Well, the All Blacks have done it in style as they pummel the Wallabies in Sydney to retain the Bledisloe in the opening Tri Nations match (Although star All Black first five Richie Mo'unga (Father of newborn baby Millie & husband of Sophie (Richie Mo'unga's beautiful wife) has been the top performer (Standout) of the game with a double (Both tries that he scored but narrowly missed out on getting a hat-trick after being ankle tapped by a Wallaby player before passing the ball to his All Black teammates & second five Jack Goodhue when Goodhue couldn't handle the ball & then knocked it on, he'll be annoyed at that (According to Justin Marshall in commentary for the Rugby Challenge video game series), 5 conversions & a penalty with a total of 23 points so far but with this victory, the AB's secure the biggest winning margin against Australia in 24 years (They beat them by 38 points surpassing the previous best with 37 (It was in 1996 where the All Blacks thrash the Wallabies at the old Athletic Park (It has since been demolished 20 years ago with Sky Stadium taken over as their main rugby ground in Wellington) in Wellington during the inaugural Tri Nations match in treacherous conditions) so here is the match commentary taken from Newshub:
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the third Bledisloe Cup test match between the All Blacks and Australia from Stadium Australia in Sydney.
The All Blacks require just the solitary win from the final 2 Bledisloe Cup matches to defend the Cup for the 17th year in a row.
After both sides played out a pulsating draw in Wellington in the first test post-COVID, the All Blacks bounced back to thrash the Wallabies at Eden Park.
The clash also marks the start of the revamped Rugby Championship (Which is now Tri Nations Rugby), which will also feature Argentina.
The All Blacks have named an almost full-strength line-up. Rookie All Blacks No.8 Hoskins Sotutu (Son of famous Auckland & Blues player Waisake) will make his 1st test start with Ardie Savea (Brother of World Cup winning All Black in 2015, Julian) late to arrive, after his wife gave birth to their first child.
Sotutu is one of three changes to the run-on side, with Karl Tu'inukuafe returning to loosehead prop at the expense of Joe Moody, who is still going through HIA (Concussion) protocols.
Veteran Sam Whitelock (Dual Rugby World Cup winning player for the All Blacks in both 2011 & 2015 & brother of rugby players Adam, George & Luke) reclaims his spot at lock, after overcoming his own concussion issues, forcing Tupou Vaa'i out of the match day squad.
Midfielder Ngani Laumape (Ex rugby league player) and loose forward Dalton Papali'i are also in line for their first All Blacks appearances of the year, both named to the bench.
Elsewhere among the reserves, prop Tyrel Lomax (Son of former New Zealand rugby league player John) comes in for Nepo Laulala (Brother of former All Black Casey & current Counties Manukau player Luteru), also on baby-watch along with Ardie Savea after Nepo & his partner are expecting their first child, while Rieko Ioane (Son of Samoan rugby player Eddie & ex Black Fern Sandra Wihongi as well as the younger brother of Blues & Auckland player Akira) returns, after a hamstring injury forced him out of the Eden Park test.
All Blacks V Australia
Saturday, October 31st, 9:45pm (New Zealand time)
All Blacks
1. Karl Tu'inukuafe
2. Dane Coles
3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Sam Cane (c)
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. Aaron Smith
10. Richie Mo'unga
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Jack Goodhue
13. Anton Lienert-Brown
14. Jordie Barrett
15. Beauden Barrett
Reserves
16. Codie Taylor
17. Alex Hodgman
18. Tyrel Lomax
19. Scott Barrett
20. Dalton Papali'i
21. TJ Perenara
22. Ngani Laumape
23. Rieko Ioane
Australia
1. James Slipper
2. Brendon Paenga-Amosa
3. Allan Alaalatoa
4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
5. Matt Philip
6. Ned Hanigan
7. Michael Hooper (c)
8. Harry Wilson
9. Nic White
10. Noah Lolesio
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Irae Simone
13. Jordan Petaia
14. Filipo Daugunu
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese
17. Scott Sio
18. Taniela Tupou
19. Rob Simmons
20. Fraser McReight
21. Tate McDermott
22. Reece Hodge
23. Hunter Paisami
For the Wallabies, Dave Rennie (The former Manawatu, Chiefs & Glasgow Warriors coach) has named four fresh faces for his 23-man squad. Noah Lolesio and Irae Simone are named in the starting 15 (Replacing both injured players James O'Connor & Matt To'omua), while both Reds players Tate McDermott & Fraser McReight will make their debuts off the bench, replacing Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon & Reds loose forward Liam Wright respectively. Allan Alaalatoa (Son of Samoan rugby player Vili (Who named his son Allan who Vili was a cricket fan after the successful Australian cricketer Allan Border (AB) & brother of Samoan international Michael (Who plays for both the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa & Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup) is the only change to the pack and he comes in for Taniela Tupou (The Tongan Thor who went to Sacred Heart School in Auckland & scored a hat trick of tries during a 1st XV rugby game before moving to Australia where he is playing rugby there (He was eligible in late 2017 to play for Australia).
Injuries to Matt To’omua and James O’Connor have forced Rennie's hand somewhat. Noah Lolesio will start at first-five for O'Connor, while Irae Simone comes in at second-five for To'omua and Dane Haylett-Petty (South African born player & brother of Melbourne Rebel Ross) comes in for Tom Banks at fullback.
Australia have a lot of experience on the bench, with Scott Sio (Son of Samoan rugby player Tavita or David (His anglicized name) who has named after him after the rugby playing nation of Scotland), Rob Simmons and Reece Hodge all have played over 40 tests.
New Zealand doesn’t have the strongest record in Australia, winning only 61 percent of their matches and at Stadium Australia, only 58 percent.
The All Blacks have dominated the Wallabies over the last 10 years, winning 19 of last 25 matches since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, with the Wallabies only recording three wins in that period.
Last five encounters:
2020: 27–7 All Blacks - Eden Park, Auckland
2020: 16-16 draw - Sky Stadium, Wellington
2019: 36–0 All Blacks - Eden Park, Auckland
2019: 47–26 Australia - Optus Stadium, Perth
2018: 37–20 All Blacks - Nissan Stadium, Yokohama, Japan
Confidence is growing in Australia with former Wallabies fullback Matthew Burke predicting a tight win for the Aussies.
"If you can keep New Zealand to 16 points or less, you go well in the game, so defence will be the key tonight," Burke tells Newshub.
"We are all Aussies now. Whether there was a separation or disconnect the last couple of years, certainly now what we are seeing is everyone is connecting incredibly well."
After a turbulent day of weather in Sydney, with lighting, rain and sun, showers will welcome the players in Sydney so we could be in for a battle between the forward packs.
New Zealand referee Ben O'Keefe will be in the man in the middle for this test match.
Australia have won the toss and will kick off.
Sam Cane and Michael Hooper have led their sides out onto a wet Stadium Australia field. Australia are wearing their indigenous jerseys.
The All Blacks are unleashing 'Kapo o Pango' - their 'A' haka - they mean business tonight (Australia were in the boomerang formation during the AB's haka).
KICK OFF: The Wallabies get us under way in Sydney.
1ST MINUTE: Beauden Barrett gathers the kick off, clears to halfway.
Lienert-Brown makes small break down wing but goes into touch on halfway.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Wallabies from lineout go out to forwards in midfield. All Blacks start strongly on defence before Lolesio clears down to Clarke.
3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Filipo Daugunu. From lineout, White puts up a bomb and Clarke puts it down under huge pressure from Daugunu.
TMO REFERRAL, YELLOW CARD & PENALTY: Ref having a look at dangerous play. Daugunu sent to the naughty chair for tackling Caleb Clarke in the air.
4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga finds touch from penalty. Lineout All Blacks on Wallabies 10m line.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: From lineout, All Blacks set maul and go about 10m before they go wide to Beauden Barrett. Wallabies give away an offside penalty.
7TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Tu'inukuafe. Lineout 7m out. All Blacks set lineout drive before going wide to Mo'unga. All Blacks get fast ball and find Tu'inukuafe, who slides over.
CONVERSION: Great start ABs. Mo'unga converts the try. 7-0 ALL BLACKS
9TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Tuipulotu gathers kickoff strongly. Mo'unga puts crossfield kick in, which Lienert-Brown regathers and offloads to Jordie Barrett, who gets down to Aussie 22 and knocks on in contact.
TMO REFERRAL, YELLOW CARD & PENALTY: Ref looking at foul play by Jordie Barrett for elbowing Dane Haylett-Petty. Ref sends Barrett to the sin bin for an offensive high tackle (Leading an elbow to the head whilst carrying the ball (In possession).
11TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Australia will have lineout on their 10m line. Wallabies go short to Nic White who gets smashed by Coles.
Mo'unga puts a bomb up and Clarke gathers it. All Blacks attacking in 22.
12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks building their attack nicely. Crossfield kick from Mo'unga into in goal area and Dane Coles, ranging wide, grounds it to score.
TMO REFERRAL, NO TRY: Referee now checking the grounding. Television Match Official has ruled the try out.
13TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Wallabies clear through Lolesio, giving All Blacks a lineout 15m out.
14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From lineout, All Blacks set maul, before going short side. Aaron Smith draws and passes to Clarke who looks like he has scored, but Koroibete has forced him dead and he can't ground the ball. 22m drop-out.
Daugunu back from the bin.
15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: All Blacks start their attack on halfway, before Smith puts midfield bomb up and Cane gathers. Tu'inukuafe puts down a simple pass.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From scrum, Wallabies dominate before going wide, Simone puts grubber into All Blacks 22, where Beauden Barrett gathers and Smith clears down to 10m line.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: From lineout, Wallabies go into midfield. They come back to the short side and Simone knocks on going for a grubber kick.
Scrum All Blacks 25m out from their own line.
18TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: From scrum, All Blacks end up putting a grubber kick in through Coles and Wallabies regather. Both teams trade kicks before Barrett puts up bomb, Haylett-Petty drops it and an offside Aussie player picks it up. Penalty All Blacks (For a Wallaby player who was never onside).
Jordie Barrett back from sin bin.
20TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Mo'unga. What a try from Richie Mo'unga. All Blacks go deep from lineout and set lineout-drive. As Smith clears, Mo'unga comes back down the short side. He uses his speed to beat two defenders to score in the corner.
CONVERSION MISS: Mo'unga can't convert his own try. 12-0 ALL BLACKS
22ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks clear from kickoff through Smith who puts bomb up and Haylett-Petty gathers well. Australia go wide and get into the 22 but Daugunu goes into touch.
24TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From lineout, All Blacks clear down to halfway through Smith. Daugunu throws bad offload into touch. Lineout All Blacks on halfway.
26TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Mo'unga. Mo'unga puts up bomb and it's scrappy, before Wallabies gather and start their attack. Daugunu breaks down wing before knocking on.
CONVERSION: All Blacks counter attack. Beauden Barrett puts chip kick over the top, Mo'unga regathers, beating two Wallabies defenders and goes 40m to score. Mo'unga converts. 19-0 ALL BLACKS
28TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks clear through Smith with another bomb which Haylett-Petty puts down. Goodhue puts kick into Wallabies 22.
PENALTY: Australia under huge pressure and Clarke wins breakdown penalty just 7m out.
30TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Coles. All Blacks will go for lineout and it's just 5m out. They set lineout drive, which they execute perfectly and Coles crahses over. All Blacks on fire!!! Mo'unga converts from out wide. 26-0 ALL BLACKS
31ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Lienert-Brown clears down to 10m line. All Blacks win lineout against throw.
32ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks looking dangerous with Jordie Barrett making a small break down the short side but they concede a penalty at the breakdown for holding on (Not releasing ball). Lineout Australia 10m line New Zealand.
34TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): From a lineout, Wallabies set a lineout drive before going wide to Simone, but Cane steals the ball back and All Blacks kick down to Wallabies 10m line. White will put up a bomb which Beauden Barrett drops and Australia attack.
Wallabies put a grubber in when looking dangerous and it goes dead. 22m drop out.
36TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: From 22m drop out, Wallabies start their attack as they come wide to Petaia, but he drops the ball. Scrum All Blacks on their own 10m line.
38TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): After three re-set scrums, All Blacks are looking strong on the attack through Clarke. Wallabies are defending well and after seven phases Smith puts up a bomb which Daugunu can't handle.
SCRUM: Mo'unga breaks clear into the backfield and looks certain to score but an ankle tap brings him down, then he offloads to Goodhue who puts it down with the line open.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), FREE KICK (SHORT ARM PENALTY): All Blacks give away free kick at the scrum. Wallabies kick the ball out and that will be halftime.
HALF TIME
What a half from the All Blacks who have put Wallabies to the sword, scoring 4 tries through Coles, Tu'inukuafe and a double for Mo'unga. It was a near-perfect 1st half and the All Blacks unlucky not have to have 3 more tries, with 2 ruled out and Goodhue bombing a certain try.
SECOND HALF: All Blacks get us back underway through Mo'unga.
42ND MINUTE, TRY WALLABIES: Lolesio Australia gathers kickoff well before White puts up midfield bomb. All Blacks gather but Smith knocks on.
CONVERSION MISS: Petaia makes a great break down the right-hand side into the All Blacks 22. Wallabies get fast ball, Lolesio runs into a huge gap and crashes over. Lolesio can't convert. 26-5 ALL BLACKS
44TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Wallabies penalized at the ruck for not releasing just past their own 22.
45TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks go for touch and will have a lineout 5m. All Blacks go quickly, but Coles doesn't throw it straight.
SUBSTITUTION: Coles subbed off for Codie Taylor (And that was Coles's last act by conceding a scrum for a lineout throw not straight) and Karl Tu'inukuafe off for Hodgman.
47TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: From the scrum, Wallabies dominate the scrum and win a penalty. Lineout Australia just short of halfway.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: White puts up a high ball which Clarke can't gather and Wallabies attack, but All Blacks win a penalty at the ruck through Sam Whitelock.
50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Wallabies steal lineout and White puts kick downfield but it goes out on the full. Lineout New Zealand.
51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks attacking centre field just short of 22 of Wallabies. After eight phases of good Wallabies defence, they win a penalty at the breakdown.
Lineout Australia All Blacks 10m line. From the lineout, Harry Wilson makes a strong run but knocks-on in contact.
53RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks dominate and win a scrum penalty. All Blacks will have a lineout on Australia's 22.
54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks go short at lineout again. Wallabies win a pilfer at the ruck and earn themselves a penalty.
SUBSTITUTION: Scott Barrett and TJ Perenara on for Tuipulotu and Smith.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: From the lineout, Wallabies knock-on while going for lineout drive.
57TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: From the scrum, All Blacks dominate the scrum and win a penalty at scrum time.
59TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY & PENALTY GOAL ALL BLACKS: Mo'unga - From the lineout, which is on Australia's 22m line, the All Blacks win a penalty at the ruck area. Mo'unga will have shot at goal from 25m out. He slots it down the middle.
SUBSTITUTION: Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Jack Goodhue off for Tyrel Lomax, Ngani Laumape.
62ND MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Wallabies building their attack just inside All Blacks half and win a penalty after the All Blacks were caught offside.
SCRUM: Lolesio kicks the ball dead going for touch. Scrum All Blacks just short of halfway.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: From the scrum, Perenara throws a wayward pass and the AB's lose it forward. Wallabies counter through Petaia who gets into 22. New Zealand give away a penalty. Lineout Australia 5m out.
65TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Wallabies attacking just short of the line, but Sam Cane wins a breakdown penalty to halt Wallabies momentum.
67TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Perenara puts up a bomb in midfield, which Laumape gathers and his offloads is knocked on by Australia.
Crowd attendance: 26,000 (Well, that is due to COVID-19 guidelines but there are 3 simple rules in place during the pandemic such as social distancing, face mask wearing & hand washing)
SUBSTITUTION: Rieko Ioane on for Beauden Barrett
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): From the scrum, Laumape makes strong run before All Blacks put a grubber in. Wallabies start their attack on halfway before McDermott knocks on.
SUBSTITUTION: Sam Cane down for the All Blacks. He will go off for what looks like to be an HIA & Dalton Papali'i will come on.
69TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: From the scrum, All Blacks attack through Mo'unga who makes a strong run before All Blacks knock on in contact. Sotutu concedes a penalty at the ruck. Lineout Australia on halfway.
70TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks win a lineout against the throw, Ioane breaks down the right win and gets into Wallabies 22. All Blacks win a penalty for Australia not staying onside and take a scrum.
71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Ioane - A strong scrum from the All Blacks just 5m out, Sotutu picks up from the back of the scrum before offloading to Ioane who scores in the corner. Mo'unga converts the try. 36-5 ALL BLACKS
74TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS & CONVERSION: Jordie Barrett - Wallabies knock the ball on around halfway. A short pass from Mo'unga to Jordie Barrett puts him in a massive hole and he runs 45m to score under the posts. Mo'unga converts the try. 43-5 ALL BLACKS
76TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Wallabies win kick-off back, start attacking in All Blacks half and get inside 22m line. Wallabies are looking dangerous but Koroibete knocks on.
79TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY & TMO REFERRAL: Frizell - With just a minute remaining Australia are attacking in their own half and win a penalty for a head high tackle. TMO looking at the tackle for a potential sin binning.
YELLOW CARD: Yellow card for Shannon Frizell for a high shot
80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Australia have a line out on All Blacks 22. The Wallabies are trying to finish with a flourish. After 14 phases, Koroibete loses control of the ball into touch when trying to score a 5 pointer in the corner.
That will be full time.
FULL TIME
ALL BLACKS 43 WALLABIES 5
ALL BLACKS (Tu'inukuafe, Mo'unga 2, Coles, Ioane, J Barrett, tries; Mo'unga 5 conversions, penalty)
WALLABIES (Lolesio try)
So that is my 371st blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 31st of this year.
P.S. And it is one year on since the Siya Kolisi (AKA The self proclaimed rugby god) led South Africa (Who are not in the Rugby Championship (Which is now Tri Nations with Argentina, Australia & New Zealand participating this year & 1st in history minus South African involvement) since they were withdrawn) triumphed in last years Rugby World Cup in Japan against England (Coached by Australian Eddie Jones (Ex Brumbies, Wallaby & Japan coach) who was once known as the savior & the second city saint when England started winning under the tutelage of Jones & led by Owen Farrell (Son of a famous rugby league & union player, Andy (He is the current coach of the Ireland rugby team who took over from Joe Schmidt) in the final (The game changer of the match was Kyle Sinckler getting concussed by his own teammate Maro Itoje's elbow in the 2nd minute of the final & had to go straight off for an HIA (He never came back on the field as he automatically failed his head injury assessment) & what did the Springboks do after Sinckler left the field with a head knock? They totally dominated the match which resulted in a famous victory to win back the Rugby World Cup despite losing both hooker Bongi Mbonambi (Concussion) & lock Lood de Jager (Broken arm) through injuries sustained during the final (Both had to be replaced by reserve hooker Malcolm Marx & reserve lock Franco Mostert respectively) at Yokohama (Well, I told Pops before the game that Pops watched with Carole, I said to him that I'm not watching the final because the All Blacks (Who lost to England in the semifinal which haunted us of a historic three peat as well as the English (Who won their only Rugby World Cup in 2003 (The only northern hemisphere country to win rugby's holy grail which was led by English second rower Martin Johnson) to add with their triumphs when the Alf Ramsey coached England won the Soccer World Cup in 1966 (They beat Germany (It was West Germany at the time) with unlikely hero Geoff Hurst scoring a hat-trick of goals in the final (Then in 1970 when the English were defending world champions at the time in the quarterfinal when the soccer world cup was held in Mexico that England led 2 - 0 during the match until the West Germans came back strong by scoring 3 unanswered goals that resulted in England getting knocked out of the soccer world cup after that quarterfinal match had ended so West Germany managed to survive with a come from behind win to advance to the semifinal (And in 2018 Belgium managed to repeat that feat as Japan led 2 - 0 during the game then the Belgians did a West Germany by knocking the Japanese out of the soccer world cup in the round of 16 match to go through to the quarterfinal) & the Cricket World Cup last year (They beat New Zealand in the super over in the final as a result of the boundary count back rule which cost us a chance of winning the Cricket World Cup while Christchurch born Ben Stokes was the hero for the Australian born Trevor Bayliss coached England after being awarded player of the game honors) came there & spoiled our party to win a hat trick of Rugby World Cups) are not in it) just because the Springboks (Once coached by former Free State, Golden Lions, Cats, Stormers & Springbok rugby player Rassie Erasmus (The 3rd Springbok coach after the late Kitch Christie & Jake White to win the Rugby World Cup for South Africa) who was the mastermind of South Africa's key to success last year) were on a redemption mission to win a 3rd Rugby World Cup after their disappointing 2015 campaign (They went down to both Japan (Who famously beat them in an historic upset victory in Brighton dubbed as the miracle of Brighton with New Zealand born player playing for Japan, Karne Hesketh (Husband of former Black Fern, Carla Hohepa), went over for the corner & scored the winning try (That was the turning point of the match) in the pool games & New Zealand (In which we won the tournament (Our 3rd Rugby World Cup crown (The other successful campaigns for the AB's at the Rugby World Cup was in 1987 (When the tournament was held here in New Zealand & in Australia) & 2011 (Our country of New Zealand were the sole host of the tournament), both at Eden Park against France in the final) along with South Africa & our most recent triumph (The last major sporting triumph for our country was the America's Cup victory by Emirates Team New Zealand (Led by Australian born Glenn Ashby (Who was the skipper aboard the New Zealand yacht) & Peter Burling (Who was at the helm) against Oracle Team USA (Once the holders of the America's Cup from 2010 in which they beat Alinghi until 2017 in which they lost against Emirates Team New Zealand & hasn't competed ever since) led by Jimmy Spithill (Who is now the helmsman aboard the Luna Rossa yacht in next year's Prada Cup) in Bermuda in 2017 (The other triumphs were in 1995 (Led by Olympic gold medalist in Los Angeles way back in 1984, Russell Coutts) in San Diego against Stars & Stripes aboard the Young America yacht led by Dennis Conner (With Paul Cayard at the helm) & 2000 on home soil in Auckland (Led by Coutts (Who had to join Swiss syndicate Alinghi (Which won the America's Cup in 2003 against Team New Zealand & successfully defended it in 2007 in Valencia against Emirates Team New Zealand & lost the Auld Mug to Oracle in 2010 & hasn't competed ever since along with Oracle) along with Brad Butterworth after our successful America's Cup defence in 2000) again just like in 1995 although Dean Barker (Future American Magic helmsman) was the backup helmsman who raced in race 5 of America's Cup 2000) against the Prada Luna Rossa Challenge of Italy led by Francesco de Angelis (The only non English speaking skipper to win the Louis Vuitton Cup (Now Prada Cup) after our victory in the final against our trans-Tasman rivals the Wallabies (World champions in 1991 & 1999 led by Nick Farr-Jones & John Eales respectively) at Twickenham (The home of English rugby) in London when the tournament was held in England (With some matches being played in Wales) in the semifinal before finishing 3rd when they beat Argentina in the 3rd & 4th place playoff (And after the All Blacks won the tournament in 2015, many people thought that Kolisi would be the next Rugby World Cup winning captain in Japan last year after Richie McCaw (And they did, they successfully did following the footsteps of other Rugby World Cup winning captains for the Springboks such as Francois Pienaar back in 1995 & John Smit of course in 2007 (4 years before McCaw (One of 2 All Blacks captains to have lifted the famous William Webb Ellis trophy along with David Kirk (Who was the 3rd choice All Black skipper going into the inaugural Rugby World Cup after injuries to both the late Jock Hobbs (Who ended his rugby career with a serious head knock) & Andy Dalton (Who tore a hamstring just before the tournament started) in 1987 (Our campaign started in the pool games against Italy at Eden Park in Auckland in which All Black winger John Kirwan scored an all time length of the field try just carving the opposition apart (The game started with a penalty try then Michael Jones scoring the 1st try of the Rugby World Cup) then we thrashed Fiji in Christchurch with both John Gallagher & Craig Green scoring 4 tries each before we took on Argentina & won including Zinzan Brooke making his test debut for New Zealand at the old Athletic Park (Which was replaced by Wellington Regional Stadium (Used to be WestpacTrust Stadium then Westpac Stadium & now called Sky Stadium) since it opened in 2000) in Wellington then it was quarterfinal time as we tore the Scots apart packing as many scrums as they can before facing Wales (Who had lost Huw Richards due to a sending off for punching an opponent then Buck Shelford retaliated by taking out Richards but was lucky not to be sent from the field (He would've been sent off as well should today's modern video technology replays be available) in the semi in which we trounced them before we took on France in the final at Eden Park in Auckland (Including tries by star performers Michael Jones, captain David Kirk (Who famously lifted the trophy after the final in 1987) & John Kirwan as well as a conversion, 4 penalties & a drop goal by Grant Fox (Father of famous New Zealand golfer Ryan) in which we famously took victory to win our 1st of 3 Rugby World Cups) who was the twice Rugby World Cup winning captain for the AB's in both 2011 (He had nursed a foot injury during the entire tournament while one of his All Black teammates Dan Carter had injured his groin before the last pool game against Canada & was ruled out of the rest of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (He didn't play in the final (He had been replaced by Aaron Cruden who was called up instead of Stephen Donald (Who was the standout performer for the All Blacks in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final when he kicked the winning penalty goal which was the game changer of the match in the final & won our 1st RWC title in 24 years but man of the match went to Cote D'Ivorian born French captain Thierry Dusautoir for his heroics including scoring a try which put France back into the game but it wasn't to be) due to what looks to be a serious groin injury (Same injury that Colin Slade (He was replaced by Beaver (Donald) who called up to the All Blacks whilst on a white baiting mission after being dropped by the AB's before the friendly against Fiji as well as the 2011 Tri Nations campaign & the 2011 RWC due to his nightmare Bledisloe Cup performance against the Wallabies in Hong Kong in 2010 (And I mean what went wrong for him? Well, to start with after Daniel Carter had gone off the field as an injury precaution, they brought Donald on the park & when the 80 minutes is up, Donald cleared a kick to put it out but it didn't or should I say failed to go into touch allowing Australia to capitalize & score a try all the way on the counter attack straight to the try line then a Wallaby kicked the goal to deny the AB's a clean sweep in the 2010 Bledisloe Cup series) had in the quarterfinal against Argentina) & 2015 (Our 2015 campaign began in a one off test against Samoa which resulted in a win in Apia in front of 8,000 people followed by taking on Argentina in the opening Rugby Championship match in Christchurch with another victory then we wiped South Africa out in Johannesburg (Including that match winning try scored by Richie McCaw thought that it was an illegal maneuver) before the Wallabies ended our hopes of defending the Rugby Championship in Sydney with a loss (The last time Richie McCaw tasted defeat in his test rugby career as both a player & captain of the All Blacks) then we did exact revenge against Australia at the garden of Eden in Auckland in our final Bledisloe Cup test of the year in 2015 as well as a pre-Rugby World Cup test before going to England to retain the Rugby World Cup (Our opening match was against Argentina in a hard fought win (Including both tries scored by currently the best halfback in world rugby, Aaron Smith & future All Blacks skipper Sam Cane) at Wembley Stadium in London despite a yellow card by our AB's captain Richie McCaw for a foot trip of an Argentinian player followed by Conrad Smith for going off his feet in a ruck who had joined McCaw just before halftime to spend 10 minutes in the bin during the 1st half before we followed up with another victory by thrashing Namibia at London Stadium then we took victory against Georgia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in our 1st meeting between the 2 nations in rugby (Including Fijian born Whanganui City College old boy, former Whanganui, Taranaki, Highlanders, All Black & current London Irish player Waisake Naholo scoring a beautiful opening try after returning from a serious injury sustained in the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Christchurch in 2015) before we put Tonga to the sword at St James Park in Newcastle upon Tyne to top the pool then it's quarterfinal time as we thrash France in Cardiff (It was revenge of 2007 that France beat us including that try had been scored by the French after referee Wayne Barnes missed an obvious forward pass which cost us a chance of reaching the semi as well as our chances of winning the Rugby World Cup) including a hat-trick of tries by Julian Savea in the quarterfinal before we took on the Springboks in the semifinal at England's home of rugby union, Twickenham (AKA Twickers) in which we won by 2 points in a close encounter then the final at the same ground at Twickenham in which we took on the Wallabies & beat them (Including both conversions, 4 penalty goals & a dropped goal to man of the match DC (Carter) as well as tries scored by Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ma'a Nonu & Beauden Barrett (Who sealed the deal to win our 3rd RWC crown which was the turning point of the game in the final) despite the yellow card to Ben Smith (1st & only yellow card in the RWC final) as a result of a lifting tackle on a Wallaby player) 34 points to 17 to complete a successful defence of the Rugby World Cup (Our 1st Rugby World Cup title outside New Zealand (And the headlines will probably say: THE RUGBY WORLD CUP, IS STILL, NEW ZEALAND'S CUP) in Japan & what was their mission? They had to win back the Rugby World Cup (That was their main goal to achieve for the Springboks by mastering or should I say perfecting the art of the sport of rugby union for the 3rd time (1st it was 1995 against the All Blacks (Led by Sean Fitzpatrick featuring the late Jonah Lomu (Who was world rugby's 1st true global superstar) in the final on home soil at Ellis Park in Johannesburg (Including that match winning drop goal at extra time by Springbok first five Joel Stransky which broke our Kiwi hearts) then 2007 against England in the final at the Stade de France in St Denis in France & last year of course against the same opponent which is the English in the final just like in 2007 at Yokohama International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan) & they did just that meaning that their mission had been accomplished (The headlines will probably say: THE FAMOUS WILLIAM WEBB ELLIS CUP, RETURNS TO SOUTH AFRICA).
And Carole told me at Caroline's that the movie world is in mourning with James Bond actor Sean Connery (Who last appeared in a film released in 2003 which is The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen), has passed away aged 90 (Rest In Peace (RIP) Sean, he is gone but now forgotten).
Sean Connery
1930 - 2020
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