Press asked some hard questions of the NZRU during the announcement, they really tried to spin it. Didn't do it very well. 

I am just glad it wasn't Dave Rennie with Owen Farrell assisting! ;)

networkn:

 

Crusaders v Blues at Eden Park from a corporate box was quite cool I have to say. I thought the Blues were going to win it despite the unfortunate circumstances that saw them with 2 yellows for 1 infringement. I also thought the Crusaders were lucky not to have a yellow for an infringement on their 5 meter line as well. It was a hell of a game though, very entertaining, and the Blues put up more more of a fight then in the final, though the Crusaders look very out of sorts. Hopefully they are just on a slow build!

 

The last ten minutes made for appalling TV.

Not to mention the denied Blues try which was a carbon copy of the try the Hurricanes were allowed against them this season, which actually should have resulted in a Crusaders yellow for cynically killing the ball at the previous ruck but I think the ref just literally forgot. 

What a shambles.

tukapa1: I'm not convinced they've made the right decision. I think it was a knee jerk reaction to the evangelical Crusaders supporters.

GV27:

 

The last ten minutes made for appalling TV.

 

Not to mention the denied Blues try which was a carbon copy of the try the Hurricanes were allowed against them this season, which actually should have resulted in a Crusaders yellow for cynically killing the ball at the previous ruck but I think the ref just literally forgot. 

 

What a shambles.

 

He was very patient with the Blues and their infringing too, in fact in the last 2 seasons the Blues have gotten away with murder. Overall I thought the refereeing in that match was very inconsistent.

The Blues had their chances to win that match.

networkn:

 

He was very patient with the Blues and their infringing too, in fact in the last 2 seasons the Blues have gotten away with murder. Overall I thought the refereeing in that match was very inconsistent.

 

The Blues had their chances to win that match.

 

Extreme citation needed. The Blues actually get penalised and lose players to cards because of their crappy discipline, to the extent where a) it's a big factor in their season standings for the last two years, and b) it's something people actually acknowledge as a huge issue for them. 

That's a bit different to the Crusaders, who seem to be immune to actually being penalised for a lot of things in the first place.

And as for the try not awarded, that's something that deserves a please-explain. It's the same set of circumstances, different results, the only consistency is the team disadvantaged by it. If a TMO can't rule consistently week-to-week then people need to know why. Otherwise people will draw their own conclusions. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/131631356/all-blacks-wing-sevu-reece-to-miss-world-cup-after-seasonending-knee-injury

Reece gone for the season, SR and Test, and will miss the RWC. That is very unfortunate for everyone concerned. 

Man the Crusaders have some sort of injury list right now (Akin to Chiefs of prior years). Scrapped to a win against the Reds, does anyone know what the deal with Bower's Injury is?  Ennor continues to improve week on week, which is good news.

The Blues-Chiefs game was something to watch. The Blues should have comfortably won that to be honest. The Chiefs look staunch but the Blues must have lost at LEAST 3 certain tries last night. BB foot in touch is a howler.  Discipline and decision-making still need serious improvement. Chiefs disclipline wasn't great either, but overall I think they are better under MacMillan who shows some real promise as a coach.

Jones 33 man squad had some surprises in it. 

Notable for me was Noah Loliseio and Tate McDemot's exclusion. Whilst Noah hasn't quite eventuated as the 10 they were praying he would be, it seems a little strange to drop him at this stage. Tate McDermot has been reasonably good I thought. A little erratic at times, but able to do stuff their other 9's don't.  He proved a real handful for the AB's last year.

I'll be interested to see how Eddie wants Australia to play.

Ruby Tui is enjoyable to listen to as a commentator. There really doesn't seem much she can't be awesome at!

Crusaders should have conceded a penalty try and a second (or third) yellow card a the start of the game. it was pretty poor discipline. Moana Pasifika fought to the end, but as seems to be their pattern, they just can't hold off for 80 minutes.  It was a spirited and often times impressive performance by them. 

Reds lock Blyth will rightly so be spending hopefully, quite a lot of time in the sideline for what was a horrific tackle on O'Toole. Watching O'Toole staggering around after that collision nearly made me sick. 

The pace with the new rules, means that so many infringements are being missed. Forward passes being the most common. I am not sure the balance is quite right. The games are faster and more ball in play time, but if tries are being scored illegally, I don't think that's ideal either.  I don't think anyone enjoys a whistlefest either... 

It will be interesting to see how the AB's play this year.

Back to Back Titles for our mens 7's! Also, the first time we have 4 series wins in a season since 2013 I believe. 

We look fantastic at the moment. Back to nearly our best, and against some really world-class competition like Argentina.

The Chiefs are carrying on with their winning ways. Their discipline under MacMillan has been far better. However, they should consider themselves exceptionally lucky not to have conceded a penalty try and at least one more in the bin for cynical infringing on their own line. The infringement immediately after the first binning should have totally been an immediate yellow. 

Would they still have won? Probably, the Hurricanes were very inaccurate and blew at least 2 tries through basic handling errors, and the Chiefs were the better team throughout most of the match.

Jacques Nienaber to vacate South Africa head coach role to join Leinster after the Rugby World Cup.

People seem surprised, I'd have been surprised if he DIDN'T move on. 

Rassie seems to be being considered to replace them. I totally hope they don't go in that direction. He behaviour since the RWC has been exceedingly poor. 

Lauchie Swinton is the type of player who shouldn't be on a Rugby field. He got himself a nice long ban (7 Weeks) well deserved for a disgraceful tackle on Jake Strachan. I hope Eddie Jones and the Warratahs coach show some spine and leave him behind for the rest of the year.