Covid-19 lockdown report

Well, we had just heard reports of a state of emergency lockdown being in effect here in our country New Zealand (Along with the USA, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, India & Russia) according to the government as well as our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern because of the Covid-19 alert level 4 has been raised so we have been advised to remain at home (But have they got that clear & obvious message? But what does the lockdown means for our 4 & a half million Kiwis?) until the lockdown period ends in 4 weeks on the 23rd of April starting at 11:59pm last night (The lockdown period will extend if they refuse to stay at home but they got to stay off the streets at all times) because it saves lives (And it can be a saving grace) to prevent the spread of Covid-19 (I just saw it on the ad on TV today but I don't know when is Covid-19 gonna end? Because it might take forever to stop) but I have been announced that this'll be my last blog before I take a self imposed break from blogging after the lockdown period expires in order to unite against Covid-19 but ladies & gents on behalf of you, be cool & stay safe.

So that is my 348th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 8th of this year.

P.S. And it could be heartbreaking if Carole's brother Zaki & his wife are tested positive for Covid-19 (And I mean Carole would've been devastated but both Zaki & his wife are awaiting test results due in for tomorrow) because the number of Covid-19 cases here in the country have been jumped to 30%.

And we have heard rumors that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be held next year instead due to Covid-19 according to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe & the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

And finally I have been watching old rugby games on Sky Sport such as the 2005 (Same year that Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith came out in cinemas as well as the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina had unfolded in the US state of Louisiana) British & Irish Lions rugby tour to New Zealand (It was the 2nd test that Pops had been in Wellington that Dan Carter contributed 33 points in a single test as the AB's ran out winners against the Lions 48 to 18 to clinch the test series).

Super Rugby round 7 review (+ more updates of the coronavirus)

Well, the Hurricanes (Who had TJ Perenara yellow carded for a high tackle on Solomon Alaimalo) have done it as they beat the Chiefs with a match winning penalty (Man I was like, the Chiefs were heartbroken after conceding a penalty right on full time for a late tackle by Chiefs number 8 Pita Gus Sowakula on Hurricanes reserve prop Alex Fidow) by fullback Jordie Barrett at the death (They had so many phases at the ruck before the Hurricanes had been awarded the penalty) at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton then the Blues win 4 in a row, this time against the Lions (Who conceded the double whammy, the penalty try & a yellow card by one of the Lions players for a deliberate knockdown) at Eden Park in Auckland then the Crusaders were just too good against the Sunwolves at Suncorp Stadium despite being down for 14 men (And 13 at some point after Sevu Reece was sin binned for a deliberate knock on) after Hugh Roach got dismissed with a red card for an elbow to the head of a Sunwolves player.

And the Super Rugby season has now been suspended indefinitely due to Covid-19 along with other sports (Like the NBA, NHL, MLB, English Premier League & other sports leagues) which have been disrupted (And we have just heard reports that most countries affected by the disease have their borders shut down especially New Zealand (And in both China & South Korea the confirmed number of cases has been dropped significantly but we have 8 confirmed cases here in New Zealand) but be aware that there has already been a self quarantine law (We are under self isolation until the 30th of March) for a fortnight in place when passengers arrive to other countries but remember that they must wash hands for 20 seconds to stop the spread of the virus (And never touch the eyes, mouth and/or nose) & learn social distancing).

So that is my 347th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 7th of this year.

Super Rugby round 6, Six Nations round 4 review (+ update on the coronavirus)

Well, the Crusaders have won the match, continuing their dominance against the Reds (Who haven't beaten the Crusaders since the Super Rugby final in 2011 on their home turf in Brisbane) by 4 points at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch before the Chiefs thrash the Waratahs with victory at WIN Stadium in Wollongong then the Blues had a shock win against the Hurricanes marred by that red card by Hurricanes prop Tyrel Lomax for a intentional head high tackle & 2 yellows (1st it was Vaea Fifita for a no arms shoulder charge & fullback Jordie Barrett for a deliberate knock down which resulted in a penalty try (It is worth an automatic 7 points) at Sky Stadium in Wellington then the match between the Bulls & the Highlanders began but both sides had to wear their blue jerseys (I laughed & joked about it when both teams got kinda confused) until halftime then the Bulls changed to their white strip to distinguish with the Highlanders greenish blue strip but the Bulls notched up their 1st win of the season against the Highlanders after taking advantage of the white jerseys that they wore in the 2nd half.

And in Six Nations rugby news such as 14 men England (Who had English centre Manu Tuilagi been sent off for a sickening high shot on Welsh player George North as well as Joe Marler being suspended for 10 weeks after being cited by the citing officer for a testicle grab on Welsh skipper Alun Wyn Jones) down Wales to go on top of the Six Nations table before France's hopes of winning the Six Nations took a tumble, losing to Scotland after one of the French players has been dismissed from the field for a reckless punch to the face (Which is direct contact to the head with force but they have been pulling out the law book for serious foul plays over the weekend of rugby (Well, discipline has been hurting a bit in the game of rugby) on a Scottish player.

And it was today that Pops & I visited Raetihi just like last year & went to my late brother Wiremu's grave but we left & had Subway for lunch in Taihape before we got home to Whanganui in time (We went on the alternate route instead of the main route in Marton).

And finally there has some breaking news regarding to the coronavirus that I'm watching on CNN (Pops sometimes watches that programme along with Aunty Tania & Rejean as well) such as tightening travel restrictions from Europe to America had been announced by the US president Donald Trump (Well, to be honest, I think the travel ban is effectively a good idea as well as the ban on mass public gatherings) as well as an NBA player playing for the NBA team Utah Jazz named Rudy Gobert has been confirmed that he has been diagnosed with coronavirus (Well, the NBA season has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic) along with Hollywood A-lister Tom Hanks & his wife Rita Wilson in Australia (Although a Melbourne Rebels rugby fan had tested positive along with 4 team members of the McLaren F1 team eventually causing a cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix due to be held this weekend).

So that is my 346th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 6th of this year.

Super Rugby round 5 & Black Caps Vs India 2nd test review

Well, the Highlanders are in trouble as they were outplayed by the clinically good Rebels side at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin then the Hurricanes demolish the Sunwolves at McLean Park in Napier with an impressive hat-trick of tries scored by South African born former Sharks & Stormers player Kobus van Wyk (Chase Tiatia had a great game (He got both tries in the process), so too is the midfield combo of Ngani Laumape & Vince Aso & local boy Gareth Evans) before the Blues put on a good performance, ending the Stormers hopes of remaining unbeaten by securing back to back wins in the republic (It was in 2004 at this point that the last time the Blues had won both matches in a row in South Africa).

And here are the other results from the 5th round of Super Rugby:

Waratahs 29 - 17 Lions
Reds 23 - 33 Sharks
& Bulls 24 - 39 Jaguares

And finally in cricket news as the Black Caps win the 2nd test against India by 7 wickets to win the test series 2 - 0 (Kyle Jamieson (Who made his debut in Wellington against India in which they won by 10 wickets (Tim Southee was man of the match when he picked up a 5 wicket haul) was the top performer, getting 5 wickets in the 1st innings before he came agonizingly close of getting a half-ton at 49 when Indian wicket-keeper Risabh Pant had caught the ball during the 1st innings) after winning the ODI series 3 - 0 after an incredible unbeaten half ton from Colin de Grandhomme in the 3rd & final ODI at Bay Oval in Tauranga.

So that is my 345th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 5th of this year.