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).
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