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I watched this game with a Maori bloke and a Durban bloke (neither of whom I'd ever met) in an Irish pub in Chiang Mai, Thailand and I'm now posting about it on an Australian rugby supporters site. Anyone who says that rugby isn't truly global can eat a bag of dicks. Congratulations chiefs on...

I hope he snaps out of that trend. I've always had a great deal of respect for messam, particularly in his role as captain of nz maori. Kaino underachieved for a good few years too, so it's never too late.

Excuse me for being hopelessly parochial for a moment. Ryan Crotty? Only slightly out of position?

I went looking for videos of Corey Flynn dropping that winger over the sideline on the weekend (because obviously one good video proves a point), but instead I found this: Sonny Bill missing a shoulder charge and nailing Owen Franks. Classic.

I'll freely admit he's had some pretty visible shockers, but he's also had a lot of really solid games. You can be the weak link in the Crusaders without being particularly bad.

He was great on the weekend. I've always thought he was a bit underrated - not an exceptional player, but makes a lot of really good, physical contributions. Overall I think the Crusaders should take it, but the Chiefs won't implode at the set piece like they did last time (not with Craig...

Yeah what's that about? Dwyer exercising his final vestige of selectorial clout?

Agreed, but to some extent we're making excuses. He's no longer the best fetcher in the game, but we say (correctly) that his ball-running and support play is superior to that of his rivals. But what if that isn't what we want from our 7? What if the game shifts back to requiring an absolute...

This thinking worries me a bit. There's a pretty reasonable school of thought that he's past his best at 7, and that he might be able to switch to 6/8. But even if Richie becomes the second best no. 8 in the world, we already have the best no. 8 in the world, so Richie pretty much has to...

Who, then? I'd prefer neither as well, but then I support New Zealand.

Yeah righto mate. Clearly we agree to disagree.

It's not a humility v arrogance thing. All good athletes back themselves. But I'll set a few out: - "I want to be a bulldog for life"... well... Evidently not that much. - "Playing for the All Blacks was a childhood dream"... Unless that dream was to play for them for strictly one and a half...

I didn't mean he was taking himself off the world stage by going to Japan, I meant he was doing it by going back to the NRL. Apologies, a bit vague on my part (I assume you were addressing me, right?) And I'm not denying that he's good, I'm just saying there's a really significant disconnect...

I call bullshit. He's torn up actual signed contracts before so I doubt he's too concerned with "handshake agreements". He's chasing dollars. Here's my problem with him. His stated aim is to be considered the greatest cross-code athlete in the world, and I think he has the ability to give that...

Cheers, very helpful. I'm very interested in checking out those Heineken Cup dates - hadn't realised it was on so early. Might have to re-jig a couple of plans.

Andy Ellis. Best facial hair to ever grace the game.

I'm heading overseas for six-and-a-bit months, including a stint in France in September which is during the Top 14 season. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations of good places to catch a game. I'm travelling with the missus, so some places like Toulouse (which I hear is a bit...

He should be a 12 or a roving winger. That kid's an absolute freak - let him play wherever he wants.

Fair enough, though I think I'm relatively unbiased. Caleb Ralph is also the greatest winger New Zealand has ever seen.

Yep. Normally when I watch a Bulls-Sharks game I only want a nil-all draw and mass retirements, but this week I'll be cheering for the Bulls big time.