Super rugby this weekend was particularly thrilling with a couple of very good local derby games. I reckon the Crusaders woke up on Saturday wondering what had hit them. I have a theory. The Highlanders were written off, they had several Guys out due to off the field behaviour, no doubt a revamp of starting Players took place. I guess Tony Brown and the management team were really trying to figure out what to
do. How do you motivate your team to “play for the Jersey”? Damn Easy!! You put your team in their correct jersey – not some colour that does not even resemble any part of the franchise. Well, that is my opinion.
The Canes (in someone else’s jersey from some failed attempt at a FIFA thing) turned up to give the Blues a good run. The first yellow was kind of correct, the second remains a mystery to everyone I know. A valiant effort with a falcon result!
This Saturday is our first game of the 2021 season. We have Petone coming out to The Fortress to show us what they have got. Petone has a proud history in New Zealand with more All Blacks than you can poke a stick at. In all the years I have been involved in Club Rugby (even a stint Coaching at Petone) you know to never take these boys lightly. You do at your peril. Good to have our sport back for all to
watch. Just cannot wait!
On a personal note, the Silver Lake investment in our great game concerns me. I just read that Sean Fitzpatrick is all for it – there is a red flag for a start. He says a bunch of “rugby loving people” are behind it. If you think we are naïve enough to think that these people care more about a rugby team than their money, then I think we are all having the wool pulled over our eyes. Question – “what’s in it
for them?” I do not believe this is in our best interest. You do not give someone $465 million without some conditions, some that (always) seem to emerge at a later date. And I am not sure that NZRFU’s ability to filter money to the unions, let alone the clubs, has been anything to write home about in the past. It is true, the NZRFU are somewhat removed from grassroots rugby. In closing, I have one word – Fonterra!! The hierarchy beat the Farmers into submission and we all know where that ended
up!!
I went to the WRFU AGM last Wednesday at which time Dave Banks was thanked for his several years on the Board and applauded accordingly.
