Great news that the man is back playing!

Lealiifano makes rugby return in Singapore

Arrived back home from hospital, this morning. I missed most of the SR final due to an asthma attack. I'm okay again, but it was a bit scary for a while. Absolutely bad timing, of course (although I think I know what triggered it), but fortunately we recorded the final on mysky and I just watched it, although it's not quite the same when you know the final score.

I don't have much to add to comments already made. It was a typical final in which defence won the game. Todd and Read were outstanding in the forwards, and Bridge, Mo'unga and Havili in the backs. Lots of dew on the ground and a wet ball can explain some of the bad ball handling, but it has to be said that the Jaguares also made some really stupid mistakes. Their 10 was terrible. Overall, the Jaguares played reasonably well and they'll learn from their mistakes. The Crusaders looked - as expected - the more experienced team. Awesome how they changed their game plan when the first one didn't work and good decision-making when they went for the points when they were on offer. Mo'unga's goal-kicking is outstanding now and that's good for the RWC. Not sure whether some of the other rookies are ready though. Still think Havili should have been named in the ABs.

And then reading this thread .. jaysus. How can a welcome new addition to the Fern with a fresh point of view turn so quickly into an arrogant, trolling twat. Although it was quite hilarious to read how those who responded to his nonsense were referred to as the "Cantab crew & their cheerleaders", considering many of them support other franchises in SR games other than the final and are quite fervent anti-cantabs 52 weeks per year.

Anyway, 2019 SR season done and dusted. I'll put the Crusaders 2020 blog post up tonight (had already prepared most of it). Can't wait for the Mitre 10 cup now, oh, and yes, some international games ...

No more starts for SBW, please.

@taniwharugby For me, it's this one with Cory Jane:

@Magpie_in_aus

Francis Douglas MC

1 Shane Cleaver
2 Liam Coltman
3 Deacon Manu
4 Scott Barrett
5 Leon Power
6. Kane Barrett
7 Du'Plessis Kirifi
8 John Mitchell
9 Paul Williams (the referee, not sure he's good enough as a player, but he played club rugby)
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (added)
12 Teihorangi Walden
13 Conrad Smith
14
15 Jordie Barrett

Reserves:
16 Ricky Riccitelli
20 Scott Fuglistaller

Can someone add the wingers?

@Bovidae Yep, and fans should turn up, once playing in front of a crowd is allowed again!

Unfortunately, there will be many fans who will no longer be able to buy the tickets.

@Bovidae said in Super Rugby 2020:

It costs the Highlanders ~$500,000 per month to run their team so $250,000 from NZR won't go too far.

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2020/04/super-rugby-2020-highlanders-begin-pay-cuts-as-financial-strain-takes-toll.html

Crusaders apparently even worse off.

The Crusaders are one of five $10 million-plus businesses in New Zealand Super Rugby effectively operating without income while sport pauses worldwide. It's creating a grim outlook for operations that still have hefty overheads to meet.

Mansbridge said they had been "really rigorous" with all their contracted services, and had already had some difficult conversations with fulltime staff. The Highlanders on Thursday confirmed they had been forced to slash salaries by 30 per cent and the Crusaders boss said their trim would be even higher.

"The Highlanders business is a little bit smaller than us in scale. For us 20-30 per cent probably isn't enough."

Yes, there was that $250,000 from NZ Rugby this week. It's a help, says Mansbridge, but not a solution.

"When you think about having to deal with resourcing situations, the last thing we want is to go into 2021 and beyond losing intellectual property, chopping everything to the bone and throwing all the good bits out.

"I'm nervous we'll have to go so hard to survive the next 6-12 months, or maybe even longer, that we might actually diminish the product. And if you diminish the product you diminish the All Blacks, and that's another conversation altogether."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/120814222/crusaders-facing-ultimate-foe-as-they-dig-deep-to-survive-the-coronavirus-crisis

From Black Ferns 7s Shiray Kaka's instagram.

@mofitzy_ That's not a 1st XV, that's just a list of ABs that went to TBC. C'mon, a bit more effort.

Today's stats and graphs:

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/04/03/1101216/covid-19-in-nz-the-numbers

https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases

Edit: there are a few mistakes in the text of the Newsroom article (I assume they re-use text from the previous day), but the graphs seem to be correct.

@Wairau Wow. I gave you a friendly response, no need to go all aggro.