Super 14 2010

[Crusader]

Another season of 2010 is fast approaching. Here are the NZ teams for this year. Am looking forward to seeing the battle of the First Fives from all the NZ franchises.

Stephen Brett - Blues
Stephen Donald and Mike Delany -Chiefs
Aaron Cruden - Hurricanes
Dan Carter and Colin Slade - Crusaders
Matt Berquist - Highlanders

This would have to be the first year all five teams have at least one quality First Five. Here is to four NZ teams to make the semi's!!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-14/3051071/Super-14-squads-named-for-2010

[Crusader]

Crusaders win their first game against the Highlanders. Yay!! Baby Crusader enjoyed watching her first Crusaders win.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

BTW....the Hurricaines first match of the year (a pre-season match) at Mangatainoka stadium literally had more “grass-roots atmosphere” about it than any game ever played at Lancaster Park (Jade Stadium or whatever else they call it these days).

Go Mangatainoka Stadium....they're already talking about making it an annual event.

And good on Tui Brewery for putting up the money to sponser it!

See the Meanwhile, in Tararua Country.... thread in the main General Forum messageboard.

[Crusader]

We are now in the business end of the competition. I thought I would compile a form 22 list of who I have seen perform well so far. Maybe the All Black selectors will take note

1 Ben Franks         Crusaders
2 Andrew Hore        Hurricanes
3 Owen Franks       Crusaders
4 Brad Thorn          Crusaders
5 Sam Whitelock     Crusaders
6 Jerome Kiano       Blues
7 Ritchie McCaw     Crusaders
8 Keiran Read         Crusaders
9 Brendon Lenard    Chiefs
10 Dan Carter        Crusaders
11 Sitiveni Sitivatu  Chiefs
12 Ma'a Nonu         Hurricanes
13 Conrad Smith     Hurricanes
14 Rene Ranger      Blues
15 Corey Jane        Hurricanes

16 Kevin Mealamu   Blues
17 Nemia Tialata    Hurricanes
18 Anthony Boric    Blues
19 Adam Thomson  Highlanders
20 Jimmy Cowan    Highlanders
21 Mike Delanay     Chiefs
22 Zac Guilford      Crusaders

[Crusader]

The countdown to the big game has begun. I feel like a kid on Christmas eve. GO THE CRUSADERS!

[Justic]

The countdown to the big game has begun. I feel like a kid on Christmas eve. GO THE CRUSADERS!

Can't wait.  Go the Crusaders.  I'm looking forward to seeing lots of illegal (sic) scrummaging

[Crusader]

Well the weekend turned out to be a major disappointment. It was a bit like being promised sex all day and then only to be turned down at the last minute.

I think this is a sign to come for the Tri Nations. Our only hope now is the Bulls and the Stormers smash the living shit out of each other in the finals rendering a few Springbok stars injured.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

[dragontamer]

We went to a fund raiser last night to send our Under 15 & Under 16s to Aussie in October.

Guest speakers were Dick Tayler and Colin Meads.

A lot of the evening was spent bagging Andy Haden.  Pinetree and his cronies were amazingly well prepared for comedy using Haden as their target.

The night included an auction.  A pair of Pinetree's underwear, framed and signed, were offered.  They went for about $200 more than the All Black training jersey (also signed).   Pinetree kept insisting he wanted his gruts back as he thought he had been tricked into signing them by his wife and he insisted he was running out of gruts.

I hope they made a bit of money.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable night.