The Highlanders begin new chapter with team named for season opener

As good as any backrow on the planet.

Interestingly, last week in Buenos Aires I shared a table with a couple from Toulouse, who were at the Toulon game themselves, and were curious how much I knew about French club rugby. I explained the Brussels weather. They smiled and understood.

Now back in CA, biking again.

There was a time when both of us lost to England and we both hated it. Thankfully those days are behind us. Kudos to you guys, kudos to ABs. But dear old BS seems to hate us Boks. No idea why.

I'm also sure Razor knows his weakness still the 10-12-13 axis and he needs to introduce 2 or 3 new midfielders. J. Barrett and Ioane just do not work well together in attack. One or both need to be dropped from the centers. And its time to put ALB and Havili out to pasture.

Hopefully two or more of Lam, Tupaua, Higgins, Macleod, and Proctor have outstanding Super Rugby seasons and demand a starting spot at 12 or 13.

Whoever thought that 10 would be the weakest position in NZ Rugby. I don't have a clue who is capable of a massive boost in their performance and earn selection from the current 10s playing for the NZ Super franchises and capable of taking a spot from Barrett or McKenzie.

Seem to remember that they spoke to Gustard before appointing Joe and you really have to think he would have come in at a higher level?

The fact that Ben Smith is trying to justify the ABs losses by saying they were almost wins shows how far the ABs have slipped from their peak with Richie McCaw and Co.

Also Richie and friends would have settled a rare loss by winning comfortably the next round.

Now dear Ol' BS is spouting ridiculous statements by saying the other teams were no good. Funny how the teams that were no good somehow managed to beat the 'best team' in Ben Smith's world.

Hm makes you wonder doesn't it?

Ppl are saying that there is a willingness to let Joe work his way into international rugby but he's starting from a helluva lot lower base than Felix was. Atm the defensive side is crippling England's game, which winds us back to why Felix resigned when he did. I don't really understand the 12 month release clause either, surely it cannot be comfortable if he's looking over Joe and the players' shoulder from afar?

When the Aussie fans cracked up and got angry when Joe Schmidt was appointed, I said to them to be patient, that he will get them on the right track. They said that he is not Australian and he won nothing. Second best. I should mind my own business because I don't know the Aussie ways, which is true as I'm SA.

However, now that he is bringing in results, they are all changing their minds. Joe is all in when he coaches a team. There is no team he supports more than the team he coaches. His quality is shining through properly now.

It's going to be a very tight game, much tighter than people realise. Both teams is playing exciting rugby right now. They both want to win. I'd even go as far as marking this game as the top game of the weekend.