Well, it looks like other international rugby teams are getting competitive so New Zealand have named their big 6 of beating the All Blacks before such as Argentina (Their most recent win came in Christchurch at the end of August where they made history, again just like in 2020 in Sydney), Australia (Their last win came in 2020 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in the aftermath of 2 seperate incidents where both Ofa Tu'ungafasi & Lachlan Swinton had been shown the red card for foul play but we were gutted about the result after Scott Barrett had recieved a late yellow card that cost us the test), England (It was a draw last time out in our most recent test last year which was disappointing but their last win came in the semifinal at the most recent Rugby World Cup in 2019 where they ended our hopes of winning a 3rd consecutive RWC as I mentioned in my blogs in which we were also gutted about the result (And according to the story that I remember from Dad twice in 2021 & last year that Ben Smith should've played after the selectors left Smith out in favour of George Bridge (Who is New Zealand rugby's most underrated player) before the semi), France (Their most recent victory came in 2021 where the French had recorded their 1st win against the AB's (Who ended the year 2021 with back to back defeats & that was the 1st time that the AB's had lost both tests in a row in 22 years which was way back in 1999) since 2009 in Dunedin & their 1st home win against New Zealand since 2000 in Marseille), Ireland (It was last year that the Irish had toppled us to become the 1st side since the advent of the professional era, to win a test series in New Zealand) & South Africa (The reigning world champs whose last win against New Zealand (The 1st time we lost a Rugby Championship opener, & the 1st since 2005 which was during the Tri-Nations era) came in the opening round of the Rugby Championship last year at Mbomela Stadium in Nelspruit where Kurt-Lee Arendse got sent off for a serious foul play incident) but it's only 5 months until the Rugby World Cup begins as hosts France (Who have never won a tournament before after coming so close against the AB's once in 1987 & 2011 & the Wallabies in 1999) & the former 3 time world champions the All Blacks (Our last successful shot of World Cup glory came in 2015 which was against Australia in that memorable game of our lives as I mentioned in my previous blogs, in one of the best Rugby World Cup finals in history & one of by far, my favourite rugby matches (Not just internationals but the all round stuff) of all time that I've seen on TV at Twickenham in London, England) take to the field at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the 8th of September but a match that will have everyone on the edge of their seats is the tournament opener - France v New Zealand. Not only is it the hosts against the three-time winners but the two teams have history. They have faced one another in both World Cup finals with the AB's coming out winners both times. Fabien Galthie's France will be targeting their first World Cup trophy this year. Defeating their old rivals could set them on a good path. New Zealand won't roll over though. They have a bit between their teeth after being knocked out in the semi-finals by England in 2019. They have not had as great form as they are used to of late but they are bouncing back.
And there was a Premier League football game happening in England where Liverpool hammer Manchester United 7 - 0 in a blowout of the ages that I did not see it coming at Anfield (The place that Leon had been when he had a proposal with his current partner Michelle during a half-time show in the Merseyside derby between Liverpool & Everton (Who are currently in the relegation zone) for the 1st time since 1924-25 in a high scoring affair, but 4 months have passed since Argentina had ended France's reign as the world champions in football last year in which the Argentinians led by the imcomparable Lionel Messi won their 1st Football World Cup title since 1986 in a memorable but dramatic final of the Football World Cup which ended on penalties as the Argy Bargies (Who lost to Saudi Arabia in their opening group game of last years tournament, in one of the greatest upsets of the Football World Cup since the West African nation of Senegal knocking over the defending champions at the time of France during the opening game of the tournament in 2002) stole the show which was a bit of a crowd pleaser, to win their 3rd Football World Cup title (And their 1st since 1986 to add to their title that they 1st won in 1978 (Which featured one of the legendary great players of Mario Kempes (Who was Argentina's star talisman before the days of the late Maradona) & they became the 2nd most successful nation from South America (Ahead of Uruguay with 2 but behind Brazil with 5) to win the tournament at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar in front of a sell-out crowd of 88,000 die-hard passionate football fans, in Leo Messi's farewell game as he ends his successful international football career on a high by becoming the most recent Football World Cup winning captain, cementing his legendary status as a true GOAT (Greatest of all-time) in Argentinian football folklore since the days of the late Diego Maradona.
And the latest on the Super Rugby Pacific competition as the results of the 2nd round of the competition are in during the Super Round at AAMI Park in Melbourne, in which they did not disappoint following the success from last year:
Crusaders 52 - 15 Highlanders (It was the reigning Super Rugby Pacific champs the Crusaders day as they hammer the Highlanders in a blowout for their 1st win of this years competition therefore bouncing back from defeat against the Chiefs in round 1)
Rebels 33 - 39 Hurricanes (And it was the Hurricanes night as they win in a close encounter to remain unbeaten which was overshadowed by controversy involving Hurricanes captain Ardie Savea who did a cut-throat gesture on Rebels halfback Ryan Louwrens after getting yellow carded for an infraction such as a judo throw on a Rebels player which resulted in pushing & shoving but now he's handed a 1 week ban for unsportsmanlike behaviour/contrary conduct after being cited by the citing officer for his antics that he did which resulted sanctions being handed out to him (And there are calls that World Rugby should introduce a crackdown on the pre-match war dance in test matches such as the haka due to it's throat slitting gesture that threatens & intimidates the opponent) in which Ardie's father wasn't pleased when he made a phone call to him back in Wellington after the game)
Moana Pasifika 29 - 52 Chiefs (It was the Chiefs day as they thrash Moana to remain undefeated in the competition with Rameka Poihipi scoring the fastest try in Super Rugby Pacific at 9 seconds, previously breaking the record set by 12 seconds which was the Highlanders against the Crusaders in 2001)
Fijian Drua 17 - 46 Waratahs (And it was the Waratahs night as they cleaned the Fijian Drua up to bits for their 1st victory of the season)
Blues 20 - 25 Brumbies (It was the Brumbies (Who remain flawless in 2023 along with the Chiefs & the Hurricanes but they have been competitive against New Zealand sides since the advent of the competition in 1996) day as Australia's best from last year, overpower the Blues who had a disappointing match as ill discipline cost them the game with both yellow cards being dished out in the 1st half of the game allowing the heroic Brumbies side to seal the win)
& Force 20 - 71 Reds (And it was the Reds night as they pummel the Force to register their 1st win in the competition).
So that is my 490th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 14th of this year, viva Ukraine.
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