Joy of joys...the Super 14 season starts this weekend! At last! Some bloody rugby!

There is, of course, a downside to the Super 14 competition - it's the most ridiculously short rugby season EVER, with each team only meeting once. No home AND away games, no rite of reply, no chance to avenge a crushing defeat or anihilate your foes twice, just to rub it in...not nearly enough bloody rugby!

But I shouldn't be getting to the end of the season before it's even started...

Here's to the Brumbies - may they find success this year. And if not the Brumbies, then the Reds (Christ knows it must be their turn soon!)...and if not the Reds, then the Tahs (I do live in NSW, after all)...and if not the Tahs, then the Western Force (even though it's a super-gay name)...just let it be an Australian team and not NZ or SA!

And here's to more bloody rugby!

Blah...blah...blah...yes, I know some people get so hung up on stats that they forget to enjoy the game, but now that I've got nothing else to do (because the Wallabies are on their way home)...

Leading try scorer: Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 7 tries

2nd highest team tries:    Australia - 31 tries (beaten only by NZ with 48)

England's only stat of any note:    51 points kicked by JW

I know that it's sour grapes, and nothing can change the end result, but what would you rather watch? A free-flowing game of try-fest rugby, or Jonny kicking penalty after penalty?  Ho hum...

Give me our style of game any day!  Go FIJI!! 

...now rest squarely upon the shoulders of Fiji.  Ok, there's still South Africa, but who could really be comfortable cheering for them?

No, Fiji is now the last bastion of southern force in this World Cup...doesn't bode well!  But they have my unwavering support from here on in, and I'm thrilled to see a "lesser" team take on the more cashed-up nations.

If I could just get the hang of that national anthem...