Bit harsh on the highlanders considering they were in playoff contention for most of the competition. Colin Slade played about 3 games so awful analysis really. In fact alot of your blogs are full of hearsay and false facts, don't know how you got this role to be honest
Each franchise can protect 24 players from the draft. However the introduction of direct contracting has made the draft fairly redundant. This allows players to play Super Rugby for whoever they wish whilst staying with their itm province.
Main examples of direct contracting have been Thomas...
Yes he has dissapointed but the guy could still come good. The NZ maori series last year was a great example of how good he can be. I'd rather see him in there than the player that will likely replace him - James Wilson
Huge loss for the highlanders. Robinson has his fair share of critics but hacing a player who can cover multiple posistions and posseses extreme talent cannot be underestimated for all we know he may have a huge year in a different enviroment
Clearly New Zealand was not the least successful conference and we came very close to having three teams in the playoffs untill the highlanders blew up.
Back three debate;
15. Dagg 14. Jane 11. Gear
it seems to be a common problem with players who dominate age group tournaments then struggle with the step up. Dan Kirkpatrick is a huge example as a former Secondary schools captain. Savea will make it one day but it will require alot of hard work and i agree that all his school career he...
New Zealand
1.Woodcock
2.Mealamu
3.O. Franks
4.Thorn
5.Williams
6. Kaino
7.McCaw (C)
8.Read
9.Cowan
10.Carter
11.Gear
12.Nonu
13.C.Smith
14.B.Smith
15.Dagg
16.Hore
17.Afoa/O. Franks
18.S.Whitelock
19.Thomson
20.Weepu
21.Bill Williams
22.Muliania
I realise no back up 10 is big risk but its only...