So all teams have played now, and the early signs are that this season is going to be an absolute belter.
Of the 10 games, only 2 have been a bit of a blow out, everything else has been well fought for the full 80, and with the Aussie teams absorbing one club to reduce to four they look much more competitive already.
Probably the biggest talking point so far is how the new focus on continuing the game rather than pissing about for a cup of tea every few phases is making the last 20 minutes a huge battle.
Basically what happens now is lineouts have to be formed within 30 seconds, I think the only reason to delay is if the hooker isn't available. So there's just way less players taking a knee for a breather (though SR traditionally didn't have much of that anyway).
Kicks, Scrums, Lineouts are all going way faster, and once a player has held up play for an "injury" a couple of times the referee is making sure that its severe, and if it is asking them to get a replacement on.
I expect the popularity of those changes is going to be pretty high down here, but of course international rugby swings to the beat of the NH rule makers so it will be interesting to see if it hurts the ABs & Wallabies come test time, where because the big forwards will be allowed to have a breather any extra fitness gained won't matter.
If you want to watch any recommendations from this weekend: Chiefs-Crusaders for the (so far) clear best team putting on a clinic in that last 20. Highlanders-Blues for one team overcoming cards due to a hugely emotional game and possibly one player demanding Razor gives him the black 12 jersey. Force-Brumbies for a game down to the wire right until the whistle.
I was thinking that - if it was a maul, it would have been. So why when its the only defender 5m out from a quick tap would it not also be?
(I dont think either should be penalty try + yellow - one or the other is sufficient punishment for mine).
Was a hell of a game though eh - good atmosphere, relatively evenly matched teams. I heard someone saying it was around a b/c level Scottish team with so many of the A-listers with the Lions; but it would be a struggle to call the Maori ABs even a C level NZ team at the moment. There's a handful of starting SR players, 0 ABs squad members* and the reserve halfback wasn't even in a SR squad this year.
In fact of the entire team the only SR starters I can think of were the two locks, TK Howden, Rivez Reihana and Bailyn Sullivan who was shunted out to right-wing as soon as Proctor came back from injury.
*Walker-Leawere was called in as injury cover for a week last year & TK Howden is close to knocking on the door.