Aisle Be Back: Hurricanes v Rebels

Opinion: What about them Sunwolves. You fly more times around the world than a Mossack Fonseca lawyer and then you have to play the Cheetahs at what is possibly 3am in the morning on your current body clock setting.

Next thing, you're the poster child for everyone's pet hates about Super Rugby. You're the train crash everyone saw coming. Even Sparky.

And some of those pet hates are pretty valid. The competition is diluted and there are too many journeymen outfits. Some teams are facing much worse itineraries than others. And no-one understands much about how this is going to play out.

But there's also a bit of over-egging this. After all, the Waratahs in 2002 lost by 96 to 19 to against the Crusaders. No-one called for a return to 1992's Super 6 (well actually, I am sure somebody did). That's not even the heaviest-ever defeat in Super Rugby.

Yes, I'm sure we'd all love to be back in Super 12. But here's the thing, that isn't ever coming back, and a few shellackings of the expansion teams isn't going to turn back the tide. In fact, expanding further may be the only logic to follow if you're set on creating a new sporting market. Next stop Shanghai and Chicago.

I don't have a clue what Super Rugby will end up as. But we should remember that a few years ago we and the Aussies cocked the snook at those IRB old farts. That's how the Rugby World Cup began.

That's the same Cup where, in South Africa, another Japanese team was beaten 145-17. The same Japan that last year beat South Africa.

So let's just wait and see. It's too early to write the obits.

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Quite a big game this weekend. Time to start talking up those Chiefs. They are after all the most lethal attacking side in the competition.

So it was pleasing to see some in-your-face defence from the Canes against the Rebels. They didn't of course have any threats of the calibre of Cruden and co.

But if we bring the attitude on Saturday night on defence, then we'll get a good grasp on whether this is going to be another fine Canes vintage.

One wee stat I do like is how we're at the bottom of the yellow card tally. Now I know Steve Walsh is retired, but there must be some other factor at play. To me, that suggests some pretty good discipline and not panicking when under the pump.

Hell, I hope I haven't jinxed things for Saturday. See you at the game, it's gonna be a cracker.

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I've solved the mystery of the rubbish turf at AAMI Park on Saturday night. We've just got chickens in our backyard and they create exactly the same havoc. I am just not sure why the Rebels are keeping chickens.

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Last week I bemoaned the lack of a 21st Birthday Canes montage at the match. Well, not long afterwards – a montage! Catch it on the Canes FB page- that Cullen boy looks promising.

I couldn't see Fish, so I can only give it 9 out of 10.

Kev has followed the Hurricanes since they began. He has a season pass. Every year he predicts the Canes will win Super Rugby. He refuses to be called a long-suffering fan.