Well, the All Blacks (Who missed out on a win against the Springboks (Who snatched it right at the death to seal a draw with a kick to come but they need a win against Argentina to win their 1st Rugby Championship (Well, they won the Tri Nations before 3 times (1998, 2004 & 2009) but never won a Rugby Championship but who will go into the Rugby World Cup as winners of the Rugby Championship? We'll see) should the AB's lose against Australia) in Wellington, setting the tone for the opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama on the 21st of September) have named their team against the Wallabies in the 1st of 2 Bledisloe Cup tests as well as the last round of the Rugby Championship (Well, we need a win against the Aussies to retain our coveted Rugby Championship title should South Africa lose & not get a bonus point against Argentina) at the all new Optus Stadium in Perth so here is the starting lineup in it's entirety:
PLAYING XV
FRONT ROW
1 (Loose head prop): Joe Moody (Crusaders/Canterbury)
2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Hurricanes/Wellington)
3 (Tight head prop): Owen Franks (Crusaders/Canterbury)
SECOND ROW
4 (Lock): Scott Barrett (Crusaders/Taranaki)
5 (Lock): Sam Whitelock (Crusaders/Canterbury)
BACK ROW
6 (Blind side flanker): Ardie Savea (Hurricanes/Wellington)
7 (Open side flanker): Sam Cane (Chiefs/Bay Of Plenty)
8 (Number 8): Kieran Read (Captain, Crusaders/Counties Manukau)
HALVES
9 (Half-back): Aaron Smith (Highlanders/Manawatu)
10 (First five-eighth): Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders/Canterbury)
MIDFIELD
12 (Second five-eighth): Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato)
13 (Centre): Jack Goodhue (Crusaders/Northland)
OUTSIDE BACKS
11 (Left wing): Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland)
14 (Right wing): Ben Smith (Highlanders/Otago)
& 15 (Fullback): Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki)
And in the reserves are:
16. Codie Taylor (Who replaces Dane Coles with Coles elevated to the starting lineup)
17. Atu Moli (Who returns to replace Ofa Tu'ungafasi as reserve loose head prop)
18. Angus Ta'avao
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (Who is back & raring to go to replace Vaea Fifita)
20. Matt Todd (Who is dropped to the bench replacing Dalton Papali'i)
21. TJ Perenara (Who is dropped to the bench with Aaron Smith returning to start at halfback)
22. Ngani Laumape (Who also replaces Anton Lienert-Brown with Lienert-Brown elevated to the starting lineup)
& 23. George Bridge
And it has been 6 days since one of our All Black rugby legends, Sir Brian 'BJ' Lochore has passed away aged 79 so all thoughts, prayers & condolences to him, RIP (Rest in piece/Rest in pieces/Requiscat en pace/Rest in paradise).
While in the Pacific Nations Cup, Fiji, 2019 RWC hosts Japan, & the USA get their wins against Canada, Tonga & Samoa respectively.
And finally, it has been a month since the struggling Blues franchise have all but confirmed that they signed star All Black & twice World Rugby player of the year, Beauden Barrett on a 4 year deal which takes him right throughout the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France (Well that was a bit of a shock, just like the Hurricanes have signed the late Jonah Lomu from the Chiefs in late 1999 & would gone on to appear for the Canes 29 times from 2000 to the 2003 Super 12 season).
So that is my 301st blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 41st of this year.
P.S. And Australia has drawn 1st blood in the 2019 Ashes series against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham after Steve Smith scored a century in both the 1st & 2nd (Along with Matthew Wade) innings then both Aussie bowlers Nathan Lyon & Pat Cummins shared all the 10 wickets aside in the 2nd innings.
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