Well, this is part 3 of my year in review so here's another of those best blogs with the most views of the month from the May - June period beginning with Forty Six & 2/Lateralus/Sober/The Pot: The 2019 Rugby World Cup draw review & Special Pasifika Challenge rugby test match details (+ Tendencies of being a radio Disc Jockey, a phone call with Aunty Tania & the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League semifinal wrap up):
Well, it was yesterday that I spent the day on both the computer listening to rock music (I always listen to The Rock FM since I moved here a decade ago so I used to listen to Brian FM) & playing playstation (I had to play my only 2 favourite games such as F1 2016 (I raced as Valtteri Bottas (Finland, Williams) 1st in Russia then Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain, Mercedes) in China & Sebastian Vettel (Germany, Ferrari) in both Australia & Bahrain & I didn't know that one of Pops friends Matt Pine (Well I think I may be friends with him) is a self-proclaimed fan of Formula 1) & Rugby Challenge 3 (I played as the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup 2015 created competition because I thrashed Argentina 63 - 0 in the tournament opener because it was in Pool C but I played against Namibia because we put 70 points on them in the 2nd pool game of the Rugby World Cup 2015 tournament) so we had breakfast as well as an omelette for lunch & had sausage pasta for dinner & we went to Caroline's yesterday (Pops went to the bank then to recycling) so I had a gooey caramel slice with mochacchino & I told Pops about the waitress who looks like my cousin Paige Williams (Kiwi girl with Welsh surname, remember! Please acknowledge because she's the sister of my 2 little cousins, Nico & Luca Mitchell) except she has darker hair & I told Pops that I have 2 aunties, one is Aunty Tania who is my real aunty & the other is Paige's mother Cathey Middelplaats who is my biological aunty.
And so on, onto the draw for the 2019 Rugby World Cup (Well I did write it down last night while I watched it online), held in Japan so here it is:
Pool A
Ireland
Scotland
Japan (Host nation)
Europe 1
Playoff winner
Pool B
New Zealand (Defending champion)
South Africa
Italy
Africa 1
Repechage winner
Pool C (AKA pool of death)
England
France
Argentina
Americas 1 (United States)
Oceania 2 (Tonga)
Pool D
Australia
Wales
Georgia
Oceania 1 (Fiji)
Americas 2
And what do I think of the draw...well, we are going to face the Springboks & Italy so the last time we met between South Africa in the Rugby World Cup was the Semifinals in 2015 in which we won by a whisker & Italy was in 2007 during the pool games in pool C so we might take on Scotland in the quarterfinals & if we win, we're going to face England (Well talk about England being in the pool of death in Pool C along with France & Argentina because the last time England clashed with France was in the quarterfinal of the Rugby World Cup in 2011 in which they lost after being outnumbered & Argentina was also in the same year way back in 2011 during the pool games in Pool B & what was England coach Eddie Jones like? Because he's like ''France & Argentina? Are you Serious? We will see about that! Game on!'') in the semifinals & if we beat the English, it's the Wallabies in the final (A possible rematch of the 2015 Rugby World Cup final)...fair call so this is our last shot at World Cup glory but if we win, the All Blacks would dominate the rugby team of the 2010's (Although I told Dad 2 years ago that winning the Rugby World Cup is hard because in 1987 it was easy but since 1991 it became increasingly insanely difficult)...bang on.
And here is the news report about the draw taken place in Kyoto according to Stuff News:
It never seemed likely to happen, but the Springboks' slide has pitted them against the All Blacks in pool play for the first time at a Rugby World Cup.
With All Blacks coach Steve Hansen looking on at the Kyoto State Guest House, his side were drawn in pool B for the 2019 tournament in Japan, alongside South Africa, Italy, Africa 1 and repechage winner. The latter two teams are yet to be decided in the final qualifying phase.
In the other groups, England, France and Argentina were drawn in a tough pool C which may well be dubbed the 'Pool of death'. The Wallabies fared reasonably well alongside Wales and Georgia in pool D, and Ireland and Scotland are the two big guns in pool A, alongside the host nation who caused the big boilover of 2015 with victory over South Africa.
Japan, coached by former Highlanders coach and All Black Jamie Joseph, were drawn out by the nation's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The two old foes who slugged out a semifinal in 2015, won 20-18 by the All Blacks, will meet again much earlier in Japan after the Springboks' woeful 2016 saw them slip to seventh in the world rankings.
"We've drawn a pool that's got some strength in it, and that's OK. We know South Africa well and know they will be tough. Italy are an improving side and we can assume the qualifiers will be good sides if they're going to make it," Hansen said.
"There are some very tough pools, and pool C is also very tough. Eventually if you're going to win the thing you've got to play all the good teams. We're happy now, we've just got to find out where the games will be played so we can get our planning started."
The All Blacks will face the Springboks, Italy and two qualifiers in the tournament.
By coincidence the two head coaches Hansen and Allister Coetzee, who kept his job after a horror year, sat next to each other in the theatre with the likes of England's Eddie Jones and Ireland's Joe Schmidt also watching on. Both Jones and Schmidt will fancy their chances of going all the way if their teams can maintain their recent form.
Hansen arrived with the Webb Ellis Cup and was even involved in the draw, as he pulled out Italy, Argentina and Georgia in their respective pools. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont drew the top-four nations in their groups.
New Zealand have never lost in pool play at a World Cup, and in Japan will chase their 3rd successive title. They will meet Italy, remarkably, for the 6th time at a World Cup after the two sides played the 1987 opener at Eden Park.
Safely through their pool, the All Blacks could meet either Ireland, Scotland or even Japan in the quarterfinals.
At the 2015 World Cup the All Blacks emerged from a pool containing Argentina, Georgia, Tonga and Namibia, with the Pumas providing their toughest opposition in a 26-16 scoreline.
In the quarterfinals the All Blacks smashed France 62-13, before scraping past South Africa with a 2-point victory in the semis then beating Australia 34-17 in the decider.
The 2019 draw was conducted along similar lines to past tournaments, with the top-12 sides from 2015 qualifying automatically.
They were divided into 3 'bands' based on their current world rankings, with the 1st band including New Zealand (top-ranked), England (2nd), Australia (3rd) and Ireland (4th).
Band 2 contained Scotland, France, South Africa and Wales - the teams currently ranked 5th to 8th - and band 3 was made up of Argentina, Japan, Georgia and Italy.
One team from each band was drawn randomly for each pool, with bands four and five made up of allocated spots to regions yet to stage their final qualifying events.
It will be the 5th World Cup with 20 teams divided into 4 pools of 5 teams.
And this is what the quarterfinals, semi finals & final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will look like (I'm not sure that this prediction is accurate enough):
Quarterfinals
England Vs Wales
New Zealand Vs Scotland
Australia Vs France
Ireland Vs South Africa
Semifinals
Wales Vs New Zealand
France Vs Ireland
Final
France Vs New Zealand
And finally in this rugby news, the All Blacks will take on Samoa in a pre-British & Irish Lions tour test match hit out on the 16th of June at Eden Park in Auckland (Which will host 3 test matches this year which is against Samoa & of course the 1st & 3rd test matches against the British & Irish Lions) billed as the Special Pasifika Challenge which will feature Tonga taking on Wales (Minus it's Lions stars such as hot shot first five-eighth Dan Biggar, fired up centre Jonathan Davies, Tongan born flanker & number 8 Taulupe Faletau (Who was once known as Toby who is the son of former Tongan international Kuli), maverick fullback Leigh Halfpenny (The self-proclaimed playboy who plays for Toulon), Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones, the dynamic flanker Ross Moriarty (Son of Paul & nephew of Richard), the instant classic winger George North, the incredible hooker Ken Owens, the incomparable & influential openside flanker Justin Tipuric, Lions skipper Sam Warburton, the red hot halfback Rhys Webb & ice cold fullback Liam Williams) 1st before the AB's-Samoa encounter because 2015 was the last time that the All Blacks clashed with Samoa because it was at Apia Park in Apia (We won the game 25 points to 16 in our last meeting & I was with the late Nan & Pops at Uncle Bryan's because the match was shown on Sky Sport) & the 1st time since 1993 that Eden Park will host the All Blacks taking on Samoa (Well, we won our 1st encounter between the 2 teams because Sean 'Fitzy' Fitzpatrick was the captain of the All Blacks & the late Peter 'Fats' Fatialofa captaining Samoa (It was Western Samoa way back until 1997) because the test match takes place the night before the Lions go toe to toe against the Maori All Blacks at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua just like as it was back in 2005 that the All Blacks took on Fiji at North Harbour Stadium in Albany the night before the Lions took on the Maori All Blacks at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
And the 2nd one is taken from Bother/Digital (Did You Tell)/Get Inside/Song #3: The Pasifika Challenge wrap up (+ 2017 mid year rugby union internationals week 2 review & the 2017 British & Irish Lions rugby tour report episode 5: Maori All Blacks):
Well, it was Tonga who played Wales 1st in the Pasifika Challenge but the Welsh proved them too strong against the Tongans at the end, outperforming them 24 - 6 in the curtain raiser...but it is time for the main event as the All Blacks play our 1st test match of the year by taking on Samoa at Eden Park (Which will host 3 test matches this year including that one against Samoa & 2 against the British & Irish Lions) in Auckland so here's the live commentary taken from Newshub:
Hello & welcome to live updates of the All Blacks hosting Manu Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland.
A venue the world champions haven't lost at since 1994 against France; Jonah Lomu's 2nd Test match.
We bring you live streaming written commentary & all the action.
Commentary will start from around 7:50 pm (NZT), with kick-off set for 8pm (NZT).
Lineups
All Blacks
1.Joe Moody, 2.Codie Taylor, 3.Owen Franks, 4.Brodie Retallick, 5.Sam Whitelock, 6.Jerome Kaino, 7.Sam Cane, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.Aaron Smith, 10.Beauden Barrett, 11.Julian Savea, 12.Sonny Bill Williams, 13.Anton Lienert-Brown, 14.Israel Dagg, 15.Ben Smith
Reserves: 16.Nathan Harris, 17.Wyatt Crockett, 18.Charlie Faumuina, 19.Scott Barrett, 20.Vaea Fifita, 21.TJ Perenara, 22.Lima Sopoaga,23. Jordie Barrett.
Manu Samoa
1.Viliamu Afatia, 2.Maatulimanu Leiataua, 3.Census Johnston, 4.Chris Vui, 5.Faatiga Lemalu, 6.Piula Faasalele, 7.Fa'alemiga Selesele, 8.Faifili Levave, 9.Kahn Fotuali'i, 10.Tusiati Pisi, 11.Tim Nanai Williams, 12.Alapati Leiua, 13.Keiron Fonotia, 14.Albert Nikoro, 15.Ah See Tuala.
Substitutes: 16.Seilala Lam, 17.Nephi Leatigaga, 18.Paul Alo-Emile, 19.Taiasina Tuifua, 20.Alafoti Faosiliva, 21.Auvasa Falealii, 22.D'Angelo Leiula, 23.Ken Pisi.
Match officials
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistants: Rohan Hoffman (Australia) & Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO : Ian Smith (Australia)
7.43pm: Hello all, thanks for your company – I hope you enjoy the coverage….Conditions update: Bit of rain about but the ground should hold up – it's been very cold in the city of sails today as well. – the rain set in big time at the end of the Wales v Tonga match a half-hour ago which was won by the Red Dragons 24-6.
7.51pm: Players making their way onto Eden Park for the anthems and the Haka/War dance. Reminder, the ABs haven't lost at Eden Park in 36 matches.
7.53pm: Stadium just a tad over half-full I would guess. With three Lions games at Eden Park there are a few options for Aucklanders seeking a rugby hit...good Samoan representation though...
7.54pm: I would say that the Samoan national anthem would be my second favourite foreign ballad behind the Welsh one.
7.58pm: Tears in the eyes of Jordie Barrett during the anthem..goosebump moment….Ben Smith to lead the Haka.
7.59pm: The Samoans start us off with the Siva Tau...chills folks...and here goes the ABs..Ben Smith at the front of the 'Flying V' but TJ Perenara will lead the boys in the NZ reply
8.01pm: For all you Crusaders fans..your old mate from France is the referee tonight :)
KICK-OFF: Tusi Pisi gets the game underway deep into the ABs half..Aaron Smith clears and we have a Samoan lineout on the All Blacks 10-metre line.
2 MINUTES LATER: Samoa making good progress into All Black territory – we are at 11 phases - they are just outside the ABs 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Manu Samoa get within 2m of the tryline – the referee has halted play looking at potential foul play from one of the Samoan player…a neck roll.
1 MINUTE LATER: Faifili Levave gets pinned for the neck roll back on the 22 – that was weird I have to say..what if it wasn't a penalty? Samoa were hot on attack when the TMO called play back. Lineout ABs on halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER: Huge tackle on Beauden by Alapati Leiua in midfield, knock on against the Hurricanes pivot. Scrum Samoa on halfway.
2 MINUTES LATER: The All Blacks looking to shift the ball inside their own 22 – eventually Aaron Smith clears and the team exchange in a bit of force-back which is won by the visitors. Excellent kick from Nanai-Williams. Lineout ABs on their own 22.
2 MINUTES LATER: All Blacks go on attack in the Samoan half after a wayward lineout throw. Playing under advantage here for offside – a few big hits coming in from Manu Samoa – Penalty is awarded and Ben Smith asks Beauden to kick to the corner. Lineout ABs 5m out.
2 MINUTES LATER: Another ABs penalty – this time for collapsing the maul. Ben Smith opts for the scrum; 5m out.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ANTON LIENERT-BROWN: Ardie Savea looked to have knocked the ball on at the scrum but the referee missed it. 2 phases and Barrrett takes on the line – gets hammered but gets an offload away to the Chiefs centre who scores the easiest try of his life. Beauden adds the extras.
3 MINUTES LATER: The All Blacks work the ball up the park nicely – but the Samoan defence is brutal..at sixth phase and we get a penalty for Samoa – holding on at the ruck from Retallick. Albert Nikoro with a shot at three from just inside is half.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nikoro just misses what would have been a monster kick and the ABs look to play the ball out from their own half - keeping possesion nicely here and the earn a penalty which Smith takes quickly. Samoa turn the ball over at the ruck and now they go on attack - penalty Samoa just inside their own half - Joe Moody with hands in the ruck - Phew!
3 MINUTES LATER: On a side note - Ardie Savea clearly knocked the ball on at the scrum base in the ABs try-scoring movement.
1 MINUTE LATER: Beauden Barrett just proved he is human - punting the ball out on the full from just outside his 22. Lineout Samoa.
1 MINUTE LATER: Samoa rucking the ball well just outside the All Blacks 22 – Pisi with a terrible chip kick that Dagg collects with ease and he smashes the ball deep into Samoan territory but Ah See Tuala replies with a beaut of his own and it's a lineout for the AB's on their own 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nanai-Williams carves the ABs up through the middle of the park – made SBW look pretty foolish but Alapati Leiua can't draw and pass and throws the ball out on the full….big chance there for the Samoans. Should have scored.
1 MINUTE LATER: Penalty midfield and halfway for Samoa – Sam Cane pinned for killing the ball at ruck time – the visitors opt for another shot at goal. Nikoro steps up again.
1 MINUTE LATER: Nikoro crushes it but it's just wide and Dagg bangs it down into the Samoan 22 - who reply with a nice touch finder from Pisi.
3 MINUTES LATER: Another midfield penalty from the visitors in the same spot as before – Barrett holding on at the ruck – looks like my old mate Albert has been put on the back burner – Pisi kicks for touch and Samoa have a lineout on the ABs 10m line. Not a great kick there.
1 MINUTE LATER: Alapati Leiua ghosts through the All Blacks midfield but he can't link up. Huge chance outwide for Samoa – 5 on 2 but hooker Maatulimanu Leiataua squanders the chance and goes himself. Samoa hot on attack still but it's turned over and here go the ABs.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, BEAUDEN BARRETT: End to end – Lienert-Brown picked the ball up in space – got the ball away to Ben Smith who gassed it – SBW gets the offload and he in turn gets a sand shoe crusher away to Barrett who toes it ahead, regathers and scores. Wow! And he adds the extras..Bet Marshy was given it the old Go Beauden!
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ARDIE SAVEA: Set piece at its best. Brilliant – Lineout off the top – Barrett ghosts through a small gap – gets the ball away to Lienert-brown who draws the fullback and Savea goes in untouched from 30m. Awesome to watch. Barrett adds the 2.
4 MINUTES LATER: Try goes begging for the ABs – moving the ball beautifully through the backline. SBW with a little grubber that Retallick collects – he offloads to Dagg who flings it back infield but Retallick can't re-gather, knocks it on and we have a defensive scrum for the visitors.
3 MINUTES LATER: Penalty All Blacks 5m out for hands in the ruck – Ben Smith says 'Scrum please'. Danger time for Manu Samoa here.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, SONNY BILL WILLIAMS: Another set-move. Smith from the scrum base – draws a tackler, gets the ball away to Barrett who puts SBW in under the posts. Nice. Barrett adds the two and that's halftime. Be back here live in 10 minutes.
HALFTIME: All Blacks lead Samoa 28-0
SECOND-HALF: Beauden Barrett will get us underway for he second 40.....Samoa added so much to the first-half -- but you can't make mistakes against the world champions.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ISRAEL DAGG: Take a bow Anton Lienert-Brown who draws in three players with magnificent hesitation – very short blindside to work with and with no-one to beat, Dagg is the benefactor of Lienert-Browns brilliance. Barrett is on target tonight. 35-0 ABs
1 MINUTE LATER: The legend that is Grant Nisbett just informed us that Barrett is 12 from 12 in his last three-Tests with the boot.
2 MINUTES LATER: Samoa trying to just hold onto the ball for a bit after the barrage of the last 15 mins or so. Have moved the ball nicely up field and earn a penalty just inside halfway. Sam Cane offside at the ruck. Pisi finds touch 30m out.
3 MINUTES LATER: Samoa going backwards at a fast rate – but a head-high tackle from Retallick earns them a reprieve. Lineout Samoa on the ABs 22.
1 MINUTE LATER: Samoa rucking the ball well – some big hits coming in from All Black defenders. Samoa shift the ball outwide – Barrett for the intercept but he has knocked it on. Scrum 25m out for Samoa.
2 MINUTES LATER: Turnover from Codie Taylor and Whitelock head off upfield but his passed is spilled by the following up Taylor but it's a penalty on the 22 for the ABs for holding on at ruck time. Scott Barrett, Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina are on the park for the hosts now.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, JULIAN SAVEA: Clinical play from the world champions. Well that was a team try if I have ever seen one. Retallick makes a nice 20m break down the touchline but he can't get his pass away – the ABs play through five phases with the whole forward pack playing part – Smith clears from the ruck and goes through the hands of the back – eventually makes its way out to the 'Bus' who goes over in the corner. Barrett can't add the extras.
2 MINUTES LATER: Scott Barrett with a sweet offload to Beauden who kicks ahead - Ah See Tuala cleans up well but the All Blacks win the ball – Aaron Smith flings the ball outwide but the pass is too high for Lienart-Brown. Lineout Samoa on their own 5m line.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, CODIE TAYLOR: Ben Smith brilliance opens up the visitors.Quick lineout throw from Julian Savea – Ben Smith collects and bursts through would be defenders – offload to Taylor who strolls over under the posts – Barrett adds the two. Vaea Fifita on for his debut Test replacing Jerome Kaino.
1 MINUTE LATER: TJ Perenara is also on for Aaron Smith - Lima Sopoaga will be on shortly aswell.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, BEAUDEN BARRETT: SBW offload strikes again. SBW creates havoc with a wonderful offload in the midfield – Lienert-Brown collects and he sends Beauden away into the corner. He converts and Sopoaga will replace him.
2 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, VAEA FIFITA: Quick hands from the ABs with Ben Smith and SBW in the action again – Smith out to Dagg who draws' and passes' on the fullback and it's the debutant who scores. Great stuff and the Lions must be watching this interplay between forwards and back and quite frankly shivering with fear. Lima adds the two…Jordie Barrett on for his debut. Ben Smith makes way - Brodie Retallick is the new skipper!!
4 MINUTES LATER: Penalty relief for Manu Samoa. All Blacks on attack again but Sam Cane is pinged for holding on at the ruck. Lineout Samoa on halfway.
1 MINUTE LATER, POINT OF INTEREST: SBW and ALB look phenomenal as a midfield pair – SBW started slowly but has come into the game well and ALB is the find of the last 12 months for the national side.
4 MINUTES LATER: Game getting a little messy now – always amazes me how this happens when the changes are rung. All Blacks looking to shift the ball again from inside their own 22.
1 MINUTE LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, TJ PERENARA: Brilliant back play again – Peranara ends up with ball on halfway after Sopaoga made a wonderful break from inside his own half. TJ runs away from the defenders to score in the corner Lima can't add the 2.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, ARDIE SAVEA: All Black magic folks. Brilliant again. Jordie Barrett sneaks away down the blindside – gets the ball away to Juliian Savea who gets a wonderful pass away to TJ whom pops a cheeky kick over the fullback and Ardie Savea collects and scores. Lima adds the 2.
3 MINUTES LATER, TRY ALL BLACKS, SAM CANE: I am literally in awe. Take the opposition out of this for a sec. This was just magnificent. Barrett collects his own up and under – wonderful play, gets the ball away from a storming Retallick – the ball goes out through the backline – Lienert-Brown bursts through the last line of defence and unselfishly passes to Cane who scores. Conversion no good.
2 MINUTES LATER: I don't really know what happened as I was still writing! I looked up and Perenara was in the clear again and he gets the ball away to Sopoaga who scores. SBW plays his part again..Wait it's been ruled no try by the TMO! SBW's pass to TJ is ruled forward. Guts.
That's it folks - I couldn't keep up in the last few minutes. Lost track of the score too, but I can confirm it was 78-0. Just brilliant second 40 from the ABs - Manu Samoa just outclassed tonight after starting strong. Thanks for dropping by tonight.
All Blacks 78 - Samoa 0
And what do I think of the game? Well, no need to worry about as the All Blacks have managed to keep the opponent scoreless for the 1st time since 2013 against France at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
And I will be doing a review tomorrow of the Maori All Blacks-British & Irish Lions clash which takes place tonight at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua.
So that is my 175th blog of the year 2017 (MMXVII) & my 95th this year (And it is only a fortnight away until Christmas, unbelievable! I can't wait, just can't wait).
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