@mariner4life said in NH club rugby:

what. the. actual. fuck?

Seriously, what is becoming of rugby? This is not a "back in my day" rant, this is a "how is that ever a red card?" It shouldn't have even been a yellow! Cipriani doesn't even want to be there, let alone trying to smack the guy with a shoulder, he essentially stands there and the tackled player runs in to his shoulder face first, ably assisted by the first tackler.

Yep, but this is partially in reaction to Sam Cane and Ireland a few years ago. Accidental shoulder to head is now treated as intentional shoulder to head - which is all a bit silly.

They are having similar issues in american football if it makes you feel better. The real question is how far do you go for the perception of player safety, because at the moment defensive players are letting go of QBs to avoid getting penalised.

And, in classic Auckland administration fashion, as soon as they do something great they have control of (free admission), the weather forecast is for rain. Poor bastards. Could have had a great crowd there if the weather was better.

That said, I was at 2010 AMI Stadium final, and there were less than 3,000 people there. So poor attendance has been an issue for ages, and right aroudn the country

@act-crusader said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Auckland at home and with a rampaging Akira. Auckland’s to lose

Is there a prize for underdog claiming status?

Edit: the winner of 10 of the last 11 competitions is claiming underdog ... outstanding work

@taniwharugby said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Although the bigger grounds like EP will make the problem look worse, but simply moving to another isn't that easy, player and media facility capabilities are a requirement too.

@Billy-Tell also the corporate boxes pay for the game whether they are used or not. So there is a pile of cash coming in for going to EP, even though it's a bit empty.

That said, I'm with @Kirwan -- the atmosphere at the North Harbour (and Welly games, for that matter) wasn't dead, had some good noise at times.

@booboo said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Final will be an odd experience I think, given every neutral fan is going to be cheering for Auckland. When's that happened before?

Since we have been shti for ages, and Canterbury has been dominant.

You Number 1, everyone hates you. This is one of life's rules

@billy-tell said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

@nzzp said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

@billy-tell said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Making the game free is a good choice because the ground was basically empty for the semi final.

About 6,000 there. They are all in one stand, so if the camera is on another stand it looks completely empty.

6k is not bad for the NPC. Many times more people than showed up for Waikato Northland

Why don't the use a smaller stadium though? 6000 in a 15'000 looks way better than 6'000 in a 60'000.

No other stadia in Auckland that I can think of. There are some that could handle a few thousand, but none that will get you 6-10k

@billy-tell said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Making the game free is a good choice because the ground was basically empty for the semi final.

About 6,000 there. They are all in one stand, so if the camera is on another stand it looks completely empty.

6k is not bad for the NPC. Many times more people than showed up for Waikato Northland

@mimic said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Lets hope the supporters show up

Plenty I'm talking to are going to go. Hope for good weather

@tim said in NPC Final - Auckland vs Canterbury (free entry):

Auckland have two injury worries out of the final, with fullback Jordan Trainor taking a head knock and Manu rolling his ankle.

Crap. Two of our better players. Particularly Manu

@rapido said in Auckland vs Wellington - Semi Final:

The touch judge miss of the Lam late foot trip on Nanai was a disgraceful piece of inept officiating, was right in front him. Hope that gets picked up in their performance review.

Crap piece of cheating by Lam, not even slightly subtle.

I was blwoing up about that in the stand opposite - looked like he pulled him down initially, but I was 100 m away. How the hell the AR missed it, and then still missed it on replay is beyond me.

Also, WTF is up with knock forwards for attacking passes? A floated pass for Auckland in the first half got knocked forward by a Welly player - and hte outside winder was in space. Yet only a scrum; not evena penalty, or (heaven forbid) the obligatory YC. I just don't know what the rules are from week to week any more.