News that I have just missed over the last weekend (My last blog before the Easter weekend)

Well, Carole & Pops are both back from Taupo after Pops attended the Ardmore reunion but there is some news that I have missed since they're both away (I had to look after the house until yesterday) such as the Hurricanes hammer the Highlanders for their 1st win of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin after Hurricanes fullback Jordie Barrett scored all the Hurricanes points as well as getting a hat-trick of tries during the match (I wonder he will say that Barrett might make a statement to the All Blacks selectors (And the headlines would probably say: BARRETT 30 HIGHLANDERS 19) as well as becoming the 2nd player to get a hat-trick of tries in Super Rugby Aotearoa this year along with injured Highlanders winger Jona Nareki to move up to 4th ahead of the Highlanders who are now bottom of the table then the Blues blew a halftime lead to lose against the Chiefs who had Damian McKenzie (Who is fighting for places along with Jordie Barrett to be the premier fullback in the country for the All Blacks since the departure of Jordie's brother Beauden Barrett (Who is now in Japan playing for Suntory Sungoliath in the fully professional Japan Top League) scored in what was believed to be the winning try in the battle of the Bombays at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton to move up to 3rd in the standings behind the Blues (Who are 2nd behind the table topping Crusaders who had just taken a bye) then in the cricket news such as the Black Caps winning the 1st T20 against Bangladesh (Who were without some key men) at Seddon Park in Hamilton with South African born Black Cap Devon Conway scoring an unbeaten 92 but was 8 runs short of a century.

And here is the list of round 6 matches being played in Super Rugby Aotearoa of 2021:

Crusaders Vs Highlanders (Their most recent meeting was this year in which the Crusaders won at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin against the Highlanders in a great southern derby match in round 1 but the last time the Highlanders beat the Crusaders was in round 16 of the 2018 Super Rugby season at Forsyth Barr Stadium)

& Blues Vs Hurricanes (The last time both of these sides was this year in which the Blues took top honors against the Hurricanes at Sky Stadium in Wellington in round 1 but it's been 8 months since the Hurricanes had last beaten the Blues & it was in round 6 at Sky Stadium).

So that is my 408th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 28th of this year.

P.S. And I went with Pops & Carole to La Quattro last night (A day after Pops & I went to Caroline's on Monday night in honor of Pops return from Taupo at the Ardmore reunion where I had a chicken salad) with the whole family where I had corn chips with quacamole dip for starters then the chicken fajita for dinner (And I had a little bit of the Churros for dessert) a day before Pops got me a new America's Cup book called Gulf Wars: How We Kept The Cup from Whitcoulls, reflecting on Emirates Team New Zealand's 2nd successful defence of the America's Cup this year to go with my America's Cup book collection (Along with Black Magic: Team New Zealand's Victorious Challenge, Back To Back Black Magic, The Team New Zealand Story 1995 - 2003 & Lone Wolf: How Emirates Team New Zealand Stunned The World).

Super Rugby Aotearoa round 4 wrap (2021 edition) + my 1st post America's Cup blog

Well, this is my 1st blog after the 2021 America's Cup which Emirates Team New Zealand prevailed with a vital win in race 10 against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli when they took the series 7 - 3 in Auckland to defend our beloved Auld Mug & win our 4th America's Cup crown overall (1st time that a non American syndicate that had won the America's Cup then retaining it twice but Team New Zealand's success of this years America's Cup (They followed it up from Bermuda in 2017) is like an ending of a good Hollywood movie which was truly a happy ending but I am so proud to be a Kiwi (Or should I say a New Zealander) because of the success of the America's Cup that we had this year) but I'll be doing a wrap of round 4 of this year's Super Rugby Aotearoa season as the Chiefs (Who had Bay Of Plenty player Kaleb Trask taking North Harbour man Bryn Gatland's place at first five for the Chiefs (Although Trask was even a better player than Gatland) as well as Chiefs player & Waikato man Luke Jacobson who won a turnover penalty at the breakdown (The Hurricanes got penalized for holding on (Not releasing ball) then scoring the winning try which proved to be the game changer/turning point in which Jacobson was the standout player of this match) came out of nowhere with an likely upset win against the Hurricanes (Who are now bottom of the table after 4 rounds) at Sky Stadium in Wellington (First rugby match to be held in New Zealand since the 10th & final race of the 36th America's Cup which took place 4 days ago) & snap an 11 game losing streak (1st win since last year & 1st under interim head coach Clayton McMillan) before the Crusaders remain unbeaten in the competition (They're 4 from 4 going into their bye next weekend), continuing their dominance against the Blues (By extending their winning streak against the Blues to 12 but the Crusaders winning streak against the Blues began was in the return fixture in Christchurch in 2014) at Eden Park in Auckland (And the 1st sporting event to be held in the Auckland area since Emirates Team New Zealand's triumph in the America's Cup in the city of sails of Tamaki Makaurau in Auckland which took place on St Patrick's Day).

And here is the list of round 5 matches being played in Super Rugby Aotearoa of 2021:

Highlanders Vs Hurricanes (Their most recent meeting was last year in which the Highlanders won at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin against the Hurricanes in round 10 in a match was played without spectators because of the corona virus but the last time the Hurricanes beat the Highlanders was in round 5 of last years Super Rugby Aotearoa season at Sky Stadium in Wellington)

& Chiefs Vs Blues (The last time both of these sides met was last year in which the Blues took top honors against the Chiefs at Eden Park in Auckland in round 7 but it's been 2 years since the Chiefs had last beaten the Blues & it was in round 9 of the 2019 Super Rugby season at FMG Stadium Waikato in a match that Damian McKenzie wrecked his chances of playing in the 2019 Rugby World Cup for the All Blacks in Japan due to a serious injury sustained during the match).

So that is my 407th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 27th of this year.

Protect The Land: New Zealand triumph in the America's Cup

Emirates Team New Zealand made history & man, was it so sweet. That's it we did it! The America's Cup still belongs to New Zealand! Elation! Absolute elation! Look at them aboard their yacht, they're losing it, you can just see the pain, when it's close it hurts & much more, look at their elation! Pandemonium! Absolute scenes! Me oh my I have enjoyed that, yes boy!

Well, for the 2nd time in history (And 4th time overall), Burling's men in black (And red) of Emirates Team New Zealand (Which had competed since 1986/87 after Australia's success by winning the Auld Mug in 1983 as the New Zealand Challenge in the Louis Vuitton Cup then Team New Zealand in 1995 in which was successful in San Diego & now ETNZ since 2007) has completed the ultimate job, the America's Cup (Which is the sport's oldest prize as well as the pinnacle in international sailing & one of world yachting's most prized possessions) is still ours after beating Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the epic 10th & final race of the 36th America's Cup match (Both races have been originally scheduled but only one was required to claim yachting's ultimate prize yet again just like in Bermuda 2017 because it has been a familiar & similar story to all Kiwis (And I mean what a victory, what a great victory) to remember by 46 seconds at the city of sails of Tamaki Makaurau in Auckland in front of a huge flotilla of boats on race course A (The one in the Hauraki Gulf that Team New Zealand were able to follow it up from San Diego way back in 1995 in Auckland in 2000 then they failed to defend it in 2003) that we used to claim the series at 7 - 3 on St Patrick's Day (AKA Green Day) today on the 17th of March 2021 (We first did it on the 13th of May 1995 (Mother's day back in New Zealand on the 14th of May in 1995) when we 1st won the America's Cup against the Dennis Conner led Stars & Stripes (Whose boat was slower but had found a new way of twisting the rules when they allowed to use their rivals boat which is Young America) in San Diego then we did it again on the 2nd of March 2000 when we defended the cup against the Prada Luna Rossa Challenge of Italy in Auckland, then we once again did it on the 26th of June 2017 (It was on the 27th of June New Zealand time in 2017) by winning the America's Cup against Oracle Team USA after 17 long years in Bermuda & now, we have done it again today by following up our success from Bermuda in 2017 by defending the cup against Pitbull Jimmy (Spithill) & co of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in Auckland meaning that Emirates Team New Zealand is now a 4 time champion of the America's Cup (The 1st non-American syndicate to win the America's Cup then defending it twice) but I was like oh my word when ETNZ crossed the line to take the win & defend the Auld Mug (Well, I was over the moon & had been getting goosebumps when I watched the America's Cup programs I recorded it on TV when we triumphed yet again on home waters (Well, at least we didn't give up the fight during the series but I wonder the headlines would probably say: THE AMERICA'S CUP REMAINS IN KIWI HANDS or more like: THE AULD MUG STAYS IN AOTEAROA) & we did follow our legacy when we retained the America's Cup way back in 2000 because I am so relieved about it) so here's the live updates provided by Newshub (It'll be the 1st time that I'll be doing live updates of the America's Cup):

Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the America's Cup series between Emirates Team NZ and Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli off Auckland.

Defenders Team NZ are poised to retain the trophy, after building their match advantage to 6-3 on Tuesday, needing just one more win to raise the 'Auld Mug' aloft.

While the first six races of the best-of-13 series were shared between the rivals, the Kiwis have swept the last four and established some dominance over the Italians, who must now win all the remaining races to snatch the Cup.

More importantly, Team NZ have well-and-truly broken the early trend of leaders at the first mark continuing on to win the race. They achieved that again yesterday, when they rode a puff of wind near the top gate to pass Luna Rossa on the penultimate leg and held that advantage to the end.

While Tuesday's action took place on Course C - the spectator-friendly 'stadium course' - race director Iain Murray has created a hybrid of Courses A and B - the northernmost tracks - to capture the expected northeast winds.

The best spots to view racing from the shore are Cheltenham Beach, Narrow Neck Beach and Takapuna Beach Reserve, Takapuna Beach, Milford Beach and any of the other East Coast Bays. 

Like yesterday, the breeze is expected to be in the 10-15 knots range for today's first race, but dropping later.

Team NZ helmsman Peter Burling always appeals as an ice-cool customer, but his team will not want to take this contest into a final day. They need to finish it today, or the spectre of Jimmy Spithill and his 2013 San Francisco comeback will weigh heavily on them tonight.

First race is due to start at 4:15 PM, with the second scheduled for 5:15 PM if needed.

3:20 PM: Beautiful day on Auckland harbour and crowds were dribbling into the viaduct area early today to celebrate St Patrick's Day. Can you imagine the celebrations tonight, if Team NZ can seal the deal?

Mayhem!

3:26 PM: Conditions very still out on the course, but expected to pick up later. Maybe we only get one race again today...

Wind reading at the head of the course of seven knots, barely above the 6.5 threshold.

4:01 PM: Team NZ are already out on the course and up on their foils, so that's hopeful. Weather experts out on the course are hoping for 12 knots of wind.

PRE-START: The Italians will have port entry for the first race today and the chance to dictate terms in the start box, although that has now become less important than it seemed earlier in the series, when every race went to the port entrants.

Eight knots on the start-line and wind building outside the course, so looks promising for a timely start.

Race committee has postponed the race, due to light winds shifting to the right, so new start time is 4:30pm. Will we get a second race today?

Officials are shifting the course, so the wind blows directly up the course. This happened last night, when we ran out of time for a second race.

4:26 PM: Race delayed further until 4:40pm, just to add to the tension. 

But the wind has arrived, gusting to 13 knots, and both teams are now reviewing what size sails to use in these changing conditions.

We're basically just to match the course orientation with the wind direction now.

4:28 PM: Fan fact, Luna Rossa have won three of the four races on Course A during this series, so they feel at home here.

Race committee pushes race out to 4:45pm.

4:38 PM: Wind at 12 knots on the start-line, and the course seems to be aligned and ready to go.

Another fun fact, there have been no passes on Course A during this series, so the start becomes important again.

START: Race committee has completed wind sampling and the race is live (Well, from my point of view according to the race committee that the breeze sampling has been complete meaning that there is live racing).

Remember, Italy first into the start area. They arrive on time, Team NZ follow and turn to track their rivals to the right boundary.

Italy tack at the boundary and NZ turn the other direction, closer to the start line. Luna Rossa may try to cut them off here...

Both boats trying for the right side of the line.

Team NZ has the right and immediately tack that way.

1ST LEG: Italy have a slight lead, as they head to the left side of the course, NZ to the right.

Both tack back towards the centre and Team NZ seem to have the advantage by 100m.

The Kiwis have 50 has the cross in front and immediately tack over the top of Luna Rossa, who immediately tack back left to split.

As they head to the right boundary again, NZ have 90m on their opponents.

The boats are still wide apart, but Italy have their noses in front now, leading by about 20-30m.

They cross again and NZ are ahead by 10m. Luna Rossa continue right, NZ left.

Team NZ will round the top gate first, aiming for the right mark. Luna Rossa will take the left mark seven seconds back.

2ND LEG: Team NZ head down the left side of the course at 43 knots downwind. Their lead reaches 250m, before the tack back towards the centre.

The boats will cross again, with NZ 130m ahead. Both content to sail their own races, NZ heading right and Italy left.

Team NZ jibe back left, where the better wind is, they still lead by 100m.

Luna Rossa arrive at the boundary and jibe right. They will cross 100m behind, but Team NZ immediately jibe to cover them.

Team NZ jibe late to take the left mark at the bottom of the course, with Luna Rossa only nine seconds behind.

3RD LEG: Both boats heading to the right side of the course, with Italy in the wind shadow right now. NZ lead now 250m.

The Italians tack right and Team NZ continue a while, before following to cover.

Both boats continuing to shadow one another back and forwards across the course, NZ 260m up.

Luna Rossa tack back to the right of the course and the margin grows to 300m.

Italy reach the right boundary and tack back to centre, Team NZ are now heading right and will cross 300m ahead.

Team NZ will lay for the top mark from the right and tack on the lay line now.

Luna Rossa will lay from the left, but the Kiwis beat them to the gate, rounding the left mark at halfway. Italy continue to the right mark, now 27s back.

4TH LEG: The Kiwis' lead is now 400m and the shore crew must be loosening the corks on the champagne.

Team NZ travelling at 41 knots downwind, where they are strong. The lead stretches to 500m.

Both boats heading right now, but Luna Rossa arrive at the boundary and jibe. They are now 630m behind.

Team NZ lay for the bottom gate, taking the right mark and heading upwind for possibly the last time this regatta.

5TH LEG: Italy follow at 37 seconds behind. The lead is 470m on the water.

Both boats heading across the course to the right, Team NZ just covering their opponents to make sure they can't find something different.

They tack left, but Italy are making no headway into the lead, which holds steady at 490m.

Luna Rossa tack right, but Team NZ may continue to lay from the left.

They tack on the lay line and line up that top gate for the last time????

NZ round the right mark and head downwind towards the finish - and the Cup!

6TH LEG: NZ sail past Luna Rossa, who are still heading for the top gate, powerless to make an impression, now 49 seconds behind.

The margin is 650m on the water and Team NZ are steaming.

Jimmy Spithill looks forlorn on Luna Rossa, as he falls further behind.

FINISH: There is nothing more for Italy to try to steal victory - they can only take their hats off to the Kiwis.

NZ hit the left lay line and head to the finish...

They win! Team NZ have retained the 'Auld Mug'! (That's it, Emirates Team New Zealand take the victory in race 10 & the party has started for Team New Zealand! Flawless execution).

Now they can celebrate (''The America's Cup remains New Zealand's Cup!'')...Luna Rossa trail home 46 seconds behind.

RACE 10

Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli v Emirates Team NZ

Team NZ win by 46 seconds, win series 7-3 (''Sailing's most treasured prize, the Americas Cup, stays in New Zealand!'' (As said by Sky NZ's Stephen McIvor on the world feed commentary along with former America's Cup helmsmen from America & Australia respectively, Ken Read (Ex Stars & Stripes) & Nathan Outteridge (Formerly from Artemis Racing), Olympic gold medalist Shirley Robertson & INEOS Team UK's David 'Freddie' Carr)...''The Auld Mug is Aotearoa's again!'' (In the famous words of famed rugby, cricket & now sailing commentator (Who used to work with Sky NZ before joining Spark Sport & TVNZ in 2019) Scotty J 'Sumo' Stevenson on TVNZ's coverage of the 36th America's Cup (Stevenson was with former Kiwi America's Cup sailor Peter Lester, foiling expert & SailGP skipper Phil Robertson & reporter Jesse Tuke (Brother of now twice America's Cup champion sailor for ETNZ, Blair) as the other commentators).

And what went right for Emirates Team New Zealand to win an America's Cup like this? Because consistency was the key & it was a motivating factor of winning the final race (Imagine the last race of the Americas Cup is like a final of a soccer, cricket or rugby union world cup because the America's Cup race is sorta like a soccer, cricket or rugby union match (Soccer last 90 minutes (There are 2 45 minute halves as well as stoppage time) while cricket has 3 traditional formats of the game (A test match lasts 5 days (There are 2 innings per side), a one day international lasts 50 overs (There's just a single inning per side) & T20 lasts 20 overs (Same as ODI with 1 inning per side) & rugby union lasts 80 minutes (And there are 2 40 minute halves) but the partying has just begun yesterday in Auckland & the rest of the country here in New Zealand on St Paddy's Day celebrating in honor of the tremendous & glorious win by the Kiwis from our perspective who had to sign off the 36th America's Cup match in style with a faster boat called Te Rehutai against the Italians who had to give it their all during the competition (Well same story but same result for ETNZ just like in 2017 which injected new blood (And at least we were rejuvenated) such as the dynamic duo by Olympic silver & gold medalists Peter 'Pete' Burling & Blair Tuke (The perfect or should I say the best New Zealand sporting pair since the days of Hamish Bond & Eric Murray which dominated the rowing world from 2009 until the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 & there was Joe Sullivan who was once an Olympic champion with Nathan Cohen in rowing in 2012 but decided to retire from the sport to pursue a career in firefighting & is now a twice an America's Cup champion with Emirates Team New Zealand (First he was a cyclor in 2017 then a grinder this year) & the other crew members I barely remember apart from Glenn Ashby (Now a twice America's Cup winner along with Burling & Tuke) was Ray Davies (Who is the coach aboard the New Zealand yacht & back-up helmsman to Peter Burling), Guy Endean, Steven Ferguson (Son of Olympic kayaking legend Ian who was originally tried out a a swimmer then took up kayaking & is now a sailor), Finn Henry, Marcus Hansen, Carlo Huisman (The Dutchman), Josh Junior, Mike Lee, Andy Maloney, Simon van Velthooven (Olympic bronze medalist in cycling in London 2012) & Marius van der Pol (Ex military officer) in Bermuda where we had to write all the wrongs after the pain & agony in 2013 which resulted in a ultimate comeback by Oracle Team USA dubbed as the miracle of San Francisco (We tried to win on match point just days before the comeback from Oracle had happened but we were robbed because the time limit had been expired) & I mean, what a way to finish for our very own defenders Emirates Team New Zealand to end an America's Cup like this, what a race for our viewers right around the world (Although the penultimate race of this years America's Cup match was arguably the best race ever during the 2021 edition when Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were leading during the race then they lost the lead to ETNZ who overtook the Italians before the penultimate leg & we crossed the finish line to be on match point (Well, to start with, the America's Cup was at stake going into race 10 when Team New Zealand dominated the race after trailing at the start meaning that the oldest trophy in international sport, the Auld Mug, stays in New Zealand) compared to the worst race of America's Cup 36 which is race 8 in what was to be the weirdest, bizarre race of all time in the history of the America's Cup after Emirates Team New Zealand fell off our foils while attempting to go for the lead of the race handing Luna Rossa a huge advantage before their hopes of victory had taken away when they fell off their foils (And at least they were fallen flat when they lost the lead) & got penalized for sailing outside the boundary line not once, not twice but 3 times by the umpires when ETNZ found puffs & got back up to speed before we surely won that infamous race when race 8 was reduced to 5 legs from the original 6 according to the race committee & I love the last 3 races of the America's Cup but I prefer race 10 by the way as my favourite race of this years America's Cup match when Team New Zealand won & completed our 2nd successful defence of the Auld Mug just like in 2000 we were we able to follow that legacy & to follow up our victory in Bermuda in 2017 (Our 3rd America's Cup win in Bermuda in 2017 is just like our 1st America's Cup success in 1995 in San Diego (And from San Diego 1995 to Auckland 2000 & now Bermuda 2017 to Auckland 2021) & that surely is the stairway to yachting heaven...What a day out at the Hauraki Gulf.

And here is the article about Emirates Team New Zealand's remarkable victory according to today's Whanganui Chronicle newspaper:

Cup Holders

Team NZ flawless as they lock up the cup yet again

Early in the America's Cup match, Peter Burling came under fire for his performances in the pre-start in their clash against Luna Rossa. But yesterday afternoon on the Waitemata Harbour, Burling produced a superb pre-start to seal a famous Cup victory. The more comfortable Team New Zealand got in a racing environment, the better their all-round performance got &, in what was the final race of the series, Burling had the number of his Luna Rossa opposite Jimmy Spithill in the starting box. Claiming the preferred side of the race course out of the start, Team New Zealand went on with the job to claim the America's Cup for the 4th time. As Team New Zealand celebrated, Spithill addressed the race committee & thanked them for the event, before addressing his counterparts. "Pete, if you can hear me, congrats, mate, to you & the whole team." Spithill said after the race. "We need to go have a beer with the Kiwis" added the Aussie co-helmsman. From the beginning of the race, it was clear both teams were trying to set up an entry onto the course on the right-hand side. A superbly sailed start & well executed tack immediately after the starting line saw the Kiwis take that desired side of the course & protect it on the opening leg of the race - tacking in the face of Luna Rossa when the first cross came. While the right-hand side was preferred from the start, the shifty conditions meant it was a matter of connecting the best puffs to try & make gains. Luna Rossa sailed a good second leg, reading the conditions well & gaining ground on Team New Zealand. But while they were gaining some ground in terms of metres, Team New Zealand found two seconds more on the second leg. Neither team rounded the gate particularly well, but with Luna Rossa sailing in the dirty air of Team New Zealand coming into the bottom mark, Team New Zealand were able to put some space between the two vessels. Before long, a lead of less than 100m expanded to more than 300m midway through the third leg as Team New Zealand began to put the hammer down. That showed in the gap between the boats at the halfway point, with Team New Zealand extending their lead threefold. That lead only grew on each of the next two legs, with the defender locking away the Auld Mug in impressive fashion.

Gate margins

Gate 1: NZ 7sec

Gate 2: NZ 9sec

Gate 3: NZ 27sec

Gate 4: NZ 37sec

Gate 5: NZ 49sec

Final: NZ 46sec

And finally my last thoughts before I wrap this blog up? It was fantastic! Absolutely incredible! Well done Peter Burling (New Zealand's America's Cup hero now during the modern era (Because Russell Coutts was the original Kiwi America's Cup hero) as well as being the self proclaimed America's Cup master during modern times) but the age of Burling continues as well as the dynasty of Emirates Team New Zealand lives on due to our success in the America's Cup which happened on Wednesday but I'm going to remember race 10 of America's Cup 2021 for a long time) & the one who hoisted the Auld Mug aloft during the post race presentation ceremony meaning that the America's Cup is still in New Zealand's hands while his teammates sprayed champagne whilst celebrating). Go Kiwi! (See you in possibly 2023 (They must take place a year before the Paris Olympics in 2024) when the next America's Cup takes place, not in Auckland in New Zealand (Because of the syndicates think that it's expensive to come down under) but elsewhere like Cowes in Portsmouth but INEOS Team UK representing the Royal Yacht Squadron might be Emirates Team New Zealand's new challenger of record taking over from Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli representing Circolo de la Vella Sicilia).

So that is my 406th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 26th of this year.

P.S. And me, Pops & Carole went to Thai Villa for a celebratory dinner as a result of our incredible victory in the sailing today because we had a korero there & had the satay noodle stir fry which I quite enjoyed & had a wonderful time there to wrap up the day.

2021 America's Cup day 5 wrap

Well, Emirates Team New Zealand came away with just a single win in hand against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in today's America's Cup racing (ETNZ finally nailed the start but they have been trailing until they overtook Luna Rossa during the race) to be on match point at 6 - 3 in race 9 (One of the best races in this years regatta) but our hopes of retaining the Auld Mug would have to wait until tomorrow (Man this is like the election results in America that happened last year in November but I don't have time for scavengers) because racing has just been abandoned & the America's Cup is going to be on the line (Well, let the party begin come tomorrow but we are just 1 win away of defending the Auld Mug (At least the age of Burling will in fact continue if they take the victory in race 10 since it began in 2017 so we can party like it is in 2000) while Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are 4 wins away) when we need just only 1 victory required & the America's Cup is still ours compared to Luna Rossa who'll need all 4 wins to win the Auld Mug for the 1st time (And 3rd for James 'Jimmy the Pitbull' Spithill (The one that I saw him on TV that there was a emblem of a boxing kangaroo on his team uniform that he wears during the race) but I wonder he will say at the post race press conference, maybe he is thinking of an Oracle type of a fairy tale comeback just like in 2013 to down Emirates Team New Zealand in San Francisco in order to retain the America's Cup after trailing 8 - 1 in one of the greatest comebacks of all time in America's Cup history (The last time ETNZ tasted defeat at the America's Cup) because Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli are 6 - 3 down at the moment).

So that is my 405th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 25th of this year.

P.S. Kia ora, good afternoon, Emirates Team New Zealand carry the hopes of a nation & a burden of history in today's all important America's Cup race. In just a few hours a question posed every 4 years will have it's answer? Will this be New Zealand's time or has they have before, will Spithill & the Italians find something special to once again break Kiwi hearts? (And my last thoughts on my blog just before the start of today's all important scheduled race? ''Now let's get a move on, we've got an America's Cup race to win here!'').

2021 America's Cup day 4 wrap

Well, it looks like that the Peter Burling (Who is now the skipper (But is still continuing that role as helmsman of Emirates Team New Zealand) aboard the New Zealand yacht, taking over from Glenn Ashby who is the mainsail trimmer) led ETNZ are beginning to find pace as they win back to back races yesterday against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli led by James 'Pitbull Jimmy' Spithill (Who holds the record along with Russell Coutts (The only man to achieve a feat as the only undefeated America's Cup skipper with 14 victories out of 14 races as well as being the current record holder for most consecutive wins as an America's Cup skipper with 9 along with the late Charles 'Charlie' Barr (He would've easily helmed a 10th consecutive America's Cup victory in race 5 of America's Cup 2000 in order to break Barr's all time record but the backup helmsman for Team New Zealand, Dean Barker (He was the helmsman aboard the American yacht American Magic in this years Prada Cup), took Coutts place at the helm for the final race on the 2nd of March, 2000) as the most wins by an America's Cup skipper with 14 (He had 16 defeats/losses to his 30 races as skipper) before the 2021 America's Cup began where he has missed out on the opportunity to break a record because Max Sirena is the skipper aboard the Italian yacht as well as Spithill is the helmsman along with Francesco Bruni) & Francesco Bruni to take an unassailable 5 - 3 lead in the 36th America's Cup match (It was during the 1st scheduled race of the day that Emirates Team New Zealand who had lost the start overtook Luna Rossa & kept the lead til the end which proved to be the game changer in race 7 of America's Cup 2021 followed by ETNZ who were attempting to take the lead against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the last scheduled race of the day until they had a problem or should I say a disaster when we fell off our foils meaning that Luna Rossa had taken advantage & were on track for victory until they fell off their foils & got penalized (Well, they nearly got disqualified as a result but Team New Zealand would've been awarded a win should Prada be disqualified for continuing to break the rules) not once not twice but 3 times (Actually 4 times as a result of a double penalty) for sailing outside the boundary line allowing Emirates Team New Zealand (Who appeared to be down & out (And at least ETNZ was down but not out) until Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli were off their foils & got pinged & I mean we were nearly robbed on that occasion, nearly got stone cold robbed) to capitalize & pounce by taking over the lead of the race which was reduced to 5 legs from the original 6 & held on until the end for the win which proved to be the turning point in race 8 in what would possibly be the weirdest, bizarre race of all time in America's Cup history).

And finally my last words before our big day of America's Cup sailing today? There is no tomorrow, today we crush Luna Rossa once & for all (We need both victories meaning that the America's Cup stays in New Zealand (And will we follow our legacy of defending the Auld Mug just like in 2000 here in the city of sails of Auckland? We'll find out in 7 hours time) because in 2017, the America's Cup was back in New Zealand after winning in Bermuda against the mega funded Oracle Team USA).

So that is my 404th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 24th of this year.

Super Rugby Aotearoa round 3 wrap (2021 edition)

Well, we're into round 3 of Super Rugby Aotearoa as the top dogs the Crusaders stay unbeaten in the competition with a win against the underdogs the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch (Including a penalty try awarded by the Crusaders & a yellow card by Brad Weber proved to be the game changer & I mean that is poor officiating) followed by the Blues who go 2 from 2 by edging the Highlanders (Who had to lose the hat-trick hero against the Chiefs, Jona Nareki, because of a hip injury he sustained during the game which proved to be the turning point but I saw a comment about Blues coach Leon McDonald criticizing the forward pass rule in rugby union which ruled out a try scored by Rieko Ioane after his brother Akira threw it forward in the lead-up to the try which was rubbed out by the Television Match Official) at Eden Park in Auckland in their 1st home game of the season (The Blues haven't played a Super Rugby Aotearoa match at home since against the Chiefs last year but they were thought that they were going to play against the Crusaders in the final round of the season at Eden Park but it got eventually cancelled as a result of the corona virus in the Auckland area) on the same day as the yachting (There were no races being scheduled because there was no wind to start with).

And here is the list of round 4 matches being played in Super Rugby Aotearoa of 2021:

Hurricanes Vs Chiefs (Their most recent meeting was last year in which the Hurricanes won at Sky Stadium in Wellington against the Chiefs in round 9 but the last time the Chiefs beat the Hurricanes was in round 19 of the 2018 Super Rugby season at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton by a single point after a Chiefs player got sent off for a head high tackle & the Chiefs managed to hold on in the end)

& Blues Vs Crusaders (The last time both of these sides was last year in which the Crusaders took top honors against the Blues at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch in round 5 (They were originally going to play in the last round of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season at Eden Park last year but it had to be cancelled as a result of the lock down related to COVID-19 in the Auckland area) but it's been 7 years since the Blues had last beaten the Crusaders & it was in round 3 of the 2014 Super Rugby season at Eden Park).

So that is my 403rd blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 23rd of this year.

P.S. And for the 1st time that I had to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the devastating Christchurch terror attacks that have tragically happened 2 years ago at quarter to 2 nearly an hour ago.

2021 America's Cup day 3 wrap

Well, it looks like that Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli took advantage of the start after coming in from starboard to win race 1 yesterday & to take a 3 - 2 lead in the 36th America's Cup match then Emirates Team New Zealand did the same as they came in from starboard & they finally have won the start before winning the last scheduled race of the day to square the ledger for the 3rd time (And it's all happening in Auckland, the tension, the drama, the buzz & the atmosphere! Get him up here!) at 3 all (And I mean this is turning out to be competitive for both syndicates who want to win the Auld Mug as well as there is a close encounter between both Luna Rossa & ETNZ which has been classified as a classic America's Cup contest) but yesterdays racing had to be postponed then it was abandoned due to a lack of breeze (Well, the rules say that you've got to have sufficient wind in order to race).

So that is my 402nd blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 22nd of this year.

2021 America's Cup day 2 wrap

Well, the whole of New Zealand is now on alert level 1 for the 1st time since last month but Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli have dominated from start to finish in race 3 against the defender, Emirates Team New Zealand to take a 2 - 1 lead in the 36th America's Cup match (It was that match winning tack after the start from the Italians that proved to be the game changer) but it was ETNZ's turn as they overcome the disaster in race 3 to win by 1 minute & 3 seconds (The largest winning margin in this years America's Cup campaign) against the challenger of Luna Rossa (Who had a bad jibe which proved to be the turning point of race 4 of America's Cup 2021) to even the series yet again at 2 all in yesterday's action packed race at the city of sails in Tamaki Makaurau (That's the Maori word for Auckland).

So that is my 401st blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 21st of this year.

On the fly: A quadruple century of blogs

Well, what more can I say! It's my 400th blog today (My 1st blog was in 2012 followed by my 50th in 2016, my 100th in 2017, my 200th in 2018 & my 300th in 2019 but I have now 400 blogs as a result) but in this blog where I'll write about the 6 greatest America's Cup moments that I've got about the 36th America's Cup guide according to the New Zealand herald:

6

1987 - The summer of Kiwi Magic

No boat captured the nation's imagination like KZ7, even allowing for the subsequent celebrated wins in 1995 & 2017. It was New Zealand's first tilt at the America's Cup, the start of an obsession, & the country had a rocket ship. The sense of patriotism ahead of the Fay Richwite-backed challenge had been fueled by the hit single Sailing Away. A star studded ensemble including Dave Dobbyn, Billy T James, Tim Finn, Annie Crummer, Ray Woolf & Barry Crump, backed by a choir of sporting greats & celebrities, produced a song that spent nine weeks at No.1, the record for a local single until 2009. Michael Fay had provided the funds, Bruce Farr & the revolutionary design & Chris Dickson the brash talent at the helm. And how she flew, KZ7 won a staggering 33 of 34 races in the round robin phase (The next best was 27 victories) to qualify as top challenger. The Kiwi crew, which included Brad Butterworth, Tony Rae & Simon Daubney, then swept French Kiss 4 - 0 to reach the Louis Vuitton final. That was where the journey ended, but they still arrived home to a heroes' welcome.

5

2000 - "The America's Cup is still New Zealand's Cup"

If winning the cup is magic, retaining it is damn special too. New Zealand became the first nation outside America to defend the Auld Mug, & in some style, seeing off Luna Rossa 5 - 0 in the Cup finals, in front of a huge flotilla of spectator craft. It was in the climax of a wonderful 6 months in Auckland, & the impetus for the waterfront development that has continued to this day. A superbly honed crew & the unequaled sailing skills of Russell Coutts (Skipper) & Brad Butterworth (Tactician) got the best out of NZL60. Sir Peter Blake, in his lucky red socks, was syndicate head. So dominant were Team NZ that the event ended - portentously - with Coutts handing the reins to Dean Barker for the fifth race against Prada

4

2013 - The Oracle comeback

The greatest comeback in America's Cup history, & one of the best across all sports. Oracle's 8 - 1 recovery from 8 - 1 down was astonishing. For Kiwis. It was agonizing to watch - not helped by the fact Oracle's financial resources seemed limitless & they had just one American on their starting crew. But as a sporting feat, it had to be admired. Oracle skipper Spithill refused to give up, showing remarkable bravado after losing the 10th race to go 8 - 1 down. "I think the question is imagine if these guys lost from here" said Spithill "What an upset that would be. They have almost got it in the bag. "That's my motivation. That would be one hell of a story, that would be one hell of a comeback & that's the sort of thing that I'd like to be a part of." In what could have been the deciding race. Aotearoa built a massive lead in light winds & were on course to claim the decisive point, before the race was abandoned after the time limit had expired. After that Oracle seemed faster each day, especially upwind. At 8 - 8, New Zealand led the winner-takes-all race until the upwind third leg but couldn't hold on, with Oracle sailing into sporting immortality by a margin of 44 seconds. A nation cried "Bugger" tweeted Prime Minister John Key. "It's very hard to fathom." said Barker "Look back two weeks...The gains they have made were phenomenal. We're probably lucky they didn't do it earlier" "I am so proud of the boys" reflected Spithill, who had sailors from seven countries in his 11-man crew "We were looking down the barrel of a gun"

3

1983 - "Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum"

Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke's quip perfectly summed up the mood of a nation celebrating like anything before. Hawke, along with millions of his countrymen, had watched Australia II clinch the America's Cup with a tense final victory, beamed back to the Southern Hemisphere in the early hours of the morning. Skipper John Bertrand & his crew achieved what seemed an impossible feat, wresting the Auld Mug away from the clutches of the Americans. They had done it in the best possible way, coming back from a 3 - 1 deficit to take the best-of-seven series. Hawke stopped short of declaring a public holiday - only because he didn't have the constitutional power to do so - but made it clear it was a time for national festivities. The New York Yacht Club had held the America's Cup for 132 years, the longest winning streak in sports history. Australia had mounted six campaigns since 1962, spearheaded by Sir Frank Packer (Twice) & Alan Bond (3 times) & had won the Louis Vuitton Cup 5 times to earn the right to challenge, but all had ended in defeat & disappointment on the waters of Newport, off Rhode Island. Australia II sported a winged keel, one of several design-led innovations by Ben Lexcen that gave an edge. But the key was in the hardened sailing team, led by Bertrand, that maintained an unshakable belief. In the first instance of an America's Cup series going into the final race. Dennis Conner was ahead until the penultimate leg, when his failure to cover the Australians, who picked the correct wind shifts, took them ahead. In the final leg, Conner threw the kitchen sink - with nearly 50 tacks - but Australia II held strong & won by 41 seconds.

2

2017 - The return of the America's Cup

That was redemption for New Zealand as a sailing nation. After the desperate disappointment of 2013, the fine margins of 2007 & the disaster of 2003, the emphatic victory in Bermuda was a wonderful triumph. It was made sweeter by beating Spithill & his mega-funded Oracle team. Team New Zealand had been revitalized with new blood, principally Peter Burling & Blair Tuke, & the young sailors seemed free of the baggage of past failures, although they were well led by Glenn Ashby, Bermuda was a far from ideal location, but the 50-foot foiling catamarans were engineering marvels, & wonderful to watch as they flew around the course. Team New Zealand had learned from San Francisco & didn't reveal their full capabilities until it mattered, holding some things back at the preliminaries. But they mastered the art of foiling ahead of everyone else - becoming the first team to complete a race "In the air" & also bounced back from the frightening pitch pole moment against Ben Ainslie Racing in the semifinals, thanks to the outstanding work of the shore crew. The 26-year-old Burling exhibited the mastery of a veteran during the Cup match, which was won by 7 - 1, as he consistently outwitted Spithill. "I don't think we'd be here without the heartache of San Francisco" said Burling, who was sailing in his first America's Cup campaign, after being part of the back-up crew in 2013. "It's unreal, this is exactly what we came here to do. I'm just on top of the world. It's been three years of hard work, probably 100 people working at one time at this goal"

1

1995 - "The America's Cup is now...New Zealand's Cup"

For those who experienced it, few will forget where they were when the news came through: New Zealand had won the America's Cup. It was bigger than the 1987 Rugby World Cup - and arguably even more meaningful than the 2011 triumph on home soil. It was a race that actually stopped a nation. During the regatta many Kiwis were getting to work late after watching the morning action live & 92 per cent of New Zealand's population tuned in to the blanket coverage of the final race & the extended celebrations that followed. Many of them wearing red socks, after a fundraising campaign sparked by Blake's revelation that he wore his lucky pair on the boat. It was the perfect campaign, by the perfect team. Blake was a wonderful leader, & Coutts (Skipper) & Butterworth (Tactician) were probably at their peak. And the boat NZL32, was a beauty. Tactically, the team didn't put a foot wrong, especially with the decision to rely on their second boat (NZL38) until the Louis Vuitton semifinals, keeping the speed of their top vessel under wraps. They were still good enough to dominate the round robin (23 wins from 24 races), then eclipsed OneAustralia 5-1 in the Louis Vuitton Cup final. The defenders tried everything before the cup match, with Conner allowed to lead the effort to defend the Cup (Despite losing the semifinal) & being permitted to use his rival's boat (Young America), which was faster. But it was no avail. During the Cup series, Black Magic lead around all 30 marks in a comprehensive display, with the closest margins being 1m 50s. The winning delta in the second race was 4m 14s, the greatest margin of defeat for an American defender since 1871. On May 14, 1995, Black Magic won the final race, taking control of the first leg after Young America had made a promising start. "They had a fabulous campaign," reflected Conner "If the Cup had to leave San Diego, there could be no better home for it than Auckland. This team really earned it & I know they will enjoy it & take good care of it. New Zealand can be proud of its heroes" Over the next few hours, about 500 bottles of Moet Champagne were downed at the New Zealand base. "[I'm] not really fit to tell you anything right now...which I hope is understandable" quipped Blake. New Zealand celebrated for days, with 250,000 people lining Queen St for the victory parade, at a time when Auckland's population was barely a million.

So that is my 400th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 20th of this year.

P.S. And here is my top 3 America's Cup moments since I was born in 1991 (Before this years regatta)

3: Team New Zealand winning the America's Cup in 1995 against the Dennis Conner led Stars & Stripes aboard the Young America yacht on the 13th of May (Mother's day back in New Zealand on the 14th of May)

2: Team New Zealand defending the America's Cup in 2000 against the Francesco de Angelis led Prada Luna Rossa Challenge of Italy on the 2nd of March

& 1: Emirates Team New Zealand winning the America's Cup in 2017 against the Jimmy Spithill led all-Australian crew of Oracle Team USA on the 26th of June (27th of June back home in New Zealand).

2021 America's Cup day 1 wrap

Well, the 36th America's Cup match got underway as the defender Emirates Team New Zealand (Led by 'Pistol Pete' of Peter Burling who has taken responsibilities as skipper aboard the New Zealand yacht) have taken victory in the 1st race by 31 seconds to go up 1 - 0 in the best of 13 series to beat the challenger of Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli but it was Luna Rossa's turn to dominate race 2 as they turned the tables by reversing the result that they lost on race 1 & managed to hold on & win the race by 7 seconds against ETNZ who had all sorts of trouble before the start to square the series at 1 all (And Prada have found the competitive edge under experienced America's Cup campaigner of James Spithill (AKA 'Jimmy the Pitbull' or 'Pitbull Jimmy') but is this a sign of revival for Spithill if Italy were to win the America's Cup for the first time? We'll see (And Italy's last major sporting triumph was the 2006 Soccer World Cup victory in which they beat rivals France (Who have appeared in their 2nd of 3 Soccer World Cup finals (They 1st appeared in the final in 1998 as the host nation in which they won as they famously beat Brazil by 3 goals (Including a brace by future Real Madrid coach/manager Zinedine Zidane who famously scored both headers from corner kicks as well as Arsenal player Emmanuel 'Manu' Petit who finished the Brazilians off with the last goal of the 1998 tournament at the death) in the final at the Stade de France (That the late Nan & Pops have been) in St-Denis to win their 1st of 2 Soccer World Cup titles & their most recent appearance in the final of the Soccer World Cup was at the last tournament in 2018 in which they repeated their success in 1998 with a win against Croatia by 2 goals (The goal scorers for France were Croatia's Mario Mandzukic off an own goal, Antoine Griezmann off a penalty, Paul Pogba & young teenage sensation at the time, Kylian Mbappe while the goal scorers for Croatia were Ivan Perisic as well as Mandzukic who capitalized off an error by French captain Hugo Lloris to score the last goal of the most recent tournament) to win their 2nd Soccer World Cup title in the final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia in a rematch of the 1998 semifinal encounter) on penalties in the final after an incident which saw the French soccer captain Zinedine Zidane red carded for headbutting a Italian player Marco Materazzi who traded insults (And the pro German crowd were in favor of the French because every time Italy got the ball, they jeered but Zidane had to serve 3 days working for world soccer's governing body, FIFA, in exchange of a 3 match ban while Materazzi had been suspended for both games & got fined after insulting Zidane) during extra time) compared to New Zealand's last major sporting triumph which is the America's Cup victory in Bermuda in 2017 (It was a reversal of 2013 when Oracle Team USA came from behind to win all 8 races after being 8 - 1 down when they beat Emirates Team New Zealand to complete a greatest comeback in America's Cup history to defend the Auld Mug in San Francisco) since they won the Prada Cup).

So that is my 399th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 19th of this year (And there is 1 remaining until I hit the quadruple ton).

2023 Rugby World Cup matches to be played

Well, the matches for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has already been announced as 3 time world champions the All Blacks (Winners of the previous tournaments in 1987, 2011 & most recently in 2015) are expected to play hosts France (Who have never won the Rugby World Cup after reaching the final 3 times in 1987, 1999 & 2011) in the RWC opener at the Stade de France on the 8th of September in 2023 in our road to redemption with both of these sides hoping to top Pool A (The winner of Pool A will face the 2nd placed team of Pool B in the 4th quarterfinal) to avoid facing the defending 3 time world champions & tournament favourites South Africa (Winners in 1995, 2007 & at the last Rugby World Cup in 2019 but let's hope that the South Africans don't become the 2nd rugby playing nation to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup (There has been once so far on that occasion which is New Zealand in which we successfully retained the RWC in 2015 after previously winning it in 2011) & let's hope that it won't be Siya Kolisi (One of 3 South African skippers to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy along with Francois Pienaar & John Smit) again as the next Rugby World Cup winning captain in 2023 as well as becoming the 1st South African skipper to defend the RWC just like Richie McCaw (Who was the only All Black captain to retain the Rugby World Cup) did in both 2011 & 2015 because it'll be Sam Cane as the next All Black skipper to follow in the footsteps of both David Kirk & McCaw as the next Rugby World Cup winning captain for the AB's) in the quarterfinals but the Springboks begin their defence of the Rugby World Cup against Scotland in Marseille on September 10th, 2023 so here is the list of matches to be played in the next tournament:

Pool A

France Vs New Zealand: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Italy Vs Africa 1 (Namibia): Stade Geoffroy Guichard, St Etienne

France Vs Americas 1 (Uruguay): Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

New Zealand Vs Africa 1 (Namibia): Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Italy Vs Americas 1 (Uruguay): Stade de Nice, Nice

France Vs Africa 1 (Namibia): Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Americas 1 (Uruguay) Vs Africa 1 (Namibia): Parc OL, Lyon

New Zealand Vs Italy: Parc OL, Lyon

New Zealand Vs Americas 1 (Uruguay): Parc OL, Lyon

France Vs Italy: Parc OL, Lyon

Pool B

Ireland Vs Europe 2 (Romania): Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

South Africa Vs Scotland: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Ireland Vs Asia/Pacific 1 (Tonga): Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

South Africa Vs Europe 2 (Romania): Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

South Africa Vs Ireland: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Scotland Vs Asia/Pacific 1 (Tonga): Stade de Nice, Nice

Scotland Vs Europe 2 (Romania): Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

South Africa Vs Asia/Pacific 1 (Tonga): Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Ireland Vs Scotland: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Asia/Pacific 1 (Tonga) Vs Europe 2 (Romania): Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Pool C

Australia Vs Europe 1 (Georgia): Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Wales Vs Fiji: Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

Wales Vs Qualifier winner (Portugal): Stade de Nice, Nice

Australia Vs Fiji: Stade Geoffroy Guichard, St Etienne

Europe 1 (Georgia) Vs Qualifier winner (Portugal): Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Wales Vs Australia: Parc OL, Lyon

Fiji Vs Europe 1 (Georgia): Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

Australia Vs Qualifier winner (Portugal): Stade Geoffroy Guichard, St Etienne

Wales Vs Europe 1 (Georgia): Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

Fiji Vs Qualifier winner (Portugal): Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Pool D

England Vs Argentina: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Japan Vs Americas 2 (Chile): Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Oceania 1 (Samoa) Vs Americas 2 (Chile): Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux

England Vs Japan: Stade de Nice, Nice

Argentina Vs Oceania 1 (Samoa): Stade Geoffroy Guichard, St Etienne

England Vs Americas 2 (Chile): Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Japan Vs Oceania 1 (Samoa): Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

Argentina Vs Americas 2 (Chile): Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

England Vs Oceania 1 (Samoa): Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille

Japan Vs Argentina: Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

Quarter-finals

Quarter-final 1

Winner Pool C Vs Runner-up Pool D: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Quarter-final 2

Winner Pool B Vs Runner-up Pool A: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Quarter-final 3

Winner Pool D Vs Runner-up Pool C: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Quarter-final 4

Winner Pool A Vs Runner-up Pool B: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1

Winner QF1 Vs Winner QF2: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Semi-final 2

Winner QF3 Vs Winner QF4: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Bronze final

Runner-up SF1 Vs Runner-up SF2: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Final

Winner SF1 Vs Winner SF2: Stade de France, Saint-Denis

And this is what the quarterfinals, semi finals & final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup will look like (I'm not sure that this prediction is accurate enough):

Quarterfinals

Wales Vs Argentina
South Africa Vs France
England Vs Australia
New Zealand Vs Ireland

Semifinals

Wales Vs France
Australia Vs New Zealand

Final

Wales Vs New Zealand

So that is my 398th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 18th of this year (And there is 2 left until I reach 400 blogs).

P.S. And we just heard reports that the 36th America's Cup match will go ahead tomorrow (After a 1 week corona virus state of emergency (It was originally going to start on the 6th of March but the organizers had to call off until tomorrow grinding them to a halt on race day) had expired on Sunday morning in the Auckland area pushing from alert level 3 to alert level 2) as the defenders Emirates Team New Zealand face off against the true challenger of record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the 1st 2 scheduled races tomorrow in a vie to win the famous Auld Mug which is the oldest trophy in international sport.

Super Rugby Aotearoa round 2 wrap (2021 edition)

Well, I haven't been blogging since last month but we are back on alert level 1 for the rest of the country (And alert level 2 if you're in the Auckland area but they have got to wear masks most of the time to avoid getting fined if they refuse to wear one) & there was an earthquake on the North Island that was 7.1 on the Richter scale on Friday morning that I felt it when I was sleeping when it came & there was an earthquake occurred in the Kermadec Islands as well (There were tsunami warnings all over the place) but there's Super Rugby Aotearoa news just come in as the Highlanders came from behind to beat the Chiefs in front of a sparsely populated crowd (The restrictions came already until it was lifted on Sunday morning) at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton with my favourite Highlanders player Jona Nareki (Whom I met at a barber shop 3 months ago & Pops had that photo taken with me & Jona while I was getting my hair trimmed) who was the stand out player of that game (It was the Jona Nareki show according to the comment that I remember on TV from former Rugby World Cup winning player for the AB's in 2011 & now Sky Sport rugby commentator Mils Muliaina) as he got a hat-trick of tries (His 3rd try was proved to be the game changer/turning point of the match) as well as he set one up for his Highlanders teammate Shannon Frizell (Including Nareki who had a dazzling run during the 2nd half of the match when he broke the tackle made by Chiefs co-captain Sam Cane then he bumped off another one of the Chiefs co-captains Brad Weber before creating a try scored by incumbent All Black Frizell) & in the other Super Rugby Aotearoa match, the defending champion Crusaders overpower the Hurricanes (Who had lost both Asafo Aumua & Jackson Garden-Bachop (Who had to be replaced at half-time) to injuries during the game for the Canes while Ethan Blackadder left the field straight away for the Crusaders with a head knock while Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea copped a yellow card, costing the Hurricanes chances of victory when the Crusaders totally dominated in the 1st half) to remain unbeaten & win 2 in a row to begin the 2021 season at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.

And here is the list of round 3 matches being played in Super Rugby Aotearoa of 2021:

Crusaders Vs Chiefs (Their most recent meeting was last year in which the Crusaders won at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton against the Chiefs in round 8 but the last time the Chiefs beat the Crusaders was in round 2 of the 2020 Super Rugby season at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton)

& Blues Vs Highlanders (The last time both of these sides met was last year in which the Blues took top honors against the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in round 8 but it's been 2 years since the Highlanders had last beaten the Blues & it was in round 10 of Super Rugby at the same ground).

So that is my 397th blog of the year 2021 (MMXXI) & my 17th of this year (And there is 3 remaining until I hit the big 400).

P.S. And I noticed that Jansen (Who was the one who got bitten in the leg by Buck & fell off a scooter near the Whanganui High School grounds) is now working at Pak'n'Save from 5am to 8am on either Friday & Saturday morning so he gets up at 3am or 4am in the morning according to the comment Pops made that I heard on Saturday.

And finally Pops has been getting foot problems like gout recently after having salmon pasta (Salmon is one of those meals that cause gout along with red meat like beef & lamb, cheese, beans, rhubarb, marmite, vegemite & red wine) a few days ago on Saturday but the pain has been steadily improving today by taking celery extract pills (I have no problems of getting gout because I'm at a young age like 29 (I'll be 30 in 3 months when my 30th birthday is on the 7th of June 2 days after my Dad's 52nd, 3 days before Aunty Tan's 53rd & a month before Pops 74th on July 5th).