Okay, here we go.
Unlike our friends in the front row - my posts 1, 2 and 3 are probably not going to be large and meaty. This is after all the pre-season - the time for getting to know each other and feeling out new combinations.
This is particularly true for me personally; a new season with a new team in the mix. Now I'm not going to pretend that I don't have mixed feelings about this. I've been accused of having a foot in both camps for years - as it stands, I'm a Crusaders supporter (who also supports the Sharks when they're playing anyone but the red and blacks).
But moving to Melbourne was a surreal experience. Even after a couple of years in Sydney. I mean, WOW, the place is totally sports mad - but for the wrong kind of oval ball!! Now I'll admit to trying AFL on for size, I mean it's just weird not to be able to join in the 'armchair anylsysis' that goes on on Monday mornings, you've got to find another Kiwi and then hope they don't back Auckland.
We've got Foxtel of course, the only thing you can do really (my boyfriend did suggest getting rid of it at one point, but backtracked quick smart), but not being able to just pop down to the local pub and be guaranteed the rugby will be on is just a bridge too far.
So I am OVER THE MOON about the Rebels a bonafide Super Rugby team in my own back yard. And they look to have the goods too.
A healthy dose of internationals (more past than present), including: Stirling Mortlock, Danny Cipriani, Gareth Delve, Julian Huxley, Kevin O'Neil, Mark Gerrard and, my personal favorite, Greg Somerville.
A smattering of league converts to make things interesting; Cooper Vuna, Jarrod Saffy and JP Du Plessis - who has shown some serious pace and class on the wing in trial matches against Tonga and Fiji.
As you might have guessed, I've got my season pass at the ready and am looking forward to watching big daddy Greg take it to the current crop of All Black props in the Crusaders front row at AMI Park this weekend. It just feels way to early in the season to be split in two.
