Well, the All Blacks (Who are celebrating Sonny Bill Williams's 50th test 8 years after the league convert made his test debut against England in 2010) have beaten the Wallabies to go 3 & 0 & claim a Bledisloe Cup series clean sweep for the 1st time since 2016 in the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup test at the Nissan Stadium (Or likewise known as International Stadium Yokohama for the duration of both the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan (Which will host the final next year as well as the AB's Rugby World Cup opener against South Africa) & the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo) in Yokohama in Japan so here's the match commentary provided from Newshub:
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the All Blacks vs Wallabies - the third Bledisloe Cup test of the year - played in Yokohama, Japan.
It seems months ago that these two rivals last met in the opening rounds of the 2018 Rugby Championship. Since then, New Zealand have gone on to defeat Australia twice, en route to securing the championship title outright for a third straight year.
Apart from that one blip against South Africa in Wellington (and the last-minute winner in Pretoria), the All Blacks have dominated the competition again. They have now won the Bledisloe Cup every year since 2003.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies have had a year to forget, narrowly avoiding the championship wooden spoon with a miraculous second-half comeback against Argentina in Salta.
That result does give them some momentum into this clash and remember last year, when the All Blacks wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup, only to lose the dead rubber.
That loss still weighs on the minds of this NZ outfit and they will keen to avoid that happening again.
The biggest talking point in the All Blacks selection is Damian McKenzie at fullback, while the Wallabies have shifted Israel Folau into the centres, where he'll match up against Sonny Bill Williams.
All Blacks: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Sam Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Liam Squire, 7-Ardie Savea, 8-Kieran Read (captain), 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Ryan Crotty, 14-Ben Smith, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Brodie Retallick, 20-Matt Todd, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo’unga, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
Wallabies: 1-Scott Sio, 2-Folau Faingaa, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 4-Izack Rodda, 5-Rob Simmons, 6-Ned Hanigan, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 8-David Pocock, 9-Will Genia, 10-Bernard Foley, 11-Marika Koroibete, 12-Kurtley Beale, 13-Israel Folau, 14-Sefa Naivalu, 15-Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves: 16-Tolu Latu, 17-Sekope Kepu, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Rory Arnold, 20-Jack Dempsey, 21-Nick Phipps, 22-Samu Kerevi, 23-Tom Banks
More to come
And before we get underway with this international game, just a shout out to the winners of provincial titles this afternoon - Thames Valley in the Heartland Meads Cup and Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup premiership.
Both finals were absolute thrillers and set us up perfectly for a great evening of rugby.
This will be the 50th All Blacks test for Sonny Bill Williams, who has taken eight years to achieve the mark, between injuries, and visits backwards and forwards across codes.
Significantly, the All Blacks are opening the game with the 'Kapa o Pango' haka, which is usually the one they unleash when they really mean business.
The Aussies don't stand a chance.
Referee is Romain Poite from France, who refereed the All Blacks against the Lions last year.
1ST MINUTE: Barrett kicks off and the All Blacks win the ball, but when Barrett puts a kick through for his wing, Folau gathers and makes good ground up the centre to set up the Wallabies attack.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From about 10 metres out, the ball goes to Haylett-Petty on the left touch-line. He appears to ground the ball in the corner, but Scott Barrett has managed to drag him into touch, as he loses the ball.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks win an attacking line out off Australia, it falls to Taylor and McKenzie is lowered in a high tackle for a penalty.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks building momentum and when the ball goes left, Ioane is tackled into touch. The ABs are penalised back in midfield for an dangerous clean-out.
10TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): New Zealand are building phases inside the 22 and win a scrum in the shadow of the posts.
12TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY TO LIAM SQUIRE: After several minutes and phase after phase, the blindside flanker is matched up against Kurtley Beale on defence and simply runs through the ineffective tackle to score.
CONVERSION: Barrett converts.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett puts a long kick downfield to relieve pressure and Foley can't gather it cleanly, gifting them an attacking scrum on the 22.
17TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks charge onto attack, but are penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle.
PENALTY GOAL: Beale sets up the kick a couple of metres inside the NZ half - it's beyond Foley's range - and it's over.
20TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Wallabies have the ball from a scrum and the All Blacks make a couple of key tackles in midfield, before they're penalised for offside.
22ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Australia have not lined up as advertised, with Folau and Beale moving around the back-line to create different points of attack.
PENALTY GOAL: Barrett signals to the posts - he needs Codie Taylor to hold the ball steady - and it goes over.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: The Australian front row is penalised for collapsing a scrum on their own 10m mark, maybe 10 metres in from the right touch.
Eventually, Haylett-Petty receives a dipping pass that he can't catch and he knocks on.
27TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Folau pounces on a loose ball and sets his back-line alight. Foley can't handle it, but the Wallabies maintain possession.
29TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks are trying to break out of their own territory - McKenzie is just dragged down before he can get away, but Sonny Bill can't take a pass and the Aussies have an attacking scrum.
31ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: As the Wallabies build an attack, the ball spills free and Ben Smith hacks it upfield to chase. He eventually gathers it and lays it back, but the Aussies are penalised and Barrett looks to the side-line for an attacking lineout.
35TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks have another attacking lineout, just 5 metres out, after another penalty. Australia are having to make a lot of tackles and they're also being penalised - surely a card is not far away.
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY TO KIERAN READ: From an attacking scrum, Read picks up from the back and has no-one between him and the try-line - that's too easy.
CONVERSION: Barrett converts - that's 3 out of 3 for him so far.
39TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY TO SEFA NAIVALU: From the kick-off, Australia go on the attack, eventually getting the ball to Naivalu on the left side-line.
He's one-on-one against Barrett and has too much strength, charging across in the tackle to score.
CONVERSION: Foley converts from on the chalk to send his team into half-time only 7 points astray.
HALF-TIME: All Blacks 17 (Liam Squire & Kieran Read tries; Beauden Barrett two conversions & penalty) Wallabies 10 (Sefa Naivalu try; Bernard Foley conversion; Kurtley Beale penalty)
41ST MINUTE: That try before the break will hurt the All Blacks, who had dominated the half otherwise. It has allowed the Wallabies to stay within striking distance.
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sio makes a break up midfield and finds Hooper in support. When the ball is hacked forward, Barrett is trapped behind his own line for an attacking 5 metre scrum to Australia.
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Australia swarm towards the posts, but Rodda drops the ball cold. All Blacks defensive scrum.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): McKenzie's clearance finds Folau and he starts a counter attack. Hooper makes ground up the left, but the defence manages to bring Simmons down, as he's about to lope away.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Simmons charges towards the posts and is over, but he's wrapped up in a tackle from Barrett and Perenara before he can force the ball. 5-metre scrum.
47TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: After the action is reviewed, the All Blacks are penalised and Foley lines up a kick from directly in front - he could throw this over.
PENALTY GOAL: He slots it, no problem.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett kicks deep and the Aussies have the ball again - not sure this tactic is working for the All Blacks, who are having to do a lot of tackling.
51ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Foley makes a break up the right and the Aussies are back on attack, building phases. When the ball goes right, Naivalu can't handle it and the All Blacks steal possession.
Barrett threatens to score, but the Wallabies tidy up. Meanwhile, Beale is down field injured.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: All Blacks making replacements - Franks and Moody are gone, Laulala and Tu'inukuafe come on. Sam Whitelock leaves and Brodie Retallick enters the fray.
For the Aussies, Dempsey replaces Hannigan on the side of the scrum. Beale seems winded, but is staying on.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY, PENALTY GOAL & SUBSTITUTION: Australia are penalised in front of their posts and Barrett makes no mistake with the kick.
The Wallabies also make several changes among the forwards.
55TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Ardie Savea has prime position at the breakdown and forces Australia into conceding a penalty. New Zealand are back on attack.
58TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Kerevi replaces Naivalu, which may move Folau to the wing. The Wallabies throw crooked into a lineout, so the All Blacks have the ball to a scrum.
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY TO BEAUDEN BARRETT: From the scrum, the All Blacks start to go right, but then come left, with Ioane slicing through the wrong-footed defence and off-loading to Barrett in support for a clear run to the line.
CONVERSION & SUBSTITUTION: Barrett converts - he's now 5 from 5 - and in the background, Aaron Smith replaces Perenara and Anton Lienert-Brown comes on for Crotty.
65TH MINUTE (6 MINUTES LATER): Koroibete makes a break up the right touch-line, pushing off Lienert-Brown and Taylor, before he's finally brought down. Haylett-Petty continues the move, but when he tries to offload to Latu, the pass is too low and spilled.
67TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Poite is checking a brush-up between Latu and Taylor - Taylor pushed first and then copped a hand in the mush. It wasn't a fist though.
YELLOW CARD: Taylor was the first infringement, but Poite reverses the penalty and shows Latu a yellow card for striking a blow to the face.
SUBSTITUTION: Matt Todd comes on for Liam Squire, so Savea will go to blind-side. McKenzie leaves, Mo'unga comes into first-five and Barrett moves to fullback.
70TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY TO BEN SMITH: Folau looks threatening and evades SBW, but when he passes inside, it's snapped up by Ben Smith, who sprints away for the try.
There's some question that Aaron Smith ran an interferring line, but that suggestion goes no further. MISSED CONVERSION: Barrett misses the conversion, his first of the night.
SUBSTITUTION: Taylor is replaced by Nathan Harris.
71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Ioane is bundled into touch and when the Aussies throw in, it's David Pocock feeding the lineout, as they opt not to replace Latu with a specialist hooker.
SUBSTITUTION: Seconds later, a scrum is called and starting hooker Fainga'a must come back into the front row.
75TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER), TRY TO ISRAEL FOLAU & CONVERSION: Some nice pressure from the short-handed Aussies and when the ball comes to the back-line, Folau runs off a nice pass to slice through. Foley converts quickly.
77TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Latu is back from the sin bin, so the Wallabies have their full contingent.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY TO RIEKO IOANE: Mo'unga makes the initial thrust, before he finds Ben Smith in support. When the ball goes left, Barrett flings a pass between his legs to Ioane, who props infield to score.
MISSED CONVERSION: Mo'unga's conversion attempt is well wide.
80TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Australia are penalised on halfway and Mo'unga finds a great touch, just a few metres out from the line.
The All Blacks win the lineout, Harris finds Ben Smith steaming a straight line, but when he's tackled, they knock on. It's over.
Thanks for joining us - catch you next week for the All Blacks vs Japan test in Tokyo.
With that victory, New Zealand complete a three-test Bledisloe Cup sweep of the Wallabies. There were moments they didn't look that convincing, but Latu's yellow card 13 minutes from the end probably swung the game back to the All Blacks.
FULL TIME: All Blacks 37 (Liam Squire, Kieran Read, Beauden Barret, Ben Smith & Rieko Ioane tries; Beauden Barrett three conversions & two penalties) Wallabies 20 (Sefa Naivalu & Israel Folau tries; Bernard Foley two conversions & penalty; Kurtley Beale penalty).
So that is my 244th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 64th of this year.
P.S. And I have been watching the Austin Powers In Goldmember movie on Monday night because it was the best Austin Powers movie ever of all time (It has to be one of my favourite Austin Powers movie) & my favourite scene has to be Mr Roboto getting killed by those sharks with laser beams attached to their heads after Scott Evil (He said that he wants to let him take care of this) dropped Mr Roboto into the pool in Dr. Evil's submarine lair after he told Scott's father, Dr. Evil that he wants a bonus in his paycheck per Japanese custom but Dr. Evil got excited that Mr Roboto wants a bonus but he ended up laughing hard & tells Mr Roboto that he hasn't laughed that hard since he was a little girl but Mr Roboto wasn't joking but he is then promptly devoured without getting paid as was originally intended although Dr. Evil was notably disturbed at how exhilerated Scott was when watching him die.
Monday, 29 October 2018
2018 Mitre 10 Cup Championship final & Premiership final review
Well, it has all come down to this, the finals of both the Championship & Premiership of the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup season but 1st, here is the review of the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final between Waikato & Ranfurly Shield holders Otago at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton with both teams desperate for a promotion to the Premiership next year:
Waikato have ensured their stay in the Championship was as short as possible with a thumping 36-13 win over Otago in the Championship final to move back to the top tier in 2019.
After dropping their first three games of the season, Waikato embarked on a remarkable turnaround to win eight of their next nine matches on their way to the Championship title.
While superbly led by classy pivot Fletcher Smith who finished with a competition leading 130 points, it was in the tight five where Waikato really dominated throughout the season.
Whether at scrum time, with ball in hand or from the line out drive, Waikato were simply ruthless in the engine room. Their powerful pack laid the platform for a set of exciting young backs to catch the eye and terrorise opposition defenders.
With that in mind, Waikato could have easily got the wobbles when workhorse lock James Tucker was injured out of the match after just three minutes. But this Waikato team is made of sterner stuff. Young midfielder Quinn Tupaea stepped up to play a hand in three first half tries to give Waikato a 19-6 lead at the break.
The first came when Tupaea scythed through the Otago midfield and found Sevu Reece out wide for the opening try in the sixth minute. Tupaea scored himself in the 19th minute when a brilliant long ball from Fletcher Smith put him in space before providing a try-assist for fullback Mat Landsdowne in the 31st minute.
It was quite a first half from Waikato, but when Otago went over early in the second half the gap was slashed to 19-13 despite the home side enjoying a significant territorial and possession advantage.
Any nerves in amongst the home crowd were extinguished just seconds later when wing Tyler Campbell leapt high from to claim the kick off and scoot away for a try to reinstate the 13 point lead for Waikato.
There was no looking back from the Mooloos from there as Sevu Reece bagged his 14th try of the season and Fletcher Smith added a penalty to confirm the 36-13 win.
It was Waikato’s first title win since lifting the title in 2006, with Dwayne Sweeney the only survivor from that team.
While Otago will be disappointed to miss out on promotion to the Premiership, they can be proud of their efforts in 2018 and have the Ranfurly Shield to look after for the summer.
Scorers:
Waikato 36 (Sevu Reece 2, Quinn Tupaea, Matt Landsdown, Tyler Campbell tries, Fletcher Smith 4 con, pen) Otago 13 (James Lentjes try, Josh Ioane 2 pen, con)
HT: 19-6
And finally here is the review of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership final between Auckland (Who are hungry for a win in order to end an 11 year drought hoping to bring back some glory days) & Canterbury (Who are hoping to retain their title for their 4th year running) at Eden Park in Auckland:
Auckland is, for the first time since 2007 and the 17th time in all, back atop New Zealand’s provincial rugby totem pole following a dramatic 40-33 extra time victory over Canterbury at Eden Park.
After defeats to Canterbury in the 2012 and 2015 deciders, Auckland deserved the spoils, scoring six tries to three in a seesaw battle which hinged on the tremendous impact of its bench players such as hooker Mike Sosene, loose forward Taleni Seu, and wing Caleb Clarke. Had the scores been still tied after extra time, Auckland would still have won by virtue of scoring more tries than its opponent.
The 1st spell saw a lot of nip and tuck, but Canterbury monopolised the ball and field position. The points did not, however, come freely. Brett Cameron and Mitchell Drummond did kick a lot, mostly accurately. The visitors also challenged Auckland on its lineout ball, mauled freely and tackled with its trademark efficiency.
The first try was, in fact, a penalty try, referee Glen Jackson heading between the uprights after deeming Auckland had collapsed a driving maul off a line out. He sent No 8 Akira Ioane to the sin bin, which proved costly to the home side.
As the rain started to fall, fullback George Bridge ran a sweet angle off a Braydon Ennor short ball to cross for his 5th try of the season.
Auckland’s response was almost immediate and centred on a heads-up play by the skipper TJ Faiane. He tapped a penalty and was off, stepping and surging before offloading to a direct running Tumua Manu for the centre’s 7th try of the season.
The 2nd half saw Eden Park shrouded in near darkness. It was raining and the lights took time to engage. It might have been a metaphor for Auckland’s performance, 7-20 in debit.
But out of the shadows, Canterbury flanker Billy Harmon was yellow carded for a tip tackle on Jordan Trainor. Auckland swung onto attack, Evan Olmstead being held up over the line.
Then the home side was awarded a scrum penalty after a big shunt on that set-piece. An ever-alert Ioane took the quick tap, and powered over for the score. Game on.
Patient Auckland pressure yielded a try to fullback Jordan Trainor after several pick and goes. Ball freed, 3 passes, try.
Then replacement wing Caleb Clarke swept over off an efficient lefto scrum move. Harry Plummer’s wide-angled conversion drew it level at 26-all. We were heading for a rare grand final extra time period of 10 minutes each way.
Canterbury replacement Tom Sanders scored first for Canterbury in the first period of extra time, spinning over, before Sosene-Feagai replied to make it 33-all.
The final was sealed when Auckland replacement halfback Leon Fukofuka latched onto a Melani Nanai break. The Rugby Cup was within Auckland’s grasp as Canterbury was going to need to score twice to clinch the victory.
It was not to be. Cue joyous celebrations.
The 20,133 spectators who enjoyed free entry certainly got their added value entertainment, 100 minutes of dramatic finals rugby with the full spectrum of Auckland weather.
New Zealand Rugby President Maurice Trapp would have afforded himself a quiet smile, having coached Auckland to four straight NPCs from 1987-90s, a time when this union could rightly call itself one of the finest provincial juggernauts of all time. The class of 2018 has some way to go, but this is a fair start.
5 of the Canterbury side will not have long to drown their sorrows, as they fly to Tokyo tomorrow to link up with the All Blacks for next weekend’s Japan Test.
Auckland 40 (Tumua Manu, Akira Ioane, Jordan Trainor, Caleb Clarke, Mike Sosene, Leon Fukofuka tries; Harry Plummer 5 con) Canterbury 33 (George Bridge, Tom Sanders tries; penalty try; Brett Cameron 2 con, 4 pen) HT: 20-7 Canterbury
So that is my 243rd blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 63rd of this year.
Thursday, 25 October 2018
All Blacks team naming against the Wallabies for Bledisloe III in Japan
Well, the All Blacks have named their team against the confident Wallabies side (Who are hungry for a win in order to avoid an 0 & 3 against the AB's for the 2nd year running) in the 3rd & final Bledisloe Cup test in Yokohama, Japan so here is the starting lineup in it's entirety:
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders)
2 (Hooker): Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)
BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders)
7 (Openside Flanker): Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
HALVES
9 (Half-back): TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues)
13 (Centre): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe (Who is dropped to the bench with the injury prone Joe Moody successfully coming back from a thumb injury to start at loose head prop)
18. Nepo Laulala (Who successfully returns from a broken arm to replace Ofa Tu'ungafasi)
19. Brodie Retallick (Who replaces Patrick Tuipulotu after successfully recovering from a shoulder injury)
20. Matt Todd (Who is back with the All Blacks (Including a stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan) after being named on the bench, replacing Ardie Savea (Who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Sam Cane who is ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a serious neck injury)
21. Aaron Smith (Who is dropped to the bench with TJ Perenara returning to the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.
So that is my 242nd blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 62nd of this year.
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Moody (Canterbury/Crusaders)
2 (Hooker): Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)
BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Liam Squire (Tasman/Highlanders)
7 (Openside Flanker): Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
HALVES
9 (Half-back): TJ Perenara (Wellington/Hurricanes)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues)
13 (Centre): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Damian McKenzie (Waikato/Chiefs)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe (Who is dropped to the bench with the injury prone Joe Moody successfully coming back from a thumb injury to start at loose head prop)
18. Nepo Laulala (Who successfully returns from a broken arm to replace Ofa Tu'ungafasi)
19. Brodie Retallick (Who replaces Patrick Tuipulotu after successfully recovering from a shoulder injury)
20. Matt Todd (Who is back with the All Blacks (Including a stint with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan) after being named on the bench, replacing Ardie Savea (Who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Sam Cane who is ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a serious neck injury)
21. Aaron Smith (Who is dropped to the bench with TJ Perenara returning to the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.
So that is my 242nd blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 62nd of this year.
Monday, 22 October 2018
2018 Mitre 10 Cup & Heartland Championship semifinals review & finals preview (And my thoughts about Wanganui getting outfoxed by Thames Valley)
Mitre 10 finals weekends have provided more than their fair share of highlights over the years and next weekend's finale to the 2018 season promises to be no different.
The old rivals, Auckland and Canterbury, will go at it on Saturday evening at Eden Park.
Canterbury have been the dominant side in the competition having won nine of the last 10 years of national provincial titles, the only exception being when Taranaki beat Tasman in the 2014 final.
The last time Auckland were in the final was in 2015, a repeat of the 2012 final while the last time Auckland won the title, and hosted the final, was in 2007 when they beat Wellington.
Auckland beat Canterbury, in Christchurch, in round robin play earlier in the year and have enjoyed their best domestic season for some time.
Canterbury, having suffered losses to Auckland and Tasman have not been the dominant force of earlier years but showed in beating Tasman 21-16 in their Friday semifinal that they were on task to make a vigorous defence of their title.
Auckland qualified by ending Wellington's run since returning to the Premiership this year with a 38-17 win in Auckland.
In the Championship final, Waikato will host Otago in a repeat of their Ranfurly Shield game of 10 days ago. Otago won on that occasion but only secured their place in the final after the final hooter had surrounded when first five-eighths Josh Ioane landed a penalty goal to deny a Hawke's Bay team that had dominated for much of the game.
Waikato qualified in easier fashion with a 48-26 win over Northland in their semifinal.
The Mitre 10 Heartland competition will also be decided when South Canterbury host Thames Valley in Timaru in the Meads Cup final while the Lochore Cup will be played in Levin where Horowhenua Kapiti will host Wairarapa Bush.
South Canterbury beat King Country 58-21 in their semifinal while Thames Valley upset Wanganui 17-7.
And Wairarapa Bush reversed the previous week's result when beating North Otago 30-21 while Horowhenua Kapiti beat Mid Canterbury 34-24.
FINAL MATCH-UPS
Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final
Auckland v Canterbury
Saturday 27 October
Eden Park, Auckland - kick off 4.05pm (Free Entry)
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final
Waikato v Otago
Friday 26 October
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton - kick off 7.35pm
Mitre 10 Heartland Championship – Meads Cup Final
South Canterbury v Thames Valley
Saturday 27 October
Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru - kick off 1.05pm
Mitre 10 Heartland Championship – Lochore Cup Final
Horowhenua Kapiti v Wairarapa Bush
Sunday 28 October
Levin Domain, Levin - kick off 2.35pm
So that is my 240th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 60th of this year.
P.S. And what do I think from my point of view about Wanganui's disappointing upset loss against Thames Valley in the Meads Cup semifinal? No, we, you know what we mean, hey wait, we just, that's, wait that the Swamp Foxes are what we thought they were. What would we thought they were. We played them last year, who on earth takes last year's game like it's garbage? Garbage! We played them in last year's game, everybody played both halves, the Swamp Foxes are who we thought they were! That’s why we took the whole field! Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their hands! But they are who we thought they were, & we let them off the hook!...This is what's great about sports, this is what the greatest thing about sports is: You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it just to play it. That's the great thing about sports: You play to win. And I don't care if you don't have any wins. You go play to win. When you start telling me it doesn't matter, then retire. Get out! Cause it matters.
The old rivals, Auckland and Canterbury, will go at it on Saturday evening at Eden Park.
Canterbury have been the dominant side in the competition having won nine of the last 10 years of national provincial titles, the only exception being when Taranaki beat Tasman in the 2014 final.
The last time Auckland were in the final was in 2015, a repeat of the 2012 final while the last time Auckland won the title, and hosted the final, was in 2007 when they beat Wellington.
Auckland beat Canterbury, in Christchurch, in round robin play earlier in the year and have enjoyed their best domestic season for some time.
Canterbury, having suffered losses to Auckland and Tasman have not been the dominant force of earlier years but showed in beating Tasman 21-16 in their Friday semifinal that they were on task to make a vigorous defence of their title.
Auckland qualified by ending Wellington's run since returning to the Premiership this year with a 38-17 win in Auckland.
In the Championship final, Waikato will host Otago in a repeat of their Ranfurly Shield game of 10 days ago. Otago won on that occasion but only secured their place in the final after the final hooter had surrounded when first five-eighths Josh Ioane landed a penalty goal to deny a Hawke's Bay team that had dominated for much of the game.
Waikato qualified in easier fashion with a 48-26 win over Northland in their semifinal.
The Mitre 10 Heartland competition will also be decided when South Canterbury host Thames Valley in Timaru in the Meads Cup final while the Lochore Cup will be played in Levin where Horowhenua Kapiti will host Wairarapa Bush.
South Canterbury beat King Country 58-21 in their semifinal while Thames Valley upset Wanganui 17-7.
And Wairarapa Bush reversed the previous week's result when beating North Otago 30-21 while Horowhenua Kapiti beat Mid Canterbury 34-24.
FINAL MATCH-UPS
Mitre 10 Cup Premiership Final
Auckland v Canterbury
Saturday 27 October
Eden Park, Auckland - kick off 4.05pm (Free Entry)
Mitre 10 Cup Championship Final
Waikato v Otago
Friday 26 October
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton - kick off 7.35pm
Mitre 10 Heartland Championship – Meads Cup Final
South Canterbury v Thames Valley
Saturday 27 October
Alpine Energy Stadium, Timaru - kick off 1.05pm
Mitre 10 Heartland Championship – Lochore Cup Final
Horowhenua Kapiti v Wairarapa Bush
Sunday 28 October
Levin Domain, Levin - kick off 2.35pm
So that is my 240th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 60th of this year.
P.S. And what do I think from my point of view about Wanganui's disappointing upset loss against Thames Valley in the Meads Cup semifinal? No, we, you know what we mean, hey wait, we just, that's, wait that the Swamp Foxes are what we thought they were. What would we thought they were. We played them last year, who on earth takes last year's game like it's garbage? Garbage! We played them in last year's game, everybody played both halves, the Swamp Foxes are who we thought they were! That’s why we took the whole field! Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their hands! But they are who we thought they were, & we let them off the hook!...This is what's great about sports, this is what the greatest thing about sports is: You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it just to play it. That's the great thing about sports: You play to win. And I don't care if you don't have any wins. You go play to win. When you start telling me it doesn't matter, then retire. Get out! Cause it matters.
Wednesday, 17 October 2018
All Blacks squad naming for the Northern tour
Well, it's been a day since the All Blacks have named their squad for the upcoming Northern tour so here's the squad in its entirety:
Main squad
Forwards
Hookers
Dane Coles (Hurricanes/Wellington, 56)
Nathan Harris (Chiefs/Bay Of Plenty, 18)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders/Canterbury, 38)
Props
Owen Franks (Crusaders/Canterbury, 103)
Nepo Laulala (Chiefs/Counties Manukau, 13)
Joe Moody (Crusaders/Canterbury, 36)
Karl Tu'inukuafe (Chiefs/North Harbour, 9)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues/Auckland, 22)
Second rowers
Scott Barrett (Crusaders/Taranaki, 25)
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs/Hawke's Bay, 71)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues/Auckland, 19)
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders/Canterbury, 105)
Back rowers
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes/Wellington, 7)
Dalton Papali'i (Blues/Auckland, 0)
Kieran Read (Captain, Crusaders/Counties Manukau, 114)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes/Wellington, 22)
Liam Squire (Highlanders/Tasman, 15)
Matt Todd (Panasonic Wild Knights, 14)
Backs
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes/Wellington, 51)
Aaron Smith (Highlanders/Manawatu, 79)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs/Taranaki, 1)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki, 69)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato, 19)
Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders/Canterbury, 4)
Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders/Canterbury, 41)
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders/Northland, 5)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato, 30)
Sonny Bill Williams (Blues/Counties Manukau, 49)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki, 7)
Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland, 20)
Waisake Naholo (Highlanders/Taranaki, 24)
Ben Smith (Highlanders/Otago, 73)
Wider training group
Forwards
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes/Wellington, 0)
Liam Coltman (Highlanders/Otago, 3)
Props
Second rowers
Gareth Evans (Hurricanes/Hawke's Bay, 0)
Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders/Manawatu, 2)
Dillon Hunt (Highlanders/North Harbour, 0)
Backs
Halfbacks
Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders/Canterbury, 0)
Bryn Hall (Crusaders/North Harbour, 0)
First five-eighths
Brett Cameron (Canterbury, 0)
Midfielders
David Havili (Crusaders/Tasman, 5)
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes/Manawatu, 8)
Matt Proctor (Hurricanes/Wellington, 0)
Outside backs
George Bridge (Crusaders/Canterbury, 0)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes/Manawatu, 12)
So that is my 240th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 60th of this year.
Main squad
Forwards
Hookers
Dane Coles (Hurricanes/Wellington, 56)
Nathan Harris (Chiefs/Bay Of Plenty, 18)
Codie Taylor (Crusaders/Canterbury, 38)
Props
Owen Franks (Crusaders/Canterbury, 103)
Nepo Laulala (Chiefs/Counties Manukau, 13)
Joe Moody (Crusaders/Canterbury, 36)
Karl Tu'inukuafe (Chiefs/North Harbour, 9)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Blues/Auckland, 22)
Second rowers
Scott Barrett (Crusaders/Taranaki, 25)
Brodie Retallick (Chiefs/Hawke's Bay, 71)
Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues/Auckland, 19)
Sam Whitelock (Crusaders/Canterbury, 105)
Back rowers
Vaea Fifita (Hurricanes/Wellington, 7)
Dalton Papali'i (Blues/Auckland, 0)
Kieran Read (Captain, Crusaders/Counties Manukau, 114)
Ardie Savea (Hurricanes/Wellington, 22)
Liam Squire (Highlanders/Tasman, 15)
Matt Todd (Panasonic Wild Knights, 14)
Backs
Halfbacks
TJ Perenara (Hurricanes/Wellington, 51)
Aaron Smith (Highlanders/Manawatu, 79)
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs/Taranaki, 1)
First five-eighths
Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki, 69)
Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato, 19)
Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders/Canterbury, 4)
Midfielders
Ryan Crotty (Crusaders/Canterbury, 41)
Jack Goodhue (Crusaders/Northland, 5)
Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato, 30)
Sonny Bill Williams (Blues/Counties Manukau, 49)
Outside backs
Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki, 7)
Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland, 20)
Waisake Naholo (Highlanders/Taranaki, 24)
Ben Smith (Highlanders/Otago, 73)
Wider training group
Forwards
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes/Wellington, 0)
Liam Coltman (Highlanders/Otago, 3)
Props
Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders/Tasman, 0)
Reuben O'Neill (Taranaki, 0)
Tim Perry (Crusaders/Tasman, 5)
Angus Ta'avao (Chiefs/Taranaki, 1)Second rowers
Luke Romano (Crusaders/Canterbury, 31)
Back rowers
Gareth Evans (Hurricanes/Hawke's Bay, 0)
Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders/Manawatu, 2)
Dillon Hunt (Highlanders/North Harbour, 0)
Luke Whitelock (Highlanders/Canterbury, 6)
Backs
Halfbacks
Mitchell Drummond (Crusaders/Canterbury, 0)
Bryn Hall (Crusaders/North Harbour, 0)
First five-eighths
Brett Cameron (Canterbury, 0)
Midfielders
David Havili (Crusaders/Tasman, 5)
Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes/Manawatu, 8)
Matt Proctor (Hurricanes/Wellington, 0)
Outside backs
George Bridge (Crusaders/Canterbury, 0)
Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes/Manawatu, 12)
So that is my 240th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 60th of this year.
Tuesday, 16 October 2018
Mitre 10 Cup round 9 review
Auckland ensured they finished top of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership on Sunday while Waikato took top spot in the Championship although they managed to yield the Ranfurly Shield in the process.
Semifinals in the competition next week are:
Premiership
Tasman v Canterbury, 7.35pm, Friday, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Auckland v Wellington, 5.05pm, Saturday, Eden Park, Auckland
Championship
Waikato v Northland 2.35pm, Saturday, FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Otago v Hawke's Bay, 7.35pm, Saturday, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Details from Round Nine of the competition were:
Southland 8 Auckland 56
Southland's record against Auckland is not pretty, they've only won eight times in 55 games, and it was always going to be difficult to break their two-season losing duck at home. Auckland opted to give their lesser lights a run and while they took time to adjust to Southland's defensive efforts in the first half, they turned it on to run in 44 second-half points to five in the second half.
Tasman 29 Hawke's Bay 0
There were home semifinals on the line for both sides in this contest, but as it turned out it was Tasman who did best, holding Hawke's Bay scoreless, to claim a solid win in wet conditions in Nelson, and then Otago beat Waikato to deny the Bay a home semi, now having to trek south to Dunedin.
Taranaki 10 Wellington 34
Taranaki's unfortunate season reached its almost inevitable conclusion on a windy Friday night in New Plymouth with Wellington playing a superb game of control in the first half playing into the wind. It wasn't the prettiest game with more niggle than necessary, and while Taranaki got within an ace at halftime, it was all Wellington who didn't concede a second half point in claiming a solid win.
Bay of Plenty 38 Northland 35
Making a strong finish to a mixed season, Bay of Plenty turned it on during the first half against Northland, getting out to a 26-7 lead in the first half and then up 38-21 three minutes from the end of the game. But Northland, with their playoffs position wrapped up came home with a wet sail and got within three points to collect two bonus points to solidify their fourth position, with Bay of Plenty three points back in fifth.
Waikato 19 Otago 23
Ranfurly Shield magic never dies and can lift unlikely challengers to commanding heights and so it proved for Otago who made the requisite strong start for potential Shield winners by getting out to a 17-0 lead and then held out the Shield defenders who made a strong bid to retain the trophy. But with both sides pushing in the final quarter, it was Otago who held together best to claim the win.
Counties Manukau 14 Canterbury 19
It's been a frustrating year for Counties Manukau, especially in the Premiership games, but with tighthead prop Nepo Laulala providing some scrum solidity up front, the home team were competitive at Pukekohe with returning All Blacks loosehead Joe Moody getting a real workout. With backs Nigel Ah Wong and Sione Molia scoring Counties Manukau got out to a 14-7 lead. But a penalty try proved helpful for Canterbury who edged in front in the 45th minute and they were able to contain the enthusiastic home side to secure the win.
Auckland 45 North Harbour 29
With the season already gone, as a result of Wellington's win over Taranaki, it would have been easy for North Harbour to fade early, but they took it to Auckland and but for some missed opportunities might have been well up on the scoreboard. Auckland had their own motivations, not least reversing last season's loss to their neighbours and with Akira Ioane in top form they made the most of a strong third quarter surge.
Manawatu 38 Southland 26
Manawatu made the most of having three All Blacks in their line-up as they contributed three tries, two of them to Ngani Laumape and the third to Jackson Hemopo to achieve a win but Southland, for all the problems they have suffered this year, produced some fine tries in what was an entertaining encounter to end the round robin phase of the competition.
So that is my 239th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 59th of this year.
Semifinals in the competition next week are:
Premiership
Tasman v Canterbury, 7.35pm, Friday, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Auckland v Wellington, 5.05pm, Saturday, Eden Park, Auckland
Championship
Waikato v Northland 2.35pm, Saturday, FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Otago v Hawke's Bay, 7.35pm, Saturday, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Details from Round Nine of the competition were:
Southland 8 Auckland 56
Southland's record against Auckland is not pretty, they've only won eight times in 55 games, and it was always going to be difficult to break their two-season losing duck at home. Auckland opted to give their lesser lights a run and while they took time to adjust to Southland's defensive efforts in the first half, they turned it on to run in 44 second-half points to five in the second half.
Tasman 29 Hawke's Bay 0
There were home semifinals on the line for both sides in this contest, but as it turned out it was Tasman who did best, holding Hawke's Bay scoreless, to claim a solid win in wet conditions in Nelson, and then Otago beat Waikato to deny the Bay a home semi, now having to trek south to Dunedin.
Taranaki 10 Wellington 34
Taranaki's unfortunate season reached its almost inevitable conclusion on a windy Friday night in New Plymouth with Wellington playing a superb game of control in the first half playing into the wind. It wasn't the prettiest game with more niggle than necessary, and while Taranaki got within an ace at halftime, it was all Wellington who didn't concede a second half point in claiming a solid win.
Bay of Plenty 38 Northland 35
Making a strong finish to a mixed season, Bay of Plenty turned it on during the first half against Northland, getting out to a 26-7 lead in the first half and then up 38-21 three minutes from the end of the game. But Northland, with their playoffs position wrapped up came home with a wet sail and got within three points to collect two bonus points to solidify their fourth position, with Bay of Plenty three points back in fifth.
Waikato 19 Otago 23
Ranfurly Shield magic never dies and can lift unlikely challengers to commanding heights and so it proved for Otago who made the requisite strong start for potential Shield winners by getting out to a 17-0 lead and then held out the Shield defenders who made a strong bid to retain the trophy. But with both sides pushing in the final quarter, it was Otago who held together best to claim the win.
Counties Manukau 14 Canterbury 19
It's been a frustrating year for Counties Manukau, especially in the Premiership games, but with tighthead prop Nepo Laulala providing some scrum solidity up front, the home team were competitive at Pukekohe with returning All Blacks loosehead Joe Moody getting a real workout. With backs Nigel Ah Wong and Sione Molia scoring Counties Manukau got out to a 14-7 lead. But a penalty try proved helpful for Canterbury who edged in front in the 45th minute and they were able to contain the enthusiastic home side to secure the win.
Auckland 45 North Harbour 29
With the season already gone, as a result of Wellington's win over Taranaki, it would have been easy for North Harbour to fade early, but they took it to Auckland and but for some missed opportunities might have been well up on the scoreboard. Auckland had their own motivations, not least reversing last season's loss to their neighbours and with Akira Ioane in top form they made the most of a strong third quarter surge.
Manawatu 38 Southland 26
Manawatu made the most of having three All Blacks in their line-up as they contributed three tries, two of them to Ngani Laumape and the third to Jackson Hemopo to achieve a win but Southland, for all the problems they have suffered this year, produced some fine tries in what was an entertaining encounter to end the round robin phase of the competition.
So that is my 239th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 59th of this year.
Wednesday, 10 October 2018
Mitre 10 Cup round 8 review
Facing their doubleheader week Auckland have a good chance of securing top qualifying position in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership next week.
They travel to Invercargill for their first game on Wednesday, then back that up with their bridge battle with North Harbour, a game that last season was horrendous as Auckland suffered a record defeat.
This time around it shapes as important for North Harbour if they are to make the playoffs as they share fourth at the moment with Wellington who will be looking to secure their place against cellar dweller Taranaki – a side who will be hoping they can beat Wellington, and then have Canterbury beat Counties Manukau to avoid relegation.
There's no issue in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship as the playoff spots have already gone to Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Otago and Northland. It's just a case of who finishes where on the table.
Otago 45 Bay of Plenty 34
Bay of Plenty had the bit between their teeth at Forsyth Barr Stadium but three intercept tries to Otago in the space of 23 minutes put paid to that. The Bay of Plenty pack took the game to the home side but it was the home backs who turned the game around in the nick of time for a win that was more flattering than accurate on the scoreboard.
Wellington 24 Auckland 29
Stung by their loss to Otago, Auckland took time to get into this game at Westpac Stadium and had to come back from 10-24 down. But three quick tries stunned the home side and by the time they regathered their thoughts the game had disappeared as Auckland put the lid on Wellington ambitions to claim a much-needed win.
Hawke's Bay 45 Manawatu 17
Manawatu made a 14-point dream start to this local derby but it was all too soon for a Hawke's Bay side who got back to a share of the game at halftime 17-17, and then hit the afterburners in the second half to add 28 unanswered points while scoring some superb tries that would have boosted their confidence ahead of the playoffs. The Hawke's Bay loose forwards have developed into a dynamic combination.
Northland 28 Waikato 71
Northland had cause for some confidence going into this home game against the Ranfurly Shield holders, but that proved short-lived as the visitors dominated the first half to lead 38-7 at the break. Eleven tries to four made it an entertaining spectacle but it was a warning to Northland that much better defence will be vital should the two sides meet, as appears likely, in the playoffs.
North Harbour 36 Counties Manukau 26
Having an edge through their forward pack, North Harbour kept the pressure on Counties Manukau throughout the first half especially through their scrum. With a penalty try North Harbour led 17-12 at the break and then scored two quick tries after the turn to secure their position which could prove vital as the competition reaches its final stages.
Canterbury 41 Taranaki 7
Red cards were suffered by both sides, but the loss of lock Jarrad Hoeata after five minutes proved more costly than Canterbury losing prop Daniel Lienert-Brown midway through the second half. Taranaki defended like demons but they could only prevent the dam breaking for so long and when it broke Canterbury were not slow in seizing their chances. But without that defence, it could have been a lot worse for Taranaki.
Southland 22 Bay of Plenty 26
Both sides wanted a win but it was Bay of Plenty that had the satisfaction in Invercargill. They ended a six-game losing streak while Southland equalled Northland's record for the longest run without a win. Southland got out to a 22-19 lead with hope in their eyes but fate stepped in near the end as Bay of Plenty scored to claim the win.
Otago 21 Tasman 47
Just why Tasman are looking so good to give coach Leon MacDonald a winning sendoff to the Blues was evident in their romp over Otago in Dunedin to round out the weekend. Up 28-0 by the turn, Tasman were always in control with promising fullback Will Jordan crossing for a hat-trick of tries in a fine display. It wasn't the sort of Ranfurly Shield challenge dress rehearsal Otago wanted.
So that is my 238th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 58th of this year.
They travel to Invercargill for their first game on Wednesday, then back that up with their bridge battle with North Harbour, a game that last season was horrendous as Auckland suffered a record defeat.
This time around it shapes as important for North Harbour if they are to make the playoffs as they share fourth at the moment with Wellington who will be looking to secure their place against cellar dweller Taranaki – a side who will be hoping they can beat Wellington, and then have Canterbury beat Counties Manukau to avoid relegation.
There's no issue in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship as the playoff spots have already gone to Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Otago and Northland. It's just a case of who finishes where on the table.
Otago 45 Bay of Plenty 34
Bay of Plenty had the bit between their teeth at Forsyth Barr Stadium but three intercept tries to Otago in the space of 23 minutes put paid to that. The Bay of Plenty pack took the game to the home side but it was the home backs who turned the game around in the nick of time for a win that was more flattering than accurate on the scoreboard.
Wellington 24 Auckland 29
Stung by their loss to Otago, Auckland took time to get into this game at Westpac Stadium and had to come back from 10-24 down. But three quick tries stunned the home side and by the time they regathered their thoughts the game had disappeared as Auckland put the lid on Wellington ambitions to claim a much-needed win.
Hawke's Bay 45 Manawatu 17
Manawatu made a 14-point dream start to this local derby but it was all too soon for a Hawke's Bay side who got back to a share of the game at halftime 17-17, and then hit the afterburners in the second half to add 28 unanswered points while scoring some superb tries that would have boosted their confidence ahead of the playoffs. The Hawke's Bay loose forwards have developed into a dynamic combination.
Northland 28 Waikato 71
Northland had cause for some confidence going into this home game against the Ranfurly Shield holders, but that proved short-lived as the visitors dominated the first half to lead 38-7 at the break. Eleven tries to four made it an entertaining spectacle but it was a warning to Northland that much better defence will be vital should the two sides meet, as appears likely, in the playoffs.
North Harbour 36 Counties Manukau 26
Having an edge through their forward pack, North Harbour kept the pressure on Counties Manukau throughout the first half especially through their scrum. With a penalty try North Harbour led 17-12 at the break and then scored two quick tries after the turn to secure their position which could prove vital as the competition reaches its final stages.
Canterbury 41 Taranaki 7
Red cards were suffered by both sides, but the loss of lock Jarrad Hoeata after five minutes proved more costly than Canterbury losing prop Daniel Lienert-Brown midway through the second half. Taranaki defended like demons but they could only prevent the dam breaking for so long and when it broke Canterbury were not slow in seizing their chances. But without that defence, it could have been a lot worse for Taranaki.
Southland 22 Bay of Plenty 26
Both sides wanted a win but it was Bay of Plenty that had the satisfaction in Invercargill. They ended a six-game losing streak while Southland equalled Northland's record for the longest run without a win. Southland got out to a 22-19 lead with hope in their eyes but fate stepped in near the end as Bay of Plenty scored to claim the win.
Otago 21 Tasman 47
Just why Tasman are looking so good to give coach Leon MacDonald a winning sendoff to the Blues was evident in their romp over Otago in Dunedin to round out the weekend. Up 28-0 by the turn, Tasman were always in control with promising fullback Will Jordan crossing for a hat-trick of tries in a fine display. It wasn't the sort of Ranfurly Shield challenge dress rehearsal Otago wanted.
So that is my 238th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 58th of this year.
Monday, 8 October 2018
A New Zealand rugby comeback victory for the ages against South Africa
Well, the All Blacks have finally beaten South Africa at long last this year (Revenge is sweet eh bro? Because we managed to get it done right against the Springboks) in an emphatic but incredible comeback win in Pretoria during the final round in the 2018 Rugby Championship season so here is the match commentary taken from Newshub:
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the Springbok vs All Blacks test from Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria
The last time the two teams met, South Africa came away with a 36-34 win in Wellington.
The All Blacks have already secured the Rugby Championship title in Argentina, but they are desperate to avenge the 2 point defeat from 3 weeks ago.
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
Assistant referees: Jerome Garces (FRA), Matthew Carley (ENG)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (ENG)
2018: South Africa won 36-34 in Wellington
2017: New Zealand won 25-24 in Cape Town
2017: New Zealand won 57-0 in Albany
2016: New Zealand won 57-15 in Durban
2016: New Zealand won 41-13 in Christchurch
Team lists
New Zealand: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Sam Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Kieran Read (C), 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Waisake Naholo 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Ryan Crotty.
South Africa: 1-Steven Kitshoff, 2-Malcolm Marx, 3-Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 5-Franco Mostert, 6-Siya Kolisi (C), 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8-Francois Louw, 9-Faf de Klerk, 10-Handre Pollard, 11-Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12-Damian de Allende, 13-Jesse Kriel, 14-Cheslin Kolbe 15-Willie Le Roux
Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi, 17-Tendai Mtawarira, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21-Embrose Papier, 22-Elton Jantjies, 23-Damian Willemse.
Late change to the ABs. Goodhue out sick.
The young midfielder has been ruled out with illness. Anton Lienert-Brown comes onto the bench.
3:44am: Thanks for tuning in to Newshub's live updates. The All Blacks have been forced to make a late change with Ryan Crotty coming in for Jack Goodhue.
3:55am: We're roughly 10 minutes away from kickoff in Pretoria. Both teams are still in the sheds, but will be out on the field shortly.
4:00am: Kieran Read leads his troops out onto Loftus Versfeld. The stands are like a sea of green, but there are plenty of All Blacks jerseys also.
4:01am: Willie Le Roux runs out onto the field first in his 50th test. About a minute later, the rest of the team make their way out.
4:03am: Before the anthems, some dignitaries are shaking all the players' hands.
4:06am: Anthem time.
4:07am: I don't think i've seen some of these players sing God Defend New Zealand with so much passion before.
4:10am: Wow, that was a sight to behold. The South Africans sang their anthem with so much passion. That was special.
4:11am: The crowd was so loud during that Haka. It was quite hard to hear the All Blacks do Kapa O' Pango. The Springboks have accepted the challenge, and now the game will get underway very shortly.
KICKOFF: We're underway in Pretoria. Angus Gardner blows his whistle and South Africa get us underway.
1ST MINUTE: All Blacks receive the ball from the kickoff, and they clear it immediately. South Africa bring the ball into NZ's half, and Willie Le Roux puts in a kick which is knocked-on by the All Blacks. That is a scrum to the Boks.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks have a penalty advantage on the halfway line for offside. They're 55m out from the posts, and Handre Pollard will kick for goal. There will be lots of long-range kicks in this game due to the altitude at Loftus Versfeld.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: Handre Pollard lands the long-range goal ,and South Africa have the early lead, 3-0.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): A mistake from South Africa gifts the All Blacks the ball in the Boks half. They have a scrum 30m out from the line. Will NZ score from this set-piece?
6TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): It is a very scrappy scrum, and Aaron Smith goes to throw the ball out wide, but Faf de Klerk tackles him, and the ball goes forward. Kieran Read picks the ball up in an offside position, and it is a penalty to South Africa.
8TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Springboks stab a kick through, and it goes into touch 10m out from the line. If they can win this lineout, they'll be close to the try-line, but an error hands the All Blacks a free kick so they can clear the ball away.
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another penalty goes against the All Blacks as Aaron Smith tackled Faf de Klerk off his feet. Then de Klerk and Waisake Naholo grab eachother's shirts in a little incident.
11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off for possible foul play against Scott Barrett for a dangerous clean-out. Assistant referee Jerome Garces says just a penalty. That is four penalties against NZ now. They're close to the line, and opt to kick for touch.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Siya Kolisi and Damian de Allende both go close to scoring, but the All Blacks hold strong. Angus Gardner says the ball is held up, before awarding South Africa a penalty as Ryan Crotty is offside. Gardner warns Read about the one-sided penalty count.
13TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Boks will go for goal as they're right in front of the sticks.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: South Africa have doubled their lead in Pretoria. They lead 6-0. It is a small lead considering how much ball they've had though.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a scrum on the halfway line. They need to build some momentum with the ball here.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): As I say that, they make a mistake and South Africa kick the ball forward. Waisake Naholo wins the race to the ball, and it is now a 22m dropout.
18TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks have another scrum and once again, they make another error. This has been a very poor opening 20 minutes from the world champions.
20TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): More ball from the All Blacks comes to nothing, as the Boks turn it over at the breakdown and kick for touch.
21ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off as Eben Etzebeth is down on the field. South Africa still lead 6-0.
22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): No idea what the All Blacks are doing here, it is like they don't want the ball and they try to get rid of it at every opportunity. They're making fundamental mistakes which is a concern.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Finally, a penalty goes to NZ. It is against Eben Etzebeth. They kick to touch, and win the lineout throw. Then the All Blacks win another penalty.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks are about 50m out from goal, and Kieran Read wants a shot at goal. It is a tough kick, but will this be the start of NZ's comeback?
25TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: Beauden Barrett kicks the ball over the black dot, and the All Blacks are finally on the scoreboard. They trail South Africa 6-3.
27TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another penalty to NZ. All of a sudden things are going the All Blacks' way in Pretoria. Rassie Erasmus won't be happy with those penalties, and his side has lost all the momentum they had just minutes ago.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks are so close to the line, but Malcolm Marx gets into the breakdown and holds the ball up. South Africa survive.
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Springboks have a lineout just inside their half. They'll be desperate to put some phases together.
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Their time with the ball comes to nothing as Malcolm Marx drops the ball.
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Aphiwe Dyantyi makes a break down the wing, but he puts his foot on the line, and the All Blacks hold on. If he'd passed the ball in-field just .1s quicker that would have been a try.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Now the Boks make a mistake and NZ have an attacking scrum.
35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a penalty advantage, and surprisingly, Beauden Barrett goes for a drop goal, and it doesn't go anywhere near the posts.
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off as Sam Cane is down and doesn't look good at all right now. It looks like it might be a neck or head injury. He gets up and comes off the field. Ardie Savea comes on as his replacement. Back to the action and Beauden Barrett goes for a penalty goal.
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: We're all square in Pretoria as Barrett's second penalty goal goes over to make the score 6-6.
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks are inside NZ's 22, and after 18 phases, the All Blacks finally get the ball by tacking Cheslin Kolbe into touch.
39TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks turn the ball over after winning the lineout. The Boks will have one last chance to score here as the halftime siren sounds.
HALFTIME: The ball goes into touch, and both teams head back into the sheds all square at 6-6. The match has been physical, and both sides haven't had too many great chances. The Boks were probably the better side in that first half, and I'd imagine both team's coaches will be saying a few words to their players. Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx have been great for South Africa, while it is hard to pinpoint who has stood out for the All Blacks, at this stage.
40TH MINUTE: The second half is underway in Pretoria. Both teams kicked two penalty goals in the first half. You can't help but think the first team to score a try will win the match.
41ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Early penalty to the Boks as the All Blacks didn't release the ball when on the attack.
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks turn the ball over, and after two runs, they kick the ball and the Boks are now hot on the attack.
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: Jesse Kriel scores for South Africa and they lead again. He got the ball just outside the 22, and beat Ryan Crotty and Waisake Naholo before powering past & outsprinting Ben Smith to score the opening try of the game.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Handre Pollard lands the conversion and South Africa leads 13-6.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks make some early changes with Tim Perry, Ofa Tuungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu all coming onto the park. Off comes Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks and Shannon Frizell.
46TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks win another turnover on the halfway line, and that try has given them all the momentum. Siya Kolisi tells Handre Pollard he can go for goal once again. This is to make it a 10-point lead.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: Handre Pollard lands the goal. It just creeps over the posts, and now they lead 16-6.
48TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty to the Boks and they kick for touch and the ball goes just outside the 22.
49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another change here which will cause a backline reshuffle. Waisake Naholo makes way for Richie Mo'unga. That means Ben Smith goes onto the wing, Beauden Barrett goes to fullback and Mo'unga to first-five.
51ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Boks go so close to scoring, they're meters from the line and Faf de Klerk throws a perfect pass... to the cameraman.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: Damian de Allende scores for South Africa and things are looking very bad right now. Siya Kolisi with a monster run and finds his second-five in support to score under the posts. Dreadful defence from the All Blacks.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The conversion goes over and the Boks now lead 23-6.
55TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: That didn't take long for New Zealand to hit back. Codie Taylor makes a break from the breakdown and he finds Aaron Smith in support to score the try.
56TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Richie Mo'unga lands the conversion and New Zealand now trail by 10 points, 23-13.
57TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks turn the ball over and they go out wide to Aphiwe Dyantyi who puts a kick in. Of course, Beauden Barrett saves the day for now, as the Boks have a 5m scrum.
58TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Possible try to South Africa here. The Boks spread the ball wide, and Cheslin Kolbe goes over. He may of got the ball to the line, but it is hard to tell. I think it made the line, but was it a double movement?
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: After reviweing the play, television match official Graham Hughes says it is a try. Some All Blacks fans won't be happy, but I think he just got the ball on the line. That is their third try of the night.
60TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The conversion goes over and the Boks have a 17 point lead again. Sonny Bill Williams comes off for Anton Lienert-Brown.
61ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have an attacking lineout. Can they score here?
62ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Easy stuff from New Zealand as Rieko Ioane scores another try. They go wide, and the left winger was left unmarked.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Richie Mo'unga misses the conversion, so the All Blacks trail 30-18 in Pretoria.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Willie Le Roux is forced off the field in his 50th test for a HIA. The Boks have the ball inside their half.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks will have a chance to go in for the kill now, as the All Blacks throw a forward pass inside their 22. South Africa have a scrum 20 out from the line.
68TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks get a turnover at the breakdown. They really needed that.
69TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have cleared their bench with the remaining reserves coming onto the field, but Karl Tu'inukuafe is back on as Tim Perry goes off for a HIA.
70TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have an attacking lineout, but the Boks turn the ball over.
72ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): New Zealand have a great attacking chance here as they have a lineout 10m out from the line. They will have to score here.
74TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Scott Barrett scores for the All Blacks and we have a thrilling finish on our hands here. Mo'unga lands the conversion and they now trail by five points with five minutes remaining.
77TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks win a penalty and they go for touch. Richie Mo'unga smashes the ball down the field and it just finds touch. They have a lineout five out from the line here with two minutes left.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a penalty advantage here. Remember they haven't led the entire game.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ardie Savea scores and they might escape with a win here. Wow what a match.
FULLTIME: Richie Mo'unga lands the conversion and the All Blacks win! They trailed the entrire match and somehow win. They were down by 17 points heading into the final quarter.
6:10am - I'm still stunned after watching that. I'm shocked the All Blacks won that.
6:14am - Thanks for tuning in.
SPRINGBOKS 30-32 ALL BLACKS
And in other Rugby Championship news such as the Wallabies came back from the dead to dispatch Argentina in Salta by narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
So that is my 237th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 57th of this year.
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live updates of the Springbok vs All Blacks test from Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria
The last time the two teams met, South Africa came away with a 36-34 win in Wellington.
The All Blacks have already secured the Rugby Championship title in Argentina, but they are desperate to avenge the 2 point defeat from 3 weeks ago.
Match Officials
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
Assistant referees: Jerome Garces (FRA), Matthew Carley (ENG)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (ENG)
2018: South Africa won 36-34 in Wellington
2017: New Zealand won 25-24 in Cape Town
2017: New Zealand won 57-0 in Albany
2016: New Zealand won 57-15 in Durban
2016: New Zealand won 41-13 in Christchurch
Team lists
New Zealand: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Sam Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Kieran Read (C), 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Jack Goodhue, 14-Waisake Naholo 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Ryan Crotty.
South Africa: 1-Steven Kitshoff, 2-Malcolm Marx, 3-Frans Malherbe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 5-Franco Mostert, 6-Siya Kolisi (C), 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8-Francois Louw, 9-Faf de Klerk, 10-Handre Pollard, 11-Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12-Damian de Allende, 13-Jesse Kriel, 14-Cheslin Kolbe 15-Willie Le Roux
Reserves: 16-Bongi Mbonambi, 17-Tendai Mtawarira, 18-Vincent Koch, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21-Embrose Papier, 22-Elton Jantjies, 23-Damian Willemse.
Late change to the ABs. Goodhue out sick.
The young midfielder has been ruled out with illness. Anton Lienert-Brown comes onto the bench.
3:44am: Thanks for tuning in to Newshub's live updates. The All Blacks have been forced to make a late change with Ryan Crotty coming in for Jack Goodhue.
3:55am: We're roughly 10 minutes away from kickoff in Pretoria. Both teams are still in the sheds, but will be out on the field shortly.
4:00am: Kieran Read leads his troops out onto Loftus Versfeld. The stands are like a sea of green, but there are plenty of All Blacks jerseys also.
4:01am: Willie Le Roux runs out onto the field first in his 50th test. About a minute later, the rest of the team make their way out.
4:03am: Before the anthems, some dignitaries are shaking all the players' hands.
4:06am: Anthem time.
4:07am: I don't think i've seen some of these players sing God Defend New Zealand with so much passion before.
4:10am: Wow, that was a sight to behold. The South Africans sang their anthem with so much passion. That was special.
4:11am: The crowd was so loud during that Haka. It was quite hard to hear the All Blacks do Kapa O' Pango. The Springboks have accepted the challenge, and now the game will get underway very shortly.
KICKOFF: We're underway in Pretoria. Angus Gardner blows his whistle and South Africa get us underway.
1ST MINUTE: All Blacks receive the ball from the kickoff, and they clear it immediately. South Africa bring the ball into NZ's half, and Willie Le Roux puts in a kick which is knocked-on by the All Blacks. That is a scrum to the Boks.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks have a penalty advantage on the halfway line for offside. They're 55m out from the posts, and Handre Pollard will kick for goal. There will be lots of long-range kicks in this game due to the altitude at Loftus Versfeld.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: Handre Pollard lands the long-range goal ,and South Africa have the early lead, 3-0.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): A mistake from South Africa gifts the All Blacks the ball in the Boks half. They have a scrum 30m out from the line. Will NZ score from this set-piece?
6TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): It is a very scrappy scrum, and Aaron Smith goes to throw the ball out wide, but Faf de Klerk tackles him, and the ball goes forward. Kieran Read picks the ball up in an offside position, and it is a penalty to South Africa.
8TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Springboks stab a kick through, and it goes into touch 10m out from the line. If they can win this lineout, they'll be close to the try-line, but an error hands the All Blacks a free kick so they can clear the ball away.
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another penalty goes against the All Blacks as Aaron Smith tackled Faf de Klerk off his feet. Then de Klerk and Waisake Naholo grab eachother's shirts in a little incident.
11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off for possible foul play against Scott Barrett for a dangerous clean-out. Assistant referee Jerome Garces says just a penalty. That is four penalties against NZ now. They're close to the line, and opt to kick for touch.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Siya Kolisi and Damian de Allende both go close to scoring, but the All Blacks hold strong. Angus Gardner says the ball is held up, before awarding South Africa a penalty as Ryan Crotty is offside. Gardner warns Read about the one-sided penalty count.
13TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Boks will go for goal as they're right in front of the sticks.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: South Africa have doubled their lead in Pretoria. They lead 6-0. It is a small lead considering how much ball they've had though.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a scrum on the halfway line. They need to build some momentum with the ball here.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): As I say that, they make a mistake and South Africa kick the ball forward. Waisake Naholo wins the race to the ball, and it is now a 22m dropout.
18TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks have another scrum and once again, they make another error. This has been a very poor opening 20 minutes from the world champions.
20TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): More ball from the All Blacks comes to nothing, as the Boks turn it over at the breakdown and kick for touch.
21ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off as Eben Etzebeth is down on the field. South Africa still lead 6-0.
22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): No idea what the All Blacks are doing here, it is like they don't want the ball and they try to get rid of it at every opportunity. They're making fundamental mistakes which is a concern.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Finally, a penalty goes to NZ. It is against Eben Etzebeth. They kick to touch, and win the lineout throw. Then the All Blacks win another penalty.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks are about 50m out from goal, and Kieran Read wants a shot at goal. It is a tough kick, but will this be the start of NZ's comeback?
25TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: Beauden Barrett kicks the ball over the black dot, and the All Blacks are finally on the scoreboard. They trail South Africa 6-3.
27TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another penalty to NZ. All of a sudden things are going the All Blacks' way in Pretoria. Rassie Erasmus won't be happy with those penalties, and his side has lost all the momentum they had just minutes ago.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks are so close to the line, but Malcolm Marx gets into the breakdown and holds the ball up. South Africa survive.
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Springboks have a lineout just inside their half. They'll be desperate to put some phases together.
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Their time with the ball comes to nothing as Malcolm Marx drops the ball.
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Aphiwe Dyantyi makes a break down the wing, but he puts his foot on the line, and the All Blacks hold on. If he'd passed the ball in-field just .1s quicker that would have been a try.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Now the Boks make a mistake and NZ have an attacking scrum.
35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a penalty advantage, and surprisingly, Beauden Barrett goes for a drop goal, and it doesn't go anywhere near the posts.
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Time is off as Sam Cane is down and doesn't look good at all right now. It looks like it might be a neck or head injury. He gets up and comes off the field. Ardie Savea comes on as his replacement. Back to the action and Beauden Barrett goes for a penalty goal.
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: We're all square in Pretoria as Barrett's second penalty goal goes over to make the score 6-6.
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks are inside NZ's 22, and after 18 phases, the All Blacks finally get the ball by tacking Cheslin Kolbe into touch.
39TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks turn the ball over after winning the lineout. The Boks will have one last chance to score here as the halftime siren sounds.
HALFTIME: The ball goes into touch, and both teams head back into the sheds all square at 6-6. The match has been physical, and both sides haven't had too many great chances. The Boks were probably the better side in that first half, and I'd imagine both team's coaches will be saying a few words to their players. Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx have been great for South Africa, while it is hard to pinpoint who has stood out for the All Blacks, at this stage.
40TH MINUTE: The second half is underway in Pretoria. Both teams kicked two penalty goals in the first half. You can't help but think the first team to score a try will win the match.
41ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Early penalty to the Boks as the All Blacks didn't release the ball when on the attack.
42ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks turn the ball over, and after two runs, they kick the ball and the Boks are now hot on the attack.
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: Jesse Kriel scores for South Africa and they lead again. He got the ball just outside the 22, and beat Ryan Crotty and Waisake Naholo before powering past & outsprinting Ben Smith to score the opening try of the game.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Handre Pollard lands the conversion and South Africa leads 13-6.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks make some early changes with Tim Perry, Ofa Tuungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu all coming onto the park. Off comes Karl Tu'inukuafe, Owen Franks and Shannon Frizell.
46TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks win another turnover on the halfway line, and that try has given them all the momentum. Siya Kolisi tells Handre Pollard he can go for goal once again. This is to make it a 10-point lead.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL SPRINGBOKS: Handre Pollard lands the goal. It just creeps over the posts, and now they lead 16-6.
48TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty to the Boks and they kick for touch and the ball goes just outside the 22.
49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another change here which will cause a backline reshuffle. Waisake Naholo makes way for Richie Mo'unga. That means Ben Smith goes onto the wing, Beauden Barrett goes to fullback and Mo'unga to first-five.
51ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Boks go so close to scoring, they're meters from the line and Faf de Klerk throws a perfect pass... to the cameraman.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: Damian de Allende scores for South Africa and things are looking very bad right now. Siya Kolisi with a monster run and finds his second-five in support to score under the posts. Dreadful defence from the All Blacks.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The conversion goes over and the Boks now lead 23-6.
55TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: That didn't take long for New Zealand to hit back. Codie Taylor makes a break from the breakdown and he finds Aaron Smith in support to score the try.
56TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Richie Mo'unga lands the conversion and New Zealand now trail by 10 points, 23-13.
57TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks turn the ball over and they go out wide to Aphiwe Dyantyi who puts a kick in. Of course, Beauden Barrett saves the day for now, as the Boks have a 5m scrum.
58TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Possible try to South Africa here. The Boks spread the ball wide, and Cheslin Kolbe goes over. He may of got the ball to the line, but it is hard to tell. I think it made the line, but was it a double movement?
59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY SPRINGBOKS: After reviweing the play, television match official Graham Hughes says it is a try. Some All Blacks fans won't be happy, but I think he just got the ball on the line. That is their third try of the night.
60TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The conversion goes over and the Boks have a 17 point lead again. Sonny Bill Williams comes off for Anton Lienert-Brown.
61ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have an attacking lineout. Can they score here?
62ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Easy stuff from New Zealand as Rieko Ioane scores another try. They go wide, and the left winger was left unmarked.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Richie Mo'unga misses the conversion, so the All Blacks trail 30-18 in Pretoria.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Willie Le Roux is forced off the field in his 50th test for a HIA. The Boks have the ball inside their half.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The Springboks will have a chance to go in for the kill now, as the All Blacks throw a forward pass inside their 22. South Africa have a scrum 20 out from the line.
68TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks get a turnover at the breakdown. They really needed that.
69TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have cleared their bench with the remaining reserves coming onto the field, but Karl Tu'inukuafe is back on as Tim Perry goes off for a HIA.
70TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have an attacking lineout, but the Boks turn the ball over.
72ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): New Zealand have a great attacking chance here as they have a lineout 10m out from the line. They will have to score here.
74TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Scott Barrett scores for the All Blacks and we have a thrilling finish on our hands here. Mo'unga lands the conversion and they now trail by five points with five minutes remaining.
77TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks win a penalty and they go for touch. Richie Mo'unga smashes the ball down the field and it just finds touch. They have a lineout five out from the line here with two minutes left.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): The All Blacks have a penalty advantage here. Remember they haven't led the entire game.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ardie Savea scores and they might escape with a win here. Wow what a match.
FULLTIME: Richie Mo'unga lands the conversion and the All Blacks win! They trailed the entrire match and somehow win. They were down by 17 points heading into the final quarter.
6:10am - I'm still stunned after watching that. I'm shocked the All Blacks won that.
6:14am - Thanks for tuning in.
SPRINGBOKS 30-32 ALL BLACKS
And in other Rugby Championship news such as the Wallabies came back from the dead to dispatch Argentina in Salta by narrowly avoiding the wooden spoon.
So that is my 237th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 57th of this year.
Thursday, 4 October 2018
All Blacks team naming against the Springboks (Part 2)
Well, the All Blacks have named their team against the dominant South Africa side (Featuring the likes of both danger men such as world class hooker Malcolm Marx (Master of line outs, the breakdown (He used to do that during his schoolboy 1st XV rugby days) & an obvious try scorer from the rolling maul (That is one of South Africa's key components & main strengths at the moment) & pace man Aphiwe Dyantyi (A speedy winger who can deliver great tries but his pace is the same as a fast bowler in cricket as well as an Olympic athlete or more like a former athletic sprint champion) at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria in the final round of the 2018 Rugby Championship season (Well, we are hungry & confident for some payback (But the big question is can we get it done right? And can we overcome the Wellington nightmare (Well, we were down & out that is for sure) that we suffered the last time both teams have met?) so here is the starting lineup in it's entirety:
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Karl Tu'inukuafe (North Harbour/Chiefs)
2 (Hooker): Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)
BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Shannon Frizell (Tasman/Highlanders)
7 (Openside Flanker): Sam Cane (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
HALVES
9 (Half-back): Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues)
13 (Centre): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Tim Perry
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Who is back on the bench from the starting lineup to replace Angus Ta'avao)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Ardie Savea (Who is also back on the bench from the starting lineup to replace Jackson Hemopo)
21. TJ Perenara (Who is dropped to the bench with Aaron Smith back in the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (Who has replaced Jack Goodhue (Who had to pull out of the match day 23 due to sickness) with Crotty being promoted to the starting lineup after Lienert-Brown was originally being left out of the match day 23).
So that is my 236th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 56th of this year.
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Karl Tu'inukuafe (North Harbour/Chiefs)
2 (Hooker): Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Canterbury/Crusaders)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Canterbury/Crusaders)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)
BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Shannon Frizell (Tasman/Highlanders)
7 (Openside Flanker): Sam Cane (Bay Of Plenty/Chiefs)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Canterbury/Crusaders)
HALVES
9 (Half-back): Aaron Smith (Manawatu/Highlanders)
10 (First five eighth): Beauden Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Sonny Bill Williams (Counties Manukau/Blues)
13 (Centre): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Tim Perry
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Who is back on the bench from the starting lineup to replace Angus Ta'avao)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Ardie Savea (Who is also back on the bench from the starting lineup to replace Jackson Hemopo)
21. TJ Perenara (Who is dropped to the bench with Aaron Smith back in the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (Who has replaced Jack Goodhue (Who had to pull out of the match day 23 due to sickness) with Crotty being promoted to the starting lineup after Lienert-Brown was originally being left out of the match day 23).
So that is my 236th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 56th of this year.
Tuesday, 2 October 2018
Mitre 10 Cup round 7 review (My 1st blog of October)
Auckland's upset loss to Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup crossover game has seen Tasman and Canterbury move ahead of it on the Premiership points table.
Otago at least had the securing of a top four place in the Championship being 10 points clear of the nearest challenge, and with a chance of moving further up the ladder yet.
Results from Week Seven were:
Hawke's Bay 55 Northland 41
Turning on plenty of running rugby both sides battled for the final advantage and Northland, after scoring 38 first half points are probably still wondering how this one got away. Hawke's Bay hadn't done too badly either as they scored 24 first-half points. Ironically, in such a free-running game, Hawke's Bay turned to their lineout drive and sharpened defence to deny Northland and finish with nine tries.
Bay of Plenty 15 Manawatu 17
Determined Manawatu defence denied Bay of Plenty the platform they needed. It took Bay of Plenty 66 minutes to score their first try. They had the wood on Manawatu up front but were inaccurate in many aspects of their game and with Otere Black calling the shots with aplomb, the Bay were kept on the back foot. It didn't help that they were seven points down within 50 seconds of the game starting courtesy of a brilliant solo try to halfback Jamie Booth.
Auckland 26 Otago 31
There were signs in Auckland's one-point win over Taranaki that things might not be going all that well, and Otago highlighted that when claiming a rare win on Eden Park. Matt Faddes enjoyed the occasion with a hat-trick of tries. It wasn't all bad news for Auckland as they claimed two bonus points and they went close to scoring during an extended period of injury time at the end of the game, but this time there was no escape route as Otago maintained the solid defence which had been so handy all game.
Waikato 42 Southland 11
Southland were in the hunt when 11-14 down at halftime in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato, but the home side's ability to create chances, while contained in the first half, burst forth in the second and they ran in 28 points without answer. Waikato moved to the head of the Championship with the win, going five points clear of Hawke's Bay while Southland continue to search for their first win.
Taranaki 26 North Harbour 55
Tevita Li's four try haul not only rocketed him to the top of the individual try scoring list but underlined a dominant North Harbour display over a lacklustre Taranaki side which paid the price for inaccuracies. First five-eighths Bryn Gatland was subtle in his choices while there was a more haphazard look about Taranaki until late in the game when they strung moves together but it was all too late to have any impact on the scoreboard.
Wellington 22 Tasman 28
Utilising their superior quality in set plays Tasman put a stop on Wellington's march this season. They were up 23-10 at one stage and kept far enough in front to deny the home side when they mounted their inevitable late challenge. The burgeoning liaison between halfback Finlay Christie and first five-eighths Mitchell Hunt is proving decisive and complements the strength they enjoy up front.
Canterbury 49 Hawke's Bay 24
Canterbury continued their recovery from their loss to Auckland and proved too strong for Hawke's Bay. They were forced to work hard after being held to 21-17 at the half, but their combination struck in the second half and they cleared out to achieve a comfortable win, in scoring seven tries to three. They moved back into second place with the win.
Counties Manukau 20 Northland 24
Northland made up for their earlier loss in the round by showing great stamina to hold off a typically fast-finishing Northland team to claim a valuable win in Pukekohe. Rene Ranger was a key figure in the Northland backline putting his experience and skill to use throughout while his effort to deny a late Counties Manukau try was a typical piece of opportunism.
So that is my 235th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 55th of this year.
Otago at least had the securing of a top four place in the Championship being 10 points clear of the nearest challenge, and with a chance of moving further up the ladder yet.
Results from Week Seven were:
Hawke's Bay 55 Northland 41
Turning on plenty of running rugby both sides battled for the final advantage and Northland, after scoring 38 first half points are probably still wondering how this one got away. Hawke's Bay hadn't done too badly either as they scored 24 first-half points. Ironically, in such a free-running game, Hawke's Bay turned to their lineout drive and sharpened defence to deny Northland and finish with nine tries.
Bay of Plenty 15 Manawatu 17
Determined Manawatu defence denied Bay of Plenty the platform they needed. It took Bay of Plenty 66 minutes to score their first try. They had the wood on Manawatu up front but were inaccurate in many aspects of their game and with Otere Black calling the shots with aplomb, the Bay were kept on the back foot. It didn't help that they were seven points down within 50 seconds of the game starting courtesy of a brilliant solo try to halfback Jamie Booth.
Auckland 26 Otago 31
There were signs in Auckland's one-point win over Taranaki that things might not be going all that well, and Otago highlighted that when claiming a rare win on Eden Park. Matt Faddes enjoyed the occasion with a hat-trick of tries. It wasn't all bad news for Auckland as they claimed two bonus points and they went close to scoring during an extended period of injury time at the end of the game, but this time there was no escape route as Otago maintained the solid defence which had been so handy all game.
Waikato 42 Southland 11
Southland were in the hunt when 11-14 down at halftime in the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato, but the home side's ability to create chances, while contained in the first half, burst forth in the second and they ran in 28 points without answer. Waikato moved to the head of the Championship with the win, going five points clear of Hawke's Bay while Southland continue to search for their first win.
Taranaki 26 North Harbour 55
Tevita Li's four try haul not only rocketed him to the top of the individual try scoring list but underlined a dominant North Harbour display over a lacklustre Taranaki side which paid the price for inaccuracies. First five-eighths Bryn Gatland was subtle in his choices while there was a more haphazard look about Taranaki until late in the game when they strung moves together but it was all too late to have any impact on the scoreboard.
Wellington 22 Tasman 28
Utilising their superior quality in set plays Tasman put a stop on Wellington's march this season. They were up 23-10 at one stage and kept far enough in front to deny the home side when they mounted their inevitable late challenge. The burgeoning liaison between halfback Finlay Christie and first five-eighths Mitchell Hunt is proving decisive and complements the strength they enjoy up front.
Canterbury 49 Hawke's Bay 24
Canterbury continued their recovery from their loss to Auckland and proved too strong for Hawke's Bay. They were forced to work hard after being held to 21-17 at the half, but their combination struck in the second half and they cleared out to achieve a comfortable win, in scoring seven tries to three. They moved back into second place with the win.
Counties Manukau 20 Northland 24
Northland made up for their earlier loss in the round by showing great stamina to hold off a typically fast-finishing Northland team to claim a valuable win in Pukekohe. Rene Ranger was a key figure in the Northland backline putting his experience and skill to use throughout while his effort to deny a late Counties Manukau try was a typical piece of opportunism.
So that is my 235th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 55th of this year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)