Waikato v Auckland
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Simpson looked very silky with a few touches there.
Cruden wound back the clock.Fun game to watch, but what I take from this season (at least the games I've watched) is how far away from Super this competition is.
For example, this Auckland team looks absolutely nothing like the Blues. Best performing Super side and worst performing NPC side - the better names are just cashing cheques to get to Super next year (or overseas) and the rest are kids.
People talk about the 'levels' of NZ rugby but if there is no alignment between them I'm not sure that there is much benefit.
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@gt12 Just to be clear, the young 1st 5 I was referring to (facetiously) was Cruden.
Simpson got better in the 2nd half but he kicked the ball out on the full numerous times in the 1st half. One mistake compounded another.
NPC rugby is different to SR. Teams are prepared to have more of a go, and the game isn't as structured. Of course, the skill level is lower, as it is when comparing SR to International rugby.
Teams are getting younger and younger. There were a lot of current U20 players involved in this game. I'd much rather PUs promote their development players than signing players from overseas.
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Ha ha, Cruden certainly wound back time with that try of his.
That's the point though isn't it? It's now a place for rolling out U20S? We need a better aligned system.
Personally, I think we'd get more money for it too - I can't watch much of this competition because they won't pay for it here and it's not available anywhere else (legally).
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@gt12 said in Waikato v Auckland:
That's the point though isn't it? It's now a place for rolling out U20S?
To be fair a lot of SR players seem to be injured at the moment so coaches are promoting their younger players. The experience will be good for them.
We need a better aligned system.
No disagreement from me. However, SR franchises are relying on the PUs to give the next tier of players meaningful games, whether that be NPC, Development teams or their U19s. All are playing at the moment.
But we've had this discussion before...
