Splash 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2009 With the likely demotion of Otago to the new Heartland Championship, it is understood the the NZRFU will change the name of the Highlanders to the more appropriate Southland Highlanders. Apparently new merchandise is rolling off the production lines in China and fingers crossed should be available in stores for Christmas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2009 But that won't stop you wearing your much loved and well worn Stags jersey though will it Splash Good season for your team for sure. Can they cap it off next week? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue 4 Report post Posted October 16, 2009 Agree Last night was the biggest crowd I have seen for a while and for the 2nd year running looking at a semi-final. Southland area wise maybe the biggest region, their small population shows they are punching well above their weight. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talkabout 0 Report post Posted October 16, 2009 Maybe the power of rugby is moving to provinces,well growd wise anyway.Have to feel for the so called losing teams,Manawatu have lost a few by close scores,Northland likewise.Even on last few results you have to say Taranaki are playing for nothing,the pride seems gone,especially if semis are not an option from last week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooboy 1 Report post Posted October 17, 2009 Maybe the power of rugby is moving to provinces,well growd wise anyway.Have to feel for the so called losing teams,Manawatu have lost a few by close scores,Northland likewise.Even on last few results you have to say Taranaki are playing for nothing,the pride seems gone,especially if semis are not an option from last week. If it's taken on how they've gone on the park, there's no team that doesn't deserve to be there. Even Counties have put in some decent efforts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIGIT 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2009 With the likely demotion of Otago to the new Heartland Championship, it is understood the the NZRFU will change the name of the Highlanders to the more appropriate Southland Highlanders. Apparently new merchandise is rolling off the production lines in China and fingers crossed should be available in stores for Christmas. Unions that have a super 14 team are protected from relegation. so therefore Otago won't get relegated. Southland are broke........they are in danger Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Unit 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2009 What will be the Highlanders protected 24? Gets very messy in the back when you consider the new signings. I will have a crack below. Keen on other people's thoughts. Bear in mind their 24 must consist of a legitimate 22 plus two extras. I have listed below the names that may miss out. I have put two extra backs in for spots 23 and 24... I suspect they will go to the draft for a prop, lock and flanker. Chris King Jamie MacKintosh Clint Newland Jason Rutledge David Hall Tom Donnelly Josh Bekhuis Hayden Triggs Adam Thomson Alando Soakai Stephen Setefano Tim Boys Jimmy Cowan Sean Romans Chris Noakes Robbie Robinson Jayden Hayward Michael Hobbs Johnny zzzta James Paterson Fetu'u Vainikolo Karne Heskith Ben Smith Israel Dagg In danger of missing out... Keith Cameron Jason MacDonald Aaron Bancroft Pehi Te Whare Glen Horton James Wilson Jason Kawau Brett Mather Lucky Mulipola Kendrick Lynn Ryan Shortland Michael Witt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Reid 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2009 Would be very interesting to analyse the crowd stats from each Air NZ Cup team. I am sure the likes of Southland, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay will be leading the way... It is very evident that the excitement for Air NZ Cup rugby this year very much lies outside the main centres, possibly with the exception of Wellington... And the NZRB are going to tinker once again with a format that seems to be working just fine. Ofcourse financial issues need to be sorted out and there could be arguments for dropping 1 or 2 teams from the Air NZ cup due to lack of community support and sponsorship. Bring back promotion/relegation... I remember in the 90's when Bay of Plenty, Southland, Hawkes Bay and Northland battled between each other for the chance to make it into the 1st division. It was magic and it certainly added an intensity and dimension to 2nd division that is now sadly left wanting. Also the desperate fight to stay off the bottom of the 1st division is now a non issue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE TORCH 657 Report post Posted October 22, 2009 20 minutes to go and its Southland 6-3. Sounds like a HEAP of Southlanders in the crowd and good on them. Jon Preston isCanterbury rugby's version of Mark Nicholas. Goooooooo the Stags! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE TORCH 657 Report post Posted October 22, 2009 Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssss! Haha suck on that Canterbury! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE TORCH 657 Report post Posted October 22, 2009 Tasman Man...where aaaarrrreeee yooouuu, where aaarrrrreeeeee yooouuuu, where aaarrreeeee yooouuu.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommo Reid 0 Report post Posted October 22, 2009 Brilliant!!! How good was that! One thing is for sure if the NZRB decide to soldier ahead with dropping 4 teams SOuthland have guarenteed their safety as I doubt the NZRB would like to see the shield go down to Heartland rugby. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooboy 1 Report post Posted October 22, 2009 Brilliant!!! How good was that! One thing is for sure if the NZRB decide to soldier ahead with dropping 4 teams SOuthland have guarenteed their safety as I doubt the NZRB would like to see the shield go down to Heartland rugby. This just goes to highlight the fickle nature of who gets the axe. At the start of the season Southland was in the gun, largely due to its poor finances and low population. Now after a great season capped off by winning the Ranfurly Shield there is no way Southland will be cut. If nothing else, the Big Five provinces who control Steve Tew will tell him the Shield must remain in the top division, so Southland must stay. Steve needs to unshackle himself from the clutches of the Big Five and look at what winning the Shield means to a province like Southland (or Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Northland, etc, etc). This is where the true heartbeat of NZ rugby lies. This is where the passion remains. Don't flush it down the dunny Steve. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
il_vicolo 0 Report post Posted October 23, 2009 CONGRATS STAGS!!! Habour should be first team to go!!! Final! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat 25 Report post Posted October 25, 2009 CONGRATS STAGS!!! Habour should be first team to go!!! Final! I've always said that the bottom 4 should go if thats the criteria,but it isnt.Harbour on this years performances should be demoted.But the first to go??Where do you base this from?Has your daughter been shafted by a Harbour player? The criteria(which I DONT agree with) is based on the last 4 years and consists of crowd support,sponsors,financial and playing performance.Harbour is safe because of finances and performance over 4 years.So,sorry bout dat:D As I have said,the comp should remain at 14 teams.join www.saveourteams.co.nz and voice your opinion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
il_vicolo 0 Report post Posted October 25, 2009 Totally agree with you. I would much prefer the 14 team competition but with Harbour under perfroming this season and Auckland right next door, not too mention Counties and Northland in the province, especially Northland who have more tradition. Lets just hope everything stays as it has been like this year, the unpredicability of this competition makes it worth watching unlike the Super 14. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...