Great news that the man is back playing!

Lealiifano makes rugby return in Singapore

@MajorRage

Arrived back home from hospital, this morning. I missed most of the SR final due to an asthma attack. I'm okay again, but it was a bit scary for a while. Absolutely bad timing, of course (although I think I know what triggered it), but fortunately we recorded the final on mysky and I just watched it, although it's not quite the same when you know the final score.

I don't have much to add to comments already made. It was a typical final in which defence won the game. Todd and Read were outstanding in the forwards, and Bridge, Mo'unga and Havili in the backs. Lots of dew on the ground and a wet ball can explain some of the bad ball handling, but it has to be said that the Jaguares also made some really stupid mistakes. Their 10 was terrible. Overall, the Jaguares played reasonably well and they'll learn from their mistakes. The Crusaders looked - as expected - the more experienced team. Awesome how they changed their game plan when the first one didn't work and good decision-making when they went for the points when they were on offer. Mo'unga's goal-kicking is outstanding now and that's good for the RWC. Not sure whether some of the other rookies are ready though. Still think Havili should have been named in the ABs.

And then reading this thread .. jaysus. How can a welcome new addition to the Fern with a fresh point of view turn so quickly into an arrogant, trolling twat. Although it was quite hilarious to read how those who responded to his nonsense were referred to as the "Cantab crew & their cheerleaders", considering many of them support other franchises in SR games other than the final and are quite fervent anti-cantabs 52 weeks per year.

Anyway, 2019 SR season done and dusted. I'll put the Crusaders 2020 blog post up tonight (had already prepared most of it). Can't wait for the Mitre 10 cup now, oh, and yes, some international games ...

He may not have been at his best since his serious back injury and surgery in 2017, but IMO he's one of the best no. 8s we've ever had. A true All Blacks great and it has been a pleasure watching him play.

Thanks for all the great moments, Reado. Enjoy spending time with your family, and good luck for what's next.

Haha

@mariner4life said in Hurricanes v Chiefs:

i am going to carry on like an absolute fuckhead.

I seriously don't get why they replace PGS with Frizell. Grace makes way more sense.

I guess his name is already on the squad list of the ABs XV then.

Geez, aren't we all chirpy today! We all know why the ABs are playing tests against Tonga & Fiji, and not against stronger opposition. We all know that Tonga and Fiji (and Samoa) can't field all the players they'd want to have in their squad, and why. And we all know that they wouldn't even be strong enough, if they had all the players they'd like to have.

So what? Why can't you lot just be happy to see the team play? These are exceptional times, so expect things to be different from our usual July Series. Just enjoy the game, even if it's a one-sided one.

@Stargazer said in 2023 School Rugby:

Preseason results - Saturday 25 March 2023

Palmerston North BHS 52 - 7 Lindisfarne College
Hastings Boys 33 - 12 Westlake Boys
Rotorua Boys 54 - 0 Tangaroa College
Feilding HS 48-5 Wellington College Principal's XV
Rosmini College v King's College ???

If there were more games on the weekend, please, add the results.

Result from Friday 24 March 2023
Gisborne BHS 10 - 29 De La Salle College

Additional result from Saturday 25 March 2023
St John's College (Hamilton) 24 - 19 St Peter's (Auckland)

@Bovidae No idea. That info of Napier Boys going to the Sanix tournament came from the Club Rugby website. Maybe they just got it wrong? I've read nothing about it on Napier Boys' social media.

@Bovidae I can totally understand him still being angry about it. It was disgusting what Swain did and he only missed three games, while Tupaea has been out for a very long time and is likely to miss the RWC. Not to mention the physical pain and what it did to him mentally.

@Crucial Thanks, I had seen those documents, but that's not what I'm looking for.

@Crucial I can't find the 2022 one either.

@Crucial I suspect you're thinking of a different type of document than I'm referring to. This is not about player payments, leave, etc. It's the handbook that contains the rules for the SR Aupiki competition, similar to the Competitions Regulations Handbook, which contains the rules for the NPC, FPC and Heartland competitions. Rules about the format of the competition, competitions points allocation, ranking, tiebreaker rules etc.

@Crucial Can you please post the link of the one you have found, because I can't find it. I can only find the Competitions Regulations Handbook for 2022, but that doesn't contain the Aupiki regulations.

Just for my own nerdy interest, is there someone who has access to the "NZRU Elite XV Competition Regulations Handbook"? This handbook contains the competition rules for Super Rugby Aupiki and are, unfortunately, not published on NZR's website.

Knewstubb just has no luck!