On a positive note NZF have sold the TV rights to the home leg playoff for a couple of million dollars so at least we'll come out of the whole debacle with a few extra millions in the bank.
Which is about a couple of million more than selling the TV rights to AW games against new Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tahiti in Oceania. We really need to get into the Asian WC playoffs. Home matches vs Japan, Korea, Oz etc = TV money.
If Smith picks up a yellow he is out of second game. Ricki's failure to provide CB cover is almost criminal.
Latest report is NZF will trouser $5 million for the home playoff and selling international TV rights, so that's it then. Frank and co will be happy with the lolly and Ricki can play Christie, Lochhead and Butler and it doesn't matter. Forgetting that our international reputation could be shredded by lop-sided scores, the fact we ended up playing Mexico has turned into a cash cow anyway, regardless of the result.
The pity is Mexico is in disarray and are there for the taking. If only we had incisive experienced leadership. Oh well, it brings back memories of those days when the AWs expected to be thumped and it was just a matter of keeping the score down.
Also nice to know a bumbling Oceania served us a curveball by handing the yellow-card clearance to Samoa, rather than holding it for the All Whites. Now a number of AW's go to the Azteca knowing a yellow card means they're not running out at Westpac. If you're cynical you'd think Oceania doesn't like NZ dominating its profile but then that would hint of racism, wouldn't it?