ITM Cup Semis

Starting in a few hours.

Just asking if any Kiwis or non Kiwi ITM/NPC fans have an opinion on this year's comp?

How did the condensed format work out?

Were there many injuries due to it? (Midweek games etc)

Player burnout?

More particularly does anyone have an opinion of Michael Bent as a tight head? Compared to say Nathan White, who was a very solid player for Leinster last season and Connacht this season. Came straight over after captaining his side in the ITM final.

Andrew Goodman also, who is captaining HIS side in an away semi later on today (Kiwi time).

If you have not already guessed or don't know, both players are due in Leinster after the comp, and we could badly do with them with the Autumn Internationals coming up and lots of injury worries.

Thanks

The competition is generally regarded as being too compressed with too many teams and a few too many whippings of the lower teams. (Many up North may not be aware that it used to be two separate levels of teams but it all got messed up and turned around and now no one (of the teams) wants to go back to playing in the lower division. Now its two divisions but they play each other so that its really only 1 but you have 2 lots of semis and finals.
The injuries haven't been too bad but it has required serious management of squads and less time working on coaching and more time just recovering and getting ready for the next game.
Audiences are down and many fans just can't keep up - I definitely failed for a few weeks.

Saying that the cream rises to the Top so Wellington is in a semi. Unfortunately scum rises to the top too so we're playing Auckland this weekend. Cantebury look too good and will probably win it again.
Michael Bent is good enough for this level but not for Super rugby which is why he is offski. Not sure about Goodman but probably the same. Remember this level is really only semiprofessional.