NPC 2024
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Wellington are now playing Waikato on Saturday night, not Friday. That could be a massive advantage having an extra day rest and 8 days between games.
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Heads-up for all the Steamers fans on here, and provincial rugby fans more generally, there is a doco on Sky Sport this week looking back at the 2004 Bay Of Plenty side that won the Shield off Auckland... and the three weeks of celebrations that followed.
Some awesome anecdotes from Vern, Schmidt and Jacko amongst many others.
First airs Thursday night 9pm and there's a replay playing between the two NPC semis on Saturday.
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Noted by ClubRugby.co.nz yesterday - A bit of a stinker that eligible All Blacks and All Blacks XVs players will all be potentially taken out of the NPC for the business end of the competition. Over 65 players gone, just as the semi-finals and finals are reached. It’s normal now not to have All Blacks involved but New Zealand XV players as well is a blow for fans.
If all the AB XV players are taken out, what the fuck is the point in even having an NPC if you completely disregard the business end.
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@Canes4life then NZR bitch and moan about viewership figures and the comp not being up to standard. Be very silly if the ABs XV players aren't there in the SF/F.
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The All Blacks XV squad will depart for Ireland on 26 (non-NPC finalists) and 27 October (NPC finalists)
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The All Blacks XV squad will depart for Ireland on 26 (non-NPC finalists) and 27 October (NPC finalists)
That's what I thought so hope it's true.
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Odds to win the NPC from the TAB:
Wellington: $2.00
BOP: $3.75
Canterbury: $4.00
Waikato: $8.00 -
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I would have thought Welly v Waikato would be closer odds if both lose their All Blacks. If BOP retains Narawa and Canty lose AB's then they might be favoured at home.
Odds don't really mean much anyway, Wellington have been favourites plenty of times previously and have fallen over (especially at the Cake Tin) where they've never won the NPC. I think the timing of Kirifi coming back in and the potential return of Shields will help boost the Lions, it will be interesting to see how many can get back for Waikato.
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@Wurzel I hosted customers from the Bay of Plenty region in our Coca Cola corporate box that afternoon ,it’s fair to say they all had the best times of their lives I got into a bit of trouble with the company credit card ,game finished at 4.30pm we had to be removed around 8pm
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Just on the NPC
The storm week has been ditched the provincial unions have all agreed to start a week earlier , just be aware the PUs made this decision not NZ Rugby -
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@Canes4life said in NPC 2024:
Noted by ClubRugby.co.nz yesterday - A bit of a stinker that eligible All Blacks and All Blacks XVs players will all be potentially taken out of the NPC for the business end of the competition. Over 65 players gone, just as the semi-finals and finals are reached. It’s normal now not to have All Blacks involved but New Zealand XV players as well is a blow for fans.
If all the AB XV players are taken out, what the fuck is the point in even having an NPC if you completely disregard the business end.
Really?
One week ago, when you pasted, there were four teams left. I'm not counting but I don't think Welly, Waikato, BoP and Canterbury average 16 national rep players each. So "65 players out" is an overstatement.
And ... ABXV players remain available, so 65 players out is wrong.
And ... All Blacks had only been available for a few games through the season anyway, so it's hardly affecting the business end. In fact dumping the ABs in at the business end probably distorts the integrity of the comp.
I know criticising NZR is du jour but let's try a bit of perspective.
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'I don’t understand': NPC coach fires broadside at NZ Rugby over its future
