOL are you a flat earther as well Gregor?

The average game length (excluding half-time) was 90 minutes and 11s, compared with 91 minutes and seven seconds in 2024.

This stat combined with the ridiculous amount of overtime played must mean theres more than 5minutes of rugby played in SR than any european competition. Incredible.

As an entertainment product, Super Rugby is starting to rebuild itself as one of the game’s hottest properties.

But what’s not clear yet, is whether it’s is going to deliver on its other goal: a competition with the necessary physical and competitive intensity to prepare New Zealand’s best players for what they will encounter in the international arena.

It has been since it’s formation. It was the second attempt and what the Aratipu report considered the best way forward for the game. Which was a move away from the orginal foundations of SR as being just a test ground for the respective National teams. It was time to make it a financially successful competition instead.

And this is the reality of picking an All Blacks squad in the Super Rugby Pacific era

It’s always been the reality even for Super Rugby, even if much less so for ALL other pro sports.

he was practically hinting to media they shouldn’t always be seduced by what they see in Super Rugby

Sititi was the form SR selection, it’s the only reason he made it in.

This year, there could again be a few surprises. Could Dalton Papali’i– a prominent force for the Blues – miss out to the rugged Simon Parker who has been a workhorse for the Chiefs, carrying with an impact his 1.96m, 117kg frame enables?

That would be selecting of form, not who you believe is best test suited.

but will it be the Highlanders’ Fabien Holland who wins a spot because he carted the ball up the middle of the field thanklessly and relentlessly

Yes hopefully, he’s been the stand out Lock this year.

or will the latter’s deft touches and smart kicking be preferred?

Depends on what the teams lacking.

is it mad to wonder whether the combative and defensively adept Finlay Christie is better equipped to play Test rugby

Yes, he’s been proven to not be good enough.

That is why Joe is trying to pick the same players all the time, even if he’s getting rather ‘catholic’ about it!