To be honest, my biggest issue with 10 is that the next division down only has 6 and it seems like a big waste of time.

Yeah, but I think that's the result of only bringing two up. And mergers that have happened over the past decade or so reducing…

Yes precisely. Ten teams would be more viable (actually 12, as there's two whole teams of All Blacks who can't play NPC.

To be honest, my biggest issue with 10 is that the next division down only has 6 and it seems like a big waste of time.

If the…

make Dan Vettori the head of the NZRU. The boy is a born multi-tasker.

Or Tiger Woods.

And Guptill seems to be our new wicket taking slow bowler. It might be arse-backwards, but it works for me.

Leading wicket taker. in the innings. Makes no sense, but a cracker of a game on.

Someone asked me yesterday "What's happening in the cricket?" to which I responded "It's a test match so probably nothing".

Yeah this test match cricket stuff is really boring. Whatever you do don't ever watch the last day because it'll only be a boring draw anyway.

I would wager that one big reason (not the only) for the change in the emphasis of the Canes was the abandonment of Athletic Park in favour of Westpac Stadium.

You're right. The Canes were getting capacity crowds in a 32,500 [though I've worked there on days when it's been…

I don't subscribe to the "NZRU are idiots" meme ( not that I think they are geniuses either ). But the democratic system means they can get stuck with some unions causing trouble. And of course trying to please everybody all the time

I know, the ops manager used to…

NZ just isn't big enough to support 14 professional rugby teams, particularly in a competition that basically has no all blacks.

New Zealand probably isn't supporting 14 professional rugby teams anyway, or at least not 14 teams where all members of the squad are paid a full wage. The teams…

Splitting the premier division into two pools immediately shortens the season & presumably that helps to save money, so that's the two big aims of the revamp sorted isn't it?

I'm not sure if it would. There's presumably a base contract rate which players get whether the season is 10 or…

Vettori as head of NZRU...

Good player, who through over-diversification of duties over time has lost touch with his core competency.

Perfect fit.

Meh. He'd make the team on his batting. In fact he'd make the team twice over on his batting given some of the batsmen who make the…

Actually, the only time the Hurricanes have played all their home matches in Wellington was 2008. But I see your point, and agree with it.

Yeah, I did exaggerate a little bit there :-) From your list though it is pretty obvious that in the 90s the Hurricanes were a…

the following would have happened:

Yup I agree entirely.

The tough men that play teh Rugby in NZ would have devolved into whiny babies.

The only reasonable response would have been
QQ moar

followed by

Working as intended

Good player, who through over-diversification of duties over time has lost touch with his core competency.

Perfect fit.

I suggest relegating one or two teams this year

And this highlights the complete F'up that is Rugby in NZ at the moment. If they just booted the worst team each year (even if it was Canterbury) then they could pretend to be a sport. But instead because they can't…

I'm so glad that in the middle of a cricket test match that NZ are actually doing well in the top sports news item is...

Someone asked me yesterday "What's happening in the cricket?" to which I responded "It's a test match so probably nothing".

But they all have pretty…

After all, for most of the unions if they don't have NPC they have pretty much nothing. Remember back in the 90s when Napier, Palmerston North & New Plymouth would all get a Hurricanes game – now they're lucky to get a pre-season game.

Actually, the only time the Hurricanes have…

After all, for most of the unions if they don't have NPC they have pretty much nothing. Remember back in the 90s…

This is the environment we're in. Everything is about the dollar and the only competition that's seen as bringing in that money to the unions is the NPC (in whatever form it takes).

But they all have pretty uniforms that you can buy so it's all good.

It was of…

But right from the start he wanted to…

But play the next season under the old rules. Lowest finishing teams get relegated. Everyone knows what they're playing for and you should get a hell of a season of NPC, where even the final weeks of games…

I see only one way out of this: make Dan Vettori the head of the NZRU. The boy is a born multi-tasker.

That's good, because I've already promoted him to halfback for world cup 2011.

And Dunedin needs him down here to be double sure that our stadium gets finished…

However, it is also clear the NZRU lacked the guts to simply say "the four lowest teams at the end of the 2009 season will be…

But it does seem like Steve Tew couldnt run a barbeque at the local rugby club

I don't subscribe to the "NZRU are idiots" meme ( not that I think they are geniuses either ). But the democratic system means they can get stuck with some unions causing trouble. And…