Weekend rugby roundup

October 17, 2005

First off, let's admire what the Guardian newspaper calls the "unstoppable momentum within France's second sport" as 80,000 fans pack the Stade de Francais to watch a regular season club match between Stade Francais and Toulouse.

The NPC Final for next Saturday is set in New Zealand.

In the first semi-final Otago shocked Canterbury 37-22, and in the "battle of the bridge" Auckland continued their dominance over their North Harbour neighbours 38-24. I have not seen either game yet, but should catch up with those tape-delays in a couple days.

Rugby Planet previews the Otago-Auckland NPC Final.

All Black legend Colin Meads looks forward to the NPC final and salivates about Neil Brew playing a cropper and making the All Blacks. Pinetree says Brew reminds him "of Frank Bunce, not only in style of play but also the older he gets, the better he gets." Meads also looks at the reputations of a few others for the tour.

In other kiwi news, Dan Carter leads a mass pledge of allegiance to the NZRU.

And former All Black Troy Flavell has signed a two-year deal with Auckland Rugby. Flavell, 28, has played 15 tests for the All Blacks, 43 Super 12 games for the Blues and 59 games for North Harbour. Since 2004 Troy has been playing for the Toyota Club in Japan. More here.

In South Africa, next weekend's Currie Cup Final is set.

The Cheetahs beat Western Province 16-11 at Cape Town on Saturday to advance to the final against the powerful Blue Bulls. The Bulls dispatched the Lions 31-23 in Pretoria.

Rugby Planet takes a look at Currie Cup history.

Lastly, I've got to grab the 2nd installment of Gavin Henson's serialized gossip in the Mail on Sunday. (A full report will be coming from the Red Terror soon.) In the latest chapter, Henson talks about how Lions captain Brian O'Driscoll tried to gouge Henson's eye.