Coast Swamps Foxes

East Coast 43 Thames Valley 13

Saturday 6th October 2007 at Rhodes Park, Thames, 2pm
Ref: Mike Fraser (Wellington) Crowd: 500 HT 6-5 Valley

By Steve Hale at Rhodes Park

Ngati Porou East Coast scored seven tries while demolishing Thames Valley in a stunning display of running rugby. Following a stirring pre match haka, the Coasters immediately took control, dominating both possession and territory. A superior scrum anchored by Mike Noble, enabled veteran number eight Horace Lewis to splinter the Valley defence repeatedly with his punishing trademark running and offloading.
Against the run of play the Valley somehow managed to cling to a slender lead at the break, until the visitors opened the floodgates early in the second spell. Buoyed on by their legendary posse of travelling supporters, East Coast proceeded to tear the local side to shreds, dotting down six times in forty minutes. The explosive acceleration and timing of fullback Anthony Heal caused the local tacklers countless nightmares, while halfback Charlie Harrison directed his troops expertly behind a rampant pack. Replacement prop Tainui Forrester completed the rout by converting the final try, leaving the shattered Swamp Foxes with wounds to lick before their semi final fixture next week.

East Coast: 15 Anthony Heal 14 Esava Vakacereisoso 13 Doone Harrison 12 Tikarau Callaghan (Seamus Kennedy) 11 Jonah Tuitoga 10 Lance Maaka (Matt Richards) 9 Charlie Harrison 8 Horace Lewis (Te Rae Parata) 7 Daniel Townsend (Robyn Wylie) 6 Morgan Wirepa Junior (c) 5 Richard Schofield 4 Kerehama Blackman 3 Mike Noble (Jason Mataira) 2 Harawira Matakihi (Richard Tuhaka) 1 Ray Brown (Tainui Forrester)
Scorers: Heal (2), Tuitoga, Lewis, Parata, Doone Harrison, Charlie Harrison: Cons: Vakacereisoso (2), Heal, Forrester

Thames Valley: 15 David Harrison 14 Danny Watson 13 Sheldon Waetford (Robbie Hooper) 12 Steve Hill (c) 11 Chris Doakes (Taitusi Nawakawaka 10 Brendon Clark 9 Simon Adams (Dan Hitchcock) 8 Filo Tuuga (Te Ra Arthur) 7 Matt Tilyard 6 Shane Davy 5 Glen Townsend 4 Gene Waller (Nick Holmes) 3 Mark Verner 2 Matt Biu (Jade Ta Whiti) 1 Travis Twizel (Jamie Gifkin)
Scorers: Tries: Nawakawaka: Cons: Harrison: Pen: Harrison (2)

Red Beards 1st XV

Red Beards 1st XV


15. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
For the simple reason that my grandfather was a Jock and he would have demanded that I had one Big Sweaty in my run on side.

14. Tana Umaga (Petone)
For spending a good five minutes bouncing RB junior on his knee after my young fella nearly died from the shock of seeing Tana at an after match function. A genuine legend of All Black rugby.

13. Danny Gerber (South Africa)
Man of Steel. Did 4000 sit-ups a day, could out sprint a cheetah and tackled like an incestuous water buffalo.

12. Philippe Sella (France)
May have preferred outside centre but any back that can drop Peter Fitzsimons deserves a place in my team.

11. Brian Lima (Manu Samoa)
I like backs that can tackle and have to take my hat off to any bloke who could still play test rugby in their late 40s.

10. Hugo Porta (Argentina)
A fantastic player who had all the skills. Being a Puma Im sure he could also supply some seriously big T Bones for the BBQ.

George Gregan (Australia)
Simply the best and still going strong. A true champion on and off the field.

Buck Shelford (Navy)
Bring Back Buck. My backups would have been ‘The Bull of Dax’ Laurent Rodriguez (France) followed by Lozza Dallagio (England).

Ruben Kruger (South Africa)
The type of man who a pack of bulldogs would tiptoe past.

Arran Hopa (Waikato)
Covered in tats, the Taupri rubbish collector was also a staunch member of a local bikie gang. Not a man to be trifled with. To drown at sea was such a tragedy.



Keith Robinson (Te Aroha COBRAS)
Play footy with Robbo and he will automatically become your favourite lock also. Could supply all the wild pork, ACDC and JDs for any team function.

Martin Johnson (Tihoi)
King Country seems to be developing a habit of producing one world beating lock every 50 years. Married a Kiwi girl from the bush so you have to take your hat off to the bloke! Next in line would be a really nasty piece of work, Olivier Merle (France).

Jean-Pierre Gauret (France)
Short, barrel shaped, strong as an ox and as filthy as they come. The fitness or discipline of this Lourdes potato merchant wouldn’t endear him to the modern game, but in the 80s he was the best in the business. If Gauret was suspended from the game, I would draft in Olo Brown as his replacement. Jason Leonard also came under serious consideration for both his drinking and scrummaging skills.

Andrew Campbell (Coromandel & Thames Valley)
If it wasn’t for a broken neck and a lag in prison this guy would have been an All Black. The former NZ Maori rep returned to the fray at nearly 40, to anchor a Thames Valley scrum that dominated Natal in 1994. The best player I ever opposed. Unlucky to miss the cut were Keith Wood (Ireland) and Tommy Lawton (Australia)

Carl Hoeft (Te Aroha COBRAS)

Not the flashiest, not an impact player or a big ball carrier, but a human scrum machine. A man who will always put the team first. Is respected by his peers for never having a bad word to say about anyone. Often lets himself down badly by trying to impersonate Elvis on the dance floor, but never fails to punish himself by pounding the pavement for a solid hour the morning after a night on the piss. Honourable mentions for Pascal Ondarts (France) and Topo Rodriguez (Argentina), both formidable looseheads.

Chiefs S14 Preview 2008

Written by Red Beard

Saturday, 26 January 2008

Three massive assignments first up with the Tribe who will have to battle the Blues, Tahs and Canes on consecutive Saturdays. Personally I won’t be holding my breath in the hope of three bonus point victories. The Chiefs success will depend on how well they embrace and adapt to the new rules. If the new ELVS favour more mobile, agile, skilful sides, the Meat Eaters could struggle, which may well work to the Waikato based franchises advantage. Personnel changes and the new ELVS aside, it’s still been basic handling errors and poor decision making, that have plagued the Chiefs over the last decade. If the boys can make those passes stick and stay injury free, they have the firepower to mix it with the best. But can they produce the consistency and cool headedness in the heat of battle to make the knockout stages?

New Chiefs: Ben May, Prop (Tasman),Kevin O'Neill, Lock (Waikato)Tom Harding, Loose forward (Wellington)Hayden Hopgood, Loose forward (Canterbury)Faifili Levave, Loose forward (Wellington)Callum Bruce, Second five-eighth (Otago)Viliame Waqaseduadua, Wing (North Harbour).

Notable Losses: Robbo, Porn star, Mazda Bates, Marty Holah, Nathan White, Roy (I don’t rush back on defence for anyone) Kinikinilau, Warren Gatland (all Waikato). Can’t think of any others offhand.

Players to Watch:

Richard Kahui

While for many the jury is still out on the strapping Tokoroa lad’s ability, I believe Kahui is all class and the solution to the All Blacks midfield conundrum. Provided he can keep himself out of the sick bay, Kahui has the potential to be New Zealand’s player of the season in 2008.

Tanerau Latimer

An outstanding flanker, Latimer shared the openside role with Marty Holah the role last season. For the Chiefs to excel in 2008, Latimer, Messam and Lauaki will all need to hit the ground running. Together they will form a potent Chiefs loose forward unit which will have the measure of any trio in this competition.

Personnel:

Outside Blouses: A first choice back three of Mils, Sivi and Masaga looks pretty damn shit hot to me. Not so sure about the consistency of Waqaseduadua. Apparently Anesi is finally getting back to his best physical condition since 2005 (about bloody time). Sweeney will be on hand to slice the citrus.

Midfield Blouses: Much is expected from the return of Kahui. Bruce and Lavea are both capable playmakers to partner the big fella. I wont fall off my seat in shock if Mils pops up in midfield either.

Inside Blouses: Donald is developing into a handy pivot. I was sick of seeing his punts being charged down last season, but he attacks the line nicely and sets up his outside well. Leonard will continue to thrive as first choice halfback.

Loose Forwards: Along with the back three, the loosies are the strength of the 2008 Chiefs. Potentially an outstanding unit, Messam is an All Black in waiting, Latimer an old head on young shoulders and Lauaki a physical beast. If these three can remain injury free, two of Leavave, Harding and Hopgood will become well acquainted with the Hotdog caravan behind the back the Wel Energy stand.

Tight Forwards: Three career journey men at lock, plus the outstanding but injury prone Gibbes. The losses of Robinson and White will severely deplete the Chiefs forward pack, who had been barring up nicely over the last few seasons. I would like to see the ball of muscle De Malmanche replace the veteran Willis and add some real grunt and go forward. Much will be expected of Ben Castle who will have to anchor the tighthead side in Whites absence.

Probable Placing (and why):

Mid table. The Tribe will lose four games in the first 8 rounds (by seven points or less) through basic handling errors that will prove costly. They will then dust themselves off, circle their wagons and storm back midway through the tourney (playing sublime attacking footy), beating eventual 2008 champions along the way. But alas we will miss out on semi finals by two measly bonus points.

Go the Chiefs!

Star Shines on Wing

Heartland Rugby Championship Match Report

South Canterbury 28 Thames Valley 24

Saturday 22 September at Paeroa Domain, Paeroa, 2pm

Ref: Matthew Muir (Canterbury) Crowd: 450, HT: South Canty 14-10


South Canterbury emerged deserved victors from a highly entertaining display of running rugby played on an excellent surface. Last minute injuries forced the visitors to field an unusual line-up, which included powerhouse lock Star Tuliakiono starting on the right wing. The southerners began strongly, their burly tight five laying the platform for number eight Roydon Palmer to open the scoring. The Valley hit back with a sensational try to skipper Steve Hill, who capitalised on a barnstorming surge by veteran loosie Dave Dillon.
Powerful running and excellent offloading by the southern men resulted in further scores and they appeared to be cruising midway through the second spell. However the tenacious Swamp Foxes bounced back, dotting down twice out wide in the last quarter.
For the visitors lock Tui Tauelangi was prominent in all phases of play while the dynamic Tukiakiano often left a trail of Thames Valley defenders sprawling in his wake. Hooker Matt Biu was powerful with ball in hand for the Valley and left winger Vesse Raulini looked dangerous, especially from broken play.

South Canterbury
15 Filipo Cameron (Issac Tuala), 14 Maile Langi, 13 Shane Spiers, 12 Steve Katua, 11 Star Tuliakiono, 10 Mark Tutton, 9 Seto Sauiro (Yellow Card), 8 Roydon Palmer (Jarrod Hayman), 7 Richard Phiskie (Kali Latu), 6 Johnny McFadzean, 5 Tui Tauelangi, 4 Angus Lang, 3 Sione Tukiakiano (Fai Saveti), 2 Fai Saveti (Foi Saeana), 1 Matt Fetu
Scorers: Tries: Palmer, Sauiro, Tuliakiono (Star), Fetu. Cons: (4) Tutton

Thames Valley
15 David Harrison (Taitusi Ngawaqwaqa), 14 Blair Rawlins, 13 Sheldon Waetford, 12 Steve Hill, 11 Vesse Raulini, 10 Brendon Clark (Chris Doak), 9 Dan Hitchcock (Simon Adams), 8 Dave Dillon, 7 Filo Tuuga (Matt Tilyard), 6 Nick Holmes, 5 Glen Townsend, 4 Gene Waller, 3 Mark Verner, 2 Matt Biu (Jade Ta Whiti), Travis Twizle (Jamie Gifkin)
Scorers: Tries: Hill, Rawlins, Holmes. Cons: (3) Harrison. Pens: (1) Harrison

Bulldogs tiptoed past him.

The 45 yr old ball of muscle grunted his way through another gruelling hill sprint while much younger men are bent over on their haunches recovering and preparing for the next gutbusting effort. You could always tell when Mick was running behind you because all you could hear would be a rasping, heaving sound as if a Boeing jet engine was misfiring and in need of desperate electrical repair. Sometimes we were worried that there would be no pure oxygen left for the rest of us, because Mick was frantically sucking it all up himself. His burly frame made its almost impossibe to imagine that this man began his senior rugby more than three decades earlier in the midfield.

I doubt many loved their rugby as much as Mickey. He epitomised the very best values of a Waikato club rugby player. He was man of few words, wasnt at all interested in the latest training innovations and certainly didnt hydrate himself with the amount of water prescribed by the puritans following the game, but make no mistake rugby ran thickly through his veins. He would always front up and give everything he had to the cause. Even in his late 40s he was still turning out for the Morrinsville Sports Senior Bs, anchoring the set piece at tighthead prop and putting the fear of God into many of the opposition with his own version of bush justice.

The majority of his playing career was spent with Morrinsville Old Boys club until their almalgamation with Marist to form Morrinsville Sports, who Mickey represented for several seasons in the twilight of his career. Morrinsville Sports are now a solid 1st Division outift and recently celebrated one of their own Brendon Leonard, as the clubs first All Black.


Decked out in his usual faded denim Morrinsville Sports club shirt, old jeans, sneakers, shaved head covered by that blue Yankees cap, bristling handle bar moustache plus a few faded works of bodyart on his hands Mick didnt look like a man to be trifled with. His hands were like shovels, fingers the size of sausages from years of boning carcasses and the physique of a man who had lived a life of hard graft. But that description neglects to take into account the beaming smile, happy eyes, and sincere warmth his mates loved so much, although members of opposing teams were not fortunate enough to enjoy. He was also a loving husband, father and koro who was adored by his family.


My first recollections of Mick were that he was more than a little wary of me, possibly regarding me as a threat to take over his position or replace one of his team mates. Another staunch old Morrinsville prop said he was also received the cold shoulder until Mick was satified he could handle himself on the field. Once you were accepted words cant descrbe the bond that developed between our front row. For the next few seasons our scrum became a lethal weapon, disposing of much bigger forward packs with relative ease. Our front row combination fitted together like a glove. If you are lucky enough to play in the front row with the right guys who happen to be you be great mates with you are onto a winner. The emotional aspect of rugby should never be discounted. Its just as vital a piece in the puzzle as fitness and skills. When you are on completely the same wavelength as your team mates and know how they will dig in when the pressure comes on, you have something special on your hands. And we did.

Mick didnt know how to take a backward step. He had no reverse gear and he would do whatever he thought was necessary (whether they were in the IRB rule books or not) to look after his team mates. I never heard him bragging about his pugolistic prowess but quite clearly he was not a hombre to trifle with. I remember the expressions of caution and concern amongst the oppostion oneday at Rugby Park, after Mick arrived on the field as a replacement.

There are many great yarns about Mick and his big brown fists that I would love to share but simply dont have time but there are a few worth telling. Oneday at Cambridge one of the boys copped a boot to the kisser in the first few minutes of the game. Mickey bided his time and waited, until everyone including the opposing perpetrator had forgotten all about the incident.....and then he struck. It was after the final whistle actually while most of the guys were getting off the ground and preparing to shake hands, Mick picked his moment and struck with precison. Utu. Dont mess with Morrinsville. We went onto win the championship that year.

There is another great yarn about Mick and his brother Kiwi cleaning up a bunch of bikies outside the Ohaupo Tavern after a club game. Mick was across the road at the Takeaways watching everything kick off for several minutes until he came sprinting over to entered the fray. When someone later asked why he took so long to join the melee, he replied "I was busy eating my Hawaiian burger."


One of my favourite stories was when two brothers in our backline both suffered serious leg injuries during the same match and were rushed to hosptial. It would be fair to say the two didnt have the greatest pain threshold in the world and there was alot of yelping going on and Mick was not impressed. He turned to me and grumbled "Listen to those little bitches moan, anybody would think they are related." I was quite surprised by Micks reaction given that he had played rugby with the brothers for about four seasons, but obviously never made the connection.

Mick loved the third half just as much as the previous eighty minutes and enjoyed nothing better than staying behind in the sheds to help his front row colleagues polish off a cheap flagon of port. After a few hours with his mates and family in the clubrooms he usually shuffled off with his wife to the infamous public bar of the Nottingham Castle. Although he didnt say much you could tell 'Hootin Annie' relished the culture of club rugby and his valued his place in the team. Up and coming professional players could have learnt alot from him.

Mickey passed away unexpectedly after a short illness in 2005. He has gone but will never be forgotten. Thankfully the legacy continues with a strapping young centre named Micheal Hotene making his mark in this years Morrinsville Sports senior side.

Provincial Diehards Corner: Waikato or Bust.

Being a Diehard Waikatoite is not a lifestyle choice, a part time occupation or simply something fun to do before you hit the suds in the Tron on a Saturday night. For a true believer it gets in your blood, into your lungs, engulfs your very soul, makes a man feel as if his only worthy purpose in life is to ring the bells while purging himself on the mighty swamp water, before recoilling violently the next day, often regurgitating several Big Bens onto the front lawn in the process. Its far too simplistic to identify a generic Waikato thug as we all come in an array of shapes, sizes, ethnicities, drive various types of V8 and of course possess a vast range of criminal convictions. There are many different models; the Punjabee dairy owner decked out in the latest version of the Waikato strip, some old biddee from Ohaupo in her home knitted Red, Yellow and Black tea cosy. Then there will be the horsey types in moleskins from Cambridge, the bros from Huntly, a rash of mothered students or a ute load of bushmen from the backblocks of Pirongia. Together We are Waikato.

Its not that glamourous being a member of the Waikato bretheren, we dont hit pay dirt as often as those Jaffas or the disciples of the Christchurch Pony Club. Maybe thats what makes the highs so intense, the fact that we are prepared to wait 14 years for each NPC win, although to be fair we do tend to pick up the Log with some form of uniformed regularity several times between each successful cup campaign. Waikato is not a flashy union, the players dont all live in Ponsnoby or Fendalton and spend their downtime sipping lattes. They hail from rural hicksville hamlets such as Morrinsville, Taupiri and Tokoroa, where men are men and beasts are scared. Men of the land, who work all day with chainsaws and cows and dig holes to bury festering bullet ridden carcasses. Waikato players are highly esteemed and accepted members of the community, who actually know what the inside of their clubrooms look like and are even prepared to chew the cud with their loyal supporters on a Saturday night over a Chateau Waikato or three.

I rememer the first time I arrived at Rugby Park, when I heard those mighty bells toll. It was a day I will never forget, September the 27th 1986. Waikato were battling Bucks Shefords uppity mob from Devonport. Twas a must win end of season encounter for both teams, the winner gaining promotion back to the NPC 1st Division. The delapidated old park was packed to the gunnels, heaving with red, yellow and black clad lunatics amidst the heavenly waft of Oxford pies blowing across the park from the from the Fraser Tech end tuck shop engulfing my nasal cavaties. Waikato won this classic encounter with a length of the field try in injury time to Darryl Halligan (sporting a full crop in those days) after the ball changed hands no less that 47 times between Mooloo players in a move that began in their in goal area. The events of this outing began my indoctrination with all things Mooloo.

Over the next twenty years I would visit the park countless times, even playing on it during the odd club semi final, until finally the curtains came down on Rugby Park as we know it for the magnificent erection we now know as Waikato Stadium. In many ways I miss the old Rugby Park, its delapidated rotten bleachers lined with raw gravel underfoot, a scoreboard that looked as if it had been assembled by a blind man in a dark room, and of course the treacherous muddy banks, perfect for pushing Auckland supporters down at opportune moments. I remember the special things about this bygone era of rugby, how there were no restrictions on alcohol consumed or in fact bought into the stadium. I can recall carrying a tray of Waikato cans into a game in the early 90s while the old goat on the gate gave me a wink and a muttered out a "Good on yer son," as I sauntered past him with my sponsored products proudly on display for all to see. I reckon everyone was half cut at the ground back in the day.

Dont get me wrong, Im not so set in my ways that I am unable to embrace or cope with change. I love the new Waikato Stadium particularly the way they the traditional elements of the ground we cherished like The Greenzone and Willies Corporate Box have been retained. The Greenzone is comparable to the iconic mecca of Carisbrook that all and sundry fondly referred to as the terraces. It is a grassy knoll awash with thick diced vomit underfoot, the all too alluring aroma of cannabis sativa littering the airspace and more black supertaper pairs of Levis and steelcap boots than you would find at an ACDC concert. And for the uncouth underclass with no taste whatsever who maybe reading this, I doubt you can comprehend the signifcance and status attached to Willies Box. Quite simply a duck shooting mai mai appeared on the bank at Rugby Park oneday in 97 and it has been a revered and rich part of the fabric of the ground to this very day. The lucky recipients who win tickets to the box are entitled to free mince pies and as a keg of draught for the duration of that weekends home game. Before I shuffle off and pop my clogs, I hope oneday to become one of the chosen few who can put up their hands upon meeting their maker and say with pride to all and sundry, "I watched a game in Willies Box!"

There have been numerous characters who emptomise what Waikato rugby is all about and Im not only talking about the players. We are a special breed. Men like Leigh Cooksley the cranky and miserable Mk II Cortina driving head groundsman who once ordered selector John Hart out of the tunnel during an All Black trial telling him he had no right to be there. Or modern day Waikato icons like Possum (on home leave from the Henry Bennett Centre), who hovers over the eastern end of the stadium during matches in a cherry picker revving up his chainsaw whenever the oppostion are taking kicks at goal. After the game Possums lollie scrambles are legendary, as he biffs sweeties down to brawling children from a height of 15 feet.

I will never tire of sitting back in my seat at the stadium and admiring the sea of different Waikato jersies in attendance at any home game. Some of the jersies are at least ten seasons old but still worn with great pride. Bus loads pour in from the backblocks of Tokoroa, Te Awamutu and Ngaruwahia, full of well lubricated diehards. Many of the cockies have welded their own Mooloo bells together in the barn, they are always more imposing than the piddly little ones on sale in town and with twice the clang.

The Waikato rugby fraternity is a diverse mix of harsh and brutal contrasts. From rural, to professional. From white collar to criminal. Dreads to Baldhead. Every second Saturday night for eighty minutes they come together under a sea of Red, Yellow and Black, they all unite and pool resources together for one common purpose. Its a beautiful thing.

Loan Sharks

While there is plenty to admire about the pluck and grit shown by the minnows in this years ANZ Cup, the little fish will never be able to foot it with the big boys so long as the NZRU allow unions like Canterbury and Auckland to double dip. The current transfer regualtions are nothing short of a farce, with unions able to lend players out to their rivals (who also pay a good portion of their wages) only to demand their return whenever they deem necessary. It would appear this is yet another example of the big boys finding a loophole, not only to beat the salary cap, but also ultimately to disadvantage their opponents. Already this season two ANZ Cup players, Tom McCartney and Ben Franks have managed to represent four provinces between them. This isnt a new phenomenon of course with players such as James Arlidge and Miah Nikora having been shuffled around mid season by the likes of Auckland and Wellington respectively in the past.

Take the case of Ben Franks, the tighthead prop, who was loaned by Canterbury to Tasman this season. Franks and another promising Crusaders prop Ben May had established themselves as the cornerstone of this seasons Makos forward pack. Unfortunately for Tasman, Canterbury found themselves next in line for a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato. Suddenly Franks was released from the Tasman squad and returned to the Red and Blacks, so he could take his place on the bench for Canterbury in Hamilton. As the situation stands now, Franks is not going to get the 80 minutes of gametime every week that he desperately needs to pick up a Super 14 contract. From a Crusaders perspective, it would have much made more sense to leave him at Tasman where he clock up valuable experience in the number three jersey.

To add insult to Tasmans injury, Franks was nowhere to be seen in the shield defence against Hawkes Bay, just six days later. There were no press releases I could find listing any injury to Franks, so it would appear that Canterbury were happy to disrupt the rest of Tasmans season so they could have more firepower on the bench for one game. Im sure Franks will be seen again on the bench later in the season for the Auckland match, which hardly makes his aquisition anymore worthwhile in my book.

Of course technically Canterbury havent done anthing wrong and Tasman have benefited from having Franks service for a minute portion of the season. Im sure the Makos would have been only too well aware of the conditions of Franks services as laid down by their big bro Canterbury. However Tasman don't want to bite the hand that feeds them so realistically they arent in a position of strength to complain publically about the matter. The loss of such a valuable player in a pivotal position will effectively derail any slim chance Tasman may have of making the semi finals. Lets also cast our minds back to Rico Gear and the disruptions he has caused to Tasmans prepearations, both this year and last. Now Ali Williams has signed with Tasman, with the obvious intention of lure of a Crusaders berth. Im certainly not going to hold my breath at the prospect of Ali managing to play the amount of games required to receive his blazer for Tasman.

What sort of a competition exactly is the ANZ Cup when players can turn out for two provinces in the same season? There is also the possibilty that a player could end up playing against a union they have already represented only weeks earlier. Confidential information concerning tactics and strategies would of course be passed onto new team mates and undermine everything that smaller union was trying to achieve. For teams to succeed their personel need continuity of selection. The sudden withdrawal of key players effectively destroys the valuable momentum that winning teams thrive on and feed off.

Its high time the NZRU forced the hand of the heavyweights by abolishing the transfer system, which would in turn see more players move unions to get exposure and regular top level rugby. Provincial unions can afford to bankroll a finite number of players. The likes of Ben Franks would either find themselves selected in the Canterbury ANZ Cup squad or would move to a union like Tasman on a fulltime basis. Unions like Bay of Plenty continually find themselves stuck in a rebuilding mode year after year as their better talent is continually snapped up by bigger provinces or offers from abroad.The five Super 14 franchise host unions have been given enough advantages by the NZRU over the last ten years, without continuoulsy benefiting from the flawed transfer system. The likes of Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, Waikato and Otago have been able to lure new players to their provinces with the added carrot of a Super 14 contract dangled tantalisingly nearby. Waikato and the Chiefs have made the first worthy step into dissolving this partnership by appointing individual CEOs to run their two organisations as seperate entities. Whether this split dissolves the link between host union and host franchise remains to be seen, as does the likelihood of the four main unions following their lead.For the ANZ Cup to become a truly dynamic and inspiring, we need new winners names engraved on the trophy.

Since the inception of the NPC playoffs system in 1992 only the five Super 14 base unions have managed to win this competition which has been dominated by Canterbury and Auckland. Will the likes of Manawatu or Counties oneday become legitamate title contenders or should their supporters accept they are only there to make up the numbers? Unless the NZRU take a stand, our provincial rugby will continue to be predictable and anything but competitive at the business end of the season.