NPC - news, injuries etc
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@mariner4life the daft thing is, a similar thing happens in super rugby, except they are just different conferences, not divisions....without discussing the merits of the finals format there haha
Current format not perfect by any stretch, but is probably the best they can do to try to retain some semblance of fairness and as chris b says above, avoiding promoting the rich getting richer.
I know my POV is skewed because my team is usually in the bottom few teams, that is in some part due to their ability in the years since the changes to operate within their means, unlike others that spent shitloads to be better....
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This year is a bit different for Super Rugby, with the Aussies falling off a cliff, but in general, the right teams have made the finals.
I just think, if you are going to have the 2 divisions play each other, why not all play for the same trophy? Lets face it, Canterbury are playing in the final anyway, everyone else can play for the chance to play against them. One year you might get a weaker pool, but the next you might get all the big sides.
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I like it.
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An update on Zac Guildford. I'm looking forward to seeing him play for Waikato. He started off at centre for his club but has been playing at fullback more recently.
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@Bovidae He played a full season for the Magpies at fullback (in 2013, I think?). He'll do well there. He has significantly increased his versatility value as well, with now being able to play wing, fullback and centre. I hope he goes well at Waikato (despite wishing he was still playing in black & white).
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Haven't seen the official announcement, but according to this article on stuff, Rodney So'oialo is the new Wellington Lions forwards coach. Earlier this year, head coach Earl Va'a was replaced by Chris Gibbes. Another new assistant coach appointed earlier this year is Andre Bell, who has returned to NZ from Connacht.
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Official announcement: So'oialo joins Lions coaching staff
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Good luck to him. I always thought the experience of having his dad die in the stands watching him play would be something very difficult to cope with. Alcoholism, like any drug dependency, is ruinous.
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@Tim Depends on whether he has an out-clause, in case he's going overseas. If he's not going overseas, he will have to play Mitre 10 Cup. I don't see why he wouldn't if he's not in the AB squad. In previous years, even players like Coltman, Sopoaga, TKB etc who were in the squad but didn't get much game time, played several games for their province. Whether Auckland will get a motivated player is another question though.
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@Tim said in Mitre 10 Cup - news, injuries etc:
I wonder if Fekitoa will actually play for Auckland this year?
Is Aso still with Auckland?
If the All Black selections stay the same we'll have a lot of SR midfielders: TJ Faiane, Moala, R Ioane, Fekitoa and Aso
