Super Rugby - Who's it going to be?
-
So a new winner for 2016.
-
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="601784" data-time="1469908314">
<div>
<p>So a new winner for 2016.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>Yeah - Hurricanes or Lions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As if anyone needs any more evidence that the competition has gone to the dogs since 2008. Christ any old riff-raff can win it these days.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bad enough when the Bulls won, but then the trail of shit really begins with the Reds, the Chiefs (twice FFS), the Tahs (it's rotten to the core). The Highlanders think, Christ, anyone can win this, we might as well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And now it comes to this.....</p> -
<p>History heavily favours the 'canes right? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Only the Crusaders and Highlanders have won away havent they?</p> -
<p>It a</p>
<p> </p>
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="601829" data-time="1469924791">
<div>
<p>Yeah - Hurricanes or Lions.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As if anyone needs any more evidence that the competition has gone to the dogs since 2008. <strong>Christ any old riff-raff can win it these days.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bad enough when the Bulls won, but then the trail of shit really begins with the Reds, the Chiefs (twice FFS), the Tahs (it's rotten to the core). The Highlanders think, Christ, anyone can win this, we might as well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And now it comes to this.....</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Apparently anyone can win it these days, except the Crusaders of course.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601832" data-time="1469925219">
<div>
<p>Apparently anyone can win it these days, except the Crusaders of course.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>The finals are like a slum - we don't go there anymore. :)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Chris B." data-cid="601834" data-time="1469925518"><p>The finals are like a slum - we don't go there anymore. :)</p></blockquote>You better hope we win so the curse I laid on the Saders will be over barely before its begun
-
<p>I think it all ended (or to quote or possibly misquote Churchill, the beginning of the end) after the glory days of the great AB Shield team of the 1920s. They were such a juggernaut that when the Wellington lead NZRU conspired to remove the Shield from their grasp provincial rugby went into a funk for 30 years with the Shield being shared between the frozen tundras of Otago and Southland for most of that time. Luckily the Magpies embarked on another glorious reign in the 60s that restored the lustre back into provincial rugby. However, when they out thugged by Fergie McCormack and his thuggish Canterbury team of the 60s things went really pear shaped and Marlborough took the Shield. Yes, you read that correctly Marlborough.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Therefore the NZRU created the NPC to ensure there was another competition should the likes of Marlborough ever steal the Shield again. The NPC served us well, even if the NZRU feared a return of Hawkes Bay dominance and conspired in a number of various nefarious ways to keep the Magpies in the 2nd Division. The untoward focus on keeping the Magpies down meant that the NZRU missed the Auckland elephant in the room and they managed to create a juggernaut to rival the great Magpies of the 1920s.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then the recently Canterbury dominated NZRU created the franchise system as a way to help the inbred South Island attract and retain North Island talent but other posters above have given the tapestry of that recent history so I wont repeat it although there were still some late hiccups that should be acknowledged, with Bay of Plenty somehow managing to win the Shield for the first time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>There you go. As Wurzel will likely agree the history of NZ rugby is all about the Bay!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="601847" data-time="1469927902">
<div>
<p>You better hope we win so the curse I laid on the Saders will be over barely before its begun ;)</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>What you need to be worried about is "The Curse of the Hammer"!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The rugby gods look on and think, "those ungrateful bastards in Canesland - we sent them a messiah and they crucified him." So, until you<u> all</u> humbly beg forgiveness and thank Hammer for all he did to reform your culture and teach you how to play footy, it's bridesmaids at best for you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And I mean <u>all.</u></p>
<p> </p>
<p>:)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="601852" data-time="1469928759">
<div>
<p>I think it all ended (or to quote or possibly misquote Churchill, the beginning of the end) after the glory days of the great AB Shield team of the 1920s. They were such a juggernaut that when the Wellington lead NZRU conspired to remove the Shield from their grasp provincial rugby went into a funk for 30 years with the Shield being shared between the frozen tundras of Otago and Southland for most of that time. Luckily the Magpies embarked on another glorious reign in the 60s that restored the lustre back into provincial rugby. However, when they out thugged by Fergie McCormack and his thuggish Canterbury team of the 60s things went really pear shaped and Marlborough took the Shield. Yes, you read that correctly Marlborough.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Therefore the NZRU created the NPC to ensure there was another competition should the likes of Marlborough ever steal the Shield again. The NPC served us well, even if the NZRU feared a return of Hawkes Bay dominance and conspired in a number of various nefarious ways to keep the Magpies in the 2nd Division. The untoward focus on keeping the Magpies down meant that the NZRU missed the Auckland elephant in the room and they managed to create a juggernaut to rival the great Magpies of the 1920s.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Then the recently Canterbury dominated NZRU created the franchise system as a way to help the inbred South Island attract and retain North Island talent but other posters above have given the tapestry of that recent history so I wont repeat it although there were still some late hiccups that should be acknowledged, with Bay of Plenty somehow managing to win the Shield for the first time. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>There you go. As Wurzel will likely agree the history of NZ rugby is all about the Bay!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>How do you sleep at night writing shit like that ?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Probably in your George Nepia jim jams and a duvet with all the Hawkes Bay representatives written on it :mail:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="601784" data-time="1469908314">
<div>
<p>So a new winner for 2016.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>And 4 different winners in the last 4 years - SANZAAR will love that stat!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But will it be HURR-I-CANES or CHOKED-A-GAIN? ;)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The Canes are favourites <strong>again</strong> this week.</p>
