A great netball take is hard to find
Netball gets a raw deal - one of our pinnacle sports is going through disastrous times, which deserve questions and in-depth coverage, and we're being served up far too many tepid takes by rugby writers.
There's solid analysis by former players, with some understanding of the game, but as a fan who doesn't pretend to be an expert, I'd like a bit more nuanced coverage, but I'm not sure where it will come from.
I really hope they go well against Australia, the tears and determination in the post-England interviews were extraordinary. We haven't seen anything like that in a while.
The Games have been a fantastic watch - sports like track cycling have most of the best countries represented, and seeing the fierce competition in prime time and free to air has been brilliant. Getting out of the usual professional sport grind, for a little while, has freshened things up around here.
Thanks for reading - Richard
Godzone
Jamie Wall calls out some seriously rubbish cultural insensitivity from the Hurricanes - sportreview.net.nz is struggling to think who this promo would actually appeal to[The Spinoff]
Suzanne McFadden on the Silver Ferns and their darkest days - it's complicated [Newsroom]
Duncan Grieve on Sky TV and The Future - encouragingly, there's a new SkyGo on the way, and maybe unbundling options. TVNZ's Commonwealth Games coverage meant SKY had a good week, too [The Spinoff]
Phil Gifford on Fergie McCormack, great All Black and hard as nails Cantab [Fairfax]
Video nasty
Everyone proclaiming fake Ronaldo's bicycle kick as the best ever has obviously never heard of Marco Van Basten.
Offshore
How journalists Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian got inside Camp Tiger to write what may be the definitive biography. [The Ringer]
What you're up to this weekend
Warriors bandwagoneers, book out 5pm Saturday for a biggy against the Broncos
Hurricanes v Chiefs tonight at 7.35pm is the weekend's best Super Rugby clash, while Sunwolves hosting the Blues at 3.05pm on Saturday (civilised time!) has 'worst case scenario' written all over it
The IPL rumbles on - the app has all the scoreboards and news, as well as tremendous video highlights
Bring back the gif
When you're having a great time, but you forget you had a deadline.
