No matter how enterprising some of our teams play, they were not tested in fire and battle as yet. That will come only by a few hardmen Boers from that indomitable little Boere town Pretoria where the Boers are boss and the Bulls play driving hard forward going rugby. They will measure our teams mettle and no one else.

It's still very early in the competition, but after the first round I was pleased with most of the rugby. There was definitely a lot less aimless kicking, especially at the Crusaders vs Highlanders game which I was at. I saw both teams look to run the ball rather than just kick it at each other all night.

The Blues vs Hurricanes game was a strange one. At a time when the administrators are looking to make rugby exciting again we get an opening game which was good viewing, but it was won by a team who scored only 1 try and kicked 9 penalties.

Overall, I think it has been a good start to the competition. Now it's up to the players/administrators/coaches/referees to keep the standard up and recapture the fan's interest.

While Steven Donald may be a good player as Super 14 and NPC level, he is not good enough to be an iternational first five. He kicks poorly, makes poor decisions and cracks under pressure. The All Blacks need to find someone else as a suitable back up for Carter before the world cup, if Carter gets injured we won't have a chance of winning it with Donald.

Sad that some folks cant wait to get their anti-Donald vemon spitting in just the first game. Regardless of what they say he is still, at this stage, No 2 in NZ - like or lump it - or ask G Henry for confirmation.

If he puts those last second kicks over that will be just fine. Chiefs looked very good in the rain and heat in SA and better to come we hope.

Good to see the refs finally using the rules and enforcing them. That has already freed up more ball for attack.

Matey, first of all Donald, played an average game in very poor conditions but the rest of the chiefs were not crash hot either alot of handling errors an poor ref a bit more consistency mate lay off Donald pulled it in when it mattered. bismark or whatever deserved wot he got a very cheap shot for a very cheap player no time for it. on refing the crusaders game had some tough calls a bit far to say the highlanders should of won it. Hobbs was very solid,Guilford player fothe future.The flow of the game was a major turn around from last year the long phases forcing teams to play with ball in hand an not ball to boot was great.thought out of all the games the crusaders would show the rest of the comp how rugby was to be played in 2010 the new laws are primed for classic canterbury rugby but classic canterbury are slow starters but you could forgive either teams for not being clinical. First round rival match ups we were never gona see a textbook match. Emotion, rival intensity an 1st round excitment was always gona be in the way. Round 6,7 thats game time an the big games will be stepping up. Overall 1st round brilliant, refs, some moments in each game were all equally poor but you wil never get a 100% performance from ant ref. Toby good points buddy.

I love the chiefs/donald bashing if you want to complain about a team who didn't deserve the win you can go no further than the city of the damned once again. Numerous forward passes bad calls and synical play by the crusaders was missed the highlanders get shafted once again.

And at least Donald got picked by an unbiased coach, unlike the slew of useless cantab and auckland all blacks who have been picked on provincial bias alone.

Dunre 646

compared to one game of football signifying the downfall of rugby and the rise of the round ball?

Donald is useless. He tried blatantly to lose the waikato game vs otago last year by repeatedly swinging his wild right foot at the ball sending straight into the mits of the brilliant ben smith. Sure, once could be classed as an accident but did it at least 3 times. As soon as muliaina is fit stick delany at 10 and kick donald out.

Brent M #37

At least rugby league commentators don't have to rant on about the state of the game itself rather than the game at hand, in a vain attempt to convince the viewers that all is well (got old quick Grant fox).

Rugby League may be a simpler game but at least it has a decent competition (heard of a salary cap union?), isn't plagued by stoppages, has a distinct season, and best of all, doesn't refer to itself as a brand.

'Rugby league, the greatest game of them all'

- Andrew Voss (sideline)

These new rules (interpretations) have changed the nature of the game on its head....looks like we have ended the careers of Richie McCaw and Heinrich Brussouw in one foul swoop. What next 15 man "touch rugby" ??