Well, it is only 8 days until the start of the 2019 Rugby World Cup but 5 days ago the All Blacks demolished Tonga by 92 points to 7 in our final test before the Rugby World Cup at FMG Stadium Waikato in the city of the future, Hamilton so here is the full match commentary provided by Newshub:
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the All Blacks test against Tonga from FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
The match is both teams' final game before the Rugby World Cup, which starts on September 20.
This will be the sixth meeting between the two nations, with New Zealand winning all past meetings. The All Blacks beat Tonga 47-9 in their previous meeting.
Lineups:
All Blacks: 1-Joe Moody, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Sam Whitelock, 6-Ardie Savea, 7-Matt Todd, 8-Kieran Read, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-George Bridge, 12-Ryan Crotty, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Sevu Reece, 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Scott Barrett, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Jordie Barrett
Tonga: 1-Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2-Siua Maile, 3-Siua Halanukonuka, 4-Sam Lousi, 5-Leva Fifita, 6-Sione Kalamafoni, 7-Fotu Lokotui, 8-Ma'ama Vaipulu, 9-Sonatane Takulua, 10-Kurt Morath, 11-Viliami Lolohea, 12-Siale Piutau, 13-Malietoa Hingano, 14-Cooper Vuna, 15-David Halaifonua
Reserves: 16-Sione Anga'aelangi, 17-Vunipola Fifita, 18-Ma'afu Fia, 19-Dan Faleafa, 20-Zane Kapeli, 21- Leon Fukofuka, 22-James Faiva, 23-Atieli Pakalani
Referee: Angus Gardner
2:13PM: Greetings all - stunning day in the 'Tron'. Groundsman Karl Johnson has done a great job with the surface given the awful weather the North Island has seen this last week.
2:17PM: Brodie Retallick talking to Sky Sports' Kirstie Stanway says he is hoping to be fit for the final World Cup pool game.
2:23PM: Players and officials almost set to go - will be heading out shortly. Afternoon test rugby - how good?
2:25PM: A bit of cloud coming over the ground now.....track is in good nic though. A bit of wind about and the All Blacks will run with it first.
2:28PM: National anthem time.
2:32PM: Great renditions of the respective anthems. Haka / war dance time. First up will be the Tongan Sipi Tau.
2:33PM: The Haka lead by TJ Perenara.
KICK OFF: All right - here we go says Angus Gardner and it'll be Kurt Morath to get us underway.
1ST MINUTE, SCRUM: Barrett with an early high kick is dropped by Morath on halfway. Early scrum for the ABs.
3RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Set piece play opens up the Tongan defence. George Bridge put through a hole by Barrett - he finds Smith but the Tongan cover is good. Breakdown penalty for Tonga and they clear.
5TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks have a scrum on halfway. Set play opens them up again as Reece rounds round from the back and finds ALB - George Bridge is away again - he kicks ahead but fullback Halaifonua does well. 22 restart.
7TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Midfield scrum for the AB's 30m out.
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (SEVU REECE) & CONVERSION: AB's go to the left and ALB finds Bridge in space...he goes close but is stopped 5m short. Perenara shifts right and a wobbly Barrett pass finds Savea who shifts to Reece...goose-step and he beats the defender to score his second try for the All Blacks. Barrett converts. NZ 7 - 0.
11TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks creating space for themselves. Qucik hands by the back and a slick pass fro Lienert-Brown sends Bridge away again but he's wrapped up by the cover. Tonga were offside and the ABs have a lineout 5m out.
13TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Turnover and Tonga clears.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Tonga go an the attack after some loose play from Barrett and Lienert-Brown. 20m out.
16TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (BEN SMITH) & CONVERSION: Second try assist for Ardie Savea. He wins a turnover on his own 30...rips the ball off Lolohea, shifts to Smith who is away down the left wing and will score untouched. Showed some gas there Smith racing a good 60m to dot down. Barrett converts. NZ 14 - 0.
19TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (CODIE TAYLOR) & CONVERSION: Barrett front and centre again sends Bridge away - great run from the Crusaders winger but he's dragged down 20m out.....Perenara shifts right and Read's long pass is touched by Piutau - falls into the hands of Taylor who beats one defender to score. NZ 21 - 0.
24TH MINUTE (5 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Tonga with a period of possession but they can't make an impact and Morath kicks - All Blacks run it back but eventually Perenara loses the ball forward in contact. Scrum on their own 30m for Tonga.
26TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks have a lineout on the Tongan 22.
27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (GEORGE BRIDGE) & CONVERSION MISS: Quality! Barrett's quick hands has ALB through a midfield hole - cover drags him down...quick ball from Peranara...a superb pass to Barrett..he shifts to Smith who finds Bridge and he dives over one handed to score in the corner. Barrett can't convert. NZ 26 - 0.
32ND MINUTE (5 MINUTES LATER): Tonga go close - Kalamafoni makes a break up the middle...he chips ahead but it's too long and Barrett dots down for the 22.
33RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (KIERAN READ) & CONVERSION: Forwards show the backs how to do it. Perenara shifts quickly to the right - Laulala's quick hands find Patrick Tuipulotu...he gets an offload away in contact to Ardie Savea who is sprinting away down the right wing.,.draw and pass finds Read who scores under the posts. Barrett converts. NZ 33 - 0.
35TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (TJ PERENARA) & CONVERSION: One way traffic. Qucik hands in the backline leads to a Sevu Reece break...Tongan defence swarms but he passes inside to TJ who scores from 20m out. NZ 40 - 0.
38TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (BEN SMITH) & CONVERSION: Tonga turn the ball over on halfway...the ABs shift through a Codie Taylor pass - he finds Ben Smith who beats two defenders and races away to score. NZ 47 - 0.
39TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (RYAN CROTTY) & CONVERSION: ABs from inside their own 22....Barrett to Read to Smith to Savea who is away down the right hand side...draw and pass to Reece who offloads to Crotty who runs away to score under the posts. NZ 54 - 0.
HALFTIME: All Blacks completely dominant in a rampaging first 40mins. Eight tries to zero. Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, George Bridge and Beauden Barrett have been excellent while Ben Smith looks at home in the 15 jersey. Back in 10 minutes.
2ND HALF, SUBSTITUTION: Josh Ioane is on for Barrett. His test debut and he will kick off.
41ST MINUTE, TRY ALL BLACKS (GEORGE BRIDGE) & CONVERSION MISS: Seven seconds! Ioane with a very high kick - Bridge leaps and pulls it in, beats one defender and dives in the left corner to score. George Bridge is a superstar. Ioane with a great effort from the sideline but it's just short. NZ 59 - 0.
44TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: ABs through 13 phases before Tonga concede a penalty. TJ Perenara went close...Ioane kicks for the line and it'll be a 5m lineout.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (MATT TODD) & CONVERSION MISS: Lineout drive and Todd scores. Too easy. Ioane can't add the extras. NZ 64 - 0.
47TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (ARDIE SAVEA), CONVERSION & SUBSTITUTION: Wow! Try of the season. Ioane a chip cross kick inside his 22 finds Reece on the run...inside pass to Savea and he burns the defence to score under the dot. Awesome rugby that. Ioane has his first points. NZ 71 - 0. Sam Whitelock off and Scott Barrett is on.
52ND MINUTE (5 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (GEORGE BRIDGE) & CONVERSION: Three tries for the left winger! Turnover ball - TJ shifts quickly to the left, ALB with brilliant hands finds Ioane who quickly gets a ball away to Bridge in space - he beats three defenders with an outside-inside step and scores.. Ioane converts. NZ 78-0.
54TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SUBSTITUTION: ABs clear the bench...only Aaron Smith remaining.
57TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (GEORGE BRIDGE) & CONVERSION: Four tries for the Crusaders winger. Turnover ball for the ABs.....ALB sees the space on the left, Ioane on the run kicks ahead and Bridge collects the ball on the bounce to race away and score. Ioane converts from a wide angle. NZ 85 - 0.
60TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY & YELLOW CARD: Sam Lousi given a yellow card for a no arms tackle.
61ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Jordie Barrett and Sevu Reece combine down the right hand side but Barrett is bundled out over the touchline on halfway.
64TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks break away again down the right hand side. Ardie Savea this time...he draws the fullback but his pass to Reece is woeful and the ball floats out.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (RYAN CROTTY) & CONVERSION: Simple...too simple. Ioane shovels a pass to Crotty who beats three players to race away and score. Ioane converts. NZ 92-0.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks will play the final 14 mins with 14 men. Ryan Crotty departs - he's not injured but maybe the brains trust are keen to see them play with a man short just in case.
70TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Tonga have a midfield penalty. They have a lineout 10m out.
72ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Savea wins a turnover - how good has he been today. Ioane clears - Tongan lineout on the ABs 22.
73RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Jordie Barrett might be in trouble here - he collides with Sevu Reece and in turn takes out a Tongan player contesting a high ball. Referee is okay with it given he tripped over his own player - calls it unfortunate. No foul play.
75TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Tonga have a lineout 5m out.
77TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY TONGA (SIALE PIUTAU): All Blacks defended well although they gave a way a couple of penalties...but eventually there is a crack in the D line as Reece comes out of the line for an intercept..misses and Piutau scores under the bar. NZ 92-7.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ardie Savea just shades George Bridge and his four tries.
Final whistle blows and that's it. The ABs were ruthless for the first 65 minutes, then took the foot off the pedal when they decided to play with 14 men. 14 tries to one.
ALL BLACKS 92 - 7 TONGA
And in international rugby news such as Scotland getting a good win against Georgia then England (Who had their flight to Japan delayed due to a typhoon) trash Italy by 37 points at St James Park in Newcastle upon Tyne as well as Australia who defeat Samoa at the brand new stadium in Parramatta which is Bankwest Stadium & of course, Ireland continuing their dominance against Wales (Well, those Welsh fans didn't travel to Ireland to see them play but they are saving their money for Japan) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin meaning that Ireland will go into the 2019 Rugby World Cup as the number 1 ranked country in the world.
And here is the review of the 5th round of the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup season:
Tasman strengthened their position of the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership five weeks into the competition but it was a thrilling Ranfurly Shield game which saw Otago retain the trophy 35-27 that proved the game of the weekend.
Tasman have 24 points in the Championship but Wellington on 16 and Auckland, North Harbour and Waikato are all on 14 points.
Hawke's Bay are unbeaten in the Championship with 23 points, seven clear of Bay of Plenty with Otago third on 15 and Taranaki on 14.
The individual try scoring has three players, Canterbury's Josh McKay, Hawke's Bay's Ash Dixon and Otago's Jona Nareki on six tries each while Waikato's Fletcher Smith heads in the individual points scoring with 52 points with Bay of Plenty's Dan Hollinshead and Taranaki's Daniel Waite on 50 points each.
Results were:
Manawatu v Northland
It was difficult to believe that Manawatu had been winless before this effort notable for sweeping backline movements which were executed with telling speed and efficiency from deep in their own territory. Wing Andre Taylor got two of them, the second being the result of a chip in-goal but the rest, including those scored by flanker Johnny Galloway and halfback Jamie Booth, were outstanding efforts. Northland were not to be outdone and halfback Sam Nock might never have a better chance for a blindside break than he had to open his side's scoring while fullback Scott Gregory's pace ensured a loser's bonus point.
Scorers: Manawatu 31 (Andre Taylor 2, Johnny Galloway, Jamie Booth tries; Otere Black 4 con pen) Northland 25 (Sam Nock, Ross Wright, Scott Gregory tries; Jack Debreczeni 2con, 2 pen). HT: 24-10
Hawke's Bay v Southland
Desperate to secure a win Southland had no sympathy from a determined Hawke's Bay combination in Napier. It was typical of the Southerners lack of luck that an attacking move of their own resulted in a goalline turnover which saw Hawke's Bay score at the other end. The home side also picked up three tries courtesy of their driving lineout maul, two of them to hooker Ash Dixon, while they were quick to put their backs into space, first five-eighths Lincoln McClutchie and midfielder Danny Toala being especially effective. Wing Isaac Te Tamaki scored twice for Southland.
Scorers: Hawke's Bay 41 (Gareth Evans, Ash Dixon 2, Danny Toala, Brendon O'Connor, Lincoln McClutchie, Jason Long tries; Danny Toala 2con, McClutchie con) Southland 23 (Isaac Te Tamaki 2, Josh Moorby tries; Marty McKenzie con, 2 pen). HT: 17-6
Counties Manukau v Tasman
Continuing to play their compelling style of rugby, Tasman had too much speed and support for Counties Manukau in Pukekohe. Fullback Will Jordan's pace saw him score the first two tries. Wing Leicester Faing'anuku was followed by hookers Levi Aumua and Hugh Roach in an effort that kept the home team scoreless. It is the ability of backs and forwards to use the ball, run hard and handle superbly that has the Tasman side proving so hard to stop.
Scorers: Counties Manukau 0 Tasman 36 (Will Jordan 2, Leicester Faing'anuku, Levi Aumua, Hugh Roach tries; Mitchell Hunt 3 con, pen; Tim O'Malley con). HT: 0-24
North Harbour v Waikato
When Waikato got out to a 28-12 lead at Albany over there was every reason North Harbour were done and dusted with 30 minutes remaining. That was especially considering the tries scored by wing Bailyn Sullivan,hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho, centre Quinn Tupaea and first five-eighths Fletcher Smith. But North Harbour stormed home after two earlier stunning tries to wing Mark Telea. First it was loose forward urphy Taramai, then hooker Luteru Tolai and miefield James Little who made the most of a superb break by flanker Dillon Hunt before a fulltime cracker scored by first five-eighths Matt McGahan which levelled the scores. Then McGahan sealed the game with a conversion from wide out.
Scorers: North Harbour 38 (Mark Telea 2, Murphy Taramai, Luteru Tolai, James Little, Matt McGahan tries; McGahan 4 con) Waikato 36 (Bailyn Sullivan, Samisoni Taukei'aho 2, Quinn Tupaea, Fletcher Smith tries; Smith 4 con, pen). HT: 12-21
Bay of Plenty v Wellington
Discipline proved crucial for Wellington who had only one try to their credit, a lovely catch of a lobbed kick in his direction to second five-eighths Peter Umaga-Jensen, by the cool-header first five-eighths Jackson Garden-Bachop. With three penalty goals, Garden-Bachop punished the home team who had looked likely with halfback Richard Judd burrowing across for his try while a couple of tackle breaking runs, first by centre Joe Webber and then by try scorer wing Emoni Narawa gave Bay every chance. But a missed conversion attempt and a dropped goal attempt charged down denied Bay of Plenty.
Scorers: Bay of Plenty 15 (Richard Judd, Emoni Narawa tries; Dan Hollinshead con, pen) Wellington 16 (Peter Umaga-Jensen try; Jackson Garden-Bachop con, 3 pen). HT: 10-9
Auckland v Canterbury
Canterbury were desperate to end their poor start to the competition at Eden Park and they struck first when halfback Billy Harmon scored the first of his two tries and while Auckland replied, midfielder Dallas McLeod got over just before halftime to really turn the pressure on the home team and defending champions. Harmon scored his second 10 minutes into the second half and while flanker Blake Gibson and fullback Salesi Rayasi scored for Auckland, Canterbury sealed the deal 13 minutes from time when halfback Ereatara Enari scored.
Scorers: Auckland 22 (Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Salesi Rayasi tries; Harry Plummer 2 con, pen) Canterbury 32 (Billy Harmon 2, Dallas McLeod, Ereatara Enari tries; Brett Cameron 2 con, 2 pen; Fergus Burke con). HT: 10-20
Otago v Taranaki
Not many gave Otago a chance of retaining the Ranfurly Shield but tries either side of halftime to wing Jona Nareki and first five-eighths Vilimoni Koroi gave the home side a key advantage, especially after former darling of Forsyth Barr Stadium, wing Waisake Naholo had looked to cut loose for Taranaki. Two breaks created two chances, only the second one taken by lock Mitchell Brown after halfback Tahuriorangi Te Toiroa dropped the ball on the goaline. Taranaki stayed in the hunt but Nareki again, and the goal-kicking boot of Koroi over-rode the late tries for first five-eighths Stephen Perofeta and second five-eighths Tei Walden.
Scorers: Otago 35 (Aleki Morris, Jona Nareki 2, Vilimoni Koroi; Koroi 3 con, 3 pen) Taranaki 27 (Mitchell Brown, Stephen Perofeta, Teihorangi Walden tries; Daniel Waite 3 con, 2pen). HT: 17-13
And in cricket news such as a Steve Smith double century in the 1st innings has helped Australia clinch & defend the Ashes against England in the 4th test at Old Trafford.
And finally in tennis news such as young 19 year old Canadian Bianca Andreescu winning the 2019 US Open women's singles final against American Serena Williams a day before Spaniard Rafael Nadal winning the 2019 US Open men's singles final to add to his 2019 French Open title against Russian Danil Medvedev.
So that is my 308th blog of the year 2019 (MMXIX) & my 48th of this year.
P.S. And Carole's son Andy came here on Sunday to go to Rutland Arms for dinner along with Kelsey & her parents John & Rhonda before we came to Carole's to have dessert (Both Andy, Kelsey, John & Rhonda left the day after) then on Tuesday night, Carole took me to the airport to pick up both Kathryn & Ken because I was there on behalf of Pops moments before they took them to 15A Kells Avenue for a stir fry dinner then a day later, Kathryn & Ken went to look both houses as well as having a big lunch at Caroline's several hours before both Kathryn & Ken left to head back home.
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