@chester-draws We are probably not too far away in our views then - there's many people I'd be disappointed in, but few that I'd be surprised about and - unfortunately - especially in cycling.

Since Froome is the best cyclist, he has a target pinned on his back and at least he seems realistic enough that it's something that comes with the territory.

On Eddy Merckx - have a listen to this interview of his NZ contemporary Tino Tabak. He starts talking about rampant drug taking (amphetamines) in pro-cycling the early 1970s around 8.30 - unfortunately Kim Hill somewhat derails the discussion by interrupting - but eventually he gets the story out. Again at 24.40 he's talking about "injecting himself"...or not!

There's a recent biography of Tino (the basis for this interview) I've been meaning to get for a while.

RNZ Audio Player

@crucial Did Tony Marsh even start any games? He was a bit of a role player until he made his name overseas.

The online article is more comprehensive than what I had read in the newspaper.

@WillieTheWaiter What has Waikato spent on player salaries in recent years compared to other provinces? I remember reading that it was well below the salary cap, largely due to the historical debt owed by the WRU.

As mentioned it is hard to keep players (and develop them) if there are better offers in Europe/Japan and they are not getting a SR contract.

@muddyriver I have liked guys like Aorangi Stokes and Josh Larsen last two years. Size may be a factor but we will expect Jacobsen to be a lot better than those two given quick signing.

@tim said in What result would you be satisfied with in 2018:

@nepia Who are the big contenders? Waikato, BOP, Manawatu?

I'm not sure, it's a bit of a lottery these days figuring about who is pulling together a good team. Either way, definitely want to smash those last two teams.

The best part of your post is working out what a Crore is.

Got to love India.

Thanks for your replies, @booboo , I didn't realise the Mitre cup sides are provincial entities, thanks.

The set up sounds similar to what we are moving to in Scotland though we operate on a much smaller scale. We have two full time pro teams, Edinburgh (yippee) and Glasgow (boo). Below that we are about to launch the Super Six, six semi-professional sides, whose main aim as far as I can see it is to catch the youngsters who have missed the academy system, which is again a fairly recent innovation. Nothing is set in stone yet but it's hoped the Super Six will compete in a cross border competition with similar Irish and Welsh sides.

Below that strict amateurism is going to be enforced, we've had a stupid system where someone can come in and buy their way up through the national leagues, taking the best talent from neighbouring towns' clubs. The national league system is another mess, we currently have four of them below the full time pro teams, the lowest rung on that ladder includes fixtures such as Orkney v St Boswells. Orkney is a group of islands off the north east coast of Scotland in the North Sea, and St Boswells is down in the Borders. It's a nine hour drive plus ferry crossing each way, but at least Orkney is where they make Highland Park whisky, so it's worth the trip.

@sammyc I don't know anything about Canterbury schools or private schools, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if you're right haha.

@bones said in Hurricanes all time XV:

@nepia Lowe could be the next Ngatai minus the injuries.

Thought it would be good to have a set of brothers in there. 🙂

Taumalolo
Elliott
Afeaki
Robinson
Retallick
Gibbes
Cane / Holah
Messam
Kelleher
Cruden
Sivivatu
Little
Bunce
Kahui
Muliana

Toby Smith (he was very good before he left for Australia)
De Malmanche
White (I don't rate Tameifuna a lot)
Jones
Lauaki
TKB
Beaver
Reihana

@bones said in Injury spike:

@rapido said in Injury spike:

@bones said in Injury spike:

@rapido what's the thinking behind changing the 5m to 10m?

The game was very defense oriented/dominated, so to increase the amount of space.

So to increase the amount of space and allow higher speed collisions? 🙂

Yeah. I was digressing on how the ARL used to see players make it through a season relatively unscathed and then musing on rule changes that may have upset that equilibrium.

Unless injuries were hidden by cortisone then I think a game of that speed and that size-a-player is the only full season long pro rugby comp I've seen work from an injury pov.

But, Of course concussions back then in ARL were not even given the RU compulsory 3 weeks off.

Yep, there's been a clean out of our locking stocks which is a worry as our lineout work and general play from them last year was second to none.

However there are a few replacements still on the scene. I'm pretty sure Lars Morris from Te Puke Sports is contracted but missed last season with injury. Ardron (The Canadian) is playing creditably for the Cheifs apparently. The hard working Wardlaw from Rotoiti has been called in for injury replacement for the Cheifs also. I see also that Tim Bond (who played for us a few seasons back and played for Northland last year) is turning out for Te Puke Sports.