There's a classic episode of The Simpsons where the family watches a football match that "will determine once and for all which is the greatest nation on earth - Mexico or Portugal!"
Well, think of this as being along similar lines - Stuff v NZ Herald, to determine once and for all, or, at least for this year's World Cup, the greatest punter.
In Stuff's corner, boxing hobo @boxcarfred - former ball-playing libero for the Tamatea High School 1st XI. For the Herald, goal-poaching mercenary @shollow1. It's attack versus defence, cosmopolitan Auckland v cowtown Hamilton, fading youth and tight hamstrings v fading memory and bad back.
The combatants have $30 each to spend among nine picks - none the same; greatest return wins. Being the gentleman of this duel, I allowed Holloway to pick first, and the dastardly cad took two that I'd posted earlier this week.
Steven Holloway's picks:
