Aisle be Back: Super Rugby kicking off this weekend

The pre-season is over for the Hurricanes and the competition gets underway this weeekend.

• By Kevin McCarthy

It’s all kicking off this weekend, isn’t it. I mean, it’s ALL kicking off. It’s impossible to think of a stranger way to be starting Super rugby than we have right now.

Adding to the fun, no-one really knows when the fun is going to stop.

This is known as being comfortable living with ambiguity. First three (or four weeks) are being played in and around the former resort mecca of Queenstown. Then, will we see any rugby played anywhere above the lower North Island. And by SEE, I mean, is there any chance I’ll get to go to the Stadium, clutching my membership lanyard, and actually watch some socially distanced rugby.

Probably not. But no-one is letting on, or able to let on. Is there any chance of fans being allowed to go along with sensible rules that don’t risk super spreading. Theoretically, and hopefully that is being pursued, but there is a deafening silence. Probably best to say something to the fee-paying fans about this sooner rather than later. Just sayin’, Hurricanes administrators.

Then again, have you tried to get a park near parliament these days? It’s traffic warden hell out there.

Just in time, however, Captain Silver Lake finally rolled into town. A bit like Brexit (though with more tangible benefits) most of us are just glad the wrangling is over. Everyone seems happy, even the devil who is drafting the details. Depending on where you sit, it’s a great move that will significantly broaden the global success of New Zealand rugby, or a money grab selling off, with no upside to the actual punters or the much mentioned grassroots.

Who can say? Lots of people, that’s who. And you’re going to get to hear from them all this year. Just when you thought it was over.

There is however rugby to talk about. I haven’t quite digested everything that’s in or out of the rule book this year. But the not-to-be missed captain’s challenge is gone. Chiefly, this seemed well named because it was a challenge to most skippers to understand it and apply it. The game of course is constantly crying out for more quality TMO time, and this just added to the wonderful mix.

Generally though the intent seems to be to cut down the time wasting of set-pieces and referrals. The road to hell however is as they say paved with good intentions.

The Hurricanes thankfully begin their season against their perennial bunnies, the Crusaders,  A gentle way to ease into the tournament.

I don’t feel confident right now making any predictions beyond lunchtime. Needless to say. It’s going to be very interesting to see who among all that young talent finds their feet, and who in the old timers is able to start well out of the blocks.

If life right now is a marathon, not a sprint then looking forward to the middle of the year feels like a marathon of marathons. So give yourself a break. Tune in to the next immediate 80 minutes (plus TMO time) and just enjoy seeing some rugby. The other stuff will fall into place eventually.

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The Hurricanes team to play the Crusaders: