Air New Zealand Air Points - Its that time again - Virtual NPC is about to begin

No airpoints/airbucks prizes but 1st prize is biz trip for 2 to London for barbars game.

Anyone else take part in this (and see me being humilated by my feeble efforts yet again!)?

I'll try to sign up shortly, so as to experience the full rollercoaster of emotion with my Wellington Lions.

Hey thats my call! (And just one reason I am humbled/ridiculed for unwavering support - irrational some folks call it, but I like to say I am optimistic this year will be different!)

Oh dear - now I've shown my true colours does that mean I have to remove my Auckland location?

I'm in! Be prepared to have your a**es kicked...! :p

Oh dear - now I've shown my true colours does that mean I have to remove my Auckland location?


No, because I would too. :)

can someone explain more?

See www.virtualnpc.co.nz

While familiarity with the NPC (all 3 divisions of NZ provincial rugby) is desirable there have been some shock results in the past from so called non-rugby fans.

Must have NZ address to win any prizes.

I am registered as Lionsfan

I'm registered as gratn

Wow, the system actually let me register this year. No prizes for guessing that I am registered as mad_atta. Right, I need to study the form quickly before I make a prediction or two. :-: Go Marlborough! :-:

Now as long as we can keep that pesky Zaco out of the competition, we might all stand a chance! ;)

Since I find myself momentarily in the very rare position of looking like I know something about sport (believe me, I don't) I felt I had to gloat a little and bring you the FT Virtual NPC leader board after week one. Here's how it looks:
1: mad_atta : 29 pts : rank 1038 / 70962
2: Kiwi Flyer: 26 pts : rank 5275 / 70962
3: Leumas : 21 pts : rank 13418 / 70962
4: gratn : 15 pts : rank 37427 / 70962
5: Zaco : 0 pts : rank last equal (with all the other late joiners)

I am also happy to report that Marlborough just managed to beat East Coast 21:20, despite playing in the opposition heartland (and slightly scary town) of Ruatoria.

If any other FTers are playing, let me know your player name and I'll add you to the leader board. And where is Zaco with his secret weapon (i.e. his rugbyhead rellies)?

I dont know how I managed to get 26 points either!

And where is Zaco with his secret weapon (i.e. his rugbyhead rellies)?

Travelling round the Fiji Islands with no internet connection! Devistated to find out the fun has started without me, I'll just have to work all that much harder to catch up ;). Actually things seem to have gone slightly mad while I was away with all this airpoints dollars whatnot - I'll have to read through one of the other posts and find out what exactly they are (or would I rather not know? :D). I've registered as Zaco and am in the process of wheeling out the relies so here we go. Don't get too comfy on that top spot there mad_atta ;)

Cheers, Zac

I didnt even relize the NPC season begain with tri nations still going strong...I guess fox sports world isnt gonna show them this yr...
-howie

Don't get too comfy on that top spot there mad_atta ;)

Don't worry, I'm just enjoying the novelty. If previous years are any guide, you may find that next week the computer will automatically insert some random picks for last week (even though you missed it) and you'll mysteriously get some points - you seem to be allowed that one week's grace. It happened to me the year before last, anyway - I didn't even register until week 2, but points miraculously appeared for week 1. As for last year, the system wouldn't even let me register! :(

Anyway, I'll add you to the leader board. Hopefully we can get a good FT championship going, just like back in the day (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24626&highlight=virtualNPC). May the best-connected FT-er win!

Definately have some fond memories of back in the day (perhaps because I won it, ha ha :D). Glad to hear there may be some points at least for that missing week, the only problem now is that the secret weapons seem to all have disappeared off to Oz, damn that freedom air and its really tiny fares. So this week I've gone with my instincts instead which leaves me with a very uneasy feeling. The consolation at least is that I'm likely to dispell any lingering doubts as to my actually knowing anything about NPC. Fingers crossed then for the weekend :)!

Cheers, Zac

Ah Zac, welcome to my world! Still, dumb luck is a wonderful thing...

I can't decide whether Marlborough have a chance against Counties Manukau - CM are obviously a strong team, but Marlborough do have the home advantage and I'd feel guilty about predicting against them so early in the season, especially when they are as-yet unbeaten. What do you lot think?

My other dilemna is Wellington vs. Canterbury - although Canterbury are probably one of the top 2 teams, I have a certain loyalty to Wellington, and they can certainly shine when they want to, especially when playing at home. Any thoughts, people?

I pick Wellington. The Lions, as with the 'Canes, tend to do best against the "tough" teams and slip up against easier opposition. Very maddening for a supporter.

I pick Wellington. The Lions, as with the 'Canes, tend to do best against the "tough" teams and slip up against easier opposition. Very maddening for a supporter.


So true. It means the wins are never exciting (after all, we always "expect" to win :) ) but the losses are devastating.

A fine start by the Lions first up - 34-27 over Canterbury (5 tries to 2)

Well then, so far so good :D! The VirtualNPC site still shows it as a draw but I'm guessing that's just until all the results are in.

mad_atta I went with Manukau winning 1 - 12 (proof that my loyalty to Marlborough doesn't extend much further tha the vinyards ;)).

Cheers, Zac

B****y Aucklanders...

I was on 100% for the weekend until Auckland managed to hand over the log of wood to BOP... :rolleyes: At least only 6% of the people picked it, and none of you, I hope. :)

Quite a high scoring week for FT-ers, with Leumas leading the charge, just missing out on this week's bonus thanks to Bay of Plenty's upset win against Auckland. Zaco put in a strong performance for his first week in the competition, but it was not quite enough to sneak ahead of Gratn, whose patented selection technique as outlined in 2002's tournament might need a little fine tuning. Meanwhile, Kiwi Flyer is closing the gap on second place, thanks in part to my optimistic prediction that Marlborough would overcome Counties Manukau. At least Wellington did the necessary.

So here's how it looks after week 2:

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change
1= (3) : 2514 : Leumas : 64 : 85 : up 10904
1= (1) : 2514 : mad_atta : 56 : 85 : down 1476
3 (2) : 3710 : Kiwi Flyer : 56 : 82 : up 1565
4 (4) : 35000 : Gratn : 47 : 62 : up 2427
5 (5) : 35602 : Zaco : 61 : 61 : n/a

Nope didnt pick the steamers either. The main thing is the lions won :) If past form rings true I will get less points this week now there are 3 divisions playing :rolleyes:

You have until 4:00pm Friday, NZ time.

I have a bad feeling about this week... :(

Thanks for the reminder. I think we have until 6pm NZ time?

Well, the rugby-savvy rellies got back from Oz just fine and they're all so delighted that I've taken such an interest in their trip this week, ha ha. Managed to slip in plenty of rugby questions so everything looks set for the weekend. Last week's round didn't go too badly either!

Cheers, Zac

Gloating already, Zac? Overconfidence is a dangerous thing, you know! :p

Kiwi Flyer you are absolutely right, it is 6:00pm NZ time. I always have to remind myself that it is only 4:00pm Sydney time (I've been caught out by that before) so I had 4:00 on the brain.

A bit of a low-scoring week this week - I guess this means there must have been a few upsets on the rugby field but I couldn't even begin to tell you what they were! (Actually, even I can tell that 3 draws in one week is a pretty unlikely result.) In FT land there were some upsets too, with yours truly inexplicably managing the highest total of the week (although it was only a modest 68) to maintain first place, while Zac's rellies seem to have lost their edge slightly, though Zac's second highest score now sees him tying with KiwiFlyer for 3rd place. Kiwi Flyer earns this week's wooden spoon, in line with his own prediction of scoring less now that one should theoretically be able to score more.

So here's how it looks after week 3:

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change
1 (1=) : 743 : mad_atta : 68 : 153 : up 1771
2 (1=) : 9957 : Leumas : 44 : 129 : down 7443
3= (3) : 25408 : Kiwi Flyer: 34 : 116 : down 21698
3= (5) : 25408 : Zaco : 55 : 116 : up 10194
5 (4) : 40812 : Gratn : 42 : 104 : down 5812

Here's hoping for a higher scoring round next week...

A few upsets is right. Who would have thought Taranaki and Bay of Plenty would be leading the NPC 1st division, and 3 draws in 1 week!! At least the Lions are still unbeaten :)

This year held to form and I did get less points despite now 3 divisions playing! At least I managed to get more than the first week with only 1 division, albeit only just.

Bring on the next round :)

I have a bad feeling about this week... :(

Boy, were you right, but at least you're leading...! A shocking week, I don't think I've got a single 1st division right. At least with a few draws, a lot of people wouldn't have picked that, so the margins aren't that great...

Time for week four's results... and it appears that gratn's patented scoring system has finally come good, with this week's top score of 65 points, while Zac must have seriously offended those rellies because their advice has seen him earn this week's wooden spoon with a paltry 34 points. Kiwi Flyer managed a commendable 63 points to be runner up both in this week's score and overall, sneaking ahead of Leumas who had a bit of an off week. Bizarrely, I'm somehow still in the lead, though the same can't be said for my team - Marlborough lost this week to Wanganui. :(

So, this week's results in full:

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1) : 375 : mad_atta : 57 : 210 : up 368
2 (3) : 9937 : Kiwi Flyer : 63 : 179 : up 15471
3 (2) : 10562 : Leumas : 49 : 178 : down 605
4 (5) : 18960 : Gratn : 65 : 169 : up 21852
5 (4) : 38697 : Zaco : 34 : 150 : down 13289

I'll see y'all same time, same place next week...

Another week, another draw (who'da thought?!), another dismal showing in the 3rd division, and the Lions won ^^

Congrats mad_atta in breaking into the top 400 overall.

Now why is it when you have multiple teams entered the best score of the week is from a different team each time? Dang draw cost me the bonus points in one of the other teams :(

After a good week last week, and looking at the draw I forsee a much lower score for me this week.

I forgot to make my picks this week :(! VNPC did send me a chirpy email "Don't Worry Zaco We Made Your Picks For You" which relieved me no end until I noticed they'd employed a monkey to do it. Oh dear... it looks like all is lost, but I'm certainly not giving up yet. Well done though mad_atta, I think I should be getting my tips from you :D!

Cheers, Zac

Just keep forgetting and maybe the rest of us will have a chance! :D

Ah - I knew there had to be an explanation for Zac's rellies going off the boil so suddenly. If you can recapture your form from the other FT VirtualNPC tournament, you should still be able to win from here!

Congrats mad_atta in breaking into the top 400 overall.

Yes, this is a source of considerable bemusement to me. I suppose it must indicate that there have been lots of upsets and/or unpredictable results so far, because I can see no other explanation for how a clueless individual like myself who takes no interest in sport can be in the top 0.4% of punters, ahead of 80,000 other rugby-mad enthusiasts! I'm enjoying it while it lasts, anyway.

I'm in! Be prepared to have your a**es kicked...! :p

Leumas has gone strangely silent ;)

Just fitting in at your slipstream, don't worry. :) Waiting for you guys to run out of steam.

I still need to study a bit of the 2nd and 3rd divisions, as I've been away from NZ for the past couple of years, I don't have a clue what the 'good' teams are. Added to that, the 1st division is just as wild. Who would have thought Canterbury can win by so much against Otago...?! Maybe mad_atta, who claims has no clue on this, ;) is an example that wild guesses are as good as anything.

mad_atta has a bit of a gap on the rest of us though, that will have to change.

P.S. I should trust my instinct - never trust Aucklanders...

P.S. I should trust my instinct - never trust Aucklanders...

Hey I resemble that! With my unwavering (to the point of irrationality) loyalty to the Lions do I get included in that? :D


PS Go the Lions!

My "patented scoring system" is not doing too well this year (as my second to bottom place shows!), but I will stick with it. It appears the mighty Lions are having a good year, so my tip to you all is keep backing Wellington. If nothing else, doing so is good for the soul.

Well, I've made my picks this weekend, hope you didn't forget... You still have a few hours.

Quite a few local derbys this weekend, and my picks are a bit 'out there'. If they work out, great. If they don't, let's just hope there's still enough time to make up any lost ground...

Battle of the Bridge (AKL? I know... Never trust Dorklanders, but their game plan should suit Rokocoko...)

Otago-Southland (Always difficult to win at Invercargill even if the home team isn't that hard to beat.)

Mid Canterbury-South Canterbury (Anybody's guess...)

West Coast-Buller (This will be huge!)

Not to mention the Shield should be hopping on a NZ flight this weekend... Don't know how the Lahore Cup travels... :)

I bumped into the Waikato team checking into Novotel last night, anyone know anyone working there to 'double check' their food...? ;)

Could well be some more draws this weekend. Better get my picks in - thanks for the reminder. Now surely the steamers cant win three big games in a row, can they?

Woohoo Lions win again - still unbeaten (albeit with a draw) after 37-17 win over the mooloos ^

Woohoo Lions win again - still unbeaten (albeit with a draw) after 37-17 win over the mooloos ^

That will teach me for being a traitor...

That will teach me for being a traitor...

:eek: and here I thought I was being traitorous by only picking the Lions by 1-12!!

Another great weekend and another win for the Lions. With Taranaki and Wellington top of the table why did the 'Canes perform so badly??? The Steamers almost pulled off a draw in the Ranfurly Shield game which would have been good enough to retain but now it heads down to Canterbury yet again.

No changes to places this week but Zac is closing in fast with the best score of the week. mad_atta clings on to first despite the lowest score of the week. Meanwhile gratn, leumas and myself will need another good week to keep in play.

PS Shame the bonus division wasnt the second division this week which I somehow managed to get max points for.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1) : 3928 : mad_atta : 42 : 252 : down 3553
2 (2) : 6550 : Kiwi Flyer : 67 : 246 : up 3387
3 (3) : 11222 : Leumas : 60 : 238 : down 660
4 (4) : 18714 : Gratn : 59 : 228 : up 246
5 (5) : 24687 : Zaco : 71 : 221 : up 14010

Looks like all the effort paid off this week :D! It really is a nightmare keeping in touch with 5 or so rellies at once (and combining the tips via my good old relli scoring system) but it'll all be worth it if I can celebrate an ill-gotten FT victory in the end, ha!

Right, now then, what's this week's pretext for keeping in touch :D?

Cheers, Zac

(and combining the tips via my good old relli scoring system)

What, you rank the rellies based on the quality of their tips?

Let me introduce you to your long lost rellies from Greymouth and Westport!!

I rank the tips based on the qualities of the relies :)

Cheers, Zac

It seems I am finally starting to show my true colours - all those claims of rugby ignorance were actually true! Hmmmm... I'd better pull finger if I'm going to stay in front of the rapidly-closing Kiwi Flyer, and it's a worry to see Zac and the rellies finally back on form. It's turning into quite a close game...

BTW, thanks Kiwi Flyer for doing this week's update. :-:

Dont forget to make your picks.

Dont forget to make your picks.

Oh dear :(.

Woohoo the Lions win again ^^

This week has been nasty... Just as well Zaco forgot his picks or I could well be last...

Still haven't learnt my Auckland lesson - I thought Auckland and Wellington must be due...

Still haven't learnt my Auckland lesson - I thought Auckland and Wellington must be due...

huh :confused: Auckland and Wellington played each other

huh :confused: Auckland and Wellington played each other

Auckland due for a win and Wellington due for a loss.

nah that will come when they play Southland :rolleyes:

Another great weekend and another win for the Lions ^. The steamers thrashed Otago and so looking good half way through. Another draw this week (what is it with draws this season - cant remember having this many in a whole season let alone only the first half).

Zac forgetting to pick hurt big time with everyone else getting big scores. mad_atta clings on to first.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1= (1) : 4681 : mad_atta : 65 : 317 : down 753
1= (2) : 4681 : Kiwi Flyer : 71 : 317 : up 1869
3 (3) : 12180 : Leumas : 63 : 301 : down 958
4 (4) : 24393 : Gratn : 55 : 283 : down 5679
5 (5) : 52625 : Zaco : 10 : 231 : down 27938

mad_atta clings on to first.

Well, not quite - first equal is not the same. Well done Kiwi Flyer with another good weekly score - you seem to be hitting your stride.

Whereas I have a confession to make - I had a week from hell, and on about Wednesday (suspecting that I might have no time to make proper picks this week) I just copied Tony Johnson's... :o Sure enough, I didn't have time to come back and revisit them. And yet, somehow he scored more than me! He must have had a change of hear. Oh well, at least his predictions this week were better than mine last week... ;)

I'm impressed by Wellington's recent form ^ though unfortunately the same cannot be said for Marlborough, who are having another 'mixed' season to say the least. :rolleyes:

Another flukey week by me. The minor divisions I know nothing about yet somehow got all the winning teams (not margins) except for the draw.

Dont forget to make your picks.

I am quite ashamed of myself, once again I didn't make a single pick :(! The emails from the relies are all there, unfortunately I didn't find time to surf the web this week... oh well. There's still hope yet, watch out for the comeback of the year :D!

Cheers, Zac

Doh! Nearly didnt get my picks in.

Sadly the Lions had there first loss, going down to the Steamers.

This week proved to crowd up the points table, with both Taranaki and Wellington losing. The 3rd division leader - Mid Canterbury also suffered their first loss. The rush to the top 4 has begun!

As to our own points table, Kiwi Flyer scored another excellent round with 86, giving himself a little gap from the rest. Putting himself just outside the top 500 is pretty good going also. Well done! As to the rest of us, not much has changed, although Gratn and Zaco seem to be putting up their white flags...?

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1=) : Kiwi Flyer : 86 : 403 : up 4152
2 (1=) : mad_atta : 61 : 378 : down 6
3 (3) : Leumas : 74 : 375 : up 6453
4 (4) : Gratn : 66 : 349 : up 4972
5 (5) : Zaco : 0 : 231 : down 27938

Thanks for the update Leumas ^

The bonus for 2nd division helped enormously, would have stuggled without that as picked both Lions and the 'Naki to win :( and the usual hit and miss in the 3rd division.

Can Zac (and the rellies) possibly come back from here?

With my inconsistency I dont think mad_atta and leumas should worry too much - will be falling back again this week I expect.

As to the rest of us, not much has changed, although Gratn and Zaco seem to be putting up their white flags...?




No chance - I will keep picking and hope for a form reversal (just what the Lions need too after the disaster against the BOP).

That means YOU, Zac - it's a shame to waste a resource as formidable as the notorious Rugby Rellies™ !!

Having had a little more time to consider this week's choices, I'm feeling quietly confident - how's that for famous last words! :p

Good luck everyone. :)

Picks in but not at all confident

Picks in but not at all confident

I'm with you - very tough week to pick... :confused:

My problem is that I don't have the internet at home, and when I'm working in Birmingham I don't surf the web at the office, so the only times I can get on the net are the weekends when I'm in town or if I'm travelling and the lounge has internet access (and in Europe that usually means LH's sorry excuses for lounges so no). I'll make my picks for next week now just to remind ya'll how luckily you escaped this year (:D) but I can't see myself coming back from this.

Cheers, Zac

But there's always next year so watch out ;)

Another win for the Lions ^^

We all slipped down the overall rankings this week, albeit some more than others. Still enough time to make a move but time is running out.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 : Kiwi Flyer : 76 : 479 : down 94
2 : mad_atta : 65 : 443 : down 3410
3 : Leumas : 67 : 442 : down 2783
4 : Gratn : 66 : 415 : down 2048
5 : Zaco : 0 : 231 : down 27938

You're pulling out a bit of a gap there, KF...! A worry... :)

I missed so many margins this week, it's not funny. I think I only missed like 2 or 3 games in results, but only got like 2 margins from the games that I managed to pick correctly...

Who would have thought Waikato and Taranaki fall apart like that...?

I didnt get too many margins this week, but got most of the winners right. Last week I was luck enough to get the bonus points for division all right 20 points. Get some bonus points and we'll be back close again.

Quite a struggle between mad_atta and leumas :)

I can't believe that I'm effectively last (sorry Zaco) when I'm in the top 25% of the competition overall. Just goes to show what high flyers we FTers are :D

For me there is quite a bit of luck involved. Managed to get bonus the other week, and the fact the Lions keep winning is helping a lot.

Should have a rule that says whoever leads for 3 weeks in a row have to go 'random' on the 4th week. :)

Should have a rule that says whoever leads for 3 weeks in a row have to go 'random' on the 4th week. :)

...?

You don't sound too keen? :D

No (funny that).

Another win for the Lions ^^

We all slipped down the overall rankings this week, albeit some more than others. Still enough time to make a move but time is running out.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 : Kiwi Flyer : 76 : 479 : down 94
2 : mad_atta : 65 : 443 : down 3410
3 : Leumas : 67 : 442 : down 2783
4 : Gratn : 66 : 415 : down 2048
5 : Zaco : 0 : 231 : down 27938

My god what a fall! I actually managed to get my picks in this week though (which feels like a minor victory in itself) so watch out :D.

Cheers, Zac

I think you need to be close to perfect the last 2 round robins as well as playoffs to catch anyone!

My god what a fall! I actually managed to get my picks in this week though (which feels like a minor victory in itself) so watch out :D.

Cheers, Zac


Noooooooooooooo. If Zaco starts picking winners then I'm in danger of being properly last.

I doubt it - with 184 point lead and only 2 round robins plus playoff you would have to do extraordinarily badly (or forget to pick at all) and Zac would need to blitz his picks.

Well, Muggins here has decided to give you all a helping hand by forgetting to get my picks in on time this week. Of course with my lively social schedule I'm far too busy to worry with such trifling things as Virtual NPC. (Translation: I went to the pub at lunchtime and forgot about it... :o )

Ah well, let's hope the automatic random selection will be kind to me...

I doubt it - with 184 point lead and only 2 round robins plus playoff you would have to do extraordinarily badly (or forget to pick at all) and Zac would need to blitz his picks.

A mere 184? Ha! Watch out gratn, here comes a blitz :D!

Cheers, Zac

Another win for the Lions ^^

A very good week by Leumas sees him well clear of mad_atta and making a charge for the lead. A welcome back with a good score by Zac, but it looks like gratn will be able to hold him off. Final round robin week so time to make your move.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1) : 1696 : Kiwi Flyer : 63 : 542 : down 1073
2 (3) : 4502 : Leumas : 85 : 527 : up 4008
3 (2) : 19475 : mad_atta : 44 : 487 : down 11378
4 (4) : 27236 : Gratn : 55 : 470 : down 5767
5 (5) : 64194 : Zaco : 76 : 307 : down 27938

Thanks for the update, KF! Slightly disappointed that I missed the bonus this week, missed one game and that cost me... Still a bit of a gap to your good self though, with the number of games reducing, it's harder to catch up...

You did a lot better than I did. 3rd division I got just 5 points :eek:

Which just goes to show how much my points are down to luck!! Only 15 points gap - quite easily done.

I suppose I should be happy with my 44 points - for random selection, that's pretty damn lucky! Well done Leumas for a great score this week. At least the points gaps aren't too wide - there's still potential for an upset or two, especially if someone can claim that elusive bonus...

Now, if only I can remember actually to make my picks this week then things might be looking up! :)

You did a lot better than I did. 3rd division I got just 5 points :eek:


That's 5 points more than I got. :mad: I'm just lucky there isn't a -20 "bonus" for getting every game wrong!

There were a lot of away wins, especially in the 2nd and 3rd divisions... I picked so many away wins that I revised it to have a home win somewhere... Guess which one I changed in the last minute...

Another win for the Lions ^^ just 2 more to go.

A good week by mad_atta but perhaps not good enough, and zac has given up the ghost in last.

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1) : 2266 : Kiwi Flyer : 50 : 592 : down 570
2 (2) : 5154 : Leumas : 50 : 577 : down 652
3 (3) : 14970 : mad_atta : 61 : 548 : up 4505
4 (4) : 27905 : Gratn : 47 : 517 : down 669
5 (5) : 65930 : Zaco : 0 : 307 : down 27938

With only 40 points available for the rest of the competition, it'll be difficult to see anyone heading him off... That bonus a couple of weeks ago proved decisive. Well done! :)

P.S. Not that I'm giving up yet. :)

I guess the question is do you risk it by picking Wellington to lose in order to differentiate your picks!?

I guess the question is do you risk it by picking Wellington to lose in order to differentiate your picks!?

Hell no!

Another win for the Lions ^^ just 1 more to go.

Leumas gained again. Looks like the promo/relegation game is included so still in with a chance!

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change

1 (1) : 2703 : Kiwi Flyer : 18 : 610 : down 437
2 (2) : 4344 : Leumas : 24 : 601 : up 810
3 (3) : 14539 : mad_atta : 21 : 569 : up 431
4 (4) : 27058 : Gratn : 21 : 538 : up 847
5 (5) : 66364 : Zaco : 0 : 307 : down 27938

Well, all bets are off now... The gloves are off, it's now or never, destiny calls...

(How many other phrases can I think of...?)

Needing 10 points to win, regardless of that, I just need to nail down at least 13 points next week and hope KF gets nothing. Easier said than done...

P.S. I was so tempted to go Nelson Bays this past week... D'oh!

I thought I had picked Nelson Bays :(

Congrats Leumas ^ on a narrow come from behind win. But fancy picking the Lions to lose - call yourself a supporter :eek:

Yes well, my head said Canterbury and my heart said Wellington. At the end, the head won...

I did say this though... :p

Just fitting in at your slipstream, don't worry. :) Waiting for you guys to run out of steam.

It was a good game, well done everyone! One would have to think what might have been if Zaco and whànau were picking...

FT rank (last week) : Overall rank : Player name : Points this week: Total points : Ranking change
1 (2) : 3646 : Leumas : 13 : 614 : up 698
2 (1) : 4483 : Lionsfan : 0 : 610 : down 1780
3 (3) : 16034 : mad_atta : 5 : 574 : down 1495
4 (4) : 30116 : Gratn : 0 : 538 : down 3058
5 (5) : 66509 : Zaco : 0 : 307 : down 27938

Well done Leumas on an excellent last-minute surge! And to Kiwi Flyer to for the consistent leadership during the mid section of the comp. As for me, my early form sadly deserted me, but I given my near total ignorance of all things rugby I'm happy with my result. Thanks KF also for doing the weekly updates - I've been AWOL for a while on the forum (first due to the pressure of all the preparations for a big trip, then the trip itself) but am now back from my * RTW to shatter the peace around here!

Taking this thread way off topic, it was interesting trying out a few other Star carrier's long haul business products, namely SK, UA, AC and OZ, as until now I had only tried SQ and of course NZ. Even with NZ's soon to be upgraded product, it still compares remarkably well. For flair and professionalism of presentation only SK is comparable to NZ, for actual food and wine quality itself NZ is comfortably in front, for seat comfort UA probably get the nod (not having tried the new SQ spacebeds) with AC winning for personal space (though none of these older generation J seats are truly comfortable for sleeping in IMHO), while for enthusiasm and genuine friendliness of service only OZ approach NZ, for lounges SQ and NZ are in the lead. With the new IFE and hugely improved seats, NZ will have probably the best business product in *A IMHO. Although I'm not a huge fan of SQ's service style, and I don't think they have a clear lead in anything except IFE, they do offer currently the least patchy, most complete product in Star. I'm planning to do a brief trip report, so watch this space.

Anyway, back to working my way through the mound of work related emails that have accumulated while I've been away... :(

Nice comparison between *A carriers mad_atta, and looking forward to your trip report in due course.

Hope you had a good trip mad_atta, thanks for the summary!

And sorry to everyone for only sort of competing in this years tournament, hopefully by next year I'll actually have an internet connection at home (or better yet I'll have moved to Oz!). Perhaps we could make some sort of leaderboard which shows average score per game played ;):D

Cheers, Zac