Great to see Jacob Oram back in black for the Kiwi cricketers.  The big bloke finally over all his injuries, and celebrated his return to the Caps by taking career best bowling figures of 6-45.  Weird though that two players, Vincent and Sinclair, who were seemingly on the major outer were highlighted at not being selected for birth of a grommie and a wedding respectively.  Why mention the reason they were not selected, unless they were going to be picked but for the aforementioned reasons.  As they both could not be selected, as there was only one spot open for them, there could only be one of them seriously left out for the reasons mentioned.  So what up Mr. Bracewell, again.  Especially when he said just a few days ago that Vincent would not be selected because, basically, he was not needed in the middle order, and did not want to open.

Thankfully the woeful Windies tour is nearly over, thank goodness.  They have been serious crapola.  Brian Lara being Nathan Astle's bunny says it all...

But real cricket continues on around the world, the Poms pulled out all the stops to draw the test series in India - the first time they have won a test there for 20 odd years or something.  Good that they are finally over the hangover from the Ashes series, and not before time.  The Poms will need to be firing when the hit Aussie, as they Baggy Greens are currently in Boerland handing the Proteas their collective arses on a platter.  Ponting leading the way again, and averaging something like 125 in tests for this season.  Two tons in the latest win for the Aussie skipper.  Warne carries on too, taking wickets, a 6 wicket bag to win the second test, and thanks to a mobile phone ban, keeping out of the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Sumo Lowen finally gets a start for the Cheetahs, against the Waratahs.  Will be good to see how the big lad goes, he's been injured all season, so what to expect?  Looking like a Boer front rower, or the less robust, but still big arse centre that broke into the All Blacks a few seasons ago.

The Chiefs, two wins and four losses, have a positive points differential of +13.  The Cheetahs, with four wins and two losses have a negative points differential of -4.  Go figure.  Mind you, two of those Chiefs losses could well have been wins if the rub of the green had gone with them instead of against, and then they would have had the 4-2 record also!!  Poor bastards.

Some dickhead writing for the Sunday News going on about Joe Schmidt, and the demise of the Blues back line.  Sure, there may be some truth in the matter, and the blokes was building a good case, but for a few points.  The first, that Schmidt keeps selecting Laveatory at first five.  I think that is Nucifora's duty, the selecting, and think that more so when last week Laveatory was selected with the return to fitness of McAlister.  You would think that Schmidt would have selected, instead of dropped, Tipoki, the player who he build the successful 2003 Bay back line around, and moved McAlister into first five, where he ended up at any rate.  But that is just surmising isn't it.  The main screw up though, was when he named replacements for Schmidt in the Blues setup.  He started well, Fox and Robertson, then a few others, but then he lost all credibility - he named FRANK BUNCE.  The same Frank Bunce that lasted one season with Auckland as a defensive coach.  THe same Bunce whose first call once being appointed to that position, was to the NZRFU to ask them to send him all their literature on defence.  Until then, not a bad article...

Still with the Blues, they have finally ditched Laveatory, but, thanks to injury, not with McAlsiter, but with Nacewa.  Nacewa, who has played a handful of minutes at ten.  But anything must be an improvement on what they have been getting.  Tipoki back to his rightful spot too, at 12, teamed up with Tuitavaki.  Devine looks to be out for the season, head injuries continuing to hobble him.  So their home game against the Bull, will they be able to put another win on the board?  Watch this space!

This weekends Crusaders v Hurricane clash will finally be proof positive, or negative, that the Hurricanes are really contenders this season.  They have played poop in their last three games, but have managed to win them all the same.  They won't be able to play poop this weekend and win, not against the Crusaders.  Injuries have not helped the breeze either, with Weepu looking to be out, meaning Hobbit Hami will have to start, not a good thing.  So after this game, it'll be another hurricane blown over, or a general storm warning.  The Canes pack will need to pull finger big time against the red 'n' black eight, and I for one have my doubts.  That has probably guaranteed them a win....

Three of the four for the semi finals look to be set in concrete thus far.  To me anyway.  The Crusaders, the Brumbies and the Waratahs.  The Hurricanes may join them, but that 4th spot is wide open.  Bulls, Hurricanes and the Highlanders to be fighting this one out.  A replay of last seasons final again this year, the Waratahs v the Crusaders at Jade would have to be good money.

The Highlanders season has pretty much ended with the loss of Nick Evans.  They must be kicking themselves they didn't manage to get a back up first five with some experience at NPC level, let alone Super rugby.  Tony Brown springs to mind, or even Willie Walker might have been an option.  Callum Bruce tries hard, but is not yet up to speed.  So like the Chiefs, the Highlanders are now rudderless.  Now the loss of Andrew Blowers, who didn't pull a jersey on in anger during the Super 14 adds to their woes, although, their loose trio has been going pretty well at any rate.  But his experience would have added to the whole no doubt, and made the Highlanders a better team for his presence.

Commonwealth Games over, and like most, watched a bit, but never really grabbed me.  Although after I saw the Beatrice interview after she bombed out, I couldn't wait for more interviews.  They were just atrocious.  Would have an opening statement from interviewer, waffle, waffle, waffle, and then a 'you were awesome', and expect the dumbstruck athlete to answer the non question.  The interviewers were more like star struck fans than interviewers.  As Ian Smith said on radio sport, "shockers".