Low-key start to competition

OPINION: Love to meet the genius who opted to start the Super Rugby season with the Rebels and Blues.

Fair play to each team; they’ve no doubt trained hard and have hopes of being better than also-rans this year. But if I hadn’t been rostered on to blog it, there’s no way I’d be watching.

Thankfully there’s at least one game worth coming in from the barbecue for or switching over from the cricket.

Match of the round

All roads lead to Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Beyond producing superb rugby, clashes between the Highlanders and Chiefs have gone a reasonable way towards deciding the title, in recent seasons. Both teams will again be among the few with legitimate championship claims and the fact this is the end of the road for Aaron Cruden and Dave Rennie adds a layer of intrigue.

When you think of the Chiefs at their very, very best, you think Rennie and Cruden, although it’s been curious to note the way the latter has carried himself lately.

Cruden has won Super titles, a Rugby World Cup, presumably had a good time and been well-paid along the way. Be nice to see him enjoy this last season, rather than find fault with those who haven’t applauded his every step.

This week’s biggest yawn

Kings v Jaguares. The 4.15am (NZT) kickoff doesn’t help, but nor does what the Jaguares served up in year one of their existence. I think we all welcomed their inclusion and hoped they would be competitive and make the Argentine national side more formidable at the same time.

It could still happen. Adjusting to the rugby would have been a big enough stretch for the Jaguares, without the travel they confronted too. But this competition has to be about more than just New Zealand derbies.

He said what?

Quade Cooper’s been talking again. The trick now is for us to stop talking about him.

Cooper used to be a very good and, occasionally, thrilling player. He hasn’t been for years.

Doesn’t matter if it’s been with the Reds, his five-minute forays with Toulon and the Aussie sevens side or the umpteen Wallaby comebacks, Cooper has done next to nothing. Now he’s comparing this Reds team to the title-winning side of 2011.

Please.

Best punt

The Cheetahs, at $4.05 to beat the Lions. I don’t gamble myself, but this must be tempting to people who do.

The Cheetahs won the Currie Cup for what that’s worth - last year and the Lions are over-hyped. They were okay last year, losing 20-3 to the Hurricanes in the final. Those same Hurricanes beat the Lions 50-12 in Johannesburg earlier in the season, which was a