All Blacks lose loose forward for the season

For your info JW, Super Rugby’s attendance numbers almost halved the year the Kings & Cheetahs left, and TV viewership followed suit. Inevitable conclusion to them leaving because those regions have the biggest rugby base in SA, Eastern Cape being the biggest.

The domestic club rugby in the Eastern Cape is broadcast of free to air and gets +/- 200k viewers every week. They also broadcast Top14 and get >250k per game.

There was talk about another European competition starting, featuring clubs & backers from Russia, but the Russia/Ukraine thing intervened.

There was just so much that went wrong. Basic skills breaking down, such as Joe Brial dropping an easy pass when not under immediate pressure pressure, or Josh Flook getting a short pass he had to become a lineout leaper to catch. Then lack of knowledge of the laws, as when Tim Ryan did some great work toeing a ball to the line that the covering Will Jordan had to fall on, and had no support anywhere close. . Instead of getting over the ball and lifting, Ryan slid in, playing the man on the ground. Fortunately the referee either did not know, or did not remember the law. But that was a great positional opportunity gone, as the Crusaders got out of jail.

I also thought the Reds players body language was concerning, especially later in the game. In periods off downtime, such as waiting for scrums to set, players in the backline are doing a lot of talking. The Reds where so often just standing still, waiting, no talk.

All in, a very poor final game for the Super season. Now for the Lions !!

The qld tight five really struggled but I'd say Nongorr is the 3rd choice at 3 behind Allan and Tupou?

As far as judging the quality of his performances, I don’t remember a game in the professional era where the ref wasn’t horrid and missed calls. At least they show up so an organized game can be played.