Cult of Personality/Wanted Dead or Alive: My 32nd blog of the year 2024 (AKA Super Rugby Pacific final 2024 review (Redemption 21 years in the making)

Well, what's up guys & girls, this is Whetu Ngapo here on my Kiwiavenger blog, but first, what an unbelievable Super Rugby Pacific final by the Blues (Led by that inspirational skipper of Patrick Tuipulotu who defied the odds of returning from injury to be awarded standout player of the game (Or the Super Rugby Pacific final MVP (Most valuable player) honours) who had a comprehensive blowout win which was a lop sided affair (It was a landslide as a matter of fact, but the celebrations are on especially in the provinces such as Auckland, North Harbour & Northland that have been part of the Blues country right through in which the final had turned a supposed contest into sheer humiliation compared to last year in which the Scott Robertson dynasty ends in triumph where it all began in 2017, but I think Razor would be a huge success compared to Sir Steve Hansen who was the last successful AB's coach (And unlike Ian Foster whose coaching career was at cross roads when his form had been dwindling last year of making the final), given the fact that it's a start of a new Rugby World Cup cycle) over their North Island rivals of the Chiefs by 41 points to 10 in front of a packed Eden Park crowd to become champions of Super Rugby Pacific for the first time since 2003, so let's relive the last 10 minutes of a great final that we just witnessed (The big moments of that final were Caleb Clarke who was the unsung hero when he scored a hat-trick of tries (And what a beauty it was for the entire 80 minutes that we just saw, although Clarke was the first to score a hat trick of tries in a full Super Rugby final since Mark Gerrard for the Brumbies 20 years ago way back in 2004), & Harry Plummer who had been kicking like a machine when he nailed 7 shots at goal out of 7 (And it was just a fantastic final in which the Blues were spot on at that moment of becoming the new champions in which this year's final was by far, the greatest Super Rugby Pacific game that I have ever watched of all time during my whole life (Well, frankly my dear, I don't give a damn, OH HELL YEAH! GO THE BLUES! God bless you all, oh my goodness), compared to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final in which the AB's last won the global showpiece rugby tournament):

71ST MINUTE: Clarke charges it up on the left edge, being taken just over the 10m line. Ioane followed in midfield, slipping through a couple of tacklers before looking to offload for Sotutu. Tupaea just got in the lane though, working it off to Nanai-Seturo. He set it on the 22m line, with Narawa screaming for it to the right. He bounced around one, before looking to Sanerivi, but he knocked on into touch! Blues lineout to follow.

72ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Akira Ioane bashes it up into the 22, with Lam then following back to the left edge. He took it 15m away, with Clarke next to go. The numbers rolled quickly, as Choat was stopped just a metre away!

73RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY BLUES (AJ LAM, 39 - 10), LAM GETS IN ON THE ACT!: Too big, too strong from close range with the low numbers looking for the score. Lam eventually stepped in, weaselling his way over down the left.

74TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION SUCCESSFUL BLUES (HARRY PLUMMER, 41 - 10): Plummer drives it over from the left edge.

75TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Perofeta clears long off the restart, with the Chiefs looking to run it back. A loose pass out back forced McKenzie into the 22, but he settled things, before working into Tupaea who took it 30m off his own line.

76TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED CHIEFS: McKenzie steps to the line, dinking a cross kick away out to Narawa. He stepped inside one, sliding over the 10m line. He looked to offload, but was blindsided by Rieko Ioane who forced him to knock on. Scrum just over halfway.

77TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY BLUES (DELIBERATE KNOCK DOWN): The Blues work it away over the 10m line, with a strong carry finding another penalty advantage. Heem steamed up on the short ball, punching straight through into the 22! They looked quickly to the right, but Narawa raced up and deliberately knocked it down. Plummer goes to the corner again.

79TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Thrown to the tail, and Darry can't quite hold on. Scrum Chiefs on the 5m line.

80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY CHIEFS (TACKLER NOT ROLLING): The Chiefs crab hopelessly acrossfield, before McKenzie was wrapped right up. The visitors were going nowhere, but Ta'avao failed to roll, so the Chiefs get a march up over the 10m line.

80TH MINUTE + 1ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), IT IS OVER! 21 YEARS IN THE MAKING, THE BLUES FINALLY HAVE ANOTHER SUPER RUGBY TITLE!: The Chiefs tried a wee chip over the top, but it fell out back for Plummer who just smashed it away into touch. The music has started, the party has started, the Blues are the champions again! (But it's over! It's over! It's a 4th Super Rugby Championship for the Blues!)

FULL-TIME: 41 - 10

SIMPLY TOO GOOD! The Blues have walloped the Chiefs in one of the most one-sided finals in Super Rugby history, to deservedly lift the Super Rugby Pacific title in front of a full house in Auckland. They dominated possession and territory, totally suffocating a Chiefs side who have shown plenty over the past couple of weeks. They couldn't make the step up tonight though, as they were dominated in every facet. Caleb Clarke had a night to remember, running in a hat-trick in a perfect wing performance. (And the Blues! Are the Super Rugby Pacific champions! For the 4th time!)

The Chiefs effort can't be questioned, but tonight was a bridge too far, as they were beaten in the big dance for a second year running. They were not even close this year, totally out-gunned in the tight five where Taukei'aho and Lord were clearly missed. That said, it wasn't just the pack who didn't turn up, with Damian McKenzie failing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. Expect him to still be named come Monday, but that performance will certainly open the question as to whether he is the man to wear 10 for the All Blacks in a fortnight. The only man who truly played well for them, was Wallace Sititi who had several good carries in the losing effort. Another season of heartbreak for the mana men. (And it's going Blue, in 2024! For the 4th time ever, & the first since 2003, the Blues! Is Champion! Of Super Rugby Pacific!)

It's a deserved title for the Blues, who on balance were the best side in 2024. They had 74% territory, and 66% possession in an utterly dominant and controlling display. Patrick Tuipulotu led from the front, and earned the man of the match award for a brave 60 minutes. The likes of Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu were not far behind in the pack, whilst AJ Lam was fantastic at second five. Caleb Clarke had his hat-trick, Stephen Perofeta was class, from a Blues perspective it was a joy to watch. Stern Vern Cotter has made the impact that was asked of him, delivering the title at the first time of asking. (The Blues, champions of Super Rugby Pacific! Again...at last...& a franchise will party all night long)

So that's that for Super Rugby in 2024. The competition has had its critics, but undoubtedly the 2024 season was the best we've had in some time. The Blues are presented the trophy and the party has started. They are the champions for 2024! That rounds off our coverage for the season. Thank you for being with us right through the season, there is plenty of action to come, with the All Blacks to kickoff in a fortnight, so do join us for that! (And I've got to stop, because I've got a lump in my throat)

And continuing on to the rugby stuff as the AB's announce their first squad during the Scott Robertson era for the test series against England & the one off test against Fiji in San Diego so here is the complete list of 32 players who are selected:

Hookers:

Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington)

George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Props:

Ethan de Groot (Highlanders / Southland)

Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)

Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty)

Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)

Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Locks:

Scott Barrett (Captain, Crusaders / Taranaki)

Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues / Auckland)

Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)

Loose forwards:

Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman)

Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato)

Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)

Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)

Ardie Savea (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)

Halfbacks:

Finlay Christie (Blues / Tasman)

TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)

First-five eighths:

Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)

Midfielders:

Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki)

Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)

Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)

Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Outside backs:

Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)

Emoni Narawa (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)

Stephen Perofeta (Blues / Taranaki)

Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland)

Mark Telea (Blues / North Harbour)

Players unavailable through injury:

Sam Cane

Will Jordan

Cam Roigard

Samisoni Taukei'aho

And what do I think of the AB's squad selection so far? Well, no Hoskins Sotutu to start with as he is overlooked again (With 7 out of the 8 Blues players that were part of the winning campaign this year in Super Rugby Pacific, but they had to pick the best players in the country in terms of their Super Rugby Pacific form), so too is Harry Plummer, Ricky Riccitelli, as well as Brayden Iose, Peter Lakai, David Havili, Sam Darry, Quinn Tupaea, Shaun Stevenson, George Bower, Ruben Love & Folau, but there was a very interesting selection as only 3 locks were picked such as Scott Barrett (The Crusaders skipper who is the new All Blacks captain now according to Robertson (Who made him captain during his days coaching with the Crusaders) as Scott Barrett takes over from Sam Cane as the 74th different AB's skipper while both Savea & Scott's bro, Jordie Barrett had been appointed as vice captains for the AB's), Tuipulotu & Vaa'i, as well as they had to go for both first fives with McKenzie & Barrett are the specialists in the 10 jersey, & they had to go with only one specialist fullback, in the form of Perofeta, & the 5 new caps? Well, the biggest headline would have to go to Sititi who is now a Kiwi (His father Semo was a Samoan back in the day while Wallace won the shootout against Sotutu for a spot in the loose forward position following his impressive form for the Chiefs during Super Rugby Pacific this year according to the newspaper article that I remember on the 29th of June) & Proctor who follows in his brother's footsteps + Ratima who was chosen (The man who would be a Chief instead of either being a Hurricane or Crusader & was named after the famous Nike shoe), then Bell who is second fiddle & being an understudy to Taylor & Tosi who was once a Southlander & used to play number 8 before changing allegiances to Bay of Plenty where he switched to prop & has been there since (Although he is weighing a whopping 140 kilograms as Pops told me compared to me weighing about 122-123 kilos now).

And other rugby results over the weekend as the world champion Springboks (Led by Pieter-Steph du Toit for that test, although the highly successful Siya Kolisi remains as skipper while Rassie Erasmus is back in charge as coach again, replacing Jacques Nienaber who was coach after Erasmus left his post until after the events from last year which ended in triumph) get their Rugby World Cup cycle underway with a convincing win over Wales at Twickenham in South Africa's first test since their retention of the William Webb Ellis trophy at the Rugby World Cup in France last year (And the Ireland (Who went on to retain the Six Nations this year, but the England game at Twickenham in London was Ireland's only blemish in the 2024 Six Nations tournament where their quest of claiming another grand slam had been cruelly cut short due to a defeat against England, when Marcus Smith had gone in for the kill to secure that match winning drop goal whilst playing under a penalty advantage at the death) game during pool play was the Springboks only blemish of last years tournament, compared to 2019 that the South Africans had staged a dramatic recovery to win all 6 matches en route to World Cup glory after losing to rivals New Zealand who fell to England in the semi during the last hurdle), moments before the Barbarians who manhandled Fiji in the next game in 2 time Rugby World Cup winning player of New Zealander Sam Whitelock's swansong game along with Japan's Shota Horie, then England (Who had Charlie Ewels sent off for a dangerous cleanout to the limb area of a Japanese player & became the first English rugby player to be red carded for the 2nd time in his test career before being handed a fortnight's ban for his actions) ran away with a thrashing over Japan in Tokyo to prepare for the 2 match test series against the All Blacks on NZ soil.

And finally there is just the single rugby game on in the weekend with Japan XV have their match against the Maori All Blacks (Who have 10 new caps including Benet Kumeroa, Laghlan McWhannell, Tahlor Cahill, Nikora Broughton, Rivez Reihana, Taha Kemara, Corey Evans, Daniel Rona, Cole Forbes & Tana Tuhakaraina but they included former All Black Joe Moody in the squad as one of the big names in the Maori All Blacks squad) scheduled on Saturday, the 29th of June at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo in the 1st of a 2 game series a day after Matariki here in New Zealand, meanwhile in Australia that the Wallabies have announced their squad under their new coach Joe Schmidt with the inclusion of former All Black Alex Hodgman who is New Zealand born, but Australian qualified mainly because of his father being from there because of him having not played international rugby for 4 years due to World Rugby's eligibility criteria that a player who hasn't played international rugby must enforce a 3 year stand down period, while Australia used to produce great wingers in the late 1990's period such as Ben Tune (The Reds player at the time who was the main challenger in the ranks of the late great Jonah Lomu (The one individual above them all to have never scored a test try against South Africa throughout his international rugby career in which he appeared for the black jersey 63 times & was the one who scored 37 test tries for our country) & Joe Roff (The former Brumbies player who was Tune's old sparring partner on the wing for the Wallabies when he & Tune started on the wing (And the fullback was the ever reliable goal kicker of Matt Burke who was part of the outside backs trio for Australia the last time that they won a RWC) in the World Cup final against France in 1999) which helped them win their 2nd Rugby World Cup in 1999 (And now they've got Rob Valetini (The Brumbies player who is the brother of Fijian Drua & Fiji player Kemu) as Australia's premier loose forward since the good ol' days of Toutai 'Kef' Kefu).

So that is my 556th blog of the year 2024 (MMXXIV) & my 32nd of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.

P.S. And there is sad but sombre news as the rugby world is in mourning in the aftermath of a New Zealand rugby player who plays for the Highlanders of Connor Garden-Bachop who has sadly passed away at the relatively young age of 25 (And our thoughts, hearts, prayers & condolences go to the Garden-Bachop family during this unfortunate & sad time that we have just witnessed, rest easy (But they already had former Northland (It was North Auckland way back then), Maori All Black & All Blacks rugby player of Sidney 'Super Sid' Going who also passed away at a relatively old age in May this year & is the one who played at halfback during his rugby playing days).

Sid Going

1943 - 2024

& Connor Garden-Bachop

1999 - 2024

Loving You/Mulder & Scully: My 31st blog of the year 2024

Well, what's up guys & girls, it's Whetu here on my Kiwiavenger blog but first, the Super Rugby Pacific final for this year is set, it is going to be the Blues who'll play the Chiefs at the garden of Eden, at Eden Park in the city of sails in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland for the decider which is the biggest rugby match of the year apart from the internationals as Pops told me on the 19th of June before the All Blacks squad is announced for the internationals in which this year's Super Rugby season especially in the final, concludes with the battle of the Bombays (And it is going to be another all New Zealand final just like in 2022 & last year (And that's the 8th time they have done that in Super Rugby history with 1998 being the first all Kiwi final between the Blues & the Crusaders (Who were champions the first time in that year as they ended the Blues 2 year dominance on top of the Super Rugby charts) followed by the Highlanders & the Crusaders in 1999 (In which the Crusaders had a successful defence of the Super 12 title), the Blues & the Crusaders in 2003 (It was the Blues who got revenge from the Crusaders by reversing their result from 1998), the Crusaders & the Hurricanes in 2006 (Where the Crusaders were champs of the inaugural Super 14 championship which was overshadowed by the fog that ruined the final) & the Hurricanes & the Highlanders in 2015 (In which the 1st & only time that the Highlanders emerged triumphant of winning the Super Rugby crown) with the most successful side in Super Rugby of the Crusaders, taming both the Blues (2022) & Chiefs (Last year) for the last 2 seasons, although with both the Blues & the Chiefs are seeking redemptions after missing out in the hands of the Crusaders in both 2022 (Blues) & last year (Chiefs), but the most recent meeting between the two was in the last round where the Blues had a win but miss out on leapfrogging the Hurricanes to the top of the table (And now they'll be hosting a home final after the Hurricanes fell to the Chiefs (Who have a star player injury crisis, ahead of this Saturday's final as both hookers Samisoni Taukei'aho & Bradley Slater (Who has been given the all clear to play by overcoming his injury woes, even though he is on the bench as reserve hooker (And there has been an update as Slater has failed his fitness test with Mills Sanerivi taking his place) compared to Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu making a shock return from injury after being ruled out in the semi against the Brumbies & potentially his season, & Chiefs outside back Shaun Stevenson who returns as the starting fullback after missing the semi against the Hurricanes through injury during the warmup) succumbed to injuries but the two of them will not take further part in the final with the Chiefs are down to one specialist hooker which is Tyrone Thompson & call upon a Waikato club rugby player who plays in the hooker position as the reserve hooker for the team prior to the big final) thanks to Wallace Sititi who had a blinder of a game) after speedy Josh Ioane had snuck in to score in the dying seconds) after the Blues got over Australia's best which is the Brumbies (For who I thought the Brumbies won but it's the Blues (Who haven't won a full Super Rugby championship in 21 years where they last did it in 2003 (And they last reached the Super Rugby Pacific final in 2022 where they fell against the eventual champion Crusaders side) compared to the Chiefs who last won a full Super Rugby championship for 11 years back in 2013) anyway) to make the big dance, meanwhile in the other semi as the Chiefs topple the top seeded Hurricanes (Who were having a great season until they had fallen flat by falling short in the semi against the dominant Chiefs who are hoping to rebound in this years final after their defeat in the final last year against the Crusaders (Who in the end were out of the playoff picture this year) in a payback best dish served cold with a Boston Celtics & Florida Panthers inspired peformance by one of the Chiefs loose forwards of Wallace Sititi (Son for former Samoa captain Semo) who made a massive impact (And the Hurricanes - Chiefs semifinal match in Super Rugby Pacific is the game that made Wallace Sititi), but I was chatting to Bryan at Rutland about me supporting 6 NPC teams such as Hawke's Bay where both Jansen Ngapo & Bernard Condon-Orr (For who I was trying to recognize him while I was at Caroline's with Pops back in 2019/2020 back then) are from now, then Northland where Kathryn Ngapo is from now, North Harbour where both Andy Webb & Kelsey Nicholls (My new bestie now as of today) come from (The one I forgot to tell Bryan but Carole was orginally from North Harbour), Auckland where Gemma, Huia, Rosalie (Gemma's daughter) & Arlo (Huia's son & Rosalie's cousin) come from not only because where Waiheke Island is (Although Gem & Rosie both live there) which is part of the Auckland province, as well as Wellington where Cathey Middelplaats, Paige Ahearn (Who I'm willing to meet her again one day next time I go to Welly according to the previous blogs that I did & also that I'm imaginary friends with her as well as being best friends/BFF's/besties now just like Kelsey) & Norah are always from (But I always pledge allegiance for Whanganui because of them competing in the Heartland Championship along with Pops & Bryan) & Otago because of Jona Nareki (Who I met him back in 2020 in which Nareki was the last famous person I have ever met) playing for them, but I reckon the final should be close in regards to the scoreline so I would have to say Chiefs by 12 or less because I expect the Blues to be competitive & not only I live near the Taranaki region which is Chiefs country now (And it used to be part of Hurricanes country from 1996 until 2013), but I should've gone for the Blues (Well, my heart is certainly on them at least) because of the Chiefs beating the Hurricanes in the semi & for both Northland (Kathryn & Ken's home province that I already been once in late December last year), North Harbour (Andy & Kelsey's home province as well as Carole's old province before moving to Whanganui in 2018, & has lived there since) & Auckland (Gemma, Huia, Rosalie & Arlo's home province) being part of Blues country, & the first time I remembered going to Auckland was a family trip in 2006 then visited again in 2007 after we had been to Waiheke Island but my last visit there was in 2016, just before I went to Waiheke Island with Dad, Pops & Jansi to attend a tangi of the late Nana Minnie, but there are calls for consistency around referees in the leadup to this year's Super Rugby Pacific final between the Blues & the Chiefs in front of a sell-out Eden Park crowd following union bound player of New South Welshman Joseph Sua'ali'i's sending off in Origin I for an illegal hit on a former Warriors player who is a Bronco playing for Queensland of Reece Walsh (An Aussie who has Kiwi roots), which resulted heartbreak for New South Wales who got comprehensively beaten in the end by the always dominant Queensland side in the opening State of Origin league match (And now Sua'ali'i has now been suspended for 4 matches in wake of his red card during game one of State of Origin for a dangerous tackle on Walsh which caused Sua'ali'i to miss the remainder of origin & take no further part in the series (And committing a high tackle in both codes of rugby is like someone consuming cocaine (Which is always an illegal drug), then embarking on a rampage fuelled with drugs).

So it's the Blues to play the Chiefs in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific final at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday local time to decide who will become the new Super Rugby Pacific champions (Well, who is it going to be? Whether it's the Blues to party like it's both 1996-97 & 2003 or will it be Chiefs mana just like in 2012-13? We'll see but I don't think so), but will it be the Blues captain of Patrick 'Paddy Tups' Tuipulotu (Who is back after returning from injury which caused him to miss the semifinal & it was both the great Zinzan 'Zinny' Brooke who did it in 1996-97 then Xavier Rush in 2003 the last time the Blues had won a full Super Rugby championship) or Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson (Who so desperately wants to win a title, but the golden rule is that they cannot touch the Super Rugby Pacific trophy until they have earned it) to become the SRP winning captain to lift the Super Rugby Pacific trophy?.

And the holiday to Waiheke Island that Pops & Carole are possibly going next year is questionable but I decided not to go as I would be looking after the house while both of them are away & I chose not to attend Jansi's 21st birthday party in the Hawke's Bay province in August this year but I will be here when Jans is having his birthday dinner here in Whanganui & I have already planned for my next trip, & it's going to be Wellington because I wished to meet my cousin Paige (And Pops showed me & Carole a picture of her at a wedding getting ready to get married to her husband Jarrod last year on the 27th of June at Spice Guru compared to me seeing a picture of both Martin, then Kace (Zaki's grandson) on Carole's phone) again one day along with my biological aunty Cathey as well as Paige's daughter & Cathey's granddaughter Norah (Who was born on January 26th last year as Kathy (Whose birthday is on the 23rd of January, 3 days before Norah) alluded to me according to the email that she replied to me, but Northland to me was by far the best holiday that I experienced of all of the trips that I've been throughout my life because I saw Kathryn & Ken (The man originally from London who is a New Zealander now) there, as well as Andy (Son of Iraqi slash British Kiwi Carole (The one who watches the Al Jazeera TV news channel due to her Middle Eastern roots compared to both Aunty Tan & Rejean who are in fact, CNN watchers) & Kels (One my my honorary sisters along with my dear cuzzie Paige) which was last year when it was my first post-COVID era holiday (And my fave part of the holiday to Northland was in fact the food except that I almost had food poisoning where I had a mango kulfi which nearly made me throw up, but somehow I got over it & I was feeling fine just before I woke up on Christmas day when me, Carole & Pops stayed at Stay Kerikeri motel in Kerikeri) compared to 2019 in which we had our South Island trip where I went with Pops, Aunty Tan & Rejean which was in fact my last pre-COVID era trip) when I told Dad about it, but Paige Ahearn, Norah as well as Paige's husband & Norah's father Jarrod Ahearn are still in Welly, but they have moved recently to a new home to accomodate the family especially Norah according to the post from Paige on the social media platform Instagram (And I even saw online that she has 3,000 followers according to her IG account, compared to Cathey who has just got 30).

And something terrible has happened in Hawke's Bay as rival gangs clashed with a van belonging to the Young Maori Party rugby team was shot at after a game in Hastings with Ngati Kahungunu has stepped in to ease gang tensions as police investigated after a van had been shot during a rugby match, with the violence thought to be gang-related. Prior to the shots, cops were sent to the Hawke's Bay Rugby Club at Bill Mathewson Park in Hastings in which the match had been called off as a result of safety concerns when fans pulled out weapons in the aftermath of a rugby player who made an aggressive tackle being made before being assaulted by gang members which prompted police to call in to disperse the crowds (And both arrests have been made following a serious incident involving the shooting, but this is like during Euro 2024 in Germany where neighbouring countries fans of both Georgia & Turkiye clashed with strikes being thrown & projectiles thrown at each other before kick off, then riot cops had arrived & had been told fans of both sides to disperse & separate when the players came out onto the pitch according to the sports news report that I saw on CNN), but there was an incredible story to the Rugby World Cup winning player for the Springboks last year of Canan Moodie who was the one that escaped the clutches of gang violence back home which was easy (Although Canan had just tasted a brush of near death to get out of the violent situation from the gangs themselves) to become one of South Africa rugby's rising stars (I remember watching a match between the Boks & Australia during a Rugby Championship test in Sydney in 2022 where Moodie scored an incredible try after he successfully contested a high ball when he started on the right wing, filling in for the suspended Kurt-Lee Arendse (Who was one of Moodie's teammates at the Bulls (Moodie's club that he plays) who are playing in the URC (United Rugby Championship) which is a professional club rugby competition involving teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa & Wales) but Moodie is mainly a winger, but can play at centre (He played in that game as a midfielder against Romania last year during the World Cup) which was his old playing position during his schoolboy rugby days).

And finally that my fave radio station of the whole wide universe of Brian FM (The music that mainly plays both classic rock & adult contemporary) reminds me of both Radio X (Alt rock & grunge) & Liberty Rock Radio (Classic & alternative rock) being mixed altogether that I listen to because of me secretly playing both Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas definitive edition (In which Radio X makes an appearance) on the PS4 via PS5 console & GTA IV (In also which Liberty Rock Radio makes its appearance) & it's expansion pack which is The Ballad of Gay Tony (TBoGT) on the Xbox 360 via my Xbox Series X console (And I've always been a GTA fan because of my 2 favourite games that I got now (Such as GTA: SA (Where I first played it in 2008 on PC) & Grand Theft Auto IV TBoGT (Where I first played it in 2013 (A year after I first played GTA IV) on the PS3), but I prefer modern rock music from the year I was born in 1991 until now (And not only I was born in the 90's decade that I've always been a part of), but I have revealed my list of my fave musicians & bands as of today so here is the list in it's entirety (For which I've downloaded the mp3 music stuff online on the computer that I've got, but I've written both down a piece of paper (The one I've got to show it to Paige next time I go to Wellington & the one that I've got to give it to her, & I've got her new email address but I prefer to wait until I meet her of course), but I was once an AC/DC & Metallica follower way back in 2007, then both Faith No More & Korn back in 2014 for which I was a fan of these 2 bands, & I'm always still a Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Linkin Park, Incubus, A Perfect Circle, Shihad & Filter fanatic, but I've have revealed that I'm a aficionado of these girly rock bands & singers for which have been taken over this year such as Alanis Morissette (My fave female pop rock singer), Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch & Evanescence (And of course my fave female fronted rock band):

Motorhead

INXS

Faith No More

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Blur

Foo Fighters

Blink-182

Filter

Creed

Linkin Park

Incubus

Nickelback

System of a Down

Joe Walsh

The Doobie Brothers

Genesis

Bon Jovi

Motley Crue

Guns N'Roses

Living Colour

Depeche Mode

The Stone Roses

Jane's Addiction

Helmet

Soundgarden

The Black Crowes

Alice In Chains

Stone Temple Pilots

Pearl Jam

Green Day

Weezer

Bush

The Smashing Pumpkins

Oasis

Tonic

The Verve

Matchbox Twenty

Goo Goo Dolls

Lenny Kravitz

Manic Street Preachers

Alanis Morissette

Placebo

Fatboy Slim

Vertical Horizon

Moby

Coldplay

Fuel

U2

Feeder

Limp Bizkit

Avril Lavigne

Queens of the Stone Age

Evanescence

Audioslave

Live

Michelle Branch

3 Doors Down

The Killers

Stereophonics

Muse

Nirvana

The Cranberries

Radiohead

No Doubt

Dishwalla

Duncan Sheik

Dave Matthews Band

Garbage

The Cardigans

Smash Mouth

Lifehouse

Lorde

Cage the Elephant

John Newman

Fall Out Boy

Twenty One Pilots

Phantogram

Greta Van Fleet

Imagine Dragons

Portugal. The Man

Måneskin

& the Black Keys

So that is my 555th blog of the year 2024 (MMXXIV) & my 31st of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.

P.S. Look in my eyes

What do you see?

The cult of personality

I know your anger, I know your dreams

I've been everything you want to be

Oh, I'm the cult of personality

Like Mussolini and Kennedy

I'm the cult of personality

The cult of personality

The cult of personality

Neon lights, a Nobel prize

When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies

You won't have to follow me

Only you can set me free

Take On Me/I Ran (So Far Away): My 30th blog of the year 2024

Well, what's up guys & girls, this is Whetu here in my Kiwiavenger blog, but first in the sporting department as all but one New Zealand sides such as the Blues, Chiefs & Hurricanes are through to the semis along with the Brumbies who are flying the flag for Australia in Super Rugby Pacific but let's hope that there is an all-NZ final just like the last 2 years (And Pops doesn't mind a Trans-Tasman final because the last time an Australian team had been to a full Super Rugby final, it was in 2014 where the Waratahs won who became the last Aussie side to win a full Super Rugby Championship when the final was held in Sydney, Australia (It's been 10 years since an Australian hosted full Super Rugby final took place (Last time it was in 2017 where Johannesburg in South Africa had hosted a full Super Rugby final outside of New Zealand where the 14 man Lions fell short to the Crusaders who won in the end under their new coach at the time of Scott Robertson (Who was the only the 2nd former All Black player in history to take charge of the world famous but ever popular All Blacks rugby team (Wayne Smith was the first in 2000 where he took over from John Hart following the 1999 Rugby World Cup before John Mitchell replaced him in 2001) from Ian Foster who had moved on already following the scars of '23 in light of Sam Cane's red card that cost New Zealand the story (Although we had a chance of a penalty goal to win the game & the World Cup, but it sailed wide according to the comment I remember now from Jeff Wilson on the Breakdown TV programme being shown on Sky Sport that I saw on the 17th of June on the same day as Carole's birthday) against South Africa who still remained champs in the rugby world according to the previous blogs that I did, & with Scott Barrett likely to take charge as the new skipper of the AB's, even though with Dalton Papali'i (Who is out of the race of becoming the new captain of New Zealand since Ardie Savea has taken over from him as one of the front runners alongside Scott Barrett) is among the candidates for the captaincy job), so here's the confirmed semifinal matchups that had been set, which is about to take place:

Blues Vs Brumbies: Eden Park, Auckland (Their most recent meeting in Super Rugby Pacific was in round 9 when the Blues ran out as winners against the Brumbies (Who haven't won at the garden of Eden against the Blues since 2013, but would later turn it around of becoming the first side to defeat the Hurricanes this year in Canberra during round 10 of the competition) at Eden Park in Auckland, but the most famous game that they had was in 2022 during the semi where Ofa Tu'ungafasi had charged down Noah Lolesio's attempt of a drop goal in which the famous rugby broadcaster/commentator Tony 'TJ' Johnson (AKA the other voice of New Zealand rugby compared to Grant 'Nisbo' Nisbett (The one who is referred to as the man with the golden tonsils) who is always the current voice of NZ rugby & is still my fave rugby broadcasters/commentators because it used to be the late Scotsman Bill McLaren back in the day (And I always say that Ward 4 line in a men's rugby match every time a player tackles an opponent hard) famously uttered when Tu'ungafasi made that game winning charge down "Ofa Tu'ungafasi! Where did you come from!")

& Hurricanes Vs Chiefs: Sky Stadium, Wellington (The last time both of these sides had met in Super Rugby Pacific was during the penultimate round of round 14 at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton where the Hurricanes had Brett Cameron who had slotted a match winning penalty goal against the Chiefs (Who had their captain Luke Jacobson getting penalized for a tackler not rolling when he was trapped at a ruck with reserve Hurricanes prop forward Tevita 'Vita' Mafileo pinning him in which I thought that it wasn't a penalty to start with according to the comment from ex-All Black Jeff 'Goldie' Wilson in sideline commentary working for broadcaster Sky, but the ref certainly thinks it is when he spotted it)

And the latest on the French Open tennis as Poland's Iga Swiatek & young 21 year old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz has taken victories in the women's & men's singles championships respectively at Roland Garros against Ghanian slash Polish Italian Jasmine Paolini (Who Swiatek beat) & German who has Eastern European roots of Alexander Zverev (Who Alcaraz beat), but the next Grand Slam tennis event takes place at Wimbeldon where Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic (Or known for its appropiate country name of Czechia now) & Alcaraz are expected to defend their ladies & gentleman's championships respectively.

And there has been a terrible situation in New Caledonia as a civil unrest had been occurred which turned into a war zone like in May this year with mainland France sending troops over to end it by dispersing the crowds, but I asked Pops on the 12th of June that is there going to be a war? And Pops asked me that there was bloodshed all over the place in New Caledonia, but there is both wars going on that are still going such as the one I'm not going to show you on my blogs because it is objectionable & sensitive to the country who started it & the Israeli invasion of Hamas which is still going since October 7th last year in which 34,000 innocent lives had been taken away, but there are fears that World War 3 could be on the horizon by starting sooner than expected with Europe fears that they are beginning to prepare or should I say, brace for war.

And finally, there is sad but sombre news as the world is in mourning & shock when Indian born UK TV presenter of Doctor Michael Mosley who is the founder of the 5/2 diet & the #1 best-selling author of several health related books, has passed away due to natural causes over in Greece where he was missing so all thoughts, prayers & condolences go to the family of Doctor Mosley who is gone, but not forgotten, may you RIP.

Doctor Michael Mosley

1957 - 2024

So that is my 554th blog of the year 2024 (MMXXIV) & my 30th of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.

P.S. And happy birthday to both 'Jansi Jans' of Jansen (Who currently lives in the Hawke's Bay region for which I last saw him in May) for his 21st yesterday & 'Benny' of Ben Blain (Who is still in the Philippines for work over there but I've last seen him last month in July) today so best wishes to you all (And a shout-out to both of them as well).

Only Happy When It Rains/We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome): My 29th blog of the year 2024

Well, what's up guys & girls, welcome to Kiwiavenger, but first we have revealed the name of Dame Lisa Carrington's main challenger seeking to end her reign at the Paris Olympics, which is in the form of fellow New Zealander Aimee Fisher who beat Carrington at the world trials in the last regatta prior to the events of the Olympics being taken place, although with Fisher who is gunning to cement one of the rising stars of New Zealand canoeing if she wins gold in Paris.

And the 1st phase of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs is set, which is the quarterfinal stages first after the end of the regular season that they had (The Crusaders in the end didn't make it, meaning that they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015 after being so successful for the last 6 years from 2017 until last year but hey, a new Super Rugby champion will be crowned for the 1st time since 2016 in which the Hurricanes last won a full Super Rugby championship (And before that, it was the Blues in 2021 during the one-off Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition in which they became the last side to win a title other than the Crusaders who were so invincible since 2017) before the Crusaders dominance began by winning all but one championship that they won, but they had a dismal season this year which was considered the worst even though the die hard Crusaders faithful want their coach Rob Penney (The one who replaced All Blacks bound coach Scott Robertson from this year) out following another win against Moana Pasifika a week after beating the Blues (Who had their player Stephen Perofeta yellow carded for a intentional knock-on (For which attempted intercepts does count as foul play meaning that the player who illegally attempts an intercept should spend 10 minutes in the bin) which cost the Blues the game, similar to James Lowe of Leinster who got sin binned, therefore costing the Irish club's chance of Investec Champions Cup glory against the most successful European rugby club of France's Stade Tolousain (The Crusaders of European rugby according to the previous blogs that I did) led by the now best rugby player in the world during modern times of Antoine Dupont in which the trend of the roses in red have dominated the rugby show against the violets in blue (And last year during the NZ general elections that the violets in blue have stole the show against the roses in red when National (Which is the right wing Conservative political party here in NZ compared to Labour which is the left wing Liberal political party) had a successful campaign when Christopher Luxon was overwhemingly dominant against Labour's Chris Hipkins for the role of becoming the new Prime Minister of our country which is back under National rule for the first time since 2017 in which Bill English lost the election against Jacinda Ardern (Who resigned last year as she was not seeking re-election by allowing Hipkins to take over the top job in the country before suffering a defeat in the hands of Luxon during the election) for the leadership of our nation), so here's the confirmed matchups which is about to take place:

Chiefs Vs Reds: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (The last time both of these sides had met in Super Rugby Pacific was round 3 back in March with the Reds securing a 6 point win over the Chiefs at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane)

Hurricanes Vs Rebels: Sky Stadium, Wellington (Their most recent meeting in Super Rugby Pacific was in round 5 also back in March where the Hurricanes thrashed them at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North in the Manawatu region that I've been with Dad & Raewyn in late September last year)

Blues Vs Fijian Drua: Eden Park, Auckland (The last time they clashed in Super Rugby Pacific was in the very opening round in round 1 where Zarn Sullivan had got a double to get their Super Rugby Pacific campaign off to a winning start as they secured a bonus point win at Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei in the Northland region that I've been late last year with Pops & Carole)

& Brumbies Vs Highlanders: GIO Stadium Canberra, Canberra (And their last meeting between the 2 sides in Super Rugby Pacific was in round 4 in which the Brumbies won the game in a close affair at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin)

And the latest on the former US President Donald Trump as he is guilty of multiple indictments (In which he was having his best day since he got COVID-19 which was during the pandemic), including the 26 serious felony crimes that he committed according from the comment from Carole on the 2nd of June at Cactus Creme Cafe but they're still awaiting a decision whether he should be sentenced for 26 charges that he had (And the war between Hamas & Israel might end if Trump (Who is in fact a bad role model that he's currently having, & I had no idea specifically what's going on with him at the moment) is elected by making a successful comeback of potentially returning to the White House, but the reason why Trump won the 2016 US general election was his supporters who were backing him to win the presidency, 4 years before losing the election to the current US President Joe Biden (Well, let's say that he's in according to the comment from Pops (Who is a Liberal & left wing type of person like me who I'm an anti-Trump as well as a pro-Biden type of person) 2 months ago in June if he is re-elected in 3 months time according to the news topic that we saw together on CNN) in 2020 which was marred by the global pandemic & the racially motivated murder of George Floyd by police officer Derek Chauvin & now, Trump's quest of returning to the presidency have taken a hit if he gets sent behind bars for the senseless crimes that he committed, but he can still be president if he's incarcerated like that).

And finally me, Pops & Carole went to that incredible restaurant which is called the Villa Cafe for dinner on the last day of May where I had a pasta dish there along with the chocolate mousse cake for dessert, but 2 days later, us 3 turned up at Cactus Creme Cafe for brunch where I had a big breakfast with homemade baked beans then moccachino for a drink afterwards to end an incredible day it was (And I wish I had the French Toast next time I go to that cafe).

So that is my 553rd blog of the year 2024 (MMXXIV) & my 29th of this year, viva Ukraine & Palestine.