Yes I know numerous New Zealand rugby supporters take delight in ridiculing their Australian counterparts. Cheap Chase Edmonds Jersey ... and it can be so mind numbing.The Kiwi baiting has continued for some time, leading to a rugby inferiority complex this side of the Tasman; not surprising considering Australia has not sighted the Bledisloe Cup for 14 seasons.Painful as it is to admit, Australia still must give thanks to New Zealand this season for at least making the revamped Super Rugby tournament watchable, enjoyable at times.We even should not quibble if any of the New Zealand teams which have made the Super Rugby quarterfinals go on to win the title. It would be the right outcome, because the New Zealand conference has quality wise been by far the best of the four.For those who follow the Australian provinces, this seasons competition has been a tough ride.If just working out the logistics of a flawed and lopsided tournament format was bewildering enough, adding to the confusion was the dismal form of those in the Australian conference.A once confident, exuberant brand of rugby has become hesitant, lacking in intelligence and relying more on hope than instinct, to the extent that the winner of the Australian conference- the Brumbies- stumbled instead of marched their way into the finals.The Brumbies, while industrious, are not the team of enlightenment they once were. Solid rather than spectacular. Cautious rather than creative. They survive another week, but are spluttering. Even the benefit of hosting a final in Canberra on Friday night is not likely to be enough of an advantage against a special Highlanders outfit who could easily successfully defend their title.The figureheads of Australian Rugby- such as national coach Michael Cheika are making the necessary rallying the troops messages at the moment by arguing that it is not all doom and gloom. It is still impossible to avoid the fact that the fodder provided by the five Australian provinces over the past few months has often been dire.In a season where two of the provincial coaches- Richard Graham and Michael Foley- were replaced during the season and the Australian Rugby Union had to prop up several financially struggling provinces- its hardly startling that Australian teams have sometimes appeared distracted.With the talent spread too thinly across the five Australian provinces, it has led to numerous substandard matches, and late in the season when injuries took its toll, round 16 turned nightmarish when Australian teams were roundly humiliated by New Zealand sides in all four encounters- losing by a collective 140 points.The last round was a little more encouraging, with Rebels backrower Sean McMahon enlivening the match against the Reds by showing what actually can happen if someone has the courage to takes risks and the Waratahs pack providing some menace against the Blues.But this was countered by constant elementary errors in either game and that the Waratahs over the final two rounds badly wasted their opportunity to make the finals through poor finishing and average options.In another disconcerting sign for Australian Rugby, just two years after winning the Super Rugby title, the Waratahs have collapsed to tenth spot.Thankfully we have been able to watch the New Zealand local derbies to revive our faith in rugby, and remind us that when played properly, it can still enlighten and invigorate.Unlike the Australian conference, where the low skill level and predictable coaching methods were often exposed, the New Zealand matches have constantly been of the highest standard because the players are willing to trust their own abilities.Their skill set and level of fitness is exceptional, leading to a succession of high intensity games played at a frenetic rate, often with virtually no interruption. More often than not when under pressure they do not make mistakes. They instead lift.New Zealand coaches also trust their players to allow them to try something different and seize the moment, which has prompted numerous memorable individual performances.With this has come a constant stream of standout games- as good as anything witnessed at the top level in recent times. It doesnt get much better than what the Highlanders and Chiefs offered in Dunedin on Saturday night, which involved endless highlights, in particular the home team winger Waisake Naholos leap of faith that enabled him to score one of the best tries of the season.This followed a mighty performance by the Hurricanes in Christchurch, where through the ingenuity of such vast talents as their All Black five-eighth Beauden Barrett they succeeded in a bonus-point triumph over the Crusaders that saw them unexpectedly finish on top of the ladder.And so four New Zealand teams are in the finals to Australias paltry one.Even though a competition structure, which is stacked in favour of the South African conference, makes it difficult for the Crusaders and Chiefs to continue on as they are respectively off to Johannesburg and Cape Town for their finals match, they should never be under-estimated. Its again about faith. They dont get hung up about hardships.As for the Hurricanes and Highlanders, you really cannot complain if they continue on, as those with initiative who want to entertain deserve just rewards. Cheap Korey Cunningham Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Wholesale Arizona Cardinals Jerseys . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. http://www.cheapcardinalsjerseyselite.com/?tag=cheap-mason-cole-jersey .ca. Kerry, Just watched the shootout in the Coyotes/Leafs game and I have to ask, why was the James van Riemsdyk goal allowed to count? All of the video replays we were shown on TV were inconclusive about whether the puck had entirely crossed the line or not. MIAMI -- Goran Dragic sat out almost the entire third quarter after picking up his fourth foul, and thats when the Miami Heat saw control of yet another game start to slip away.Dragic made sure that was a temporary problem.He scored 13 of his season-high 34 points in the fourth quarter, and Miami beat the Washington Wizards 112-101 to snap a five-game losing streak.We want him to make a lot of plays for our team, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. We have great confidence in him. I think hes really comfortable right now and we want to keep him in this place. Hes driving so much of what were doing right now offensively.Dragic made 14 of 23 shots, helping Miami kick off a six-game homestand with a win. The Heat outscored Washington by 26 points when he was on the floor, and were outscored by 15 when he was on the bench.We had a meeting and said this is our chance, Dragic said. We go on a run, we put together some good games and win a couple in a row, this is a big opportunity for us to show we can play.Hassan Whiteside had 17 points and 16 rebounds and James Johnson scored 14 off the bench for Miami, which won for only the third time in 11 games at home.John Wall scored 30 points and Bradley Beal added 29 for Washington, which is 0-2 against Miami this season.Its just a tough loss for us because we battled hard throughout the game, Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. A couple breaks here and there we probably could have won the game.Miami led 59-53 at the half, after making 10 consecutive shots late in the second quarter. Dragic went 4 for 4 in that stretch, plus assisted on two others.But he picked up his third foul -- a call he didnt like -- witth 38 seconds left in the half, then got his fourth early in the third quarter. Cheap Chris Campbell Jersey. When he went to the bench, Miami was up nine. But a 23-7 Wizards run later in the third gave Washington a five-point edge, and it was a one-point game going into the fourth when Dragic returned.He got a lot of easy looks, Beal said. We were trying to figure out what we wanted to do with him. ... I have to give credit where it is due. He was shooting the ball well and he played well tonight.TIP-INSWizards: Beal made two 3-pointers, giving him 496 in his career. Hes about to become the third Wizards player to make 500 3s, joining Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. ... Washington plans to evaluate F Ian Mahinmi (right knee) in the coming days. Mahinmi has missed 22 of the Wizards 23 games.Heat: Dragics 34 were a high for his Heat tenue. ... James Johnson (right shoulder) returned after sitting out four games. Luke Babbitt (right hip) was cleared to return, but did not play. Dion Waiters (groin) remains out.WINSLOW UPDATEHeat forward Justise Winslow missed his 16th game with a sore left wrist. Hes getting better. Hes doing more court work each day, Spoelstra said.BEAL AND WALLIn four games where the Wizards didnt have both Beal and Wall, they averaged 94 points. In 19 games with both in the lineup, theyve averaged 106.UP NEXTWizards: Host Charlotte on Wednesday, and will wear Stars and Stripes military appreciation jerseys.Heat: Host Indiana on Wednesday, after beating the Pacers twice in Miami last season -- both in overtime. Cheap NFL T-shirts Wholesale Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap NFL Black Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys China ' ' '