Olap

This is it final round. Early doors: NZ vs Aus. Followed by Arg vs SA. It's technically all on the line, but los Pumas still need a miracle. I'm hoping to catch at least a bit of both, this year's TRC has been the best in donkeys years!

Top Squidge about a top game, enjoy, and final games this weekend will be tasty

Cardiff, Munster, Leinster topping the table, with SA teams yet to play. Scottish and Italians teams all losing, but signs of hope for both Edinburgh and Benetton picking up both a try and losing bonus point. Considering Edinburgh last years' abysmal bonus points (and playing Leinster) I'm taking away a good showing. And Glasgow losing by point away to Ulster is far from a write off too, for either side!

A feast of rugby now from here on. I'm ready

NH Pro season has already kicked off in France, but for the rest of Europe: it's this Friday. I've got tickets for Edinburgh v Leinster and cannot wait! Champions cup joins the URC on Premier Sports; hooray for me, as I was never going to pay for TNT and Premier Sports

The only people that actually want this are the Welsh. The URC is working well, the prem needs to reign in the spending, and the Champions Cup needs to change to a format people understand. I'd go full knock out like a football cup personally. Sorted, no B&I league needed. But I do suspect NZ and Aus would like to see SA back in Super Rugby

Dodson was bullish and unapologetic; Tom here talks of cash, but I'd prefer to see bridges being built and listening. It's no coincidence the amateur game is finding things tough, and the pathways aren't there. It's no surprise the money blackhole is there when the pro club sides are obvious money pits too. Funnily enough likely due to the pathways not being there so talent is bought in at bigger prices, this includes coaching staff which aren't helping with the community game either.

Re: money. Squeezing the fan for more will quickly start to backfire, any investment in the matchday experience is unlikely to offset its cost in significant terms and amount to little more than a distraction imo. Redeveloping Murrayfield into a 100k stadium the only real possibility of significant earning potential, but what a cost that will bring. Instead costs must come down, and that's the wage bill. I've no idea what a player earns, but between Edinburgh and Glasgow it must be over 100 full time professionals each including sales & marketing, coaching, squad, rehab/medical, scouts, managers, and others I'm sure. Glasgow still leasing their ground annually too, I'll bet GCC ask a pretty penny. And Scotland staff must be phenomenal too.

Alex here with a hard first couple of years

Can NZ get some revenge for last week? Will Australia show up and get their act together?

Both games Saturday 31st

South Africa vs New Zealand - 1700 SAST (UTC+2) - Johannesburg

Argentina vs Australia - 1900 ART (UTC-2) - La Plata

Predictions in the thread very welcomed

Mmm, drama in camp before the boks match. TRC R3 to be juicy

Lions hype begins! The currently longest serving fly-halves in the Lions nations pairing up? Who doesn't want to see that?

Also, an expansion to 24 teams. 6 pools of 4, top 2 go forward automatically, next 4 highest winners, with a knock out of 16 to look forward to too

Any publicity is good publicity?