Hi Rugby Fans!

So what a year we're having.  The English sent packing, the Irish humbled.. wow.  The New Zealand All Blacks have also had a good start to the rep season, as too have South Africa up until meeting France.

We'll gloss over the *new* Super 14 semis and final - I mean, who actually "saw" the final anyway?  Damn shame they went ahead and played in such terrible conditions.

Anyhow, since all the Wallabies games are on free to air, I'll start to do some more blogging.  WATCH THIS SPACE

Rob

Hello and welcome to Super Rugby in 2006.

I'm your belated tour to Rugby in the southern hemisphere, and welcome aboard.  Okay, so I know it's almost halfway through the season, but I've been busy.

I joined a tipping comp this year and I'm ranked 8th out of 2,500 people.  So, based on that I think I know what I'm talking about (for a change) - or I'm really good at guessing.

Anyhow, few surprises this season, as the dominant Super 12 teams have remained at the top of the new Super 14 tournament.  The team to beat are the Canterbury Crusaders (who are almost always the team to beat).

Australia has two good teams in the hunt for playoff positions - the Brumbies and Waratahs.  The other New Zealand teams to watch are the Hurricanes and the Highlanders.  South Africa doesn't have too much to brag about, but the Bulls were doing OK until this weekend (they drew with the Chiefs).

This weekend (so far) has seen a top-of-the-table match between the Crusaders and the Waratahs - with the Crusaders pulling through for the victory.  The Blues gave the visiting Stormers a lesson in rugby, while the Force lost a close one to the Highlanders.  The Brumbies had a tight first half followed by an incredible second half as the Cheetas capitulated.

I don't have pay TV this year, so I'm watching the occasional game at the North Ryde RSL club.  Sometimes my kiwi friend and I catch a game at the Great Northern too.  Thus, my commentary is limited to what I read about in the sports newz, and the latest results.

All I can say at this stage is that the next month of Rugby is going to be excellent viewing.  I'm picking the finals to consist of: Crusaders, Waratahs and any of the following: Brumbies, Highlanders, Hurricanes.

Looking forward to the rep season, wonder what the new Wallabies coach is going to do?  A selection dilemma is on the cards.

P.S Congrats to George Gregan for his try tonight - breaking a 32-game dry-spell.

Well, S14 is officially off and we're headlong, almost through the first month.

I've only seen one match - Crusaders v Sharks - since we have the "no-pay tv" thing happening.  What I WANT TO KNOW is why the Australian games can't be bloody televised free-to-air (in Australia)?

A few Waratahs are expecting to feel the bench shortly, which ultimately can't hurt since a fair few of them have been on suspension anyways.

A few kiwis got into an internal team punch up (Hurricanes) in South Africa -- anyone sent home?

Anyhow that's all for now..