15 QUESTIONS AHEAD OF THE NPC:

1. Surely you don’t need more explanation around the Premiership/championship format?

2. Are you seriously confident you can pick the full finishing order in both divisions?

3. Do you reckon the relegated Premiership side will win five games, as North Harbour did in 2020?

4. What sort of response do you expect from Canterbury after it missed the semifinals in 2020?

5. Is it Bay of Plenty’s time to be a bonafide Premiership contender?

6. Who is your tip for the Duane Monkley medal winner?

7. Can you confidently predict the Ranfurly Shield holder at season’s end?

8. Is a settled roster, with few gains and losses, an example of promoting local or lack of money in the kitty, or both? 9. Will Ethan de Groot play his way back into the All Blacks off Southland form?

10. Are you looking forward to seeing Roger Tuivasa-sheck suit up for Auckland sometime in September?

11. How much NPC rugby do you watch off the box or even live?

12. Do you reckon any assistant coaches, such as James Wilson of Southland, will take the field at any stage?

13. Will the new law innovations actually protect tacklers and jacklers?

14. Why does New Zealand Rugby never note on the NPC draws which games are Premiership, Championship or crossover?

15. How many will play their way into Super Rugby squads directly off 2021 NPC form?