48 hours: Rugby will breathe life into summer

Here's a message of hope for frustrated sports fans out there.

If tennis - Auckland style - isn't your go, and you were reduced to padding around the house desperately thinking of a sports event to watch over the weekend, help is on the way.

Presumably, in future years, there will be major cricket contests in early January.

I wouldn't bank on it though.

New Zealand cricket has its moments, but it is also cursed by a lot of bad luck.

The major misfortune for New Zealand cricket is that it is in New Zealand.

Auckland in particular is developing the sort of wayward climate that is going to send our cricket groundsmen and match organisers into therapy.

Do not fear however. A superhero is already twirling around in a phone box, his muddy shorts spinning away to be replaced by gleaming summer playing gear that one day is sure to have such an advanced ability to "breathe" - as the manufacturers love to claim - that it might qualify for pre-school education.

This superhero is, of course, RUGBY.

Thank you rugby. And thank you the NZRFU, Sanzar, News Corp, the Murdoch family, and all those other good-hearted souls who realised that our summers are desolate without the contribution of the national game.

The day is soon at hand where you will be able to pack a lunch of leftover Christmas ham and trundle off to a Super 14 trial match.

Rugby will start so early in the year that the kids will still be interested in their Christmas presents by the time the season proper kicks off.

When the new Perth and South African teams join next year, the Super 14 will start in early, as opposed to late, February. Presumably, it means the trial games will begin about ... now. Does that fill your heart with joy?

Justin Marshall, who on Saturday talked publicly for the first time about his move to Leeds, has clearly had enough. After the Super 12 and Lions tour, Marshall will join one of the worst clubs in the English championship for about $8.50 more than he gets now rather than grind through another full season here.

Marshall is so keen to go that he has forsaken the chance to play yet more tests against South Africa and Australia - supposedly two of our great foes.

This, from a man who epitomises sports pride and determination, is saying something.

New Zealand rugby will miss Marshall.

For a start, his absence will mean a lot of people will have to find something else to moan about.

Since the mysteries of rugby have got even more baffling in the professional age - along with the lingo - Marshall's passing has had to cop the brunt of criticism although it was pushed hard by Anton Oliver's lineout throwing technique.

Marshall's pass was the nation's favourite technical matter to argue about because a lot of the other technical stuff is only really understood by rugby geniuses such as Mark Shaw.

Marshall's pass was to blame for many things. He should be ashamed of himself.

I will always argue that it had a lot to do with New Zealand's failure to host the World Cup, and the bitter divisions over who owns the beaches.

However, you certainly can't blame him for getting bored with the upcoming programme (more of the Super 12 circus, more Springbok and Australian tests, yawn).

The New Zealand Rugby Union can mount reasonable arguments (money, player wages) for why we have been robbed of the great provincial battles, afternoon matches, momentous series and tours - the very character of the game.

They cannot, however, dispute that many of us believe we have been robbed - whatever TV viewing figures they want to throw about. Now the season is starting so early in summer, it's turning into daylight robbery.

Marshall's words (and Tana Umaga said something very similar a while ago) will have this effect. None.

And as for his alternative proposal - that the All Blacks play in Japan, Canada and America - HEEEEELP.

It might be nice for the players to visit places where you whip the opposition before a rousing night of sushi and karaoke or a quick yahoo through Las Vegas, but it just doesn't translate back into living rooms.

Still, Marshall has given the malcontents - of which I am one - another voice.

We are not alone. His comments over the weekend give high-profile substance to our arguments and disappointments, however pointless and ignored they might be.