Well, talk about the pet hate, Nana O & Poppa K are back in action here in New Zealand after a grueling 7 week holiday in Argentina & Uruguay, but 1st off: the absolute amateur stuff that I've enitrely missed during the September to Movember (Now december) period.
Yep 1st off, the almighty All Blacks of New Zealand clinch another Rugby Championship title with a resounding 34 - 13 victory over Argentina in La Plata (The place were O & K have been) but unfortunately for the AB's as lock Brodie Retallick (Who was officially crowned World Rugby's (Formerly IRB) Player of the Year honours) is expected to miss the final round against South Africa due to concussion but NZ were in danger as Duane Vermeulen (Who is SA's danger man) was injured in his side's win over the Wallabies in Cape Town, but however, Vermeulen was declared fit so the All Blacks travelled to South Africa but eventually were on the losing side as our 22 match unbeaten run, has been conquered by the South Africans after Liam Messam copped a high tackle awarding SA the penalty (I mean that was shocking, literally meaning that we blown our chances to win that) before Patrick 'Pat' Lambie nailed the penalty shot replicated by Bernard Foley in the Super Rugby final and then, heartbreak for the AB's as they concede the penalty for not releasing the ball meaning that SA have replicated England's 2012 heroics over New Zealand at Twickenham (AKA Twickers).
And then, onto the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane where the All Blacks, (Who are avenging their Ellis Park demons), face the Aussies who are all sorts of trouble as Kurtley Beale missed a flight then sent an offensive txt message to the team's business manager Di Patston before being disciplined and then, losing the game to Argentina who finally managed to pull off their 1st win (Compared to the AB's 1st defeat) in the Rugby Championship after 2 years of get rich & die trying since they have joined but Australia's coach Ewen McKenzie's job is on the line, meaning that they must ensure a victory if he wanted to keep it but hell no, you are fired (That is, due to the job security, so Mckenzie is an absolute goner) as the All Blacks run in with a close finish by a Malakai Fekitoa try and then the match winning conversion by Colin Slade (Although Slade was dropped by the selectors meaning that this was his last act in that famous Black jersey, although due to the injury by Cory Jane, Colin Slade returns on behalf of his 2nd chance).
And after the Brisbane test, the All Blacks have named a squad to tour the USA (United States of America) & United Kingdom featuring the unexpected returnee of Sonny...Bill...WILLIAMS!!!
Yes, that is right, SBW's back in town with the AB's after 2 comeback seasons in the NRL (He won a premiership with both the Bulldogs in 2004 & the Roosters last year) & also Daniel...CARTER!!! After a long injury layoff (His last game in the famous Black jersey was last year in his 100th test at Twickenham where we gained revenge over the English), but 1st off, the historic 1st test @ Soldier Field (Which is an American Football/Gridiron venue) in Chicago, Illinois (Home of the Bears (National Football League/NFL), Blackhawks (National Hockey League/NHL), Bulls (National Basketball Association/NBA), Cubs & White Sox (Both from Major League Baseball/the MLB) against the last Olympic Rugby champions, the USA Eagles.
But in the end, the AB's proved way too strong against the United States as they took a resounding victory 74 - 6 with tries by hooker, Nathan Harris (Who unfortunately got injured, with James Parsons slotted in as replacement hooker), right winger Cory Jane (Also got injured as well), lock Patrick Tuipulotu, as well as the returning Sonny Bill (Who got it twice, not once), left winger Charles Piutau, reserve wing Julian Savea (He did get 2, just like Williams did), prop Joe Moody, then the returning first five-eighth Aaron Cruden (Who had been in trouble after getting drunk & missing the flight to Buenos Aires before the Argentina - All Blacks encounter in La Plata), fullback Izzy Dagg & openside Sam Cane with conversions by Cruden who got 4 out of 9 & also, the returning world's test points scoring fly-half of Dan Carter who bagged 3 out of 3.
And, after the victory in Chicago as the AB's head over to London as they take on the hosts of next year's Rugby World Cup, England at Twickenham (Which will host the final in 2015) by launching a brand new outfit dubbed as the blackest ever (With the trademark white collar gone as well as white being replaced by gun metal silver for the jersey numbers & logos as well as the shirt, it has been specially designed by both the forwards & the backs rather than design, fabric or colour (Improvements made to the forwards jersey such as better rucking, mauling & scrummaging as well as for the backs, they are designed to make it more difficult to grab hold of), but will this blackest jersey be better than the old one?) but what a start by the home team as Jonny May had just scored a sensational try! In the 3rd minute. Then 10 minutes later, Cruden had just scored as well but not able to add the extras before the All Blacks got penalised twice as Owen Farrell nailed 2 penalty goals in succession, then New Zealand gained the upper hand as Cruden also nailed 2 penalty goals just like Farrell then NZ conceded the penalty before halftime as Farrell able to land the penalty shot at goal.
As the second half got underway in the 45th minute, the All Black captain of Richie McCaw has scored a brilliant try as he goes over while England's debutant of Semesa Rokoduguni (Born in Fiji serving for the British Army) attempted to defend a three on one overlap, but however Dane Coles gets sent to the bin for 10 after lashing out a boot to Kiwi born English hooker Dylan Hartley but still England were unable to escape the fate of their own half but it was the only matter of time when England's line was cracked once more before reserve Prop Charlie Faumuina who knocked over after waves of attacks, scoring his 1st try in a test match...oh, hang on, what da hell is dis as Welsh referee Nigel Owens make a TMO decision after awarding the try? (Wait, this certainly isn't Rugby's version of Cricket's Umpire Decision Review System as the batsman does require a review after originally being given out caught behind or lbw (Leg before wicket) Oh, you have gotta be kidding me, well that was...a comedy of errors not only because the Sky Sport rugby commentators label Owens as a stand up comedian, oh my god! But in the end, the TMO thinks that he tells the ref that he already has awarded it but that's the rule, you can't change decisions after the try has scored, and then all of a sudden, with England having the last laugh as the penalty try was given after New Zealand pulled down a maul, but the All Blacks held on comfortably to a 3 point victory over the Red Roses.
And yes, the highly anticipated return of Nan & Pops from Argentina/Uruguay was upon us for me last week as I went with him to Pak'n'save (Their motto: Our policy, NZ's lowest food prices) for the food supply after that grueling 7 week trip before having our own lunch since their return B4 we played our 1st test match of the brand new Aramoho Series Cricket season of 2014/15 with a record of 20 games following the success of the inaugural/1st ever 2014 season which consisted only 8 games, and guess what, I was the winner of the 1st test match of 20 by 36 runs as I managed only 6 in the 1st innings and 63 in the 2nd innings as I was dismissed in both innings when Poppa K managed to trap me out lbw twice then I had him out run out 1st innings & finally in the 2nd innings, I was overwhelmingly dominant by bowling him out, effectively ending the match with me leading 1 - 0 in the series.
And then on Saturday night, the Kiwis rugby league side have done it by winning the 4 nations at home in the nation's capital of the windy city of Wellington (or Welly/Wellywood), New Zealand. As they held on to beat the Kangaroos 22 - 18, a few weeks after thrashing the Aussies in the opener at Brisbane (And for 61 years that New Zealand have last tasted victory twice & for 11 years since they have last won in NZ against Australia) + some wonderful tries by star men Shaun Johnson (Hailed as the new Benji Marshall who recieved his player of the game honours twice in both the opener & final) & Manu Vatuvei (He is da beast who got it twice because he is now New Zealand's all time try-scorer with 20) as well as Jason Nightingale (Born in Australia but he is the tournament's top try scorer with 5), but moving on as we switch gears on both sides of the rugby code from the Cake Tin to Murrayfield in Edinburgh where the All Blacks take on the last flower of Scotland (The country who had desired/embroiled to become independent but however have elected to remain part of the United Kingdom) coached by New Zealander ''Big'' Vern Cotter as well as containing 2 NZ players playing against their country of birth such as Blair Cowan & Quade Cooper's cousin Sean Maitland AKA Mitchell Johnson, the Aussie cricketer because of his lookalike compared to Poppa's Sean Connery sans the skin colour & Dad's Daniel Vettori.
But the match started as Victor Vito gave his team the early lead before TROUBLE!!! THEY WON'T CATCH HIM!!! As Tommy Seymour crosses over for the try which gave the delighted hosts an immediate response but kickers Dan Carter and Grieg Laidlaw kept the score close with three penalties apiece but a successful effort from the boot of Colin Slade nudged New Zealand in front but the AB's were way too strong in the end as they defeated the Scots 24 - 16 after a Jeremy Thrush try & Colin Slade conversion in the 73rd & 74th minute.
And now...onto the All Blacks last test match of the year 2014, against WALES! (Led by Sam Warburton) That's right, the Valley Boys over at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. And how about Richard Hugh ''Richie'' McCaw, celebrating 100 tests as skipper after a decade on when he 1st became captain of the AB's. As the match got well underway as Wales kick the ball off and soon have a ball thanks to a terrific grab from Jamie Roberts.
6 MINUTES LATER
Well there's more ground made in the All Blacks' 22 and New Zealand are penalised for hands in the ruck. It's in front of the posts, and there is no way that the Valley Boys aren't taking the points from there. (Wales lead 3 - 0)
26 MINUTES LATER
Wales collapse the scrum yet again, again it is Paul James. He is failing to adapt, the Welsh prop, against that AB's pack. Penalty at halfway, and Beauden Barrett will try again. Hefty boot from Beaudy and it clears the bar by a couple of feet. We're all tied at 3-3.
18 MINUTES LATER
New dad/father SBW knocks it on, Wales have thrown the ball around to see if they can get anything, but it all comes to nothing. Half-time, Wales 3-3 New Zealand. Fierce, absolute fierce stuff in the 1st half, but the teams are back out on the field - the All Blacks will kick off.
And we are underway again because there is a slight tension settling on the Cardiff crowd not only they are realising their team really does have a better chance here.
2 MINUTES LATER
And then just like dat - it is a try! Julian Savea gets the ball out wide after Wales turn the ball over in their own 22, and it's Savea versus Dan Biggar. Only one winner, Savea slipping out of the tackle and in at the corner. New Zealand really know how to start a perfect 2nd half but Barrett lands the conversion from out wide & a huge burst of air has just been let out of the Millennium Stadium.
ANOTHER 2 MINUTES LATER
And then all of a sudden...try 2 Wales! Excellent response after falling behind. Perfectly offloaded by Taulupe Faletau (Formerly Toby) and Rhys Webb is in beside the bar! But Leigh Halfpenny able to add the extras - it is level once more.
5 MINUTES LATER
Another penalty to da Welsh, this time in NZ half, for Sam Whitelock who didn't rolling away. Halfpenny to kick at goal for what would put Wales in the lead. Through it goes. The Millennium Stadium is on its feet.
12 MINUTES LATER
The New Zealand captain of Richie McCaw is closing in on the try-line! Could he score on this landmark occasion? I don't think so, not quite. He is held up but the ball is switched across flanks by a superb cross-field kick and then it is reached inside and Jerome Kaino is over for the All Black's 2nd try of the game, as Barrett's conversion goes the same way as a previous penalty - wide right. George North is going off injured, blood streaming from his head, possibly sustained in that McCaw burst before the try & Penalty against...of all people, it's McCaw, what for? Side entry to the ruck but Leigh Halfpenny will have a chance to restore the Welsh lead & It is up, it is all good - Wales lead & then in all of a sudden, just like that - try to NEW ZEALAND! And that is one very fortunate bounce in the favour of Beaudy Barrett. It is just a reward for his own inventiveness, but Halfpenny is gonna see dat bounce every damn time he attempts to close his eyes and G.T.S. tonight. Agonising, very very Agonising indeed and it is Colin Slade who converts this time.
NEK MINNIT
It is becoming very, very open indeed as Wales seek to get back into dis, because dey need a try & conversion required to take da lead again, but dey are leaving demselves open in defence as a result, but it is another try for the AB's, who have - in just 3 minutes - shown why it is so, so hardcore to defeat them. Kieran Read is the beneficiary of a charge down, but to make your own luck as a virtual silence in the Millennium Stadium, which was threatening to combust just 5 minutes ago before Colin Slade slots a beauty of a kick from the touchline to add the extras. That is pure insult to injury, right there.
2 MINUTES LATER
"This ends now, or he's dismissed the field of play," says Wayne Barnes to Sam Warburton. It seems that Alun-Wyn Jones is the culprit. Frustrations beginning to show and NEK MINNIT, Leigh Halfpenny knocks the ball on or should I say, loses the ball forward...FORWARD (Well that's the issue) in his own 22, trying to break from deep. The game is an absolute goner for Wales, now but it has all Torn Sky Blast apart for the Welsh. Another X-Field kick, a terrific knockdown and Barrett is over for his 2nd of the game. It has becoming emphatic, but it does not flatter the All Blacks without a paddle, given how strongly they have played in this last 1/4 but unfortunate for Slade as he misses the conversion, yet again from the touchline, by a whisker but a knock on by the AB's as they throw it around for fun on halfway & another knock on ends the match but it took a patient, determined, relentless performance from New Zealand - but no side is equipped to produce just that quite like they are. 13 minutes of utter sheer brilliance was the ultimate difference, and Sam Warburton's knowing smile on his face as he shakes hands with his opposite number says it all. Wales were not too well beaten, but they were defeated as well.
And finally in this report, the world of Cricket was in mourning last week as Philip Hughes tragically killed during a Cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) after being struck in the head by a lethal bouncer from pace bowler Sean Abbott...how sad, RIP Phil (1988 - 2014)...but the Black Caps have also paid tribute to the fallen cricketer as they took victory against Pakistan in Sharjah during the 3rd test meaning that the test series had been drawn after losing the 1st test & drawing in the 2nd test, but the 1st test between Australia & India will take place at the Adelaide Oval due to rescheduling as the Brisbane test was postponed due to Hughesy's death (And I also paid tribute to Phil Hughes as I overcame the demons from last week's loss during the 4th Aramoho Series Cricket test which I labelled as game of the year (And I mean, after today's greatest lunch hits we had at the new Cafe Anatolia facility which was open alongside the new BP near the Splash Centre), by scoring (U guessed it) back 2 back centuries on both innings as my batting powers were fully restored (Last week it was woeful but this week it looks like I had a doner kebab for lunch which got my batting mojo back so I used a different bat, codenamed Memphis instead, rather than the Robin, which is a yellow bat that I am no longer using when I got 107 not out during the 2nd test match in the 2nd innings which I won) as I scored 136 (I was out LBW, which is my highest score of this series) & 104 not out & hell yes, that is a beauty (Although my back shoulder is a bit sore because of da batting (So perhaps I am sporting battle scars in all of a sudden), but today's test match of da year was even perhaps, da one 2 remember 4 me, so sit back & enjoy because I am going 2 remember dis, 4 a long, long time (Perhaps, the best cricket match of the decade (2010s) or the century!).
Well it has been a absolutely fabulous blog that has gone in development hell, but remember folks, it is only 3 weeks left till the real thing, which is...JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS.
P.S. Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there. With open arms and open eyes yeah. Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there.
