Okay folks, I've been taking a look around the net and have found a few articles that should start to warm you up for the season that kicks off this Friday, 10 February 2006 in New Zealand with the Auckland Blues up against the Wellington Huricanes on the hallowed turf of Eden Park. It's been a long time coming and at last we'll get to see our favourite teams in action again. Guaranteed to be some big hits in that game, which has always been a cracker since the Super 12 first kicked off professional rugby.

And haven't the comments been coming thick and fast this week about the Super 14. The Tahs not using numbers and switching to players initials instead. "Hold the front page" some innovation. SANZAR of course takes excetption and demands that they revert back to numbers only. Perhaps they should concentrate of the real issue and instead of the initials do something about that ridiculous name...no wonder they lost the final last year. The Tahs...sounds like a bunch of people who say thank you in the colloquial manner far to often. I still can't believe that they managed to sneak into the final last year. Still, they never had a chance.

However, check out the full stories below. For those that are keen, the entire draw is set out below so you can keep a track of all the action. There are even some keen punters making predictions this early on. Most seem to rate the New Zealand teams as coming out first and second, however those boys will be spending a lot more time on the road this year with the additional Aussie and South African teams. However, on past performance you can't really look past the lads from New Zealand.

The South Africans are at it again. Shooting themselves in the foot with more infighting and backtracking on the innovative and startlingly uncharacteristically forward looking plan of having a relegation system for their Super 14 teams. It was too good to be true, and the rest of us can be thankful that incentive is beign removed from their rugby again. Also, for an interesting spin on their rugby, check out the quota arrangements made for black players in the Super 14.

Well, that's about it for today. Click on the links and see what you think. Don't forget to register for the virtual super 14 and have some fun making your predictions for the games. Bring on Friday, I can't wait for kick off. I'll be bringing you comment and links to all the action. Don't forget, give me your comments and I'll make sure that they are posted on this blog provided that they aren't obscene or illegal or just plain boring advertising.

Enjoy the Super 14 and I'll be seeing you back here again soon...

Predictions this early on?

And more of the same bold talk

Season draw.

The reason the South Africans continue to struggle in the competition

The legacy of history on South African rugby

One of the best players in Aussie rugby...and the Reds let him go!

Does SANZAR need a reason to exist or what? Coach McKenzie makes a splash.