Close contests raise the interest levels

A week ago it was the end of the world according to many, the All Blacks beaten by Argentina.

Seven days later and Los Pumas have a 15-15 draw against the Wallabies, and the knives are out across the ditch.

I on the other hand love it. I think the competition, even without South Africa, has been much more interesting because the games have been close.

This will come as a shock to some All Blacks fans, but our side doesn’t have a right to win.

We have been spoiled over the years because we could be confident the All Blacks would come out on top, great for fans who want their side to win, not so good for the game.

That said, we can win the Championship this weekend if we flog the Pumas, though it would be a brave man to predict that.

If we want rugby to be a global sport, we are going to have to play our part, competing more regularly against Pacific Island nations and trying to help second tier nations rather than just going where the TV contracts are.

I also went along to watch Auckland play Waikato in the Mitre 10 Premiership semi-final at Eden Park, as the guest of Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Graham Henry, and it was brilliant to catch up with some great friends I have in the game in Eroni Clark, Tana Umaga, Charles Riechelmann and even the Iceman, Sir Michael Jones.

Auckland beat their neighbours 23-18 and it was a gripping game, again because of the closeness of the contest.

Waikato were coming off the back of some ordinary form but played well and Auckland were made to work for it.

They will play reigning champions Tasman this weekend and it’s free entry to anyone who wants to attend, a brilliant gesture in what has been a very tough year.

The South Islanders beat a brave Bay of Plenty side 19-10, devastating a good mate of mine who reckons he might well go to the grave without seeing his beloved side win a title.

But I told him that’s what people said about Tasman not long ago and look at them now.

They will be a stern challenge for Auckland, even though they were comfortably beaten at Eden Park earlier in the year.

Friday night’s championship final is between Hawke’s Bay and Northland in Napier, and it’s great to see Northland there, the

Taniwha upsetting Otago to reach the final.

Hard to see them doing it again against Hawke’s Bay though, who were merciless against Taranaki, smashing them 59-23.

During the week I watched my friend Wayne Bennett’s Queensland win the State of Origin decider 20-14 to take the series 2-1. Not bad for a side described in some of the Sydney papers as the ‘‘worst team’’ in

Origin history.

They were written off so I admit I smiled when Maroons’ skipper Daly Cherry-Evans thanked the crowd on behalf of the worst-ever Queensland team.

And for those missing their Vodafone Warriors news, we have signed Bayley Sironen from Souths on a three-year deal.

The son of Australian legend Paul, whose brother Curtis is at Manly, is an edge forward but can play five-eighth and centre.

He is our seventh addition for 2021 alongside props Addin Fonua-Blake and Kane Evans, middle and edge forward Ben Murdoch-Masila, centre Euan Aitken, halfback Sean O’Sullivan and wing Marcelo Montoya, who can also play at centre.

Looks like a lot of size is being added to the side for new coach Nathan Brown’s first year.

In the meantime, go the All Blacks, prove those armchair critics wrong.

Sir Peter Leitch and former All Black Tana Umaga played catch-up at the Auckland-Waikato Mitre 10 Cup semi-final at Eden Park on Saturday.