New format for NPC: can it fool anyone?

Now, it seems the Air New Zealand Cup is going to have Canterbury, Wellington, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Otago and Southland in the "Premiership" and Manawatu, Counties Manukau, Tasman, North Harbour, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Northland in the "Championship".

Questions:

Who's going to win the championship?
Who's going to have the Log'o Wood?
Who's going to have the crowds?
Who's going to be cut down when the money runs out?


Yeah, sure, keep thinking the NPC is still a 14-team competition.

Congratulations, Can'bury

A final with a lot of starring players.

Brett, phenomenal with his boot, for once.
Alby Mathewson, the smartest guy in NZ?
Victor Vito, skill and power.
George Whitelock, growing and growing and growing.

But above all, one who shut them all. Despite being sin-binned, despite being intercepted in the Lions first try, Colin Slade was the main figure of the match. He was all around, intercepting, catching the high ball, giving counter-attack chances, and scoring.

Congratulations, Can'bury, and congratulations, Slade.

Air New Zealand Cup semifinals

Canterbury came back in fashion from their Ranfurly Shield defeat against a willing Hawke's Bay side who made a few too many errors. If only two weeks ago the Magpies were denied a chance to draw the game by the lack of a TMO in the ruling of the final action, on Friday they had none. Canterbury played a semifinal with the aim to host the final, and it showed.

Isaac Ross was impressive, just like Stephen Brett was. George Whitelock drew his series against Lowe after a clear sweep by the black and white seven two weeks ago. The whole team stepped up and Rob Penney must surely feel confident.

The most entertaining game, both before and during the game was the one played in Wellington. The Stags must call themselves unlucky that Wellington rediscovered the magic in time for the semifinal. The second half of that game is a must-see. Running rugby, going from coast to coast and tons of quality in both sides. I could give you a few names who were worth to see playing: Scott Cowan, Jason Kawau, Hosea Gear, Victor Vito, David Smith, Josh Bekhuis...

A really exciting game in which the better team won. Wellington Lions may well be this year ready to secure the title that they just let slip last year.

It was a try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sona Taumalolo scored a try, right during injury time, when his team was 20-27 down that was disallowed in a wrong call by international referee Chris Pollock.

Hawke's Bay played well and deserved more in a high-quality game against the best side in New Zealand (a side with 10 All Blacks, nothing less).

Something's going on in the Bay, and not even the wrong calls of referees will stop it. Zac Guilford, Israel Dagg and Thomas Waldrom, they all deserve a close look by Graham Henry.

Save our teams

There is a campaing in favour of the four "condemned" teams that are going to be cut from the Air New Zealand Cup.

These teams, independently from their performance are thought to be:

• Northland,
• Counties Manukau,
• Manawatu,
• Tasman.

From now on, I will support the Makos in their Air New Zealand Cup campaign and in their fight to survive the axe.

Here's the website: http://www.saveourteams.co.nz

I don't know if the NZRU is right or wrong, I don't know if 4 teams, 2 teams, 1 team or no team at all need to get out of the way, but I cannot help but feel sorry for a team that is performing as well as Tasman is performing and by no means I'd like to see them axed. NZRU must be certainly afraid of Otago and Auckland performing poorly if they don't dare to take the decission on axing exclusively according to each teams performance.

Go Tasman!! Go Makos!!

Air New Zealand Cup Question

Where in NZ can you hear bagpipes during a rugby match, and even hear a famous european national anthem?

Bonus question: which anthem is it?

Air New Zealand Cup

2009 may well be the year of the Air New Zealand Cup.

In 2007, the World Cup made us even forget than for the first time a SA side won the Super 14.

In 2008, the heat was so intense in the ELVs and the re-built wallabies, boks and all blacks that the 3N was everything one could think of.

2009, on the contrary, has been so pleasant for SA, that everybody is turning their attention to the domestic competitions.

In New Zealand, particularly, that and the fact that at the end of the competition 4 unions will be dismissed from the "first division" of provincial rugby have drawn the hearts of the rugby fans, all wishing to know, all wishing to see.

I daresay that the Canterbury-Wellington game where the Ranfurly Shield was in dispute has had as many fans (in NZ) as the test in Sydney the week before. Besides, young guns like Aaron Cruden (Manawatu), Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay) and the amazing league convert Michael Witt (Otago) keep us dreaming of future days of glory for the men who were the black.

At the moment, Canterbury, an amazing Bay Of Plenty and Southland are in the top of the competition. Big names Wellington, Otago and Auckland fare in the middle of the table whereas Waikato are slightly behind. None of the big 5 shall worry about being cut. They are out of the equation.

That is pretty unfair, even more unfair if one thinks that, from 2011 on, the promotion/relegation system will be based only in the table points.

But except for Counties Manukau, who are struggling with a number of injuries, and perhaps North Harbour (yes, North Harbour, no less) the rest is in a fierce competition to avoid the cut. Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay... they seem all doom to stay. Even mor safe is the future for Southland and Bay of Plenty.

And the future could be gloomingly dark for Northland and, so sad but so true, Tasman. Tasman could be the biggest victim of the whole system. Last year their performance was outstanding. This year, they are again in the hunt... But their sin is being a small union... And that's equivalent to being spanish in a race against an ethiopian athlete; if she falls, you will be disqualified.Tasman is in danger of being disqualified.

By the way, if you are wondering what about the winner, I'll tell you it's less important, but if you want to know, Canterbury shall win again this year.

Air New Zealand Cup (NPC)

The Air New Zealand Cup pre-season matches start tomorrow, and by the time the season officially starts we'll already know who's able to win the 3N and who is not. What is certain is that there are a number of provinces who can consider themselves "cheated". What would you think if you were an Auckland supporter and realise that you will not get Evans or Nacewa to play for your team? I mean, they are not selected for the Internationals. Players playing for the All Blacks won't play the NPC and Canterbury fans well do know it but, what happens with people like the former two?

Let's forget those fair or unfair issues as the NPC is interesting in itself (same as the Currie Cup is). This year the team to beat should be Auckland as well. Despite losing Nacewa and not lining up Evans, and despite Hawke's Bay feeling confident with some Super 14 efforts by certain players like Latimer. The question is, who shall be fighting with the Aucklanders? What will Canterbury show? Can Wellington pose a threat to the reigning champions? Will this be the year of Waikato?

As usual, I have to choose my favourites and I don't really know where to start. I must support Auckland, if you forgive me, for I very much want Taniela Moa and Lachie Munro to play strong and be selected as Super 14 regular starters (by the man who will replace Nucifora who's no other than Pat Lam). I must also support Bay of Plenty and Waikato but, as happens to me with Blues and Hurricanes in the Super 14, don't ask me exactly why.


Let's see what the NPC unfolds and let's also wait for which All Blacks are released after the 3N. Some of them, like Mealamu, do always love playing big for their provincial teams.