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There was a fair bit of a chat in the press conference about how 15 teams is just an interim solution and we'll reassess from 2021 onwards. They're certainly more than aware that a further reduction is the way it's going (or alternatively abandonment of the concept altogether) - just preparing...

There'll be a deal of some description. But the same issues that persist now with 18 teams will persist with 15 teams - unless the 2 new international sides and the 4th Aussie side can become competitive enough to sustain themselves financially and challenge the best teams, they just won't exist...

Ideas about saving one of the teams just aren't feasible. Much more likely is that assuming the Force get culled this week, the Rebels will follow in a few years (or at least they'll merge with the Brumbies). The broadcast deal ends in 2020 and Japan's RWC ends prior to that. The chances of...

The r Reverting back to 3 teams, and the original Super 12 model with the same teams we had from 95-05 looks inevitable.

According to Pandaram, the Force, Cheetahs and Kings have already been confirmed as the 3 to go - the only waiting period is to do with how best to announce it. I dunno why they don't just do it straight away and save everyone fretting. Surely it's better for fans of those teams that way.

8 team finals retained in a 15 team comp. Surely 4 teams (3 conference winners plus the best of the rest) would be much better. Makes the whole season a bit pointless currently.

Super Rugby is as good as dead - we're just playing for time now (with one eye on the 2020 broadcast deal). The only way it can survive is with a reduction of at least 6 teams and there is zero chance of the ARU or SARU agreeing to that. Force fans should be safe. South African politics...

The massive hole in the plan is the political nightmare that is South Africa. The Kings can't be culled - the government will pull the whole country out before that happens. Unless they can overcome that hump, there'll be 18 teams again next year, in what will likely be the last year of Super Rugby.

Not really. Most of it relates to other things (why we should have more teams not less, who's to blame, screw the kiwis, how the draw should work, etc). The few discussing which teams to cull were also mostly before the 15 team announcement from NZ this morning. On the 3 teams to go if the...

If the current 15 team rumours are correct, is it a certainty the Kings, Cheetahs and Force are gone? Or are there any other serious contenders?

I'm anticipating in 2020, we'll be watching Super 12 again, and it will be the same 12 teams that contested the last Super 12 in 2005! Whether that is enough to save the concept from extinction is another question. But I've already lost interest this year. The Kiwi teams are so much better than...

I get the feeling returning to a Super 12 with 5 New Zealand, 4 South Africa and 3 Aussie teams is imminent. Just a matter of whether they go with a few interim culls and push it out 5 years or do it in one foul swoop now.

Good enough for me!

Have we got a verdict on whether Pocock will be available?

Sportsbet has opened up 1.90 the pair in Brumbies-Highlanders. I'd suggest that price is worth taking on the Highlanders. I expect them to start around 1.50-1.60.

Assuming the Lions don't get a win or BP with their B side against the Jags in the morning, I reckon the chances of all 4 teams remaining after week 1 being kiwis are pretty good.

Reckon we'll get better than 1.50 about the Highlanders? Looks a moral play.

Hard to imagine the Brumbies could beat Otago next week watching the two teams tonight.

Definitely very close. At the very least the kicker got parallel with him before moving forward. Maybe more bad luck than unjust but I would have awarded it.

Most likely will make no difference but has taken the interest out of the game. 14 point decision and likely an incorrect one. I would have called it the other way - TMO stopped looking as soon as the kick went up - forgetting that the chaser hadn't moved forward before being run onside.