So your suggestion is, instead of bonus points, we throw some Christians into the middle of the game? (against the Lions?)

As long as it didn't count towards competition points, I'm all for it.

And (he says preparing to draw a long bow) didn't the games at the Colosseum start as some kind of thing to distract the public from something.

So your suggestion is, instead of bonus points, we throw some Christians into the middle of the game? (against the Lions?)

How come I have to log in on this site constantly even after selecting the "remember me" button? I've tried the cookie, security things and made no difference.

Just throwing that out there.

Whew, I thought that was just me.

we'll be onto soup with vegetables in it as opposed…

Just throwing that out there.

The global economy shouldn't affect a couple of expansion teams in the US and Japan. It's not…

Canterbury lost to Manuwatu

But then they did win every other game.

That was my point too. Auckland lost to Counties, but then came back to win five games. One more game than three teams above them. Just seems wrong y'know.

Ahem: peak oil. Just to put it out there.…

Then a couple of years later they will go to 18 teams with the 3 new teams most likely coming from Japan, USA and I would say either Argentina or the PI's.

Ahem: peak oil. Just to put it out there. Someone also mumbled something about the global economy recently.

Canterbury lost to Manuwatu

But then they did win every other game. Albeit winning ugly, not getting bonus points and not being as good as Wellington who deservedly finished higher on the table.

Two points about the Manawatu Canterbury match:

It was close (as was Colin Slade's final kick -…

League doesn't have bonus points for tries and you are just as likely to see them in the last few minutes as any other minutes during the game.

If they…

The introduction of the bonus point system has not ensured that every game is exciting.

No, but I'm not sure anyone ever claimed that it would make _every_ game more exciting.

You do sometimes see a team kicking the penalty to touch and going for the try rather than the…

It's something that I wax lyrical on quite often and get shot down over at sportsfreak for (going under 'westie stylz' there).

It looks like they are going to 15 teams in 2 years with a…

It's interesting what you say about excitement levels. The introduction of the bonus point system has not ensured that every game is exciting.

They lose 16 players from that squad and a good chunk of those who remained were All Blacks who were unavailable for virtually all of the competition.

I challenge any other team in the competition that gets completely…

Canterbury rugby are famous for breaking all the rules.

Oh sure. But these days they seem to fall within the rules, they just get Tasman to do everything for them and then grab the players for Crusaders _just_ before they get on the field in a Tasman top.

No that can't be right. Canterbury skipped both Wellington and Waikato, both of which are franchise bases.

Oh come on Kyle.

Canterbury rugby are famous for breaking all the rules.

And no way does Auckland deserve to be in the quarters – they couldn't even beat Counties (sorry, Coooouuuuunnnnnnttttttttiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeessssss)

Canterbury lost to Manuwatu

Stade Francais have created what may be one of the worst uniforms ever

Oh........ my......... god..........

And no way does Auckland deserve to be in the quarters – they couldn't even beat Counties (sorry, Coooouuuuunnnnnnttttttttiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeessssss)

I wonder if Waikato are not the favourites for this Sunday's game with Hawke's Bay

My money's on the Magpies. Though the BoP/Southland match is a bit of a worry for me.

Having said that, with their All Blacks present and a whole season of humiliation that could be partially put right in one win…

Not all teams will play each other during the Modified Round Robin. A formula has been developed to determine which teams do not play each other, based on a team’s competition placing from the previous season.

It’s seeded so the 3 teams you miss out on are 1 from S14 franchise base, a middle-tier, and then an expansion team.

No that can't be right. Canterbury skipped both Wellington and Waikato, both of which are franchise bases.

It must be based on last year's placings. One from…

All fine in theory, but with Hawkes Bay being twice…

In any case, go the Bonus point! (and whichever Bay you happen to support – I can't remember if it's Go the Bay, Up the Bay, On the Bay, Wi-hay the Bay – whatever)

Go the Bay = Bay of Plenty
C'mon the Bay = Hawkes Bay
It's a subtle…

Get rid of the bonus points system because it didn't work for Auckland?

And here I come in with my valiant defence of the bonus point, based on being someone who actually goes to the Air New Zealand Cup in person, in rain, hail and sleet (yes literally. That was…

The stupid thing is, if they got rid of two teams, and took away the quarter finals (just playing semis), then they could play a full round-robin. What a great idea, wonder if anything will come of it?

I totally agree.

It's really interesting the teams that didn't play each…

It also doesn't help that the round robin system this year meant that not every team played each other (something I am for)

Yeah that's dumb. A quick analysis of who played who makes you feel sorry for Otago.

There are 14 teams in the competition, you play 10 games,…

Yeah, but if we go back a bunch of years people were bitching about teams that got 'close' in a high scoring game, and got no reward at all. Six one way, half a dozen the other.

I'm in favour of the bonus point for coming close

Listen Commie*, you…

But what kind of system allows a 4-6 team into the post-season ahead of a 5-5 team?

Yeah, but if we go back a bunch of years people were bitching about teams that got 'close' in a high scoring game, and got no reward at all. Six one way, half…

For me personally the irony is that I'm always banging on about how I'd go to lots of games if they had daytime kick-offs. Then this year they do – thanks to the floodlights being down for the reconstruction

Although the Wellington shield challenge only 2 weeks ago was at…

Believe me, I'm no fan of Auckland and I take great delight that they aren't in the finals. But what kind of system allows a 4-6 team into the post-season ahead of a 5-5 team?

The weird thing was that Auckland's QF chances came down to Gus Collins' call on…

By the way, hands up if you knew Russell Brand had a football blog.

Not only that, the man is a Hammers fan. I really don't know how I feel about that. He did do a great job of baiting the Nazis though.

Get rid of the bonus points system because it didn't work for Auckland? Way to go on a rugby version of Bushite hubris

Well if I may: Auckland won more games! Hence it played better rugby than three of the teams above it on the table.

Believe me, I'm no…

That’s really funny.

It's part of a Waikato fan's job description to moan about loose forwards' All Black selection.

I think it's dreadful that Waikato have had so many quality loose forwards overlooked for the ABs over the years,

That’s really funny.

For fans of the surreal, here's a clearly tired and emotional Delia Smith:

Where are ya?

Auckland deserve to be out of the NPC for complaceny, as do Waikato. But, ah, we're in and the Aucks are out, so I…

By the way, hands up if you knew Russell Brand had a football blog.

*raises hand*

Though that process did go "Hey, Russell Brand has a blog at the Guardian!... Wait a minute, this is about football..."

Perhaps Auckland ought to learn from the mighty Magpies, with their thriving academy, overflowing stadia…

The "interview" lasted some time and all in all Kinnear swore 52 times.

But points off for the limited vocabulary. Kinnear should get himself a DVD of Full Metal Jacket and pay close attention to the Callas of cunning lingual obscenity that is R. Lee Ermey (the only actor Kubrick…