What's your biggest and best takeaway from Super Rugby Aotearoa? Can I say EVERYTHING? Well, if not, everything then most things?

Of course the ending sucked. But then so did last year's Rugby World Cup. And we've got over that it seems so let's not dwell too long on the cancelled finale at Eden Park.

The sporting public of NZ has just loved this comp. And what wasn't there to like? The rugby was exhilarating, the contests unmissable.

We, us, you and me the viewing public loved it.  Evidenced by the sell-out crowds attending matches and increased viewership on SkyTV. We enthused, we marvelled, we celebrated, we enjoyed our rugby.

Even the initial angst over referees and penalty counts was met with concerned approval as opposed to the usual weeks of teeth-gnashing debate.

Thing is, as a country and especially when it comes to matters of a sporting nature, we seem so ever reluctant to just like what we see and enjoy the experience. In my line of work if you dare express any enthusiasm for any sport you're shot down in flames and labelled a cheerleader.

Well, so be it. Flip me over your shoulder and pass the pom-poms please.

I'm not here to convince anyone of anything. But I will happily express my unbridled enthusiasm for this comp. In fact it's been the best Super Rugby since it was Super12.

Until this last weekend, that is. Maybe the broken trophy was a warning then. A slow down sign. A reason to acknowledge that not everything is in fact happy-la-la and all back to what we once thought was normal.

So perhaps that is my biggest takeaway. Yes there is still much work to be done. And we can't take anything for granted. Not me, not you, not no-one.