Who would have thought after so much build up - trainings, gym sessions, team-building exercises, and pre-season games - we'd be focused on mouthguards?
High-tech, new wave, fancy mouth guards are getting the headlines after the opening round of Super Rugby Pacific. Every time you hear the two words 'player welfare' mentioned it seems almost like a negative on the game.
It's a worrying phrase, well to me, anyway. Especially after Super Rugby's blockbuster opener between the Chiefs and defending champion Crusaders, when two high profile All Blacks, including the next captain, are blowing up over supposedly smart mouthguards.
The match officials must be cringing at the thought of the resulting intervention already because they're already in the firing line.
If it is on trial here, is this the right forum? At what point does the welfare of the players and preserving the good of the game as a spectacle actually join hands?
Anton Lienert-Brown wasn't impressed with these smart mouthguards.
— Jonathan Bilaso (@ItsBilaso) February 23, 2024
Anton was removed from the field for a HIA in the after the mouthguard detected high impact. Definitely going to need some refinements going forward.
Technology at it again.#SuperRugbyPacific I #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/tmo4b6PUFw
And speaking of problems, how are the Blackcaps looking for this year's ICC T20 World Cup? We are three months out after that trio of games against Australia. Sure, they were without some of their big guns, but so were the Aussies as they proceeded to trample all over our new guard.
Big calls will have to be made, although traditionally we don't make them that readily.
How much faith is left in the Southee-Boult bowling combination? And it's not Finn Allen's strike rate that's a concern again, it's his success rate. The injury to Devon Conway is a worry, and Glenn Phillips plays all games at such a rate it's almost fever pitch when balance is needed.
3 dropped catches plus a beauty by Tim Seifert!
— SENZ (@SENZ_Radio) February 25, 2024
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for @SnakeMcHardy in the SENZ commentary box 😂#NZvAUS | @SEN_Cricket pic.twitter.com/bMmox1Hfnx
That was indeed a worrying dress rehearsal. How often can we ask Kane to steady the ship? Hopefully not this week at the Basin Reserve.
Join SEN/SENZ for live ball-by-ball commentary of the first Test between New Zealand and Australia, starting February 29.