I think they need to assign a single person to mark him the whole time and to rush him almost every time (at least in the second half when he's more likely to go for a dropgoal).

That leaves a) a hole in the defense or b) a gap on…

Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts

A pair of steel-toed boots would be cheaper, surely.

Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts

Yeah, I'm not sure about that, she's not all that great away from oval tracks.

I was meaning literately, but whatever works.

Drop-goals from half-way make the game difficult to…

but that wouldn't work if him being a better 8 than Lauaki didn't make up for Lauaki being a much worse 6 than Messam

This.

Laukai is a handy 8 at times, and as mentioned often does well at a Super-14 level. He's not mobile enough to make enough impact…

Or the day when someone gives her a F1 car and she gets to kick Jenson Button in the nuts

Yeah, I'm not sure about that, she's not all that great away from oval tracks. Her best finishes are 4th at Long Beach this year, and 5th a couple of…

My thought is that if the Chiefs really rated him they would have him start the game at 8 and then shift to 6 when Lauaki comes on as an impact player. Or, if he was a better 8 than Lauaki start them both but with Lauaki playing 6.

…

I am a bit worried about the form of both Brad Thorn and Rodney So'oialo.

In the case of Rodney, the canes missed Thomas (the Tank Engine) coming off the bench and also starting the odd game to give Rodney a decent break.

he looks/plays like he is tired

No…

When the crunch came he was starting games for the Hurricanes at 9. He was the best player the 'canes had at that position, or at least that's what they thought. It's obvious the chiefs didn't think that about Messam at 8

Yes, but from the Chiefs point of view,…

To be fair, according to Twitter he may be on a plane to Vanuatu with me and Megan and Jo. I'm just sayin'.

I'm sure he'll play even better after that!

I didn't know he read Rosemary McLeod...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/columnists/rosemary-mcleod/2436744/League-case-another-baffle-of-the-sexes

Kahui travelled and the coach was saying yesterday medical staff expect him to be right for the final.

To be fair, according to Twitter he may be on a plane to Vanuatu with me and Megan and Jo. I'm just sayin'.

Bugger about Sivivatu!

The Canes had the wrong game plan, the Chiefs nicked theirs so they used an old one from, oh, I dunno, the Crusaders? Without the awesome defence required...

Wait, I said top class opposition didn't…

And yes, FA Cup finals are a nightmare to stay awake for, with…

Or get him with a few late hits...

Forbid that our boys would indulge in such base endeavours! It was purely an accident, clearly late but with absolutely no malice intended!

See however, Weepu.

When the crunch came he was starting games for the Hurricanes at 9. He was the best player the 'canes had at that position, or at least that's what they thought. It's obvious the chiefs didn't think that about Messam at 8

The best way to stop a drop kick specialist is to ruthlessly flatten then trample him in the first ten minutes.

Or get him with a few late hits, after that only the best will stay fresh and accurate

If you can't force your way into a position for your Super 14 side surely that says you may not be the best person for that position in the All Blacks?

See however, Weepu. Covers 10 a fair bit for Hurricanes and Wellington, will never force Carter out of that…

after seeing our one in Palmy

Headline: Palmerston North inspires something other than ennui.

I t has to be said that the quality of the South African #8's is scary.

I'm even more scared to learn that they've only just started to build more academies in the republic, after seeing our one in Palmy.

It's a very South African thing to go drop-goal crazy, innit? See also Janie de Beer v the poms in 1999.

If the other team can't stop you, then do it til they can. Seems like a good strategy to me, even if it is a bit dull in this…

The Bulls scored 12 points from dropgoals including one from halfway (or thereabouts). How the hell do you defend against that?

Start kicking them yourself?

It's a very South African thing to go drop-goal crazy, innit? See also Janie de Beer v the poms in 1999.

The Chiefs are up against it alright, let's home that playing in bright sunshine instead of a wet / dark Waikato stadium doesn't stuff them up too much.…

Aren't team sports about utilising the best players? Why make all of LeBron's points be worth 1/2? How about adding an extra 500kg to Loeb's car? Make Nadal/Federer play with an eye patch? Give Tiger a putter for every…

I thought Vito had a bit of a Lauaki-like game.

He went missing because the Hurricanes kicked the ball away rather than having him and Nonu run at players.

The Bulls scored 12 points from dropgoals including one from halfway (or thereabouts). How the hell do you defend against that?

Ask the French.

I can't see the Chiefs beating the Bulls, particularly not at Loftus,…

The Bulls scored 12 points from dropgoals including one from halfway (or thereabouts). How the hell do you defend against that?

Some good breaks but went missing a bit too.

Gee NZ is weak at #8 at the moment.

PS: Go the Bulls.

I disagree that Lauaki looked awesome. That try was a great run, but he also lost the ball in a contact/ruck situation a couple of times and was driven backwards in others.

But that is an awesome game for Lauaki.

And hopefully Vito makes the All Blacks this year (he…