It was on Thursday that Pops took me to Mitre 10 to look at something that we brought for the Garden then to the Springvale Garden Centre that we bought something for the garden before we went to New World & saw Hanne because she was telling that my friend Sophie is coming here on February next year to go to Victoria University in Wellington before we got fruits, the cold meat & low alcohol beer but we did not get the meal deal so we brought chicken & stir fry vegetables instead then I headed to 15A Kells Avenue with Poppa & we did the garden work because we were focused on something before we had an Asian meal for lunch before making the mushrooms, fish & sign before having dessert & a moccachino as well & I read that Richie McCaw book The Openside before I went back home to my flat.
But today was real exciting as I played the PS4 as well as tuning in to my favourite radio station called The Rock FM but Pops came here & picked me up to go & have lunch at Japanese Takeaway Momiji & I had a bento box there as well as a miso soup there before we went to the recycling centre & went to The Warehouse & Countdown to get some stuff like acrylic paint for Pops & cheese before we went to see Wanganui play against Wairarapa Bush featuring troubled former All Black star Zac Guildford in the Meads Cup semifinal which is a rematch of the Meads Cup final being played here a decade ago in which Wanganui lost by 2 points & I had cheese with buns & crackers during half-time as well as a murukku, an apple, nuts & raisins & a chocolate nut bar & drank moccachino & coke zero there but we did win the game but I can't remember the score now because we are through to the Meads Cup final by hosting it right here next week against South Canterbury or possibly Buller because Buller probably won the game against South Canterbury before I went back home playing that Formula 1 game that I would always enjoy & listening to The Rock FM but now I am doing a blog about it before I'm having dinner tonight as well as watching the All Blacks Vs Wallabies clash at Eden Park (Venue for much of the 1987 & 2011 Rugby World Cup because it has been about 5 years since we won the 2011 Rugby World Cup after 24 years of agony & pain (I have already wrote a blog about it & of course the same year in 2011 that Steelform Wanganui last hosted a final of the Meads Cup in the Heartland Championship & won by beating Ngati Porou East Coast + the news headlines in 2011 including most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden getting killed by Unites States Navy SEAL's, the Christchurch Earthquake that rocked the nation on the 22nd of February with a few people getting killed in the disaster, the massive earthquake & tsunami happened in the Tohoku region in Japan, the Libyan uprising resulting Muammar Gaddafi who got captured, getting killed by the rebels in wake of a NATO air strike, the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince William & Kate Middleton who became Her Royal Highness Princess Catherine & the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at 56) thanks to a penalty by none other than Stephen 'Beaver' Donald & when the almighty Beaver kicked the penalty, one of the commentators Grant Nisbett says that Donald's kick...& he's nailed it (With authority) in Auckland (Although this is the last Aotearoa test of 2016 folks but we will let you know if the outlook changes tomorrow, understood copy that because we have never lost at that hallowed Fortress Of Mystery ground since 1994 against France in which they scored a length of the field try from the end of the world by fullback Jean-Luc Sardourny (Which saw Philippe Saint-André begin a counterattack from deep in France's end in the final minutes that ended with Sadourny scoring the winning try so that was the clash of the French flair titans moments) & the last time that the Wallabies won at Eden Park in the City Of Sails of Auckland was 30 years ago in which they won the Bledisloe Cup because we are 2 nil up in this years Bledisloe Cup (The scorelines were 42 - 8 in Sydney & 29 - 9 in the nations capital & the Windy City of absolutely, positively...Wellington) but the All Black team has been named to play against Australia because they are closing in on the record for most consecutive victories/straight wins by a tier 1 rugby nation (Although the All Blacks are 17 - 0 at the moment since the pre Rugby World Cup test last year because the Wallabies are looking to end the so called #Blackout of 2016 since they have fallen victim twice along with Argentina & South Africa although Wales had suffered a blackout before not once, not twice but 3 times on that occasion) so here's the starting lineup revealed on Thursday (And hope is not Cheika time because it will be Hansen time here tonight):
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders)
2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
4 (Lock): Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)
5 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
6 (Blindside Flanker): Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues)
7 (Openside Flanker): Matt Todd (Canterbury/Crusaders)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
9 (Half-back): TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
11 (Left Wing): Julian Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
12 (Second five eighth): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
13 (Centre): Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs)
14 (Right Wing): Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay/Crusaders)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Liam Squire, Ardie Savea, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Cruden & Malakai Fekitoa.
P.S. And the record for most wins by a tier 1 rugby nation has been broken (And the streak lives! THE STREAK LIVES AT 18 - 0 SINCE THE PRE RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 TEST LAST YEAR, SO WE HAVE CREATED RUGBY HISTORY SO FAR!!!) as the All Blacks are dominating at the moment by getting a clean sweep against Australia, 3 - 0 in the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park AKA the Fortress Of Mystery (Named after a level in the game Doom (Containing & surrounded by Barons of Hell & Cacodemons which is kinda creepy but we now have their attention) & Pops told me last night that the hallowed ground is known as the Fortress Of Misery for visiting teams) in the City Of Sails in Auckland with the final score of 37 - 10...so here's the live scores of the game so far:
7:23pm: Today's factbox
Where: Eden Park, Auckland (capacity 50,000)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistants: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
NEW ZEALAND
World ranking: 1
Coach: Steve Hansen (A former Canterbury & Wales coach & former All Black assistant coach)
Captain: Kieran Read (Used to be my favourite player along with Richie McCaw, Joe Rokocoko & the late Jonah Lomu but he has never lost a test as All Black captain because he is often compared to Zinzan Brooke because Kieran Read was the world's best number 8)
Team: 15-Ben Smith, 14-Israel Dagg (Originally played at fullback but he since started that position because the Welsh proved them wrong), 13-Anton Lienert-Brown (Ah my favourite player at last), 12-Ryan Crotty, 11-Julian Savea (Looking like getting back to his very best), 10-Beauden Barrett, 9-TJ Perenara (Not the best halfback in the world because that honour belongs to Aaron Smith); 8-Kieran Read, 7-Matt Todd, 6-Jerome Kaino, 5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Brodie Retallick (Best lock in the world), 3-Owen Franks, 2-Dane Coles (Best in this position in the world but move over Sean Fitzpatrick), 1-Joe Moody
Replacements: 16-Codie Taylor, 17-Wyatt Crockett, 18-Charlie Faumuina, 19-Liam Squire, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22-Aaron Cruden, 23-Malakai Fekitoa
AUSTRALIA
World ranking: 3
Coach: Michael Cheika
Captain: Stephen Moore
Team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Samu Kerevi, 12-Reece Hodge, 11-Henry Speight, 10-Bernard Foley, 9-Nick Phipps, 8-Lopeti Timani, 7-Michael Hooper, 6-Dean Mumm, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-James Hanson, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Alan Alaalatoa, 19-Rob Simmons, 20-David Pocock, 21-Nick Frisby, 22-Quade Cooper, 23-Sefa Naivalu
OVERALL RECORD
Played: 157
New Zealand wins: 108
Australia wins: 42
Draws: 7
AT EDEN PARK
Played: 26
New Zealand wins: 22
Australia wins: 4
Draws: 0
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
2016 New Zealand 29-9 Australia (Wellington)
2016 New Zealand 42-8 Australia (Sydney)
2015 New Zealand 34-17 Australia* (London)
2015 New Zealand 41-13 Australia (Auckland)
2015 Australia 27-19 New Zealand (Sydney)
* Indicates Rugby World Cup match
* The match is the third in the 2016 Bledisloe Cup series. New Zealand hold an unassailable 2-0 lead.
7:25pm
Welcome to live coverage of the third Bledisloe Cup match for 2016 ... because the first two were so good.
The Wallabies are seeking to lower the All Blacks colours at Eden Park for the first time in 30 years, while the hosts have not lost at the Auckland venue to anyone since 1994.
7:26pm
The curtain-raiser was not such a good omen for the Wallabies with the Australian women's team losing 67-3 to New Zealand.
7:27pm
The Wallabies are now making their way out on to the field.
Just a reminder, the hosts are looking to set a world record for a tier one country of 18 consecutive wins.
7:29pm
Significantly louder cheer as the All Blacks make their way out on to the field.
7:31pm: It's anthem time and Stephen Moore looks fired up as he sings along.
7:32pm
Stan Walker with God Defend New Zealand - beautiful anthem.
7:33pm
Our man at the Wallaby abattoir with his pre-game tip.
7:35pm
Halfback TJ Perenara leads the Haka.
7:37pm
It's not only the same teams from last year's World Cup final but the same referee: Nigel Owens of Wales.
7:38pm
KICKOFF: We have kick-off thanks to Bernard Foley.
7:39pm
2 MINUTES LATER: First penalty goes against the Wallaby who had possession on the All Blacks' 22.
7:40pm
1 MINUTE LATER: The Wallabies will have the first chance for points after winning a lineout against the throw and earn a penalty a few phases later with the All Blacks creeping up offside.
7:41pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Bernard Foley misses it from in front. Another good omen?
7:42pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Great ball movement by the All Blacks after gaining possession from a contested high ball. Danger for the Wallabies.
7:43pm
TRY: Israel Dagg.
7:44pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Horrible miss from Reece Hodge on Ben Smith. A little jink and the fullback was through. He drew the cover and released Dagg who flew to the corner. Beauden Barrett misses the conversion. NEW ZEALAND 5 AUSTRALIA 0
7:45pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Errors creeping into the Wallabies game with Dean Mumm dropping the ball. They need to settle down.
7:46pm
1 MINUTE LATER: First scrum and surprise, surprise first scrum penalty against the Wallabies. All Blacks on the attack.
7:47pm
TRY: Anton Lienert-Brown.
7:48pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Henry Speight is to blame as the ball went through hands from a lineout win. The winger went for the intercept and missed both the ball and the All Blacks outside centre who just strolled over. Barrett misses again. NEW ZEALAND 10 AUSTRALIA 0
7:51pm
4 MINUTES LATER: Some good play by the Wallabies. They kept possession and made ground up field before earning the penalty. They go for the attacking lineout.
7:53pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Helter skelter stuff. The Wallabies lose possession from the lineout after excellent pressure from Matt Todd. The All Blacks throw the ball around on their own tryline with the Wallabies nearly regaining possession. It ends with a penalty to the hosts.
7:55pm
2 MINUTES LATER: More good play by the Wallabies with inroads made before Rory Arnold is once again left isolated at the breakdown and it is a penalty to the All Blacks.
7:56pm
What a Dagg!
7:59pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Wallabies earn the scrum penalty going backwards but they blow the attacking lineout. It's the basics that kill them.
7:59pm
2 MINUTES LATER: The Wallabies again build pressure and make inroads but Samu Kerevi is dragged down five metres out and throws the ball forward as he tries to avoid going out. The difference between the two sides is when the All Blacks attack, they score.
8:02pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Matt Todd again does the business. He forces a turnover from Reece Hodge and the All Blacks get the penalty. Samu Kerevi is limping considerably.
8:05pm
1 MINUTE LATER, INJURY: Kerevi is off and Sefa Naivalu is on. Henry Speight into the centres? Yikes!
8:09pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Lot's of pressure in the scrums. Three resets and no penalty. Stephen Moore cannot lift his foot to strike so the ball just sits in the middle as the two packs shove.
8:09pm
TRY: Rory Arnold.
8:11pm
4 MINUTES LATER: The Wallabies powered over the advantage line for about eight phases before Arnold crashes through the line and plants the ball down. Foley converts. NEW ZEALAND 10 AUSTRALIA 7
It is a penalty on the halfway line for Kieran Read indulging in some niggle after the try was scored and Reece Hodge will have a shot to level the scores.
8:13pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Hodge had the distanced but missed to the left.
8:14pm
1 MINUTE LATER: The Wallabies finally take an intercept but Israel Folau is ruled offside. Attacking lineout to the All Blacks.
8:17pm
1 MINUTE LATER: More injury worries for the Wallabies as the new replacement Sefa Naivalu has a head knock. The All Blacks looked dangerous for the brief time they had the ball but bad handling let them down.
8:17pm
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY: TJ Perenara
8:18pm
Reece Hodge's horror game continues. The Wallabies scrum held up well, Nick Phipps' pass was good if not flat and Hodge's kick is charged down by the halfback and he follows through to score.
Barrett misses again. NEW ZEALAND 15 AUSTRALIA 7
8:20pm
3 MINUTES LATER: The Wallabies attack again but Rory Arnold is pinged for taking players out beyond the breakdown.
8:22pm
1 MINUTE LATER: The All Blacks are on the attack after that penalty. Can the Wallabies hold on before halftime? Yes! They get the penalty. Strong defence from Reece Hodge.
8:25pm
That's halftime. Quite an entertaining game of rugby. Best man on the ground is the referee Nigel Owens. His game management is outstanding.
8:36pm
The All Blacks looked very dangerous when they had possession and scored three tries to one in the first half. However, the Wallabies have dominated possession and made lots of half breaks without ever really cutting the All Blacks to shreds. The try to Rory Arnold is a good case in point: lots of possession, lots of telling runs but a bit of a messy finish.
Best for the All Blacks are Matt Todd, TJ Perenara and Kieran Read. The Wallabies have been best served by Michael Hooper, Bernard Foley and Lopeti Timani.
8:36pm: The 2nd half is underway. The Wallabies will have whatever wind there is behind them.
8:39pm
2 MINUTES LATER: The Wallabies have had the better of a scrappy start to the second-half and the Wallabies earn the penalty in front about 15 metres out. Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu produced a barnstorming run to get them there.
8:40pm
Foley kicks it. NEW ZEALAND 15 AUSTRALIA 10
8:41pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Hodge has been closely marked tonight. Another telling tackle by Kieren Read as the All Blacks counterattack from a Wallabies kick. More danger for the visitors.
8:42pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Change for the All Blacks. Aaron Cruden on for Beauden Barrett. That should solve the All Blacks' goalkicking issues.
8:43pm
TRY: Henry Speight. Scores a level.
8:45pm
It was the Bernard Foley show. He caused a halfbreak by Sefa Naivalu and then Foley burst through and sent Speight away.
8:45pm
Oh hang on. The crowd have pressured the TMO into reviewing it.
8:45pm
Oh no. Horrible decision! They have ruled an obstruction and overturned the try.
8:48pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Seven points to the Wallabies has become a penalty and attacking position for the All Blacks. The Wallabies are fired up but they need to keep their cool.
8:49pm
Possible try to the All Blacks. Checking a possible knock on and grounding.
8:50pm
Foley won the race to the ball but this could be a penalty try. However, Nigel Owens says everything ok, so it is just who grounded it first. They rule that Foley got there first. No try!
8:52pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Rob Simmons makes a huge run with his first touch. Wallabies on the attack.
8:53pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Penalty to the Wallabies. Almost in front about 20 metres out. All Blacks are offside again. Israel Folau is beginning to make his presence felt in this game.
8:54pm
Foley's simple kicks hits the upright and goes over the deadball line.
8:57pm
TRY: Julian Savea from a Wallabies mistake.
8:59pm
The All Blacks take a quick conversion which rules out the TMO looking at a possible trip on Scott Sio but the replays show the contact was accidental. NEW ZEALAND 22 AUSTRALIA 10
9:00pm
6 MINUTES LATER: David Pocock is on and Lopeti Timani is off. The Rebels No.8 has had a huge game. The Wallabies have lacked a presence in that position for some years.
9:00pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Scrum penalty to the Wallabies. Attacking lineout on the way, 22 metres out.
9:02pm
1 MINUTE LATER: David Pocock immediately earns a turnover penalty from Kieran Read. Good defence from Nick Phipps too.
9:05pm
2 MINUTES LATER: More pressure from the Wallabies comes to nothing as Phipps throws the ball forward 15 metes out from the New Zealand. Great defence All Blacks. Will we see Quade Cooper on with the Wallabies chasing the game. Israel Folau is having his best game in a long time.
9:08pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Clever play All Blacks. They switched the play and Cruden kicked for space pinning the Wallabies in their own half. NEW ZEALAND 22 AUSTRALIA 10
9:08pm
Nick Frisby is on for Nick Phipps.
9:10pm
3 MINUTES LATER: Penalty to the All Blacks. This could put their lead beyond two converted tries. Israel Folau pinged for offside.
9:11pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Cruden gets it. NEW ZEALAND 25 AUSTRALIA 10
I cannot see a way back for the Wallabies who have struggled to turn promising attacks into points.
9:14pm
2 MINUTES LATER: New Zealand's depth is beginning to show as their bench players are shifting the momentum of this game. Although David Pocock has been sensational since his introduction.
9:15pm
TRY: Julian Savea. It came from a Wallabies turnover.
9:17pm
70th min: The Bus in the right wing was given some space, he got rid of Henry Speight and just steamrolled Nick Frisby before scoring under the posts. Cruden converts. NEW ZEALAND 32 AUSTRALIA 10
9:18pm
3 MINUTES LATER: Dean Mumm takes an intercept but doesn't have the pace as he is run down by the hooker Dane Coles and drops the ball.
9:19pm
TRY: Dane Coles on his favourite right wing.
9:21pm
It was great play by the All Blacks but all credit goes to the Bus, Julian Savea who is dragged down just a metres short of the line but he pops the ball up to Coles who scores. Cruden misses it from the sideline. NEW ZEALAND 37 AUSTRALIA 10
9:21pm
Quade Cooper gets a run with six minutes to go. Now that is on a hiding to nothing.
9:22pm
4 MINUTES LATER: Wallabies get a penalty and are on the attack. Can they salvage something?
9:23pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Strong defence from the All Blacks and Hodge drops it under pressure.
9:27pm
2 MINUTES LATER: Reece Hodge comes from the field after a monster bump off by Malakai Fekitoa. Not the best of nights for the young back. Quade Cooper gets booed at every opportunity by the Eden Park fans.
9:27pm
Possible try to Israel Dagg.
9:28pm
The All Blacks' best attacking platform is the turnover and Aaron Cruden goes through but the replay shows the final pass to Israel Dagg is forward. No try!
Alarmingly, the TMO seemed to want to talk Nigel Owens out of the decision.
9:30pm
1 MINUTE LATER: Scrum penalty to the Wallabies. No he just reversed it to the All Blacks. Will there be one last try?
9:30pm
No, the All Blacks opt to kick it out. It's all over. Can't wait for the Cheika presser.
9:37pm
New Zealand 37 - Australia 10
So the Wallabies lose 37-10. Many will say that does not reflect the match, but I disagree. The All Blacks are so clinical in attack, particularly counter-attacking that they will always rack up points.
The Wallabies did dominate for patched of the game, but they cannot crack the last line of defence.
The big talking point will be the Henry Speight no try which was originally awarded but overturned after a delayed TMO decision. The Wallabies were set to take the lead when Dane Haylett-Petty was ruled to have obstructed Julian Savea "behind" the ball.
I have never seen a decision like it before, which is not to say it was wrong, but does make it highly controversial.
The All Blacks were well served by TJ Perenara, Matt Todd, Julian Savea, Dane Coles and their bench.
The Wallabies' halves Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley were outstanding, as were Stephen Moore and Michael Hooper in a strong performance from the pack. Israel Folau had his best game in a long time.
And what do I think about the game from the All Black perspective point of view? It was so great, absolutely amazing that the record is broken with 18 straight wins on the trot but shame for the Aussies (Even though highly controversial coach Michael Cheika is a clown meaning that they have copped some criticism about it meaning that he's a bit upset, a bit upset at the moment unlike Richetty Grub & Stuart Fraud by the Aussie media department, that is selfish but how foolish by the way, it's an outrage...A SCANDAL!!! (Not a car crash that killed Harry Potter's parents, James & Lily Potter) because they were livid about the try scored by Fijian born Henry Speight being rubbed out by the TMO (It looked like 'DHP' of Dane Haylett-Petty took out 'The Bus' of Julian Savea in a clear & obvious obstruction or should I say shepherding, well it certainly was) but that's all according to former Wallaby who works for Fox Sports, Rod Kafer said that Welsh referee Nigel Owens should never referee a test match again, that is disgraceful just like Craig Joubert about his poor decision (Just like Alain Rolland did by sending Sam Warburton off the field instead of going to the sin bin for a dangerous spear/tip tackle on Vincent Clerc during the Rugby World Cup semifinal in 2011 at Eden Park (The night before the All Blacks finally beating the Wallabies in the other semifinal after 2 consecutive World Cup losses against them in 1991 (Including David Campese scoring a try & setting up another for Tim Horan) & 2003 (Also including Stirling Mortlock's intercept try ending New Zealand's hopes of reaching the final as well as Wallaby halfback George Gregan yelling at Byron Kelleher's ear ''4 more years boys, 4 more years'') including Israel Dagg's show & go move which set up the opening try scored by Ma'a Nonu (He also scored a brilliant try from a signature/trademark Sonny Bill Williams offload during the World Cup final last year) & Cory Jane's man of the match efforts for bomb defusing by securing high balls) between Wales & France & one of the commentators for ITV Nick Mullins said the sending off of Sam Warburton (Well he's been one of the cleanest players of the tournament so far) was one of the most controversial decisions in the history of the World Cup) of awarding the penalty instead of a scrum to Australia against Scotland during the Rugby World Cup Quarterfinal last year (Well that game should've & could've been gone to the Scottish, they were livid), but hey we are just friends for but the All Blacks winning streak continues in a world record fashion of 18 & 0 since the pre Rugby World Cup test where the winning streak began last year but next we take on the luck of the Irish (Well the last meeting between the 2 sides was 3 years ago when Ireland came so close of achieving their 1st win against the All Blacks but the AB's proved them too strong because they were on the comeback trail to end 2013, undefeated) at Soldier Field (Home of the NFL franchise, the Chicago Bears & my American colleague Diana Kent is going to that game because she's got tickets but she told me last year that she went to a game to see the All Blacks play the USA way back 2 years ago) in Chicago, Illnois, United States of America then Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome then Ireland again at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin before ending 2016 in style against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France in a rematch of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Quarterfinal in which they thrashed them 62 to 13 & then, the All Blacks begin 2017 in 3 test matches (Including twice at Eden Park & once at Westpac Stadium) against the British & Irish Lions side who has come here to conquer & invade our country as well as chewing bubblegums...and they are all out of gums because they would be swallowing our souls, so come get some...BRING IT! In a dish best served cold. But now my friends, this is WAR! But finding this task was an impossible mission that's all according to movie star Tom Cruise whose impersonator who appeared in a Sara Lee cheesecake ad/commercial (Containing movie stars, pop stars, comedians, presidents & of course rock stars) along with fellow celebrities who are claiming to be impersonators such as Taylor Swift, Ricky Gervais, Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham (David Beckham's wife is now ex-wife because the relationship seems to be far from over as we all know it), the President of the United States of America Barack Obama (Although he says that not for him, it's a White House) & Bono from U2 (He tells them that they must try one of these new Sara Lee cheesecakes but the President said it's yummy but Ricky Gervais says that Bono forgot to put his sunglasses on but he managed to put them on instead so that people may have impressed him so much).
And the All Blacks squad for the end of year tour has been named with Steven Luatua coming back into the side after injuries that plagued him during the Super Rugby season with the Blues as well as his good form in the Mitre 10 Cup for Auckland + the 2 uncapped players of winger Rieko Ioane (Brother of Akira) & hooker Liam Coltman (Who has effectively replaced the injured Nathan Harris who is gone for the remainder of the year) as well as Scott Barrett (Brother of Beauden & the young Jordie Barrett who is in the squad as apprentice midfielder but he could become an All Black in 3 years time just like Ardie Savea (Younger brother of Julian) who made the All Blacks this year after joining the squad as apprentice openside flanker 3 years ago in 2013) & Tongan born Vaea Fifita were called up to the squad as injury replacements for Sam Whitelock & Brodie Retallick (As for Vaea Fifita, a decision on whether he joins the squad will be made this week when Retallick undergoes concussion protocols) + Aaron Smith included into the squad under highly controversial circumstances due to the scandal that rocked across the nation (Well I won't be talking about the scandal & I mean, that is AWFUL! Absolutely awful about it) so here's the squad revealed (Although this is the very 1st time that I managed to reveal the All Blacks squad in it's entirety for my blog) for the end of year tour with matches against Ireland twice in Chicago & Dublin as well as Italy in Rome & of course France in Saint-Denis:
Hookers
Dane Coles (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Liam Coltman (Otago/Highlanders)
Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Props
Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Charlie Faumuina (Auckland/Blues)
Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues)
Locks
Scott Barrett (Canterbury/Crusaders) *1
Vaea Fifita (Wellington/Hurricanes) *2
Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)
Luke Romano (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland/Blues)
Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Loose forwards
Sam Cane (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs)
Elliot Dixon (Southland/Highlanders)
Jerome Kaino (Auckland/Blues)
Steven Luatua (Auckland/Blues)
Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders)
Matt Todd (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Halfbacks
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Waikato/Chiefs)
TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
Aaron Cruden (Manawatu/Chiefs)
Lima Sopoaga (Southland/Highlanders)
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (Canterbury/Hurricanes) *3
Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
Malakai Fekitoa (Auckland/Highlanders)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs)
George Moala (Auckland/Blues)
Outside Backs
Israel Dagg (Hawke's Bay/Crusaders)
Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs)
Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
Julian Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
*1: Injury replacement for Sam Whitelock
*2: Injury replacement for Brodie Retallick, decision pending
*3: Apprentice player
So that's it for my 29th (XXIXth) blog of the year (And my 69th overall), as Inspector 'Dirty' Harry Callahan would say: Go ahead, make my day.
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