Well it was today when Pops took me to see my aunty, Cathey Middelplaats, my cousin Paige Williams (Cathey's 22 year old daughter because she has a boyfriend named Jarrod), Cathey's husband John Mitchell (Or Jon because I forgot to tell him to spell his name) & my 2 other cousins (Cathey's 2 little sons & Paige's 2 little brothers as well as my other 2 little cousins) Luca and Nico to have breakfast and have a discussion but I told Paige that I could have a selfie with her and Cathey and she agreed so a thunderous selfie was taken (Although she send her photo to my Dad but how did Cathey & Paige know my Dad?) but look at that before we had pancakes with maple syrup, yoghurt and banana for a breakfast then we had a chat and I asked Paige that this is like a council meeting before we had more discussion (Well, I told Cathey that I really want to come back here anytime as well as compared to Leon & Hanne that she and John are the best couple I have ever met but with a great sense of humor) then I had to say goodbye to them (I said bye in 3 different languages to 3 different people, French with Cathey (Because she looks like a Frenchwoman due to the fact that I once told Dad that I look like I'm Lebanese 11 years ago), German with John (He looks like a German man) and Italian with Paige (She looks like a young Italian girl) but I forgot to say to Cathey, John, Paige, Nico and Luca may the force be with you, hasta la vista baby...I'll be back next time when I come to Wellington because I got both Cathey and Paige's email addresses but Cathey's one did not work while Paige's one works hopefully) moments before we headed back home ending an incredible trip to Wellington to see the test match it was but we did stop in Levin with Poppa filled the car up with petrol as well as going to an Indian restaurant for lunch because I had samosa & Rogan Josh there.
2 days earlier, the journey begins as Pops took me to Stellar for dinner to have chicken parmigiana for dinner while for dessert is cheesecake (One of my favourite desserts) before heading off to Pops place to have a moccachino before getting a good night's sleep then the next morning, Pops wake me up to the big day by taking a shower, having breakfast, playing my go-to song at my funeral on Youtube, Through Glass by one of my favourite bands Stone Sour as well as looking the All Blacks haka which I performed twice, the lateral passes and the classic Joe Rokocoko tries before we called in here at my flat to get my referee cards that I forgot to bring them before we headed off on our expedition to Wellington but we did go through towns such as Kaitoke, Whangaehu, Turakina, Bulls, Sanson, Himatangi, Foxton, Poroutawhao, Levin (Which is All Black Codie Taylor's birthplace), Ohau, Manakau, Otaki, Te Horo, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Mackay, Paekakariki, Pukerua Bay, Plimmerton, Mana, Paremata, Porirua and Johnsonville.
But when we arrived in Wellington, I told Poppa that I might live here one day but sometime in the near future but Pops told me that residing in Wellington is expensive due to house prices so Porirua does have cheaper houses to live (And what about Palmerston North, is it any cheaper to live?) before we headed to John Coburn & Lim Chin Keong (The Malaysian) to stay here for the night and then we had lunch there near the venue that we are going and I had burgers and chips as well as a smoothie (John Coburn told us about the Welsh parallel defence against the All Blacks at Eden Park) before we headed back to the apartment then got out because I saw some loyal Welsh rugby supporters that Poppa & John Coburn had a chat before we headed over to the TAB (Although I saw some Welsh fans when we were walking because I was wearing red so that I almost look like a traitor but I covered it up instead) to make a bet of who will the 1st try scorer will be because I picked Waisake Naholo (Well I lost that bet) while Pops & Lim picked Ben Smith (They also lost their bets) and John Coburn picked fullback Izzy Dagg (John Coburn eventually won the bet) before we headed back by watching TV on the horse races for several minutes before Pops had a siesta then John Coburn told me that there is an incident during a Euro 2016 match when flares have been thrown to Croatian players because Luka Modric's Croatia were leading during a game (Although the game was held up for several minutes) moments before Petr Cech's Czech Republic equalised with a penalty allowing the match to be drawn (In other games such as David Silva's Spain beating the Arda Turan led Turkey while Daniele de Rossi's Italy had a win against the Zlatan Ibrahimovic led Sweden) then we left at the required time of 5:00pm to go to the stadium and Pops had bought several food that we are going to have for dinner (I had a pie as well as a bacon and egg with bread muffin as well as an apple) before entering the stadium to see the test match but the security guard at the gate that no diet coke & coke zero is allowed except John Coburn's in which he snuck in so I and Pops had to drink it before entry (Well I had to drink all of it).
And here we are at Westpac Stadium for my 4th visit to the venue (And my 1st ever All Black test) to see the 2nd test of the 3 match test series between the World Champion All Blacks taking on Wales so let's get this thing going with the match live commentary because I am getting pumped up!:
1ST MINUTE: 0-0 Start Of 1st Half...Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second Test between New Zealand and Wales. The Dragons pushed the All Blacks hard for 60 minutes at Eden Park last week, before the hosts' superior strength in depth told off the bench. Any confidence the tourists may have gained from that effort may, however, have dissipated when they crashed to the Chiefs in Hamilton on Tuesday. Read our preview here before kick-off. New Zealand and Wales anthems are both as passionate and stirring as one can hear. Stage set for the haka and kick-off. Perfect conditions for rugby. Here we go then. Aaron Cruden kicks off, the All Blacks fly-half going deep direct to Dan Biggar, who clears direct to touch...Lineout on 22. All Blacks spill the ball in contact and Wales counter first-phase through Taulupe Faletau and Jonathan Davies before going back to the right where replacement fullback Rhys Patchell spills the ball. Massive clash between Jamie Roberts and Malakai Fekitoa, which leaves the All Blacks centre bloodied and hobbling from the field.
1 MINUTE LATER: Malakai Fekitoa is taken off while Seta Tamanivalu is brought on. All Blacks on the front foot after Kieran Read collects loose ball at the back of a Wales ruck, but the All Blacks turnover and Alun Wyn Davies affects a turnover. Scrappy early from both stages.
2 MINUTES LATER: Wales dominate the first scrum of the game, awarded to them for a free-kick offence at a lineout, and Toby Faletau looks dangerous from the back.
1 MINUTE LATER: Wales looking good through 5 phases and looking to find space wide before penalised for failure to release in a ruck. Aaron Cruden clears the danger to halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER: Waisake Naholo makes a but in midfield, making ground where noe existed. Same story as last week. Seta Tamanivalu making good ground each time with ball in hand having replaced Malakai Fekitoa inside 2 minutes.
2 MINUTES LATER: Dan Biggar getting Wales backline on front foot each time he takes the ball into contact, and Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies looking threatening outside him, particularly in the channel inside the right wing as they target the new All Blacks centre pairing.
4 MINUTES LATER: Kieran Read, as any week, is involved everywhere, making ground from the back of the scrum and also rampaging in open play. His head-to-head with Toby Faletau, as last week, is a blinding contest.
1 MINUTE LATER: Malakai Fekitoa running free on the sideline. Lookinking good to return for Seta Tamanivalu.
1 MINUTE LATER: No great pattern to the game yet. Both teams looking to put ball through hands but execution isn't good enough while kicking from hand.
1 MINUTE LATER: Seta Tamanivalu is taken off as Malakai Fekitoa is brought on
2 MINUTES LATER: 0-3 Penalty to Wales! Dan Biggar scores. Lovely kick from Dan Biggar, with a little fade, to open the scoring. Defensive lines are each up incredibly quickly, limiting time and space to the attacking side. Factor in the other facets of the game that are off, and we're short of a highlights reel.
1 MINUTE LATER: Waisake Naholo is released by Israel Dagg to rampage at Liam Williams on the right wing. Remember his form from last week, he is the stuff of Welsh wingers' torrid nightmares.
2 MINUTES LATER: 5-3 TRY! Israel Dagg scores for New Zealand
2 MINUTES LATER: 7-3 Aaron Cruden makes the conversion. New Zealand ignore the goal kick to go for a lineout from which they drive. Aaron Smith passes long to Malakai Fekitoa, and the try is a certainty from there. So much space for Israel Dagg to coast over the line for a converted try.
1 MINUTE LATER: Kicking duel won by Israel Dagg on TKO, the All Blacks fullback roosting the pill to the Wales 22 from deep inside NZL territory, but the All Blacks concede the advantage by committing a lineout offence. Really good to see Israel Dagg back at his best, after missing the Rugby World Cup. deserved his recall on the back of good efforts for the Crusaders, and he's showing just how well stocked the All Blacks are for talent.
1 MINUTE LATER: Rob Evans is brought on while Gethin Jenkins is taken off.
1 MINUTE LATER: Wales continuing to take the challenge to the All Blacks, and they are executing better in face of strong defence. Sam Warburton said pre-match the Welsh challenge was physical not mental, given their losing run; in which case, they're going to be challenged again in the final quarter. There's some heavy contact and big hits at this point, but 15 phases eventually went nowhere before they left their feet for a ruck penalty to NZL.
2 MINUTES LATER: New Zealand deep in Wales territory under advantage from the penalty, shifting the ball left and right.
1 MINUTE LATER: Jaco Peyper finally blows his whistle for offside, saying no advantage to New Zealand after nine phases.
2 MINUTES LATER: 10-3 Penalty to New Zealand! Aaron Cruden scores. Aaron Cruden is down in backplay, and referee Peyper calls time. "Safety first."
1 MINUTE LATER: Gethin Jenkins is brought on as Rob Evans is taken off. Aaron Cruden looks to have a neck injury, and the Medi-Cab is on the field.
1 MINUTE LATER: Aaron Cruden still receiving treatment. He is still prone on the turf. Medical staff clearly being very careful with what seems to be a neck injury. Aaron Cruden has been placed safely on the ambulance. Good luck.
1 MINUTE LATER: Beauden Barrett is brought on while Aaron Cruden is taken off. Wales firmly in NZ territory after winning a scrum penalty. Kieran Read commits a lineout offence, with Wales awarded a scrum as the attacking team.
1 MINUTE LATER: New Zealand make a mess of the Wales scrum, but still the tourists get the ball through hands to Hallam Amos on the left wing before Malakai Fekitoa clears the danger.
1 MINUTE LATER: Fekitoa pinged for obstruction, but Dan Biggar goes for the lineout rather than a seeming certain three points. Wales rumble from the lineout, but the All Blacks force them into touch for a home lineout. Shades of an infamous decision in a Rugby World Cup match featuring Wales.
2 MINUTES LATER: Wales dominating possession, and they look dangerous attacking on their right wing without threatening overly to break the line.
3 MINUTES LATER: 10-8 TRY! Alun Wyn Jones scores for Wales. Seta Tamanivalu is brought back on while Malakai Fekitoa is taken off. Big bust from Jonathan Davies first phase through the centre of the All Blacks defence, and just as we were lamenting a lack of thrust they get the ball to Alun Wyn Jones to score unmarked on the left wing. Great kick from Dan Biggar, and we're all square going to the sheds. Fair reflection on the play. Dan Biggar gets us underway to Israel Dagg just outside the 22. All to play for.
1 MINUTE LATER: Dan Biggar makes the conversion. 10-10 End Of 1st Half.
And what do I think of the 1st half, average performance from the All Blacks but the Welsh had some hopes so let's see how the 2nd half unfolds (Well I went to the loo at half-time but so many people turned up):
41ST MINUTE: 10-10 Start Of 2nd Half...Wales challenging the All Blacks through multiple phases left and right until Seta Tamanivalu smashes Liam Willams. All Blacks defensive line not as quick as 1st half. Sliding. And hence more space for Wales to put pill through hands.
1 MINUTE LATER: Reports from the ground the Aaron Cruden is on his way to hospital for "precautionary scans".
1 MINUTE LATER: Loose ball in the back line from Wales and they undo a lot of good work to be back inside their own territory. Just the one team playing in the second half to this point.
2 MINUTES LATER: Wales dominating possession and phases without threatening the line and basic errors of execution undoing them.
1 MINUTE LATER: Kieran Read - again crashes over the gain line; he's having a whale of a game.
1 MINUTE LATER: Charlie Faumuina is brought on as Owen Franks is taken off. Big aerial contact on the left wing between Waisake Naholo and Liam Williams. Both wingers looking dusty and good news is they're both up. Penalty Wales -- overturning a penalty awarded to NZL -- with Jaco Peyper judging Naholo was not in a realistic position to contest the ball.
1 MINUTE LATER: Dane Coles and Beauden Barrett key in eight phases of danger before a turnover releases the pressure.
2 MINUTES LATER: Breathless rugby. Sam Warburton effects a turnover and gallops into NZL territory before Izzy Dagg returns after Toby Faletau had dropped a pass from his skipper, and Coles runs the ball back into Red territory.
1 MINUTE LATER: The All Blacks had been working themselves back into the game, and great work from Beauden Barrett in first-phase attack from a Wales lineout, slipping through the Wales defence, puts Ben Smith into space to gallop over the line.
1 MINUTE LATER: 15-10 TRY! Ben Smith scores for New Zealand.
1 MINUTE LATER: 17-10 Beauden Barrett makes the conversion. Great play from Aaron Smith, sniping from behind a ruck from the kick-off then roosting the ball deep into Wales territory. Great kick chase and they win a turnover from Dan Biggar inside the Red 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Wyatt Crockett is brought on while Joe Moody is taken off.
1 MINUTE LATER: 22-10 TRY! Beauden Barrett scores for New Zealand
1 MINUTE LATER: 24-10 Beauden Barrett makes the conversion. Beauden Barrett steps through the line two passes after the scrum. Two quicks tries and Wales have to beware. Wales just perhaps beginning to fragment. They were forced backwards in the maul after winning the lineout then a couple of poor passes and Jamie Roberts knocks-on on the 10m line.
2 MINUTES LATER: Sam Cane is taken off as Ardie Savea (AKA the Pineapple according to Pops or the Pineapple Express) is brought on. Wonderful skills from New Zealand in first-phase attack. Chip pass from Beauden Barrett to Ben Smith who volleys the ball back inside where Ardie Savea couldn't quite collect the ball. Just like watching the Euros :-).
1 MINUTE LATER: Rob Evans is brought on as Gethin Jenkins is taken off. New Zealand dominate the scrum before Kieran Read and Aaron Smith combine to put Waisake Naholo across untouched in the left corner. This is looking likely to blow open now. Wales have really got to show some starch and steel in the final quarter -- where they fell off the past seven days ago.
1 MINUTE LATER: 29-10 TRY! Waisake Naholo scores for New Zealand. All Blacks have scored 19 points without reply in 20 minutes. You think you are in a contest against them and bang...worth remembering that Wales were on top in the opening spell of this second half.
2 MINUTES LATER: Tomas Francis is brought on while Samson Lee is taken off. Scott Baldwin is brought on as Ken Owens is taken off. Bradley Davies is brought on as Luke Charteris is taken off. Penalty Wales after Waisake Naholo blocked off Liam Williams. Kicked the ball inside NZ 22.
2 MINUTES LATER: Wales roll a maul and win a penalty after NZ adjudged to have collapsed it. Dan Biggar puts the ball out for a 5m lineout.
1 MINUTE LATER: Aaron Smith is taken off while TJ Perenara is brought on. Awful lineout from Wales, the ball going over the top, and NZ collect and rumble forwards.
1 MINUTE LATER: 34-10 TRY! The Pineapple of Ardie Savea scores for New Zealand. Poor kick from Ryan Crotty somehow finds Waisake Naholo, who links with Jerome Kaino before feeding Dane Coles and TJ Perenara to put Hurricanes teammate of the ''Pineapple Express'' Ardie Savea in space on halfway to gallop clear.
1 MINUTE LATER: 36-10 Beauden Barrett makes the conversion.
1 MINUTE LATER: Patrick Tuipulotu is brought on as Brodie Retallick is taken off. New Zealand affect a turnover after 8 phases of Wales possession and Ben Smith rips to the Wales 10 metre line.
1 MINUTE LATER: 6 phases and great work from Seta Tamanivalu undone by TJ Peranara, who obstructs the defenders with another try looming. New Zealand bench again having a dominant effect, especially when we consider Beauden Barrett is playing a pivotal role in the match.
1 MINUTE LATER: Wales are all heart in attacking the NZ defence, but they've gone maybe just 5m in 10 phases.
2 MINUTES LATER: Up to 13 phases and now losing ground in face of heavy All Blacks defence.
2 MINUTES LATER: 36-15 TRY! Liam Williams scores for Wales. 17. phases and finally a Welshman finds space. Liam Williams smashes through a gap outside Jerome Kaino and inside Dane Coles to field a short ball from Dan Biggar and outsprint Israel Dagg for a fine try.
1 MINUTE LATER: 36-17 Dan Biggar makes the conversion.
1 MINUTE LATER: Dan Biggar is taken off while Rhys Priestland is brought on. Dane Coles is taken off as Nathan Harris is brought on. Sam Warburton is taken off while Ellis Jenkins is brought on. Gareth Davies is brought on as Rhys Webb is taken off.
1 MINUTE LATER: 36-22 TRY! Jonathan Davies scores for Wales. Wales fighting hard after Jamie Roberts charges down and collects a poor kick from Seta Tamanivalu, and gallops clear. he's hauled back by Israel Dagg but stays on his feet to feed Rhys Priestland and then Jonathan Davies.
1 MINUTE LATER: Scott Williams is brought on while Jamie Roberts is taken off. Wales go wide first phase from the kick off before losing the ball in contact on the left week.
1 MINUTE LATER: New Zealand determined to have the last word, compiling phases deep in Wales territory and playing past the siren.
1 MINUTE LATER: Ryan Crotty crosses in the corner but only after his trailing foot touches the paint under pressure from Hallam Amos. The All Blacks have extended their winning run against Wales, producing a strong second-half performance, but again the scoreline perhaps doesn't tell the tale of the match. Stick with us for live coverage of the Australia-England Test in Melbourne.
1 MINUTE LATER: 36-22 End Of Second Half
And what do you think of my 1st test match I have been, totally awesome right?! Well I told John Coburn that the next time I'll see him, we might go to another All Blacks test match held in Wellington, in a Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup encounter with the Wallabies who had not been performing well, losing to Six Nations champions England coached by Australian Eddie Jones in the 2nd test to lose the test series and the Springboks came back strong to beat Ireland and level the series at 1-1.
But all will be revealed when I write down my 50th blog (Well I might be reaching the half century mark) about the best bits over the past 5 years starting from 2012 right until 2016.
P.S. I'm looking at you through the glass
Don't know how much time has passed
All I know is that it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head
'Cuz I'm looking at you through the glass
Don't know how much time has passed
All I know is that it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head
And it's the stars, the stars
That shine for you
And it's the stars, the stars
That lie to you, yeah-ah
And it's the stars, the stars
That shine for you
And it's the stars, the stars
That lie to you, yeah-ah
I'm looking at you through the glass
Don't know how much time has passed
Oh God, it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head
'Cuz I'm looking at you through the glass
Don't know how much time has passed
All I know is that it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head
And it's the stars, the stars
That shine for you, yeah-ah
And it's the stars, the stars
That lie to you, yeah-ah
And it's the stars, the stars
That shine for you, yeah-ah
And it's the stars, the stars
That lie to you, yeah-ah, yeah
Oh, and the stars
Oh, and the stars they lie
No comments:
Post a Comment