Super Rugby round 11 wrap

Well, the Crusaders have won the 2018 Super Rugby final rematch by toppling the Lions 36 - 10 (Both Crusaders wingers George Bridge & Sevu Reece have both got doubles) at Christchurch Stadium in Christchurch (Which is New Zealand's most protected city in wake of the Christchurch terror attacks (Although it's worse than Aramoana in 1990 but it's reminiscent to the mass shootings in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia in 1996 & in Oslo & the island of Utoya in Norway in 2009) last month because there's armed police everywhere in the city especially at mosques (Not just New Zealand but around the world that there's heightened, beefed up security measures at mosques in response to the mosque shootings in Christchurch (Well, we followed the footsteps of both Australia & Norway by banning carbine rifles in our country as a result) while the Highlanders completely thrash the Sunwolves (Who are out of the competition after next year with Super Rugby reducing the number of teams to 14 from 2021) 52 - 0 at Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo while the Hurricanes humiliate the Chiefs (Who are missing both Damian McKenzie (Gone for the season as well as the Rugby World Cup) & captain Brodie Retallick) with a Jordie Barrett double (Well, he may have sent a message to the All Blacks selectors of making the squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup) at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

So that is my 282nd blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 22nd of this year.

P.S. And it was on Sunday morning that me & Mum watched Star Wars & I literally enjoy that movie so much but I've got The Empire Strikes Back on record on Saturday (It'll be shown on Three after Newshub) so me & Mum can watch it on Sunday morning because we've got a rugby game to watch on both Friday (Crusaders Vs Sharks) & Saturday (Which is Hurricanes Vs Rebels & Highlanders Vs Chiefs (Same day as I record another Star Wars movie).

And finally I still miss Pops because I miss him already but Carole has sent me an email about a picture I saw of Pops, Carole, Martin (Who had his 60th birthday on June 26th), Leyla, Marat, Andy & Kelsey on that boat trip in Hawaii but I gave Dad a phone call last night to tell him that I had no problems whatsoever (And he had been back to school working but he has been watching Dancing With The Stars New Zealand but his favourite dancing contestants were legends of both rugby league & union such as Manu Vatuvei & Whanganui police constable Glen Osborne).

Super Rugby round 10 wrap (+ Ma'a Nonu's All Black comeback plans, Pops & Carole's holiday venture to America, ANZAC day special (Lest we forget) & new Star Wars movie title reveal)

Well, the Chiefs unfortunately lost to the high flying Lions side at FMG Stadium in Waikato (Well, they were inconsistent in the process) while the Hurricanes produce a comeback win against the Sunwolves (Well, they play their 1st Friday night fixture in Japan) at Chichibunomiya Stadium in Tokyo while the spirited Highlanders side maul down the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

And my thoughts on Ma'a Nonu's outside chance of making the All Blacks? I told Mum about it today but I reckon he's too old to play for the AB's because he's 36 or 37 years old now & he is retired (After the 2015 Rugby World Cup he went to Toulon but after 3 years he decided to head back home to play for the Blues) already from international rugby (I reckon he'll make it if someone gets injured (Laumape is 5th in line just like Aaron Cruden (Who had to replace Dan Carter during the 2011 Rugby World Cup) while next in line on the shopping list is Nonu indeed just like Stephen 'Beaver' Donald (Who during the 2011 RWC had to replace Colin Slade) & if Nonu is picked for the All Blacks, he'll definitely come out of retirement just like Victor Matfield who got selected for the Springboks at the 2015 Rugby World Cup).

And of course it's been 2 days since Pops left with Carole (Who has a brother named Martin who is due to turn 60 on the 26th of April possibly) to go on a holiday to San Diego, California & Honululu, Hawaii in America but I miss him now, I miss him already along with Carole but we had our farewell dinner at Caroline's (I had fish of the day with chips & salad) just before Pops & Carole left but Mum (Who arrived there yesterday while Dad & Jansen (Well, they left before) was here before I took Buck for an afternoon walk) is here keeping me in touch until Pops gets back.

And finally today is ANZAC day commemorating both the Australian & New Zealand armies who fought battle against Turkish forces over in Gallipoli in Turkey during the 1st world war 104 years ago. #Lestweforget.

So that is my 281st blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 21st of this year (Apologies for the delay that I was going to do my blog yesterday but it has been pushed back to today).

P.S. The rugby is on tomorrow with the Crusaders (Who are resting a bunch of key men such as Jack Goodhue & Matt Todd) playing the Lions in a rematch of last years epic Super Rugby final in Christchurch before the Sunwolves playing the Highlanders (Who have rested one of their front line players such as Ben Smith) in Tokyo then it's the Hurricanes who clash with the Chiefs in Wellington tomorrow (I'm watching that game on Sky Sport but I've got a Star Wars movie to record on the mySkyHDi recorder because it is on Three at 7:00pm (Same time as the Hurricanes Vs Chiefs match on Sky Sport 1 but I'll watch the movie on Sunday (Well, I have been a die hard Star Wars fan since (Along with Kathryn, Rejean & Ben who are passionate bona fide Star Wars fans) I watched Return Of The Jedi on that video tape that I used to have) but both sides are hoping for a win after they played earlier last month (Well, the match ended in a draw but Pops told me that the Hurricanes won but the game was drawn instead).

And finally the movie title for Star Wars Episode IX has been revealed because Episode IX is now called Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (Well it's not the final Star Wars movie ever, it's the last film of the Skywalker saga) which is coming out in cinemas in December this year (Well, I've seen all 8 Star Wars movies (Such as Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return Of The Jedi (1983), Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (2002), Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005), Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) & of course, Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) so far + Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) but never seen Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018).

Super Rugby round 9 wrap (+ Damian McKenzie's injury update & Tiger Woods victory in The Masters)

Well, both the Crusaders & Chiefs score wins over both the Highlanders & Blues in round 9 of Super Rugby but folks, we have had a major, Chiefs utility back Damian McKenzie is out (Oh dear me, hope he has a speedy recovery (And get well D-Mac!)...for the whole tournament (Which is the 2019 Rugby World Cup), due to a knee injury or an ACL (Anterior cruciate ligament) but both Crusaders & Blues first fives Brett Cameron & Otere Black are fighting for places to be in the World Cup as the 3rd choice first five-eighth for the All Blacks with Beauden Barrett & Richie Mo'unga the 2 main first fives for the AB's at the World Cup in Japan this year but it was Tiger Woods who stole the headlines in the golfing world as he wins The Masters for the 1st time since 2005 (His 1st major win in 11 years) at the tender age of 43 after an action packed epic last round (Italian golfer & last years British golf open champion Francesco Molinari (Who had blown an opportunity to win The Masters) fell at the 12th hole, losing his lead in the process) over in Augusta, Georgia not only to win his 15th major golf title as well as he picked up his 5th green jacket (His 1st win came in 1997), WOW! What a comeback from Tiger himself.

So that is my 280th blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 20th of this year.

Super Rugby round 8 wrap (+ Black Caps 2019 Cricket World Cup squad & my AB's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad predictions)

Well, in Super Rugby news, round 7 got started as the Hurricanes go 2 in a row this year against the Highlanders by 3 (Including that double from Hurricanes open side flanker Ardie Savea who had to shine) at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin while at Orangetheory Stadium, the Crusaders (Although they were without Israel Dagg (Who had to retire due to ongoing issues with a chronic but serious & severe knee injury that made him quit playing rugby) took to the field against the Brumbies for their 1st home game since the shootings have happened in Christchurch last month & they won it by thumping them on the back of an electrifying 2nd half performance (It was 0 - 0 after 33 minutes when the Brumbies first-five Christian Leali'ifano dived over for the try after the Brumbies took advantage of the extra man & were on the power play mode after that yellow card by Crusaders tight head prop Owen Franks in the 27th minute (Well, he did not make an attempt to wrap his arms because that is the letter of the law) before the Blues have won 4 consecutive games by sealing the Waratahs off by 3 points at Eden Park in Auckland including that runaway try by Blues second five Ma'a Nonu (I thought he was going to make the All Blacks squad at 36 or 37 years of age but he is too old nonetheless unless an All Black call up beckons if someone gets injured) as well as a popular try by Blues blindside flanker known as 'Big Red' or 'Sauce', Tom Robinson (Son of All Black tourist Alastair who picked up his 1st try of the 2019 season).

And finally here are the rest of the results from round 8 of the 2019 Super Rugby season:

Reds 24 - 12  Stormers
Lions 5 - 40 Sharks
Rebels 45 - 15 Sunwolves
& Bulls 20 - 22 Jaguares

And finally the Black Caps (Who will try to follow up their success 4 years ago by reaching the final (It was the semifinal against South Africa at Eden Park when our South African born hero playing for New Zealand, Grant Elliott...Who hit the match winning six with only 2 balls remaining under the Duckworth-Lewis system) squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England (Well they are favourites because they are ranked the best one day international team in the world) had been named so here is the full 15 man squad:

Kane Williamson (Captain)
Tom Blundell (Wicket-keeper)
Trent Boult
Colin de Grandhomme
Lockie Ferguson
Martin Guptill
Matt Henry
Tom Latham (Wicket-keeper)
Colin Munro
Jimmy Neesham
Henry Nicholls
Mitchell Santner
Ish Sodhi
Tim Southee
& Ross Taylor

And here is my squad predictions for the All Blacks 31 man squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan:

Forwards

Hookers
Dane Coles
Liam Coltman
Codie Taylor

Props
Nepo Laulala
Atu Moli
Joe Moody
Angus Ta'avao
Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Locks
Scott Barrett
Brodie Retallick
Patrick Tuipulotu
Sam Whitelock

Back rowers
Sam Cane
Luke Jacobson
Kieran Read (Captain)
Ardie Savea
Matt Todd

Backs

Halfbacks
TJ Perenara
Aaron Smith
Brad Weber

First-fives
Beauden Barrett
Richie Mo'unga

Midfielders
Ryan Crotty
Jack Goodhue
Anton Lienert-Brown
Sonny Bill Williams

Outside Backs
Jordie Barrett
George Bridge
Rieko Ioane
Sevu Reece
Ben Smith

So that is my 279th blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 19th of this year.