When was the last Super game you watched when the reserve grade players were dancing with joy on the sideline for the last 2 minutes like the Counties Manukau lot did today? Name the 'Super' game when the captain was choking back tears in the post game interview.  What 'Super' stadium had fans in gumboots huddled under plastic tarps from the rain only to go home with huge grins on their faces? Professional rugby is just too uptight, with every play scrutinised and criticise and players don't even look like they are enjoying what is, after all, just a game. Fans get too hung up with refereeing decisions and half the games are played at times when the kids can't watch.

I bet a lot of kids in Pukekohe got shouted fish and chips tonight and will be begging Mum to paint their faces for the next game.  Same goes for Manawatu and I bet the Whangarei locals forgot the rain damage for a few hours after Friday night.

If the NZRU turn around this week and announce that either Counties Manukau, Northland or Manawatu are getting the boot regardless, they will be confirming their stupidity. A decision like that will only do massive damage to the game in those regions. Instead they should be hoping that these teams continue to enchant their fans. After all the changes are being mooted because crowd numbers were down. I bet next weekend the Palmy crowd will be massive to watch the Poos play Southland. The buses will be weaving down to Rotorua from Pukekohe (and hopefully celebrating with a pub crawl on the way back) and the Northland kids will gather around their friends TVs to watch the Taniwha take on the Magpies.

Even the fans of the 'big' teams will have more reason to go and watch. They can't be bothered watching walkovers but will go and cheer on their support to help their team win a close game.

This is what rugby in NZ should be all about, and I for one just love it!