@taniwharugby Just great to see Waipu doing so well.

I was watching the Warriors game last night and the small Bronco halve leapt up and lead with his head into a tackle on Ken Maumalo. It resulted in a concussion with Maumalo bleeding from the nose. The head contact wasn’t deliberate but the technique to my mind is incredibly dangerous - that is, a high tackle ( around the shoulder area ) where the tacking player tackles front on without turning their head. It reminded of a Fijian tackle on Leon MacDonald some years that lead to his concussion issues.

My point with this is that both rugby and league need to add this to their list of issues and start taking concussions seriously.

Interesting that the commentators just referred to the Maumalo tackle as a head clash not worthy of a penalty. Similarly last week week when Peter Hiku stumbled away concussed from a tackle, in the mid week show with blocker Roach and Toovey they both agreed the game didn’t need to be stopped. And, next week Hiku is playing again.

Today there is an article about the great Steve Folkes having brain disease with the suspicion that it was related to concussions from his playing days.

It’s a difficult issue in contact sports, but I am not sure that the games are doing all they should to look after players - and some of the attitudes of those involved are archaic.

Loved this article...

I remember seeing Norm when I lived in Wellington - some place down town - and being really impressed. He seemed very modest and without the swagger of the successful sporting star he was. Great to see his story.

@taniwharugby I have always thought Rugby clubs should merge with other sports codes in their area to form Sports Clubs - netball, touch rugby for summer. Possibly competitor codes such as soccer and hockey. Or even tennis and squash.

We have so many batting weak spots that only a miracle can save us:

• Guptill out of form
• Munro who was never good enough at this level
• Latham out of form
• de Grandhomme whose strike rate is low

In both the batting and bowling we have not rotated so injuries or form have left us with players coming in cold.

We seem to lack aggression in our game plans - Coaching or Captaincy?

Watched Southee last night and he was short a trot. But I think his role should be changed. The white balls don’t swing any more and he is not fast enough to take wickets with aggressive bowling on roads. The runs he concedes come from his bouncers or variations. Get back to bowling good lengths, one side of the wicket, the odd slower ball and yorkers. His last 3 overs were pretty good - with his last over, particularly good and full of accurate yorkers. He has been a fabulous bowler, just think the tactics for him at this stage of his career are wrong.

This was a limp wristed performance that we should make some changes for. 92 - 5 and you bowl your best bowlers out because 1 more wicket and you had them - Kane what are you doing? He is very conservative Captain. Bowlers allowed too many 4 balls in overs and released pressure - full or down leg. Chasing they needed to keep turning the strike over and play with intent. We aren’t good enough to sit back like this regardless of the pitch.

@mariner4life Bridge is that Corey Jane type winger. Does everything well, great in the air, like having another fullback, great work rate.

Thought the ref didn’t call a lot last night which in a funny way made it a great game. It allowed the Canes to compete hard at breakdown which is what they needed.

Interesting that while the Crusaders had the dominant scrum they couldn’t get it going. The Hurricane cleared quickly or the Crusaders got their timing wrong. Great performance from Canes front five to nullify that weapon.

Two calls late in the game one each way that impacted- scrum collapsed when Crusaders hot on attack and going forward but then they were asked to clear it? And the hand of God at the end.

Wonder if Coles late shot on Mounga created an injury he carried through the game? Late with no arms with a guy who has opened himself up after passing. Hate that - even league have got tough on that. That stuff will cost you a World Cup. Love Coles and he was awesome last night but needs to get that out of his game.

Ardie is having great season. But I think the work of Read and Todd last night is under rated.

The ABS will use a Mounga and BB combination late in the game for the ABs. Mounga has that free running game that can open up defences and with BBs speed and intuition from full back they would make a great combination.

@Tim agree totally with that. Nonu started ok but fell off the pace in the 2nd half of the last few games.

Blues still have leaders and playmakers who make poor decisions. Plus the Coaches - no excuse for leaving Parsons on, a 40 minute player at best