Manu Tuilagi: Fighting Ashton, Auckland ferry jump, scariest brother

In 1994 people some were 100% sure that you can’t play rugby in NZ summer.

Either the North or South need to move their seasons to have a synchronized season. Imagine a North vs South finals series each year (both in Internationals, Second Tier and Third Tier)? Mega bucks. The South has the most to gain, so they should take the initiative.

They were underdone mentally for tough internationals. It’s all easy when you’re winning, but when the pressure comes on in internationals they were underprepared.

But so far they have been erratic, brilliant plays interspersed with poor handling, poor decision making, and sheer stupidity. The latter highlighted by both McReight and Daugunu, albeit in different games, handling the ball at the ruck, when lying on the ground. Would like to see a “stupidity fine” for such actions, say $1000.00 for first offence…and that is a serious comment.

I would see this weekend in Christchurch as a tough one for the Reds, especially without LSL still, and now Flook and Uru. Any team with Will Jordan has to be respected.

The Waratahs sit on two wins, but by 1 and five points only. Their roster is strong, but still they don’t look a cohesive team yet. The Force are a far better team this year, and could well cause an upset in this upcoming game.

I think the Brumbies will struggle more this year to get up over the top sides, especially the NZ teams, and away from home. I feel Stephen Larkham has a ceiling as a coach, which he is struggling the breach. Taking on the Blues in Auckland could turn nasty. Vern Cotter’s scrum focus, and success in that aera so far will be a big test for our side.

Where I see th NZ sides, alll of them, ahead of our teams, is the speed and accuracy of their breakdown work. Their scrum halves have a far easier role than any Australian 9. The other area of superiority for the NZ teams is the speed at which they exploit areas, take chances.

Anyway, upset results so far have certainly made this year far more interesting than previous years. Long may this continue.

Merge the Highlanders and Crusaders into the Southern Crusaders if we had to merge two teams.

More likely that Chay Fihaki will get a start, than Stevenson will get another.

I don’t think the BIP stat has much relevance to what you’re interested in. For instance, I don’t think that stat has any bearing on match length. You could have the same refereeing and 35min bip, with one match taking 2hrs, the other 1hr 50. Obviously the shorter match is going to introduce more fatigue though.

Yeah will be interesting to see some analysis done on the comparitive injuries between each as well.