Air New Zealand Cup 2009

So Bottom 4 are

Manawatu
North Harbour
Northland
Counties Manukau

I would hope these are the teams that would drop down, but North Harbour has to much $$$ unfortunately, so looks like Tasman or maybe Taranaki...

which stinks IMO, should be based more on results

Taranaki wont go dude. NZRU indicated that four teams are: Northland, Tasman, Hawks Bay and Manawatu.

Hang on... Counties too. Northland might live another day.

I thought it was going to be Manawatu, Northland, Tasman and Counties that the talk was about being ditched?

Hawkes Bay??

Now that's just stupid to kick one of your semi finalists out...



what a cluster f*ck this will turn into again, considering the NPC has had better ratings than the Super 14

Everyone knows who the four to go will be - Manawatu, Countie-Manakau, Tasman and Northland.

Personally I think only North Harbour and Counties-Manakau deserve to be dumped.

Hawkes Bay is a gonner. Without Gillford (who is currently on ABs duties) crowds of fans refused to support NZ rugby. Go figure.

Removing Nth Harbour wood be utterly retarded. Get a clue...haters

Southland were widely mooted as a possibilty earlier. BUT WAIT. THEY HAVE THE SHEILD. Shield = 2nd div prize? ahhhhhhhh ha ha. No. Nice work there Southland imo

what? really? wow. Why would they hate the NZRU for elevating one of their own? Sounds weird.

Yep, some retarded people.

Do they think it's some conspiracy to make them lose the semi final in selecting one of their best players for the ABs?

Nah, Roman is just showing us he is an endearingly inept troller after I said I wanted the All Blacks to lose on Saturday because Henry didn't pick Guilford.

You like a little kid, who didn't get the candy. Grow up fishboy and start acting your age. The only thing is inept is your warped reasoning behind not supporting All Blacks. What fuck kind of NZer are you? I'm not a NZer and want ABs to win. I bet even re-action would rather ABs to win. Maybe you should start thinking outside your beloved province. Zac is a gifted player and he will get his chance. Why on earth would Henry start him over two already established players?

And you have my condolences.

No need. I'm pretty happy with my heritage. Seems like you're confused. Luckily not every NZer thinks the way you do.

Counties produced Lomu, who is better than every single Hawkes Bay ever combined

Oh, and the Counties first five has won more titles than Hawkes Bay ever has, combined :>

lol z


Im cheering for your team here fish_boy....but in all honesty they look like a total rabble out there atm.

Shows how awesome Southland were against Cunterbury last week, holding them to 3 points.

Southland to repeat the dose against Wellington tonight.

Hawke's Bay were hopeless last night, they didn't fire a shot. What an anti-climax to finish the season on!

They've been guilty on a few occassions this season of turning up with game already won in their heads, and last night was another example.

The team gets far to much uncritical worship down in the Bay, and in the end the locals don't do them any favours in the mental preparation stakes.

Oh well, season is over for me now. I'll watch the All Black games, but I'm switching off the "care" button until next Easter. Bring on the cricket season!!!

Southland put up a good fight, but the depth of Wellington came through in the end, along with the RS hangover that was evident at the end of the match with some of the stags falling off tackles allowing WLG to run away with it.

Southland will be better for it next season.

I have to say though, shame on either Wellington RFU, the NZRU or both. Wellington: Your crowd of under 10k at the caketin for a semi-final was PITIFUL.

Roll on THE cricket season indeed, although I am looking forward to catching up with the RS down here over summer.

Teams for tomorrow night final:

Canterbury: Colin Slade, Sean Maitland, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Stephen Brett, Tyson Keats, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock (captain), Michael Paterson, Isaac Ross, Samuel Whitelock, Peter Borlase, Ti'i Paulo, Andrew Olorenshaw. Reserves: Steve Fualau, Rodney Ah You, Ash Parker, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Ryan Crotty, James Paterson.

Wellington: Apoua Stewart, David Smith, Alapati Leuia, Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson, Mathew Luamanu, Serge Lilo, Victor Vito, Daniel Ramsay, Jacob Ellison (captain), Anthony Perenise, Ged Robinson, John Schwalger. Reserves: Dane Coles, Arden David-Perrot, Mark Reddish, Scott Fuglistaller, Fa'atonu Fili, Robert Fruean, Daniel Kirkpatrick.

GO YOU FILTHY CANTERBURY!!!!

Oh and Brett confirmed for the Blues next season...

Maitland and Slade future AB's IMO

Reckon Slade should stick to Fullback too, his strength, speed and skill base is awesome there