Tasman maintained their impressive start to the Mitre 10 Cup season when achieving their third win in as many starts to remain on top of the Premiership, while Hawke's Bay has shown the benefit of posting bonus points to move four points clear in the Championship.
But it was also the first week when teams played two games, and neither Counties Manukau nor Taranaki were able to claim two wins.
Northland, who had been winless in their first two games provided the upset of the round when beating Taranaki 18-17 in Whangarei on Sunday, Taranaki having beaten Counties Manukau 26-19 on Wednesday.
Counties Manukau v Taranaki
It was a thrilling finish in Pukekohe on Wednesday when firstly Counties Manukau wing Tony Pulu scored a sensational try to draw his side level 19-19 with six minutes left. But then Taranaki scored from the restart with fullback Beaudein Waaka scoring his second try of the night to end up with 21 points to give Taranaki the win.
Auckland v Waikato
Just how much of a different prospect Auckland are this season was evident in their 35-17 win over Waikato at Eden Park. Although far from the finished article, there is more steel in the Auckland approach and hooker Robbie Abel demonstrated that with two tries, a feat matched by fullback Jordan Trainor. Waikato have traditionally been a banana skin for Auckland, but not this time.
Wellington v Southland
Down 0-40 at halftime it looked curtains for Southland against Wellington at Westpac Stadium but a much stronger second half effort made life more difficult and although there was never any prospect of Wellington missing out, they were left with plenty to think about. Ben Lam had a big game with three tries while Southland showed they should be not too far away from an overdue win.
Bay of Plenty v Canterbury
Bay of Plenty were bold in taking their scrum to Canterbury for much of the first three-quarters of the game but Canterbury aren't champions without good reason and they saved their best until the final quarter when they finished the stronger of the two sides to pull away for a 31-19 win. Bay of Plenty deserved better than the final margin, but showed plenty to offer further hope.
Manawatu v Otago
Otago finally got on the board, and were impressive in doing so, boosted by a commanding display from Naulia Dawai. They scored seven tries with a dominant second half effort which shut the home team completely out of the game as 43 points were posted without answer. Josh Ioane complemented the try scoring with six conversions as Otago posted their half-century for a 50-17 win.
North Harbour v Tasman
New All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell played like he was making up for lost time to inspire a superb forward display by Tasman at North Harbour Stadium en route to a 32-20 win. Frizell was everywhere while the Tasman pack proved too powerful for the home unit. North Harbour had sufficient ball but struggled to consistently breach the determined Tasman defence.
Hawke's Bay v Counties Manukau
Finding their second wind after some untidy and loose play early in the game Counties Manukau ended Hawke's Bay's winning streak at the start of their season by claiming a match-winning 78th minute try, scored by captain and lock Matiaha Martin to give the visitors a 29-25 win. It was a first win for Counties Manukau who were playing their second game in five days.
Northland v Taranaki
Playing away from home has proved an issue for Taranaki who lost to Bay of Plenty in the first week and they lost to another Championship side Northland in Whangarei on Sunday going down 17-18. That was due to Matt Wright landing a penalty goal just out from the end of the game to secure the win. Northland dominated possession in the second half and shut Taranaki out for a key win.
And the 2nd one is taken from All Blacks team naming against Argentina:
Well, the All Blacks have named their team this morning against Argentina in Nelson (Which will host their 1st ever test match at this city) 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): Brodie Retallick (Hawke's Bay/Chiefs)
5 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Taranaki/Crusaders)
BACK ROW
6 (Blindside Flanker): Shannon Frizell (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): Richie Mo'unga (Canterbury/Crusaders)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five eighth): Ngani Laumape (Manawatu/Hurricanes)
13 (Centre): Jack Goodhue (Northland/Crusaders)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
14 (Right Wing): Nehe Milner-Skudder (Manawatu/Hurricanes)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris
17. Tim Perry (Who replaces Karl Tu'inukuafe with Tu'inukuafe elevated to the starting lineup to replace the injured Joe Moody)
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Sam Whitelock (Who replaces Scott Barrett with Barrett elevated to the starting lineup to start in the second row)
20. Luke Whitelock (Who replaces Ardie Savea with Savea also elevated to the starting lineup to replace Sam Cane at the openside flanker position)
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Who replaces TJ Perenara to make his test debut off the bench with Perenara elevated to the starting lineup to start at halfback replacing Aaron Smith who is rested)
22. Damian McKenzie
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown.
And the 3rd one is taken from Rugby Championship round 3 review:
Well, the All Blacks have of course beaten Argentina during the 3rd round of the Rugby Championship in the test match at Nelson so here's the full match commentary taken from Newshub:
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the All Blacks Rugby Championship test against Argentina from Trafalgar Park in Nelson.
A win for New Zealand tonight will go a long way in locking up yet another trophy at New Zealand Rugby HQ.
The Pumas are 1-1 from their opening tests against South Africa, winning at home a week after the Springboks did the same.
The All Blacks are a different looking team from that which retained the Bledisloe Cup last time out, with Richie Mo'unga earning his first start in a test match jersey.
Elsewhere there are returns for Nehe Milner-Skudder and Shannon Frizell with Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Scott Barrett and Karl Tu'inukuafe all coming into the starting lineup.
Look for Chiefs halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi to make his debut off the bench.
7.20pm: Evening all - thanks for dropping by tonight. Huge 80 minutes ahead for Richie Mo'unga as he looks to put some pressure on Beauden Barrett for the 10 jersey. Very cold evening in Nelson as the crowd floods in. 21,000 expected.
7.25pm: No late changes to report. Teams are as advertised.
7.27pm: Decent breeze about with the Pumas opting to run with it in the first 40.
7.28pm: Argentina have made their way out as the look to break their duck against New Zealand. Kieran Read leads out the All Blacks who are playing a test for the first time in Nelson tonight.
7.29pm: Anthem time. Argentinian to be sung by Elin Tomos. Great tune.
7.31pm: Lizzy Marvelly to sing God Defend New Zealand.
7.34pm: Mo'unga shed a wee tear. Cool. ABs will power out Ka Mate led as always by TJ Peranara.
7.35pm: Shannon Frizell was in full beast mode for that. Chills.
Kick off: The French referee gets us underway ---- Richie Mo'unga with the kick. Pumas clear through Sanchez.
1ST MINUTE: Early penalty for the ABs. Pumas ruled offside on halfway. Mo'unga misses touch however and the Pumas clear.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Retallick down holding his knee and wrist. Nice breakout from Milner-Skudder over halfway. Retallick hammered in the tackle and went down badly. He's up now so hopeful he is okay as he heads into the scrum.
3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks hammer the Pumas at the first scrum. Karl Tu'inukuafe destroys his opposite. Mo'unga will have a shot at points from 30m out.
4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: The Crusaders playmaker makes no mistake. Nice kick and he is on the board as a test rugby player. NZ 3-0.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Nico Sanchez missed a chance to get the Pumas back level. ABs offside at ruck time but the Pumas No.10 couldn't convert from a handy spot.
8TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks play through 14 phases and finally breakout through Laumape. Ben Smith is through and tries to find Mo'unga but he can't gather the pill. Pumas with the ball now on halfway.
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Scrum for Argentina. Referee got in te way of a pass out of a ruck. Laumape down witha sore knee. He tried to bulldoze fullback Boffelli earlier and it was a heavy collision. Ben Smith off the park with a HIA test, Retallick doesn't look good and Laumape is now hobbling off. Wow.
11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Retallick, Laumape and Ben Smith all off the park. Smith may come back but the other two are done. McKenzie, Lienert-Brown and Sam Whitelock on.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Nice scrum move from the ABs. Massive net gain off a Goodhue kick as the Pumas clear their line.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): End-to-end at the moment. Frizzel with a great bust up the middle but his pass can't find Mo'unga. Pumas clear and the ABs have a 22m lineout. Ben Smith back on.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ARGENTINA: Ramiro Moyano. Wow! Superb effort. Moyano had a lot to do from 30m out. Beat Frizell, Milner-Skudder and Ben Smith. Skinned Smith. They are hear to play folks. ARG 7-3.
18TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Nehe Milner-Skudder. Welcome back Nehe. Great interplay in the midfield with the impressive Frizell showing nice slight of hand. Taylor finds himself in wide open spaces and fires a pass over to Milner-Skudder who runs 15m to score in the corner. Great conversion from wide out for Mo'unga. NZ 10-7.
22ND MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas go close again. They are posing the ABs some serious issues at the moment. Number 8 Javier Ortega Desio busted through three or four tacklers out wide but loses the ball forward in contact with a man free inside him. Great cover from Whitelock. Great test so far. Warriors up 12-2 in Sydney. You can follow that game here.
25TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): ABs have a penalty just short of halfway. Mo'unga finds touch.
26TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty for the All Blacks 14m out. Mo'unga finds touch. Attacking lineout coming up. Frizell is having a tremendous test match.
27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks turn the ball over and the Pumas clear deep into NZ territory. Naholo counter-attacks and is through but his pass to Taylor is off the mark. Pumas try to break out now. They are playing serious rugby here. Pumas on halfway.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Whitelock earns the ABs a penalty at the breakdown on halfway. Another touch finder for Mo'unga.
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - TJ Perenara. ABs forwards take over with 9 phases of pick 'n' go. Mo'unga with a short pass to Goodhue and he is almost there - great cover but Perenara dives over and the ABs have their second five-pointer. Mo'unga can't add the extra two from a handy spot. NZ 15-7.
33RD MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks go back on attack after another breakdown penalty. Taylor loses the ball forward out wide and the chance is gone.
35TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Could be a Pumas try here. Breakout from Sanchez and he finds Maroni who dives over in a Perenara covering tackle. Could be obstruction against Argentina. Oh jeez. It's a no try! Not because of obstruction but Maroni just grazed the touchline in the Perenara tackle. Just grazed it. What a great tackle form the halfback but plenty of holes in the ABs defensive line tonight.
37TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): So many holes in the ABs midfield. Another clear break, this time from Boffelli, he finds his winger Delguy but the cover is very good from Naholo. Sanchez kicks through but it goes dead....just and the ABs will have a scrum 20m out from their own line.
39TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Dominant scrum for the All Blacks. Yet another penalty. Mo'unga finds touch.
40TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty - this time for offside and Mo'unga will look to end the half with another three points.
PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS - Richie Mo'unga. He makes no mistake and the ABs will take an 11-point lead into the break. Be back shortly.
HALFTIME: All Blacks have looked great with ball in hand, specifically Shannon Frizell who has tormented the Pumas. Argentina for theor part have been excellent and deserve to be closer. ABs lost Retallick and Laumape within the first six minutes so they have had to rejig somewhat.
2ND HALF: Back underway in Nelson. Nico Sanchez with the restart.Lienert-Brown collects and the ABs look to reset. Turnover and the Pumas go on attack right of the bat. 5m out.
41ST MINUTE, TRY ARGENTINA - Nico Sanchez. Superb from the Pumas. Awful start for the ABs. Good forward play from the Argentinian pack, eventually Sanchez spots a gap in the black wall and scores a deserved try. He adds the extra two. NZ 18-14.
44TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): 5m scrum for Argentina. Another line break, this time from Moyano. Eventually Sanchez grubbers and Mo'unga can't clean it up....Ben Smith does but he is tackled in goal.
46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Great work from Ardie Savea to win a defensive penalty for his side. Pumas relentless with ball in hand but the Hurricanes flanker wins the turnover and the referee blows the whistle. Lineout ABs on their own 10m line.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Taylor muffs a lineout from inside the Pumas 22 and Argentina looking to run it out. Sanchez decides to clear and Nahol brings it back to halfway.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - Kieran Read. Ben Smith ignites his side. ABs through a couple of phases and Smith runs through a huge hole...still going, finally brought down 10m out. ABs shft it right and Mo'unga finds Goodhue who finds Read, the ABs skipper cuts back inside and crashes over. Mo'unga adds the two from out wide. NZ 25-14.
53RD MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Great ball retention from the Pumas. They carry the ball from their own 10m line to the ABs 22. Desio creates an overlap out wide, but his pass is too high for Delguy and the ABs survive.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Delguy cuts the All Blacks defence to ribbons again. Impressive from teh winger..good cover from Smith. Pumas penalty 30m out from in front.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ARGENTINA - Nico Sanchez. Makes no mistake. 8-point ball game. NZ 25-17.
57TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - TJ Perenara. Brilliant. Aimless kick from Sanchez costs his side big time. Nice ohase play from the ABs, Lienert-Brown spots a gap and powers through four tacklers, fires it inside to an unmarked Perenara who scores his second. Conveted by Mo'unga. NZ 32-17.
61ST MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Great ball retention from Argentina. 13 phases and the earn a midfield penalty. Doesn't find touch and the ball bobbles round, Pumas almost score but Peranara just gets there. 22 ABs. Crazy.
64TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Nathan Harris on at hooker and his first throw is average. Pumas with the ball 30m out.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas earn another penalty and have a lineout throw 5m out.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty. ABs pulling the lineout drive down. Pumas opt for the lineout.
68TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Yet another penalty. Barrett pinged for not rolling away. Five in 10 minutes against the ABs. Scrum Argentina.
70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ARGENTINA - Emiliano Boffelli. Lovely set piece work. Sanchez collects at first receiver and puts his fullback in untouched. Goodhue was nowhere that time. Sanchez adds the two. NZ 32-24.
73RD MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - Shannon Frizell. Frizell deserved that. He has been outstanding tonight. Great phase play from the ABs. Everyone involved as the ABs march 30m upfield. Within 5m now and it's Frizell who crashes over close to the posts. Converted by Mo'unga. NZ 39-24.
76TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Penalty for the ABs. Lineout on halfway.
79TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Game getting a bit messy as we wind up. As I say that........
TRY ALL BLACKS - Jack Goodhue. Tahuriorangi shows some magic with a georgeous pass that finds Goodhue who scores. That's the game folks. NZ 46-24.
What a test match. The Pumas came to play and showed that if you put this All Black team under pressure they can leak points. Defence wasn't great tonight but the attack was sublime....simply sublime. Shannon Frizell man of the match for me.....he was brilliant. Perenara was great and Lienert-Brown was excellent again.
FULL TIME: All Blacks 46 Pumas 24
And the Wallabies get their 1st win in their 2018 Rugby Championship campaign against the Springboks in a close game in Brisbane after back to back losses against the All Blacks in both Sydney & Auckland.
And the 4th one is taken from Mitre 10 Cup round 4 review:
Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership and Hawke's Bay in the Championship are the only unbeaten sides in the competition after week four action.
But the big news of the weekend was Waikato's triumphant double to take a win over Wellington before lifting the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki in a dominating display in New Plymouth on Sunday afternoon.
Waikato 43 Wellington 31
Shaking off what had been a dire start to their season with two losses, Waikato showed Wellington they meant business with a powerful showing up front, some in-your-face defence and speed on the flanks with Sevu Reece scoring the first hat-trick of the weekend. It's a fine line in the competition for sides who have to play three times in a week, and Wellington opted to rest players, something Waikato cashed in on as a dress rehearsal for their Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Canterbury 34 Manawatu 23
Canterbury would not have needed any reminding of the fact that games with Manawatu have been a banana skin game for them in recent times. For all the fire and brimstone that Manawatu dished out, it was the conservative lineout maul that did the damage in the first half for Canterbury before their backs cut loose in the second half to secure a comfortable win.
Otago 27 Northland 23
Up 17-7 early in the second half Northland must have felt they had the chance of a win in Dunedin, but the home team resolve overcame the Northland defence. Jona Nareki and Joketani Koroi did the damage for Otago by touching down for tries that built on the goal-kicking of Josh Ioane to claim the win. That gave Otago second place in the Championship while Northland stayed in touch with the playoffs positions by virtue of their bonus point.
Auckland 36 Tasman 10
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu's first half hat-trick of tries gave Auckland a vital lead which resulted in Tasman being placed under some rare pressure in the Premiership clash of the unbeaten sides at Eden Park, and they didn't handle it too well. But Auckland showed some welcome unity and ability to take their chances to breathe some hope back into the hearts of diehard fans who have stood by them.
Southland 26 Counties Manukau 43
Try as Southland might they can't buy a favour in the Championship. Up by 14-0, they saw Counties Manukau turn on the magic with some lovely tries to secure a lead that never looked like being challenged at halftime. There is a capacity to score points, and to defend, but when things go wrong at the moment for Southland they compound very quickly and a team as dangerous as Counties Manukau on the break was never going to make it any easier for the home side.
Hawke's Bay 29 Bay of Plenty 28
It was halfback heaven in Napier as respective halfbacks Brad Weber and Richard Judd scored two tries apiece in what was a thrilling contest, decided in the 78th minute with a home town try for replacement prop Joe Apikatoa. More importantly, the win has put Hawke's Bay clear in the Championship and looking forward to a top of the table contest with Waikato in Week Five.
Wellington 35 North Harbour 23
Wellington needed to get back in the winners' circle and while it took them 70 minutes to achieve that there could be no doubt they were deserving winners over North Harbour. The visitors' squandered too many chances and failed to secure ball from their own lineout especially and paid the price. It doesn't get any easier this week either when they host Canterbury and Bay of Plenty.
Taranaki 19 Waikato 33
It may have been a tough few days for Waikato but the rewards will outweigh any pain with consecutive wins over Premiership sides Wellington and Taranaki and a Ranfurly Shield to savour. But they can't celebrate too long as they face their first challenge from Hawke's Bay on Thursday. But a second place in the Championship has ensured them of a competitive chance of securing a home playoffs berth.
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the All Blacks Rugby Championship test against Argentina from Trafalgar Park in Nelson.
A win for New Zealand tonight will go a long way in locking up yet another trophy at New Zealand Rugby HQ.
The Pumas are 1-1 from their opening tests against South Africa, winning at home a week after the Springboks did the same.
The All Blacks are a different looking team from that which retained the Bledisloe Cup last time out, with Richie Mo'unga earning his first start in a test match jersey.
Elsewhere there are returns for Nehe Milner-Skudder and Shannon Frizell with Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Scott Barrett and Karl Tu'inukuafe all coming into the starting lineup.
Look for Chiefs halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi to make his debut off the bench.
7.20pm: Evening all - thanks for dropping by tonight. Huge 80 minutes ahead for Richie Mo'unga as he looks to put some pressure on Beauden Barrett for the 10 jersey. Very cold evening in Nelson as the crowd floods in. 21,000 expected.
7.25pm: No late changes to report. Teams are as advertised.
7.27pm: Decent breeze about with the Pumas opting to run with it in the first 40.
7.28pm: Argentina have made their way out as the look to break their duck against New Zealand. Kieran Read leads out the All Blacks who are playing a test for the first time in Nelson tonight.
7.29pm: Anthem time. Argentinian to be sung by Elin Tomos. Great tune.
7.31pm: Lizzy Marvelly to sing God Defend New Zealand.
7.34pm: Mo'unga shed a wee tear. Cool. ABs will power out Ka Mate led as always by TJ Peranara.
7.35pm: Shannon Frizell was in full beast mode for that. Chills.
Kick off: The French referee gets us underway ---- Richie Mo'unga with the kick. Pumas clear through Sanchez.
1ST MINUTE: Early penalty for the ABs. Pumas ruled offside on halfway. Mo'unga misses touch however and the Pumas clear.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Retallick down holding his knee and wrist. Nice breakout from Milner-Skudder over halfway. Retallick hammered in the tackle and went down badly. He's up now so hopeful he is okay as he heads into the scrum.
3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks hammer the Pumas at the first scrum. Karl Tu'inukuafe destroys his opposite. Mo'unga will have a shot at points from 30m out.
4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: The Crusaders playmaker makes no mistake. Nice kick and he is on the board as a test rugby player. NZ 3-0.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Nico Sanchez missed a chance to get the Pumas back level. ABs offside at ruck time but the Pumas No.10 couldn't convert from a handy spot.
8TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks play through 14 phases and finally breakout through Laumape. Ben Smith is through and tries to find Mo'unga but he can't gather the pill. Pumas with the ball now on halfway.
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Scrum for Argentina. Referee got in te way of a pass out of a ruck. Laumape down witha sore knee. He tried to bulldoze fullback Boffelli earlier and it was a heavy collision. Ben Smith off the park with a HIA test, Retallick doesn't look good and Laumape is now hobbling off. Wow.
11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Retallick, Laumape and Ben Smith all off the park. Smith may come back but the other two are done. McKenzie, Lienert-Brown and Sam Whitelock on.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Nice scrum move from the ABs. Massive net gain off a Goodhue kick as the Pumas clear their line.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): End-to-end at the moment. Frizzel with a great bust up the middle but his pass can't find Mo'unga. Pumas clear and the ABs have a 22m lineout. Ben Smith back on.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ARGENTINA: Ramiro Moyano. Wow! Superb effort. Moyano had a lot to do from 30m out. Beat Frizell, Milner-Skudder and Ben Smith. Skinned Smith. They are hear to play folks. ARG 7-3.
18TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Nehe Milner-Skudder. Welcome back Nehe. Great interplay in the midfield with the impressive Frizell showing nice slight of hand. Taylor finds himself in wide open spaces and fires a pass over to Milner-Skudder who runs 15m to score in the corner. Great conversion from wide out for Mo'unga. NZ 10-7.
22ND MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas go close again. They are posing the ABs some serious issues at the moment. Number 8 Javier Ortega Desio busted through three or four tacklers out wide but loses the ball forward in contact with a man free inside him. Great cover from Whitelock. Great test so far. Warriors up 12-2 in Sydney. You can follow that game here.
25TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): ABs have a penalty just short of halfway. Mo'unga finds touch.
26TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty for the All Blacks 14m out. Mo'unga finds touch. Attacking lineout coming up. Frizell is having a tremendous test match.
27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks turn the ball over and the Pumas clear deep into NZ territory. Naholo counter-attacks and is through but his pass to Taylor is off the mark. Pumas try to break out now. They are playing serious rugby here. Pumas on halfway.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Whitelock earns the ABs a penalty at the breakdown on halfway. Another touch finder for Mo'unga.
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - TJ Perenara. ABs forwards take over with 9 phases of pick 'n' go. Mo'unga with a short pass to Goodhue and he is almost there - great cover but Perenara dives over and the ABs have their second five-pointer. Mo'unga can't add the extra two from a handy spot. NZ 15-7.
33RD MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks go back on attack after another breakdown penalty. Taylor loses the ball forward out wide and the chance is gone.
35TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Could be a Pumas try here. Breakout from Sanchez and he finds Maroni who dives over in a Perenara covering tackle. Could be obstruction against Argentina. Oh jeez. It's a no try! Not because of obstruction but Maroni just grazed the touchline in the Perenara tackle. Just grazed it. What a great tackle form the halfback but plenty of holes in the ABs defensive line tonight.
37TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): So many holes in the ABs midfield. Another clear break, this time from Boffelli, he finds his winger Delguy but the cover is very good from Naholo. Sanchez kicks through but it goes dead....just and the ABs will have a scrum 20m out from their own line.
39TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Dominant scrum for the All Blacks. Yet another penalty. Mo'unga finds touch.
40TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty - this time for offside and Mo'unga will look to end the half with another three points.
PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS - Richie Mo'unga. He makes no mistake and the ABs will take an 11-point lead into the break. Be back shortly.
HALFTIME: All Blacks have looked great with ball in hand, specifically Shannon Frizell who has tormented the Pumas. Argentina for theor part have been excellent and deserve to be closer. ABs lost Retallick and Laumape within the first six minutes so they have had to rejig somewhat.
2ND HALF: Back underway in Nelson. Nico Sanchez with the restart.Lienert-Brown collects and the ABs look to reset. Turnover and the Pumas go on attack right of the bat. 5m out.
41ST MINUTE, TRY ARGENTINA - Nico Sanchez. Superb from the Pumas. Awful start for the ABs. Good forward play from the Argentinian pack, eventually Sanchez spots a gap in the black wall and scores a deserved try. He adds the extra two. NZ 18-14.
44TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): 5m scrum for Argentina. Another line break, this time from Moyano. Eventually Sanchez grubbers and Mo'unga can't clean it up....Ben Smith does but he is tackled in goal.
46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Great work from Ardie Savea to win a defensive penalty for his side. Pumas relentless with ball in hand but the Hurricanes flanker wins the turnover and the referee blows the whistle. Lineout ABs on their own 10m line.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Taylor muffs a lineout from inside the Pumas 22 and Argentina looking to run it out. Sanchez decides to clear and Nahol brings it back to halfway.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - Kieran Read. Ben Smith ignites his side. ABs through a couple of phases and Smith runs through a huge hole...still going, finally brought down 10m out. ABs shft it right and Mo'unga finds Goodhue who finds Read, the ABs skipper cuts back inside and crashes over. Mo'unga adds the two from out wide. NZ 25-14.
53RD MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Great ball retention from the Pumas. They carry the ball from their own 10m line to the ABs 22. Desio creates an overlap out wide, but his pass is too high for Delguy and the ABs survive.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Delguy cuts the All Blacks defence to ribbons again. Impressive from teh winger..good cover from Smith. Pumas penalty 30m out from in front.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ARGENTINA - Nico Sanchez. Makes no mistake. 8-point ball game. NZ 25-17.
57TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - TJ Perenara. Brilliant. Aimless kick from Sanchez costs his side big time. Nice ohase play from the ABs, Lienert-Brown spots a gap and powers through four tacklers, fires it inside to an unmarked Perenara who scores his second. Conveted by Mo'unga. NZ 32-17.
61ST MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Great ball retention from Argentina. 13 phases and the earn a midfield penalty. Doesn't find touch and the ball bobbles round, Pumas almost score but Peranara just gets there. 22 ABs. Crazy.
64TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Nathan Harris on at hooker and his first throw is average. Pumas with the ball 30m out.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas earn another penalty and have a lineout throw 5m out.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another penalty. ABs pulling the lineout drive down. Pumas opt for the lineout.
68TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Yet another penalty. Barrett pinged for not rolling away. Five in 10 minutes against the ABs. Scrum Argentina.
70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ARGENTINA - Emiliano Boffelli. Lovely set piece work. Sanchez collects at first receiver and puts his fullback in untouched. Goodhue was nowhere that time. Sanchez adds the two. NZ 32-24.
73RD MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS - Shannon Frizell. Frizell deserved that. He has been outstanding tonight. Great phase play from the ABs. Everyone involved as the ABs march 30m upfield. Within 5m now and it's Frizell who crashes over close to the posts. Converted by Mo'unga. NZ 39-24.
76TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Penalty for the ABs. Lineout on halfway.
79TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Game getting a bit messy as we wind up. As I say that........
TRY ALL BLACKS - Jack Goodhue. Tahuriorangi shows some magic with a georgeous pass that finds Goodhue who scores. That's the game folks. NZ 46-24.
What a test match. The Pumas came to play and showed that if you put this All Black team under pressure they can leak points. Defence wasn't great tonight but the attack was sublime....simply sublime. Shannon Frizell man of the match for me.....he was brilliant. Perenara was great and Lienert-Brown was excellent again.
FULL TIME: All Blacks 46 Pumas 24
And the Wallabies get their 1st win in their 2018 Rugby Championship campaign against the Springboks in a close game in Brisbane after back to back losses against the All Blacks in both Sydney & Auckland.
And the 4th one is taken from Mitre 10 Cup round 4 review:
Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership and Hawke's Bay in the Championship are the only unbeaten sides in the competition after week four action.
But the big news of the weekend was Waikato's triumphant double to take a win over Wellington before lifting the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki in a dominating display in New Plymouth on Sunday afternoon.
Waikato 43 Wellington 31
Shaking off what had been a dire start to their season with two losses, Waikato showed Wellington they meant business with a powerful showing up front, some in-your-face defence and speed on the flanks with Sevu Reece scoring the first hat-trick of the weekend. It's a fine line in the competition for sides who have to play three times in a week, and Wellington opted to rest players, something Waikato cashed in on as a dress rehearsal for their Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Canterbury 34 Manawatu 23
Canterbury would not have needed any reminding of the fact that games with Manawatu have been a banana skin game for them in recent times. For all the fire and brimstone that Manawatu dished out, it was the conservative lineout maul that did the damage in the first half for Canterbury before their backs cut loose in the second half to secure a comfortable win.
Otago 27 Northland 23
Up 17-7 early in the second half Northland must have felt they had the chance of a win in Dunedin, but the home team resolve overcame the Northland defence. Jona Nareki and Joketani Koroi did the damage for Otago by touching down for tries that built on the goal-kicking of Josh Ioane to claim the win. That gave Otago second place in the Championship while Northland stayed in touch with the playoffs positions by virtue of their bonus point.
Auckland 36 Tasman 10
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu's first half hat-trick of tries gave Auckland a vital lead which resulted in Tasman being placed under some rare pressure in the Premiership clash of the unbeaten sides at Eden Park, and they didn't handle it too well. But Auckland showed some welcome unity and ability to take their chances to breathe some hope back into the hearts of diehard fans who have stood by them.
Southland 26 Counties Manukau 43
Try as Southland might they can't buy a favour in the Championship. Up by 14-0, they saw Counties Manukau turn on the magic with some lovely tries to secure a lead that never looked like being challenged at halftime. There is a capacity to score points, and to defend, but when things go wrong at the moment for Southland they compound very quickly and a team as dangerous as Counties Manukau on the break was never going to make it any easier for the home side.
Hawke's Bay 29 Bay of Plenty 28
It was halfback heaven in Napier as respective halfbacks Brad Weber and Richard Judd scored two tries apiece in what was a thrilling contest, decided in the 78th minute with a home town try for replacement prop Joe Apikatoa. More importantly, the win has put Hawke's Bay clear in the Championship and looking forward to a top of the table contest with Waikato in Week Five.
Wellington 35 North Harbour 23
Wellington needed to get back in the winners' circle and while it took them 70 minutes to achieve that there could be no doubt they were deserving winners over North Harbour. The visitors' squandered too many chances and failed to secure ball from their own lineout especially and paid the price. It doesn't get any easier this week either when they host Canterbury and Bay of Plenty.
Taranaki 19 Waikato 33
It may have been a tough few days for Waikato but the rewards will outweigh any pain with consecutive wins over Premiership sides Wellington and Taranaki and a Ranfurly Shield to savour. But they can't celebrate too long as they face their first challenge from Hawke's Bay on Thursday. But a second place in the Championship has ensured them of a competitive chance of securing a home playoffs berth.
And the 5th one is taken from All Blacks team naming against the Springboks:
Well, the All Blacks have named their team yesterday morning against the Springboks (Who'll be out for revenge 4 years after they last beat them in Johannesburg) at the Cake Tin in the windy city of Welly 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): Liam Squire (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): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
13 (Centre): Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Jordie Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
And in the reserves are:
16. Liam Coltman (Who replaces Nathan Harris at reserve hooker with Harris being told to rest by the All Black selectors)
17. Tim Perry
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (Who replaces Sam Whitelock with Whitelock elevating to the starting lineup replacing the injured Brodie Retallick)
20. Ardie Savea (Who replaces Luke Whitelock with Sam Cane returning to the starting lineup)
21. TJ Perenara (Who is dropped to the bench to replace Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi with Aaron Smith back in the starting lineup)
22. Jack Goodhue (Who is dropped to the bench with Sonny Bill Williams's comeback being put on hold to wear the number 22 jersey)
& 23. Damian McKenzie (Who shifts to the reserve back position to replace Anton Lienert-Brown who is elevated to the starting lineup replacing Jack Goodhue at centre).
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): Liam Squire (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): Ryan Crotty (Canterbury/Crusaders)
13 (Centre): Anton Lienert-Brown (Waikato/Chiefs)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left Wing): Rieko Ioane (Auckland/Blues)
14 (Right Wing): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Jordie Barrett (Taranaki/Hurricanes)
And in the reserves are:
16. Liam Coltman (Who replaces Nathan Harris at reserve hooker with Harris being told to rest by the All Black selectors)
17. Tim Perry
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (Who replaces Sam Whitelock with Whitelock elevating to the starting lineup replacing the injured Brodie Retallick)
20. Ardie Savea (Who replaces Luke Whitelock with Sam Cane returning to the starting lineup)
21. TJ Perenara (Who is dropped to the bench to replace Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi with Aaron Smith back in the starting lineup)
22. Jack Goodhue (Who is dropped to the bench with Sonny Bill Williams's comeback being put on hold to wear the number 22 jersey)
& 23. Damian McKenzie (Who shifts to the reserve back position to replace Anton Lienert-Brown who is elevated to the starting lineup replacing Jack Goodhue at centre).
And the 6th one is taken from South African rugby risen from the ashes (Jordie Barrett's fault):
Well, unfortunately for the All Blacks, they have lost, this time to the dominant South Africa side during the 4th round of the 2018 Rugby Championship season at Westpac Stadium (Simply known as the Cake Tin) in Wellington.
And so many mistakes which cost them our chance of winning such as Jordie Barrett's quick throw in turned into an intercept allowing Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux to capitalize in order to score a vital try (That's what the All Blacks coaching staff were thinking for the next match in Buenos Aires against Argentina to tone down the quick line out throws) & Beauden Barrett's goal kicking nightmare misery despite only nailing a single conversion not only because we were inconsistent.
And not only Rassie Erasmus may have saved a certain job as Springbok coach after his country's vital win against the All Blacks who are desperately need to bounce back but 1st they must play Argentina in Buenos Aires at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani in the next round of the 2018 Rugby Championship season before taking on the Springboks again in Pretoria at Loftus Versfeld for possibly the decider if the Boks seek revenge & beat the Wallabies.
And so many mistakes which cost them our chance of winning such as Jordie Barrett's quick throw in turned into an intercept allowing Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux to capitalize in order to score a vital try (That's what the All Blacks coaching staff were thinking for the next match in Buenos Aires against Argentina to tone down the quick line out throws) & Beauden Barrett's goal kicking nightmare misery despite only nailing a single conversion not only because we were inconsistent.
And not only Rassie Erasmus may have saved a certain job as Springbok coach after his country's vital win against the All Blacks who are desperately need to bounce back but 1st they must play Argentina in Buenos Aires at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani in the next round of the 2018 Rugby Championship season before taking on the Springboks again in Pretoria at Loftus Versfeld for possibly the decider if the Boks seek revenge & beat the Wallabies.
And the 7th one is taken from Mitre 10 Cup round 5 review:
It's official, Auckland are back.
The last box needing to be ticked by them was beating Canterbury in Christchurch and they achieved that on Sunday with their 34-29 win.
After years of being Canterbury's whipping boys, Auckland muscled up and took the game to the defending champions ensuring the latter stages of the season are going to provide some more competitive play.
In the Premiership, Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Tasman have put a gap between themselves and the chasing sides.
Ranfurly Shield holders Waikato are sitting on top of the Championship, although all other sides have a game in hand. Hawke's Bay, Otago and Northland hold the first four places.
North Harbour 21 Canterbury 31
Canterbury's ability to react to pressure was tested in the first game of the fifth round when North Harbour scored classic tries to tie the game up at 14-14. However, in their inimitable fashion, Canterbury resorted to type and poured on the pressure in the second half to get out to 31 points before North Harbour mounted a belated but ultimately unproductive surge.
Waikato 42 Hawke's Bay 22
Hawke's Bay journeyed to Hamilton buoyed by the prospective of a Ranfurly Shield challenge. After all, what better way to take revenge for their loss of the log of wood in 2014 than to claim it back. That was especially knowing the game was the third in eight days for Waikato. In fact, that never became an issue as Waikato were in complete control of the game with their dynamo Sevu Reece again a spark to their success.
Northland 49 Manawatu 19
Sometimes redemption comes in the most unlikely form and after seven straight losses to Manawatu, Northland turned it on big time for their fans in Whangarei when running in seven tries to three in a dominant display that kept their Championship playoffs hopes alive. Their Australian import Jack Cebreczeni showed his worth in contributing 19 points.
Tasman 53 Taranaki 17
Losing the Ranfurly Shield can go two ways. Teams bounce back with emphatic wins, or they slip further into the mire, and that was the case in Nelson as the home team underwent their own revival after a heavy loss to Auckland. The power of the home pack proved significant and demonstrated why Tasman are such a threat when the playoffs arrive.
Counties Manukau 12 Wellington 53
Wellington retained the Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy in emphatic fashion on a glorious Saturday afternoon in Pukekohe. After powering to a 29-0 halftime lead on the back of strong performances from Jackson Garden-Bachop and Vaea Fifita, Wellington didn't relinquish their stranglehold on the match as they ran out bonus point winners.
Southland 24 Otago 43
No relief from their lack of success occurred for Southland who were well beaten by their southern neighbours Otago at Rugby Park. A hat-trick of tries to Mitchell Scott was only part of the frustration for the home side who also saw Jona Nareki cross twice as well. They did score three tries of their own but they were unable to break the control the visitors exerted.
North Harbour 32 Bay of Plenty 20
Relief at last for North Harbour who found themselves on the bottom of the Premiership table. Bay of Plenty were in their firing line on Sunday. It wasn't the most classic of games but North Harbour made the better use of their opportunities with Shaun Stevenson setting up a key try for Tevita Li while Bryn Gatland's 17 points proved crucial, especially as Bay of Plenty lost their own first five Mike Delany at halftime.
Canterbury 29 Auckland 34
From the moment flanker Dalton Papali'i pulled off an interception from a scrum in the first minute, it was clear that this Auckland unit was different from some of those in the past. Second five-eighths TJ Faiane benefited by scoring a hat-trick of tries and the confidence Auckland showed in running the ball from their line highlighted their changed approach. Canterbury finished strong with two late tries but the damage had been done.
The last box needing to be ticked by them was beating Canterbury in Christchurch and they achieved that on Sunday with their 34-29 win.
After years of being Canterbury's whipping boys, Auckland muscled up and took the game to the defending champions ensuring the latter stages of the season are going to provide some more competitive play.
In the Premiership, Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Tasman have put a gap between themselves and the chasing sides.
Ranfurly Shield holders Waikato are sitting on top of the Championship, although all other sides have a game in hand. Hawke's Bay, Otago and Northland hold the first four places.
North Harbour 21 Canterbury 31
Canterbury's ability to react to pressure was tested in the first game of the fifth round when North Harbour scored classic tries to tie the game up at 14-14. However, in their inimitable fashion, Canterbury resorted to type and poured on the pressure in the second half to get out to 31 points before North Harbour mounted a belated but ultimately unproductive surge.
Waikato 42 Hawke's Bay 22
Hawke's Bay journeyed to Hamilton buoyed by the prospective of a Ranfurly Shield challenge. After all, what better way to take revenge for their loss of the log of wood in 2014 than to claim it back. That was especially knowing the game was the third in eight days for Waikato. In fact, that never became an issue as Waikato were in complete control of the game with their dynamo Sevu Reece again a spark to their success.
Northland 49 Manawatu 19
Sometimes redemption comes in the most unlikely form and after seven straight losses to Manawatu, Northland turned it on big time for their fans in Whangarei when running in seven tries to three in a dominant display that kept their Championship playoffs hopes alive. Their Australian import Jack Cebreczeni showed his worth in contributing 19 points.
Tasman 53 Taranaki 17
Losing the Ranfurly Shield can go two ways. Teams bounce back with emphatic wins, or they slip further into the mire, and that was the case in Nelson as the home team underwent their own revival after a heavy loss to Auckland. The power of the home pack proved significant and demonstrated why Tasman are such a threat when the playoffs arrive.
Counties Manukau 12 Wellington 53
Wellington retained the Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy in emphatic fashion on a glorious Saturday afternoon in Pukekohe. After powering to a 29-0 halftime lead on the back of strong performances from Jackson Garden-Bachop and Vaea Fifita, Wellington didn't relinquish their stranglehold on the match as they ran out bonus point winners.
Southland 24 Otago 43
No relief from their lack of success occurred for Southland who were well beaten by their southern neighbours Otago at Rugby Park. A hat-trick of tries to Mitchell Scott was only part of the frustration for the home side who also saw Jona Nareki cross twice as well. They did score three tries of their own but they were unable to break the control the visitors exerted.
North Harbour 32 Bay of Plenty 20
Relief at last for North Harbour who found themselves on the bottom of the Premiership table. Bay of Plenty were in their firing line on Sunday. It wasn't the most classic of games but North Harbour made the better use of their opportunities with Shaun Stevenson setting up a key try for Tevita Li while Bryn Gatland's 17 points proved crucial, especially as Bay of Plenty lost their own first five Mike Delany at halftime.
Canterbury 29 Auckland 34
From the moment flanker Dalton Papali'i pulled off an interception from a scrum in the first minute, it was clear that this Auckland unit was different from some of those in the past. Second five-eighths TJ Faiane benefited by scoring a hat-trick of tries and the confidence Auckland showed in running the ball from their line highlighted their changed approach. Canterbury finished strong with two late tries but the damage had been done.
And the 8th one is taken from Mitre 10 Cup round 6 review:
Auckland has the slimmest of leads in the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership after the sixth week of games, but they have a game in hand and not facing their double round until the last week of regular season play.
Waikato are five points clear in the Championship, although second-placed Hawke's Bay has a game in hand.
Sixth week action was:
Manawatu 19-29 Tasman
It can be tough when having to play two games in a round and Tasman opted to give the bench players starts in Palmerston North. That meant there was work to be done to contain a lively Manawatu side which faced the same predicament. Two in front at halftime, Tasman made good use of its bench and with a lively display from halfback Finlay Christie who stirred the side along for the win which was just as well given how close they were pushed in their second game of the round. Tasman are one point behind Auckland, with Wellington and Canterbury one point behind.
Northland 26-10 Southland
Taking key points when they are on hand, Northland are proving consistent in the Championship and lifted themselves to third place while Southland are still looking for their first win. Periods of defensive inertia cost the southerners dearly while Northland have developed a level of confidence that ensures opportunities seized are capitalised on to the maximum. It's not the sort of warm-up Southland wanted ahead of a Ranfurly Shield challenge on Saturday.
Bay of Plenty 21-54 Waikato
Waikato demonstrated their desire to make a quick exit from the Championship when claiming a key win to dominate the points table to further highlight their recovery this season. Up 21-7 at the turn, Waikato hit Bay of Plenty hard early in the second half with a chargedown try and the confidence went all in Waikato's direction. Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scored twice to make it six for the season – level with North Harbour's Tevita Li.
Hawke's Bay 34-51 North Harbour
North Harbour produced a stunning finish to finally kill off a positive Hawke's Bay effort at McLean Park. The home team refused to concede ground for 68 minutes of the game when the scores were locked at 34-all. Whether it was the home team getting over-excited sniffing an upset, or sheer doggedness from North Harbour in securing key turnovers, the visitors picked up three late tries to put distance between themselves and the Bay, hooker James Parsons celebrating his ton of games for Harbour by landing the last conversion.
Otago 25-47 Canterbury
Sometimes it is hard to believe there is any disparity between the two levels of the tournament and for 55 minutes that was the case in Dunedin. Otago pulled off some lovely set piece plays but let other opportunities slip. And against a team like Canterbury that is always likely to cost points. So it proved with three tries in eight minutes around the three-quarter mark ending Otago's bid. But there were encouraging signs for the southerners.
Taranaki 30-31 Auckland
If ever a team knows about being down on their luck it is Auckland but they came out on the right side of the ledger when in spite of two conversion attempts in injury time, Stephen Perofeta was unable to steal a win for a desperate Taranaki side. That was on top of Akira Ioane's brilliant start to the game, scoring the first try after only 29 seconds. Auckland stayed top of the points table in their best season for several years while Taranaki could only lament lost opportunities.
Tasman 21-19 Counties Manukau
It was just as well Tasman scored their 21 points when they did because they faced a storming effort from Counties Manukau as they scored 19 unanswered points. They breathed a sigh of relief when a conversion attempt by Luteru Laulala was wide in the late stages. But a similar effort in Wellington next Saturday could prove a worry for Tasman unless they buck their efforts up. Counties have a chance to gain some vital points when hosting Northland on Sunday.
Wellington 49-7 Manawatu
Things flowed nicely for the resurgent Wellington team who overran their northern neighbours in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon. That's encouraging as they look to secure a playoffs place in their first season back in the Premiership. But things don't look so good for a Manawatu team who fired some big shots early on without being able to maintain the effort through the middle stages of the competition.
And the 9th one is taken from Scott Dixon's 5th Indycar title & Tiger Woods's PGA Tour victory report:
And it's been a fortnight & 2 days since our very own Kiwi Scott Dixon (Remember that guy known as the Iceman as he was crowned rookie of the year honors in his 1st season in Champ Car in 2001, 2 years before moving over to the IRL (Indy Racing League) in which Dixon won his 1st title in 2003, 5 years before he won the Indy 500 once (Same year that both Champ Car & IRL merged & became the Indycar Series) and again became the Indycar Series champion in 2008, 5 years before he won his 3rd Indycar Series title way back in 2013 & of course, 3 years before Dixon would win his 4th title in 2015) won his 5th Verizon Indycar Series title in Sonoma after a 2nd place finish & is now 2nd to A.J. Foyt's all-time record for United States open wheel titles ensuring that Dixon won 3 races (In the 1st of 2 races in Detroit, Texas & Toronto) over the course of the 2018 Indycar season.
And finally in golf news, Tiger Woods (Also remember the guy who was world no.1 in men's golf from 1998 to 2003 (It was in 2004 that the great Fijian golfer, Vijay Singh, took over the number 1 world ranking from Woods), 2005 to 2009 & once briefly in 2013) has at last, won a PGA Tour event for the 1st time in over 5 years at the Tour Championship at the East Lake golf course in Atlanta, Georgia.
P.S. And we saw that Johnny English movie on Sunday & it was incredibly funny & after that, had Indian for lunch with Pops & Carole (I quite liked her meals when we had our dinner of the day today at Carole's house (Known as Tikitere).
And we had the Japanese visitors (Their names were Aya & Hiroyuki) from the Friendship Force here last month which was a success (They went to the rugby on a Saturday & to Caroline's for dinner on a Thursday).
And the 10th one is taken from Aunty Tania's famous people mentions:
Just to mention that Aunty Tania told me during our family trip to the South Island last year that she saw very famous Irish actor Liam Neeson at a cafe in Melbourne as well as she sat next to famous All Black rugby star Jonah Lomu at a Tongan graduation in 1995 but Aunty Tan emailed to me this year that she went with Bull Allen at Stratford High School because he was at her class & she infamously saw All Black Michael Jones at Timo Tagaloa's wedding (Although he married one of Aunty Tania's best friends Frances Tagaloa) & was among several rugby players present.
Waikato are five points clear in the Championship, although second-placed Hawke's Bay has a game in hand.
Sixth week action was:
Manawatu 19-29 Tasman
It can be tough when having to play two games in a round and Tasman opted to give the bench players starts in Palmerston North. That meant there was work to be done to contain a lively Manawatu side which faced the same predicament. Two in front at halftime, Tasman made good use of its bench and with a lively display from halfback Finlay Christie who stirred the side along for the win which was just as well given how close they were pushed in their second game of the round. Tasman are one point behind Auckland, with Wellington and Canterbury one point behind.
Northland 26-10 Southland
Taking key points when they are on hand, Northland are proving consistent in the Championship and lifted themselves to third place while Southland are still looking for their first win. Periods of defensive inertia cost the southerners dearly while Northland have developed a level of confidence that ensures opportunities seized are capitalised on to the maximum. It's not the sort of warm-up Southland wanted ahead of a Ranfurly Shield challenge on Saturday.
Bay of Plenty 21-54 Waikato
Waikato demonstrated their desire to make a quick exit from the Championship when claiming a key win to dominate the points table to further highlight their recovery this season. Up 21-7 at the turn, Waikato hit Bay of Plenty hard early in the second half with a chargedown try and the confidence went all in Waikato's direction. Hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scored twice to make it six for the season – level with North Harbour's Tevita Li.
Hawke's Bay 34-51 North Harbour
North Harbour produced a stunning finish to finally kill off a positive Hawke's Bay effort at McLean Park. The home team refused to concede ground for 68 minutes of the game when the scores were locked at 34-all. Whether it was the home team getting over-excited sniffing an upset, or sheer doggedness from North Harbour in securing key turnovers, the visitors picked up three late tries to put distance between themselves and the Bay, hooker James Parsons celebrating his ton of games for Harbour by landing the last conversion.
Otago 25-47 Canterbury
Sometimes it is hard to believe there is any disparity between the two levels of the tournament and for 55 minutes that was the case in Dunedin. Otago pulled off some lovely set piece plays but let other opportunities slip. And against a team like Canterbury that is always likely to cost points. So it proved with three tries in eight minutes around the three-quarter mark ending Otago's bid. But there were encouraging signs for the southerners.
Taranaki 30-31 Auckland
If ever a team knows about being down on their luck it is Auckland but they came out on the right side of the ledger when in spite of two conversion attempts in injury time, Stephen Perofeta was unable to steal a win for a desperate Taranaki side. That was on top of Akira Ioane's brilliant start to the game, scoring the first try after only 29 seconds. Auckland stayed top of the points table in their best season for several years while Taranaki could only lament lost opportunities.
Tasman 21-19 Counties Manukau
It was just as well Tasman scored their 21 points when they did because they faced a storming effort from Counties Manukau as they scored 19 unanswered points. They breathed a sigh of relief when a conversion attempt by Luteru Laulala was wide in the late stages. But a similar effort in Wellington next Saturday could prove a worry for Tasman unless they buck their efforts up. Counties have a chance to gain some vital points when hosting Northland on Sunday.
Wellington 49-7 Manawatu
Things flowed nicely for the resurgent Wellington team who overran their northern neighbours in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon. That's encouraging as they look to secure a playoffs place in their first season back in the Premiership. But things don't look so good for a Manawatu team who fired some big shots early on without being able to maintain the effort through the middle stages of the competition.
And the 9th one is taken from Scott Dixon's 5th Indycar title & Tiger Woods's PGA Tour victory report:
And it's been a fortnight & 2 days since our very own Kiwi Scott Dixon (Remember that guy known as the Iceman as he was crowned rookie of the year honors in his 1st season in Champ Car in 2001, 2 years before moving over to the IRL (Indy Racing League) in which Dixon won his 1st title in 2003, 5 years before he won the Indy 500 once (Same year that both Champ Car & IRL merged & became the Indycar Series) and again became the Indycar Series champion in 2008, 5 years before he won his 3rd Indycar Series title way back in 2013 & of course, 3 years before Dixon would win his 4th title in 2015) won his 5th Verizon Indycar Series title in Sonoma after a 2nd place finish & is now 2nd to A.J. Foyt's all-time record for United States open wheel titles ensuring that Dixon won 3 races (In the 1st of 2 races in Detroit, Texas & Toronto) over the course of the 2018 Indycar season.
And finally in golf news, Tiger Woods (Also remember the guy who was world no.1 in men's golf from 1998 to 2003 (It was in 2004 that the great Fijian golfer, Vijay Singh, took over the number 1 world ranking from Woods), 2005 to 2009 & once briefly in 2013) has at last, won a PGA Tour event for the 1st time in over 5 years at the Tour Championship at the East Lake golf course in Atlanta, Georgia.
P.S. And we saw that Johnny English movie on Sunday & it was incredibly funny & after that, had Indian for lunch with Pops & Carole (I quite liked her meals when we had our dinner of the day today at Carole's house (Known as Tikitere).
And we had the Japanese visitors (Their names were Aya & Hiroyuki) from the Friendship Force here last month which was a success (They went to the rugby on a Saturday & to Caroline's for dinner on a Thursday).
And the 10th one is taken from Aunty Tania's famous people mentions:
Just to mention that Aunty Tania told me during our family trip to the South Island last year that she saw very famous Irish actor Liam Neeson at a cafe in Melbourne as well as she sat next to famous All Black rugby star Jonah Lomu at a Tongan graduation in 1995 but Aunty Tan emailed to me this year that she went with Bull Allen at Stratford High School because he was at her class & she infamously saw All Black Michael Jones at Timo Tagaloa's wedding (Although he married one of Aunty Tania's best friends Frances Tagaloa) & was among several rugby players present.
And the 11th one is taken from All Blacks team naming against Argentina (Part 2):
Well, the All Blacks have named their team against Argentina at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires (But the big question is: Can we bounce back after our devastating loss against South Africa in Wellington? I'd would say probably, we will just wait & see but if we win, we retain the Rugby Championship for another year (Much more like if they build it they will come) 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): Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Captain, 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): Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
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): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris (Who has been brought back to the bench to replace Liam Coltman)
17. Tim Perry
18. Angus Ta'avao (Who replaces Ofa Tu'ungafasi to make his test debut off the bench with Tu'ungafasi elevated to the starting lineup to replace Owen Franks who is being rested along with skipper Kieran Read)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Jackson Hemopo (Who had to replace Ardie Savea who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Luke Whitelock who had to pull out 50 minutes before kick off due to a stomach bug)
21. Aaron Smith (Who is dropped to the bench with TJ Perenara back in the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga (Who replaces Jack Goodhue to cover at first five)
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (Who replaces his good mate Damian McKenzie to cover the midfield).
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Karl Tu'inukuafe (North Harbour/Chiefs)
2 (Hooker): Codie Taylor (Canterbury/Crusaders)
3 (Tight head prop): Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland/Blues)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Captain, 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): Ardie Savea (Wellington/Hurricanes)
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): Waisake Naholo (Taranaki/Highlanders)
& 15 (Fullback): Ben Smith (Otago/Highlanders)
And in the reserves are:
16. Nathan Harris (Who has been brought back to the bench to replace Liam Coltman)
17. Tim Perry
18. Angus Ta'avao (Who replaces Ofa Tu'ungafasi to make his test debut off the bench with Tu'ungafasi elevated to the starting lineup to replace Owen Franks who is being rested along with skipper Kieran Read)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu
20. Jackson Hemopo (Who had to replace Ardie Savea who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Luke Whitelock who had to pull out 50 minutes before kick off due to a stomach bug)
21. Aaron Smith (Who is dropped to the bench with TJ Perenara back in the starting lineup)
22. Richie Mo'unga (Who replaces Jack Goodhue to cover at first five)
& 23. Anton Lienert-Brown (Who replaces his good mate Damian McKenzie to cover the midfield).
And the 12th one is taken from All Blacks win 16th southern hemisphere rugby competition (Tri-Nations (1996 - 2011) & Rugby Championship (Since 2012):
Well, the All Blacks have retained the Rugby Championship & returned to winning ways after they got it done right against Argentina so here is the full match commentary:
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the All Blacks as they take on the Pumas at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The Pumas pushed the world champs to the limit for 70 minutes in Nelson earlier this month. Can they go one better on home soil and claim a special slice of rugby history?
Commentary will start from around 11:30am (NZ time).
Line ups:
New Zealand: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Ryan Crotty, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Jackson Hemopo, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina: 1-Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2-Augustin Creevy (c), 3-Ramiro Herrera, 4-Guido Petti 5- Tomás Lavanini, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Marcos Kremer, 8-Javier Ortego Desio, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 10-Nicolás Sánchez 11-Matías Moroni, 12-Bautista Ezcurra, 13-Jeronimo de la Fuente, 14-Bautista Delguy, 15-Emiliano Boffelli
Reserves: 16-Julian Montoya, 17-Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18-Santiago Medrano, 19-Matías Alemanno, 20-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21-Tomas Cubelli, 22-Matías Orlando, 23-Sebastian Cancelliere.
11:00am: A late change for the All Blacks starting side as Luke Whitelock (Who has got some problems but we have Luke Whitelock who has been struck down with food poisoning) is scratched with illness.
11:08am: Here's your updated All Blacks squad.
Both these sides love to counter-attack, we should see plenty of end-to-end action this morning.
11:20am: What began as a gloomy day in Buenos Aires righted itself just in time for nightfall and conditions seem ideal for some open, running rugby.
11:23am: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen clarifies the nature of Luke Whitelock's illness. Let's just say he hasn't left the bathroom for a while.
11:37am: A valiant effort from the local singer with the NZ anthem. Some deft camerawork to avoid revealing that he's blatantly reading the words.
11:40am: Passion in buckets as the Argentina anthem rings through the stadium. Stirring, rousing, all of that good stuff.
11:42am: Perenara leads the haka in his 50th test - Kapa o Pango is the flavour for today. Crowd soaks it up in silence.
1ST MINUTE: SBW gets his first touch from the opening kick. Penalty quickly blown for NZ and they'll move to a lineout at halfway.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Shocker of a throw by Taylor and the Pumas are on the offensive. Bomb goes up and they regain possession but the penalty goes to NZ, great work at the breakdown by Cane.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): And another mistimed throw sails over the back from taylor, Pumas claim the ball. Sanchez charged down, recycling well but the NZ defense is up to the task.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Bomb goes up and Naholo makes a meal of it, Pumas back on the attack. Ball goes wide, some quick hands release wing Delguy and they've earned a penalty right in front of the posts. Frizell pinged for offisde at the ruck. Sanchez slots it with ease to start the scoring.
7TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Taylor nails his throw this time as NZ launch....
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Naholo bursts through a yawning gap, holds the ball up well for Ben Smith who links with Rieko Ioane, over he goes for yet another five-pointer in the corner. And what do ya know, Barrett sends it over the black dot from the sideline. (NZ 7-3)
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Frizell drops one cold as NZ look to exit, Pumas edge towards the 22m...and they've got another penalty, this time for not releasing. Scott Barrett the offender. Sanzhez from close range...and he's absolutely shanked it. One of the best kickers in the world, wow.
12TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett clears, Pumas return fire. Barrett crushes one out on the full. Pumas lineout at the NZ 22m.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas knock-on at the lineout. NZ scrum just outside their 22m.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Barrett soars to claim the high ball and Frizell is freed on the outside, finds Ioane and they edge towards the Pumas 22m.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas knock-on again from a line-out at their own 5m mark. NZ pack down with plenty of attacking options.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Monster NZ scrum stopped just short, Perenara goes quickly to a storming Naholo who does brilliantly to reach out at full stretch and score. Barrett converts. (NZ 14-3)
19TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas scrum after a slick behind the back pass from Barrett edges forward. They launch from halfway...
21ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Pumas work it well through the midfield but another error kills their momentum. NZ scrum on their 10m mark.
22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ work the wrap play from setpiece but the Pumas read it well, Crotty taken down and the ball is fumbled. Pumas will feed a scrum just outside the NZ 10m.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Enormous shove from the NZ pack and Perenara bursts clear but the ref pulls it back, deems the front-rows had come up. Hmmmm.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas free kick for the early shove. they hoist one into the cluds and barrett does really well to claim the free kick under duress.
26TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas win the line-out and work through the phases. NZ fringe defence is punishing, lead by none other then Sam Whitelock. Slow progress here, they go wide but a poor pass is knocked on.
28TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum 30m from their line. Another huge shunt from the All Blacks pack which continues to dominate its Pumas counterparts. Penalty NZ and Barrett kicks a gem of a touchfinder. NZ lineout at the Pumas 22m...
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ball springs from the ruck after a Pumas turnover, Ioane pouces to go 30m untouched and score his second try of the day. Unfortunate for the locals after some fantastic defense. Taylor was hoved at the ruck and into the ball which appears to have forced it clear. Barrett ignore the jeers and whistles and sends another conversion right down the middle. (NZ 21-3)
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ make good metres from the restart, lovely interplay from the forwards as they move past halfway...
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tu'inukuafe direct as usual, Savea bounces off defenders as they enter the redzone. Turnover Pumas, they win the penalty at the ruck. Lineout back at their own 10m.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Beautiful chip and regather play from phase one by the Pumas. Sanchez through a gap, 10m from the NZ line now...
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ defense scramles well, Savea getting through a mountain of work. SBW with a crucial ball-and-all hit but the Pumas win a penalty, early tackle ruled. Pumas turn down the shot and go to the 5m lineout...
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), UH-OH...UH-OH! YELLOW CARD: More phenomenal defense from NZ on their try line. Play stalls at the ruck courtesy of Sam Cane but the ref is going back for an advantage. SBW is shown a yellow card after minimal warning. Cops one for the team there, repeated offside.
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas go to the lineout again, and they knock-on amid the contest from Scott Barrett. NZ rewarded for a great defensive spell.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Savea off the back of a shaky scrum, barnstorming run. Pumas penalised and that may see us into the sheds. Nope, time for one last lineout for NZ, right on the 50m.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas hold Savea up in the tackle and rip the ball clear, they're off on the counterattack! Pulled down at the NZ 22m line but the subsequent pass from ther ruck goes forward. And that will do us for the half.
HALFTIME - Decent first half of action both ways, Pumas have dominated possession and territory but poor execution has let them down. Meanwhile the All Blacks, taking the chances they've been afforded. Join us back here shortly for the second half.
Second half underway....
40TH MINUTE: NZ take the clearing kick from the restart and they work to halfway. Barrett hoists a non-threatening bomb and it's easily claimed.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Petti finds space from the base of the ruck and the Pumas build momentum, over halfway they go...
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez ghosts through a gap, goes inside the NZ 22m and then is met by a brutal hit from both Crotty and B. Barrett which sends him horizontal to the deck. On review it's called a penalty, that's a really harsh call.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez looks for the cheeky crossfield kick and it's straight to Naholo, but Taylor knocks on from the ensuing ruck. Pumas scrum 5m out...
46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): But there's that NZ pack again, enormous hit at the scrum and they inw a penalty to relieve the pressure. NZ work it from the lineout but Petti does really well to hold the attacking player up and win his side the loosehead feed just inside NZ territory.
48TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum bulldozers forward but the ref pings them for a penalty. Pumas on the offensive, dragged down just 5m short. Advantage being played, and blown up. Bit of niggle between the two sides as Taylor has a shove. Ref wants a word and the crowd volume lifts to another level.
49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): And another golden opportunity bungled by the Pumas as the lineout throw sails long. NZ win a penalty and Barrett takes us to a lineout at the NZ 10m.
50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Taylor's throw is off the mark again, that's his third error. Pumas feed at the scrum but great pressure by Perenara leads to a fumble. The error-fest continues.
51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ ring the changes and out jogs Dilworth School great Angus Ta'avao to earn his first test cap. A special moment for the big prop.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Ardie Savea bursts from the back of the scrum and schews up 30-odd metres before making a great offload to naholo, but the wing loses the ball in the tackle. This one is certainly not pretty viewing.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): SBW draws defenders before throwing an audacious trademark offload to free Ioane, the winger setting sail for the line but tripped by a last-ditch ankle tap. NZ win the penalty.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Sustained goal-line pressure as NZ keep it tight before Patrick Tuipulotu hits a short ball at pace and crashes over out wide. Barrett nails yet another one, you think he's been working on his kicking after Wellington? Perfect off the tee so far today. (NZ 28-3)
58TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas break clear from the restart, Sanchez the catalyst again. NZ have to scramble on defense, as they've done plenty this contest. Taylor's tackle is ruled high and the Pumas throw a lineout 5m out....
TRY ARGENTINA: Cubelli pulled down just short, they go upstairs to review it. Looks as though he's had a second effort while tackled but the ref says no double movement, try awarded. (NZ 28-10)
60TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Mo'unga into the action quickly, breaks the line but his pass wide is knocked back by a Pumas defender to save a certain try.
62ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ioane on the inside ball but he's spilled it in the tackle, Pumas clear to halfway.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga on for Smith, by the way. Barrett to fullback. And he's back in the action again on a slick double around, frees Barrett but the next pass is off the defender's shoulder and into touch.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ta'avao anchors a monster ABs scrum to win a penalty against the feed. NZ lineout 5m out now....
67TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Edging towards the line now, the All Blacks keeping the ball tight as they pick and go. Lavanini pounces on a ruck and wins his side a penalty, impressive work by the lock.
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Smith and Hemopo now on the park.
TRY ARGENTINA: Pinpoint grubber placed from halfway by Sanchez puts the Puimas just metres form the line, Matera pulled down just short and the quick skip pass wide puts Boffelli over the chalk. Sanchez nails the sideline conversion and it's game on. (NZ 28-17)
70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ swiftly back on attack as they look to reply but Scott Barrett fumbles and the Pumas hoof one deep. Barrett cleans up at the back and has to scramble one into touch. Pumas throw the lineout but a poor pass is kicked deep with just one defnder at home, Barrett chases hard and the Pumas have bungled the clean up and Barrett may have got a hand on the ball to score. Upstairs they go...
71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Looks like the defender just got a hand on the ball to force it before Barrett. It will be a 5m scrum for the All Blacks.
73RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: The NZ scrum makes mice meat of the Pumas yet again and the arm goes out for advantage, Mo'unga with a heads-up play to grubber through and he judges it perfectly for Anton Lienert-Brown to plant it next to the post. That should kill off the contest. Barrett keeps it 100. (NZ 35-17)
77TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas unable to control the ball after they breach the NZ 22m. All Blacks scrum.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Crotty breaks clear! Find Lienert-Brown inside and they go to ground at the Pumas 22m. Brilliant support from Cane to keep the movement alive.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tuipulotu knocks on and the Pumas clear, Mo'unga scoops it up and places a deft kick to trap the Pumas deep in their own corner, NZ will throw a lineout at the 22m.
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Penalty and ball into touch, that will do it for the Rugby Championship - chalk up a 16th title for New Zealand.
All Blacks - 35 Argentina - 17
P.S. And the Springboks have won 2 in a row in the 2018 Rugby Championship (Well, with the All Blacks hoping for payback in the next game since South Africa beat them in Wellington), downing the out of control Wallabies at Port Elizabeth.
And the 13th one is taken from 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.
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the All Blacks as they take on the Pumas at Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The Pumas pushed the world champs to the limit for 70 minutes in Nelson earlier this month. Can they go one better on home soil and claim a special slice of rugby history?
Commentary will start from around 11:30am (NZ time).
Line ups:
New Zealand: 1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Ryan Crotty, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Jackson Hemopo, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
Argentina: 1-Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2-Augustin Creevy (c), 3-Ramiro Herrera, 4-Guido Petti 5- Tomás Lavanini, 6-Pablo Matera, 7-Marcos Kremer, 8-Javier Ortego Desio, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 10-Nicolás Sánchez 11-Matías Moroni, 12-Bautista Ezcurra, 13-Jeronimo de la Fuente, 14-Bautista Delguy, 15-Emiliano Boffelli
Reserves: 16-Julian Montoya, 17-Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18-Santiago Medrano, 19-Matías Alemanno, 20-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21-Tomas Cubelli, 22-Matías Orlando, 23-Sebastian Cancelliere.
11:00am: A late change for the All Blacks starting side as Luke Whitelock (Who has got some problems but we have Luke Whitelock who has been struck down with food poisoning) is scratched with illness.
11:08am: Here's your updated All Blacks squad.
Both these sides love to counter-attack, we should see plenty of end-to-end action this morning.
11:20am: What began as a gloomy day in Buenos Aires righted itself just in time for nightfall and conditions seem ideal for some open, running rugby.
11:23am: All Blacks coach Steve Hansen clarifies the nature of Luke Whitelock's illness. Let's just say he hasn't left the bathroom for a while.
11:37am: A valiant effort from the local singer with the NZ anthem. Some deft camerawork to avoid revealing that he's blatantly reading the words.
11:40am: Passion in buckets as the Argentina anthem rings through the stadium. Stirring, rousing, all of that good stuff.
11:42am: Perenara leads the haka in his 50th test - Kapa o Pango is the flavour for today. Crowd soaks it up in silence.
1ST MINUTE: SBW gets his first touch from the opening kick. Penalty quickly blown for NZ and they'll move to a lineout at halfway.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Shocker of a throw by Taylor and the Pumas are on the offensive. Bomb goes up and they regain possession but the penalty goes to NZ, great work at the breakdown by Cane.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): And another mistimed throw sails over the back from taylor, Pumas claim the ball. Sanchez charged down, recycling well but the NZ defense is up to the task.
5TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Bomb goes up and Naholo makes a meal of it, Pumas back on the attack. Ball goes wide, some quick hands release wing Delguy and they've earned a penalty right in front of the posts. Frizell pinged for offisde at the ruck. Sanchez slots it with ease to start the scoring.
7TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Taylor nails his throw this time as NZ launch....
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Naholo bursts through a yawning gap, holds the ball up well for Ben Smith who links with Rieko Ioane, over he goes for yet another five-pointer in the corner. And what do ya know, Barrett sends it over the black dot from the sideline. (NZ 7-3)
10TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Frizell drops one cold as NZ look to exit, Pumas edge towards the 22m...and they've got another penalty, this time for not releasing. Scott Barrett the offender. Sanzhez from close range...and he's absolutely shanked it. One of the best kickers in the world, wow.
12TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett clears, Pumas return fire. Barrett crushes one out on the full. Pumas lineout at the NZ 22m.
14TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas knock-on at the lineout. NZ scrum just outside their 22m.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Barrett soars to claim the high ball and Frizell is freed on the outside, finds Ioane and they edge towards the Pumas 22m.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas knock-on again from a line-out at their own 5m mark. NZ pack down with plenty of attacking options.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Monster NZ scrum stopped just short, Perenara goes quickly to a storming Naholo who does brilliantly to reach out at full stretch and score. Barrett converts. (NZ 14-3)
19TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas scrum after a slick behind the back pass from Barrett edges forward. They launch from halfway...
21ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The Pumas work it well through the midfield but another error kills their momentum. NZ scrum on their 10m mark.
22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ work the wrap play from setpiece but the Pumas read it well, Crotty taken down and the ball is fumbled. Pumas will feed a scrum just outside the NZ 10m.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Enormous shove from the NZ pack and Perenara bursts clear but the ref pulls it back, deems the front-rows had come up. Hmmmm.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas free kick for the early shove. they hoist one into the cluds and barrett does really well to claim the free kick under duress.
26TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas win the line-out and work through the phases. NZ fringe defence is punishing, lead by none other then Sam Whitelock. Slow progress here, they go wide but a poor pass is knocked on.
28TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum 30m from their line. Another huge shunt from the All Blacks pack which continues to dominate its Pumas counterparts. Penalty NZ and Barrett kicks a gem of a touchfinder. NZ lineout at the Pumas 22m...
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ball springs from the ruck after a Pumas turnover, Ioane pouces to go 30m untouched and score his second try of the day. Unfortunate for the locals after some fantastic defense. Taylor was hoved at the ruck and into the ball which appears to have forced it clear. Barrett ignore the jeers and whistles and sends another conversion right down the middle. (NZ 21-3)
32ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ make good metres from the restart, lovely interplay from the forwards as they move past halfway...
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tu'inukuafe direct as usual, Savea bounces off defenders as they enter the redzone. Turnover Pumas, they win the penalty at the ruck. Lineout back at their own 10m.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Beautiful chip and regather play from phase one by the Pumas. Sanchez through a gap, 10m from the NZ line now...
36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ defense scramles well, Savea getting through a mountain of work. SBW with a crucial ball-and-all hit but the Pumas win a penalty, early tackle ruled. Pumas turn down the shot and go to the 5m lineout...
37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), UH-OH...UH-OH! YELLOW CARD: More phenomenal defense from NZ on their try line. Play stalls at the ruck courtesy of Sam Cane but the ref is going back for an advantage. SBW is shown a yellow card after minimal warning. Cops one for the team there, repeated offside.
38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Pumas go to the lineout again, and they knock-on amid the contest from Scott Barrett. NZ rewarded for a great defensive spell.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Savea off the back of a shaky scrum, barnstorming run. Pumas penalised and that may see us into the sheds. Nope, time for one last lineout for NZ, right on the 50m.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Pumas hold Savea up in the tackle and rip the ball clear, they're off on the counterattack! Pulled down at the NZ 22m line but the subsequent pass from ther ruck goes forward. And that will do us for the half.
HALFTIME - Decent first half of action both ways, Pumas have dominated possession and territory but poor execution has let them down. Meanwhile the All Blacks, taking the chances they've been afforded. Join us back here shortly for the second half.
Second half underway....
40TH MINUTE: NZ take the clearing kick from the restart and they work to halfway. Barrett hoists a non-threatening bomb and it's easily claimed.
42ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Petti finds space from the base of the ruck and the Pumas build momentum, over halfway they go...
43RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez ghosts through a gap, goes inside the NZ 22m and then is met by a brutal hit from both Crotty and B. Barrett which sends him horizontal to the deck. On review it's called a penalty, that's a really harsh call.
44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez looks for the cheeky crossfield kick and it's straight to Naholo, but Taylor knocks on from the ensuing ruck. Pumas scrum 5m out...
46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): But there's that NZ pack again, enormous hit at the scrum and they inw a penalty to relieve the pressure. NZ work it from the lineout but Petti does really well to hold the attacking player up and win his side the loosehead feed just inside NZ territory.
48TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ scrum bulldozers forward but the ref pings them for a penalty. Pumas on the offensive, dragged down just 5m short. Advantage being played, and blown up. Bit of niggle between the two sides as Taylor has a shove. Ref wants a word and the crowd volume lifts to another level.
49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): And another golden opportunity bungled by the Pumas as the lineout throw sails long. NZ win a penalty and Barrett takes us to a lineout at the NZ 10m.
50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Taylor's throw is off the mark again, that's his third error. Pumas feed at the scrum but great pressure by Perenara leads to a fumble. The error-fest continues.
51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): NZ ring the changes and out jogs Dilworth School great Angus Ta'avao to earn his first test cap. A special moment for the big prop.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Ardie Savea bursts from the back of the scrum and schews up 30-odd metres before making a great offload to naholo, but the wing loses the ball in the tackle. This one is certainly not pretty viewing.
53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): SBW draws defenders before throwing an audacious trademark offload to free Ioane, the winger setting sail for the line but tripped by a last-ditch ankle tap. NZ win the penalty.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Sustained goal-line pressure as NZ keep it tight before Patrick Tuipulotu hits a short ball at pace and crashes over out wide. Barrett nails yet another one, you think he's been working on his kicking after Wellington? Perfect off the tee so far today. (NZ 28-3)
58TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas break clear from the restart, Sanchez the catalyst again. NZ have to scramble on defense, as they've done plenty this contest. Taylor's tackle is ruled high and the Pumas throw a lineout 5m out....
TRY ARGENTINA: Cubelli pulled down just short, they go upstairs to review it. Looks as though he's had a second effort while tackled but the ref says no double movement, try awarded. (NZ 28-10)
60TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Mo'unga into the action quickly, breaks the line but his pass wide is knocked back by a Pumas defender to save a certain try.
62ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ioane on the inside ball but he's spilled it in the tackle, Pumas clear to halfway.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga on for Smith, by the way. Barrett to fullback. And he's back in the action again on a slick double around, frees Barrett but the next pass is off the defender's shoulder and into touch.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ta'avao anchors a monster ABs scrum to win a penalty against the feed. NZ lineout 5m out now....
67TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Edging towards the line now, the All Blacks keeping the ball tight as they pick and go. Lavanini pounces on a ruck and wins his side a penalty, impressive work by the lock.
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Smith and Hemopo now on the park.
TRY ARGENTINA: Pinpoint grubber placed from halfway by Sanchez puts the Puimas just metres form the line, Matera pulled down just short and the quick skip pass wide puts Boffelli over the chalk. Sanchez nails the sideline conversion and it's game on. (NZ 28-17)
70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): NZ swiftly back on attack as they look to reply but Scott Barrett fumbles and the Pumas hoof one deep. Barrett cleans up at the back and has to scramble one into touch. Pumas throw the lineout but a poor pass is kicked deep with just one defnder at home, Barrett chases hard and the Pumas have bungled the clean up and Barrett may have got a hand on the ball to score. Upstairs they go...
71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Looks like the defender just got a hand on the ball to force it before Barrett. It will be a 5m scrum for the All Blacks.
73RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: The NZ scrum makes mice meat of the Pumas yet again and the arm goes out for advantage, Mo'unga with a heads-up play to grubber through and he judges it perfectly for Anton Lienert-Brown to plant it next to the post. That should kill off the contest. Barrett keeps it 100. (NZ 35-17)
77TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): Pumas unable to control the ball after they breach the NZ 22m. All Blacks scrum.
78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Crotty breaks clear! Find Lienert-Brown inside and they go to ground at the Pumas 22m. Brilliant support from Cane to keep the movement alive.
79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tuipulotu knocks on and the Pumas clear, Mo'unga scoops it up and places a deft kick to trap the Pumas deep in their own corner, NZ will throw a lineout at the 22m.
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Penalty and ball into touch, that will do it for the Rugby Championship - chalk up a 16th title for New Zealand.
All Blacks - 35 Argentina - 17
P.S. And the Springboks have won 2 in a row in the 2018 Rugby Championship (Well, with the All Blacks hoping for payback in the next game since South Africa beat them in Wellington), downing the out of control Wallabies at Port Elizabeth.
And the 13th one is taken from 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 259th blog of the year 2018 (MMXVIII) & my 79th this year (And it is 2 days remaining until the big day which is the real thing on the 25th of December, Christmas).
No comments:
Post a Comment