The Gift/No Reason: My 40th blog of the year 2023 (AKA my last blog pre-Rugby World Cup preview)

Well, the All Blacks (Who are now 4 & 1 since the South Africans (Champions of the most recent Rugby World Cup in 2019 which evoked memories of the events in 1995 where the nation played host then won the tournament in their debut appearance at the RWC) became the 1st side to defeat New Zealand this year by snapping our 11 game unbeaten stretch, & it was payback of Mt Smart in Auckland in which they got beaten against us in an epic Rugby Championship test) will go into the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with defeat against the defending world champion Springboks (Who have now taken over as the favourites to retain the prestigious William Webb Ellis Cup while both hosts France (Who will be so relieved when their World Cup rivals had tasted defeat like that then against the reigning champs) & Ireland are the other contenders of winning their 1st Rugby World Cup championship, but I wonder the headlines would say: AB'S MANHANDLED BY OVERWHELMINGLY DOMINANT SPRINGBOKS SIDE or more like: SOUTH AFRICA GO INTO THE RWC WITH A WIN AGAINST NEW ZEALAND) who overpowered them in a comprehensive thrashing at Twickenham in London by 28 points (And what went wrong for New Zealand (Who for the 1st time since 2011 to go into the World Cup with a loss like that) to lose a test like this? It hurts not only we were so gutted about the result in which we were inconsistent that time around since we lost both Shannon Frizell & Brodie Retallick to injuries the reason why we lost the pre-RWC test (Including 2 yellow cards to Scott Barrett which resulted in a costly red card meaning that New Zealand will go into the opening game of the Rugby World Cup against France, without 3 first choice players such as Frizell & Retallick who succumbed to injuries & now Scott Barrett who has yet to be suspended after a red card which was in fact the 2nd yellow card for a tackle gone wrong on a South African player of Malcolm Marx which slipped up high as he becomes the 9th different All Black player to be sent off in a test in a match billed as the Twickenham horror show according to the All Blacks fans, but there has been an update as Scott Barrett is not suspended (But he's been cleared on any wrongdoing where it did not even meet the red card threshold) meaning that he is free to play in the World Cup opener against the hosts France who swept Australia aside in Saint-Denis), but they could meet us in either the quarterfinal or in the final) which is the AB's worst defeat in 24 years way back in 1999 after the Wallabies dismantled them by 21 points to retain the Bledisloe before they would gone on to win the World Cup later that year, but the main highlight throughout the last of the pre-RWC tests would have to be Fiji slaying England in an incredible match (Compared to Ireland having a close shave against Samoa who came so close & nearly made history by pulling it off, in Bayonne) at Twickenham which I was stoked where history had to be made as the Fijians (Who gave them belief going into their opening game against Wales scheduled on the 10th of September) become the 1st tier 2 side to defeat England in international rugby (But I also wonder the headlines would say: FIJI EXPRESS STUN ENGLAND IN HISTORIC BOILOVER or more like: ENGLAND RUGBY TEAM MESMERIZED BY INCREDIBLE FIJIANS, but it's the best international rugby test I have ever seen on TV not involving the All Blacks) so let's relive the last 8 minutes of that epic test that you have just seen (And that's the 2nd time I'll be doing the last minutes of the game, this time in rugby since I did the last one which is the final of the Football Women's World Cup):

72ND MINUTE: England immediately make a hash of taking the restart, granting Fiji advanced possession. The Pacific Island side don’t make the most of it, losing control of a ruck, but when George Ford missees touch, back they will come...

TRY ENGLAND: England 22-30 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli try, 73 minutes)

Is this a famous Fijian day?

The travelling fans go wild as Fiji open that advantage up again. The irrepressible Selestino Ravutaumada is the architect, his mad sketchings decipherable only by his teammates with England lost in a whirl of limbs. Ravutaumada lofts an offload which Simoine Kuruvoli collects - Caleb Muntz’s kick is true, too!

75TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): England have already had one great escape at Twickenham during this Summer Nations Series - they need another here. Danny Care is on to try and spark it, with Fiji flying out of the line at every England carrier.

76TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Penalty to the Pacific Islanders! The Fijian flags wave as their side defend with aggression and accuracy and turn England over five metres out from their own line. England’s players look to the heavens.

78TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: Another penalty Fiji’s way. They are two minutes away.

79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Fiji’s attack is aimless, but it doesn’t really matter with the clock ticking ever closer to 80 minutes. They won’t much mind a knock-on, either - there are fewer than 50 seconds to play as the two front rows pack down.

80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Fiji are going to beat England! Fiji are going to beat England. Danny Care explores the blindside but Max Malins runs out of room after the scrum half tries to set him away up the touchline. The clock is dead!

FULL TIME! ENGLAND 22-30 FIJI: For the first time in their history, Fiji have beaten England! (And the game is over! Rugby history! Fiji, beat England, for the first time!)

Steve Borthwick’s side sink to a new low, but how about that performance from the Pacific Islanders? England were thoroughly out-fought, out-fought, and out-played. (Outstanding achievement for Fiji)

Where do England go from here? Just when you think things couldn’t get any worse for Steve Borthwick and his side, well, that happens. (I don't know England could muster)

It is, strictly, only a warm-up, but it is hard to convey the enormity of that result. This was a close to full strength England side, and Fiji were missing a couple of genuine stars - it mattered not! (But Fiji are all over them)

England’s dismal build-up to the World Cup reached its lowest ebb as they collapsed to their first defeat to a current tier-two nation by losing 30-22 to Fiji at Twickenham. (Tremendous game that the Fijians have had)

Jonny May raced over to seize an early lead but what followed will have shaken head coach Steve Borthwick as England were outplayed by a side they had dispatched in all seven previous meetings. (Not so super glad for the English just before the World Cup had even begun)

Waisea Nayacalevu and Vinaya Habosi touched down to propel Fiji in front and, although tries by Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant hinted that a seismic upset might be avoided, the Islanders had other ideas. (And I mean what a ripper of a match that they just had, especially from the Fijian point of view)

The leaky home defence cracked one final time in the 73rd minute, with Simione Kuruvoli delivering the decisive blow to wrap up a historic victory that will create shockwaves ahead of the World Cup. (It's been a cracking game, look forward to seeing you next time, bye from us)

And in motor racing news straight out of Formula One such as twice world champion Max Verstappen has won his Grand Prix in front of his adoring home fans in Holland to go 3 & 0 at his home venue in Zandvoort on New Zealander Liam Lawson's debut in F1 (In which Lawson (Who became the first Kiwi to compete in F1 since Brendon Hartley in 2018) finished a creditable 13th in the race in his first appearance in F1 driving for Alphatauri as an injury replacement for Australian Daniel Ricciardo (Who was ruled out of the grand prix with a broken hand) at Zandvoort in the Netherlands, but Liam Lawson is 2nd in the championship in the Japanese Super Formula competition) as he ties the record for most straight wins at 9 alongside Sebastian Vettel back in 2013 as well as he claimed his 11th win of the season but finishing behind Verstappen is Fernando Alonso (The elder statesman in F1 at the age of 42 (Compared to the young gun of Australian Oscar Piastri who is the youngest in the F1 grid at 21 or 22 (Before Lawson joined F1 as a replacement for Piastri's fellow countryman Ricciardo) as well as being the 1st Formula One driver to be born in the 21st century in 2001 followed by the Kiwi of Liam Lawson who was born a year after Piastri in 2002) who topped it off with a bonus point for setting the fastest lap of the race & is 12 points ahead of Sir Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes going into the next Grand Prix in Italy) in the Aston Martin who finished in 2nd while Pierre Gasly (Who hasn't been on a podium since Azerbaijan in 2021) has rounded out the podium in 3rd (He picked up a 5 second penalty for a pit lane speeding infringement (In which has been cleared) along with Sergio Perez who narrowly missed out on the podium after copping a penalty for going too fast in the pit lane just before the red flag came out which lasted 10 minutes before the race got back underway when the rain was cleared & also Lawson who did the same as Gasly, Yuki Tsunoda (One of Lawson's Alphatauri teammates who got penalized for an avoidable contact during the Grand Prix) & Perez (Who didn't clear the penalty as he'd been given a post-race penalty for that but the next race on the F1 calendar is in Italy at the Parco di Monza circuit where they will have an emotional homecoming for 3 Italian teams such as Ferrari (In which the passionate tifosi will be cheering them on as they're gunning to end Red Bull's incredible winning streak dating back to Abu Dhabi last year in which Verstappen won the season ending Grand Prix as well as ending Red Bull's quest of maintaining their perfect record in Formula One this year, but the last non-Red Bull driver to win a Grand Prix was also last year in Brazil with George Russell behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG team (Although pole for the sprint race went to Denmark's Kevin Magnussen in the Haas to secure the American constructor's one & only pole position in Formula One), Alfa Romeo (In it's final year before reverting back to Sauber) & Alphatauri (The Italian constructor once known as Scuderia Toro Rosso who hadn't won a Grand Prix since Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Who is with Alpine now) took that famous win in 2020 which was a year impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic), but also news straight out of the Indycar as New Zealander Scott Dixon has won another race, this time at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illnois in which he had a better fuel consumption than the rest of the field as he keeps his title aspirations alive (Although the weekend was overshadowed by defending Indycar series champion Will Power who wrecked his car when he avoided his Penske racing teammate Scott McLaughlin (Who took pole but he had recieved a grid penalty for changing the engine which resulted him in starting 10th on the grid for the race) when Power (Who collided with Dixon during a practice in Road America this year was shades of 1996 when the late Andre Ribeiro who clipped the late Greg Moore during the race going into Canada corner in one of Indycar's most memorable but dramatic moments) went into the wall then he crashed into former Indy 500 winner Marcus Ericsson (Who'll be heading to Andretti Autosport next year with fellow Swede Linus Lundqvist taking over Ericsson's ride at Chip Ganassi Racing) who had to switch to a back-up car for the remainder of the weekend), but there are only 2 races still left to go in which the man known as 'The Iceman', has an outside chance of winning his record tying 7th Indycar championship, & he's trailing behind his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate of Spain's Alex Palou (Who is gunning for his 2nd Indycar Series title 2 years after winning his first in 2021 (That was the year after Dixon won his 6th & most recent crown (To add to his titles won in 2003, 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018 & the aforementioned 2020 season as well as his victory in the Indy 500 in 2008) & the year before Will Power went on to win his 2nd Indycar championship to go with his title that he first won in 2014 as well as winning his only Indy 500 in 2018) in which he picked both Alonso & none other than Dixon as his childhood idols growing up (And there was Danny Sullivan who was a great racing car driver but was a terrible commentator when he once worked for ESPN in the mid to late 1990's after his racing days were over after he crashed in 1995 during a Indycar event in Brooklyn, Michigan at Michigan Motor Speedway which resulted in injuries that ended his career (That was the year before Emerson Fittipaldi who did the same thing as his racing career came to an abrupt halt due to injuries sustained in the crash) by 74 points going into the next race at Portland International Raceway which is located in Portland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest, then Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas, California, plays host to the Indycar season finale this year before the streets of Nashville in Tennessee takes over of hosting the final round of the NTT Indycar Series starting from next year in 2024.

And the latest on the Donald Trump saga (For which I haven't being doing on my blogs about Trump getting charged since May of this year but this is like Watergate all over again where the late US president of Richard Nixon had to resign in 1974 over the scandal involving illegal activites including the robbery to the HQ of the Democratic National Committee on June 17th, 1972 which was the worst in American history, dealt with corruption at the highest level and office of the government) as the former US president from 2017 until 2021 as well as the man who ruined every American people when he got elected as the president of the United States in 2016 (And after Trump got elected that some American people are trying to flee from their homeland to other countries, such as New Zealand because of him), turned up in Georgia handing himself in to law enforcements in Fulton County under heightened security to appear in court for his latest criminal charges regarding to his time during the presidency, but he has pleaded not guilty about attempting to overturn the result of the US election in 2020 therefore staging a riot on the US Capitol buildings on January 6th 2021 with the trial of the former US president set to get under way on the 4th of March next year at the peak of the primary season therefore stopping him from campaigning, & I mean that is terrible that Trump is gonna pay for what he did for interfering the election in 2020 like that as he has been charged with election related crimes in the run-up to the January 6th attack in the US Capitol which counted as a felony, oh shameless (But my thoughts about Trump are "Then you're out of your damn head, & also that I just whooped your back side"), then it's such a rip off, it's a shameless rip off about election related issues in the United States going on there, but oh god I hope they get sued, you know I, maybe that's a slap on the wrist for that (And by the way that Trump will spend more time locked up behind bars as Pops told me before if he's sentenced with a severe punishment like that (Holy hell), then Trump is now obviously in a dark place now, & he does not know what to do about his latest criminal charges that he's had).

And I hadn't mentioned about that the state of Victoria in Australia will not host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 as a result of a budget blowout regarding to inflation (And Auckland has since been ruled out of hosting the next Commonwealth Games as well following the news that the Australian state of Victoria who pulled out as hosting rights for the next Commonwealth Games in 3 years time, but this is like Durban in South Africa pulling out of hosting last years Commonwealth Games after originally being awarded as the English city of Birmingham got the nod instead) according to the comment I remember from my Moroccan Jewish mate for 19 years of Leon (Who I haven't seen him since the last day of July when he left Whanganui, & has now settled in the UK in Nottingham to be with his fiance Michelle Johansson who is a Kiwi of Swedish origin who I have not seen her since last year before she left right on cue) in July.

And it's been one full year since Her Majesty the Queen of Queen Elizabeth II (The longest regining monarch in history for 70 years from 1952 (The year that His Majesty the King of King George VI had passed away) until last year) who passed away as a result of natural causes according to the death report from a royal observer, allowing her son His Majesty the King of King Charles III to take over as the current head of state of the Commonwealth (The 2 events have occurred was the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II also last year in which was held under heightened security & the coronation of a new King in May this year while the UK national anthem had to change from God Save the Queen to now God Save the King).

And finally my thoughts before I wrap this blog up? It is going to be probably my last blog before I start work on my new one which is something special, & it's about the preview of Rugby World Cup 2023 featuring all the 20 teams competing as well as the history of the tournament so far which is called: My 40th blog of the year 2023 (AKA Breaking Dawn III: The 2023 Rugby World Cup preview).

So that is my 516th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 40th of this year, viva Ukraine.

Perhaps/Meeting The Master: My 39th blog of the year 2023

Well, the latest on the Football Women's World Cup as here are the results of the semifinals that just come in:

Spain 2 - 1 Sweden

& Australia 1 - 3 England

So it's Spain to play England in the 2023 Football Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney on late Sunday night New Zealand time to decide who will become the new World Champion.

And onto the rugby stuff as Wales were totally humiliated by the world champion South Africa (Who have their pre-Rugby World Cup friendly match in hand against the All Blacks (Who'll be without Shannon Frizell (Who pulled a hammy during training before they jumped on the plane to France) for the opening World Cup game against host France (Who had already lost Romain Ntamack of what looks like to be a serious knee injury in which the hosts have a star player injury crisis ahead of the World Cup) through injury sustained during training & is expected to return during the tournament as he joins lock forward Brodie Retallick as part of the list of injured players for New Zealand who are without their first choice lock & blindside flanker for the upcoming matches against South Africa & France (Who I think are the slight favourites due to the home field advantage & the AB's are without 2 first choice players through injury) but it's one full year since the last time New Zealand had lost a test in international rugby in which we went down to Argentina at Orangetheory Stadium (Now called Apollo Projects Stadium) in Christchurch courtesy of our poor discipline which cost us (And we are unbeaten in 11 games since our last defeat in international rugby last year (And now we're on a 4 game winning streak going into the next test against South Africa in our last test before the World Cup) side which featured the return of their most recent RWC winning skipper of the self-proclaimed rugby god of Siya Kolisi (The inspirational leader who is one of by far the best players for the South Africans) from a knee injury at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff that resulted in a comprehensive win for the South Africans going into the next test against the AB's at the home of rugby at Twickenham in London, England, but the latest on the Owen Farrell saga as he is cleared from the judiciary after his red card against the Welsh at Twickenham for a dangerous high shot (But the high tackles in rugby, is similar to someone going out with a gun just to shoot & kill people) after originally being given a yellow card which was reviewed by the bunker, has been overturned in which the rugby community were outraged that Farrell (Who which I label him as a liar, but now he's gonna pay for what he did for an illegal, dangerous tackle on Taine Beasham which resulted in a yellow card & a off field review which they changed it to a red card in which there was no mitigating factor but the latest as England suffer a defeat against the undefeated Ireland side which resulted in a red card to English number 8 Billy Vunipola as he joins his England teammate Farrell & now Tongan George Moala (Who got sent off for an old school tackle during the test against Canada) as well as part of the suspended players list) didn't get a 6 week ban for his sanctions as there were bonkers all over the place (And then all of a sudden, he cops a 4 week ban meaning that he missed the game against Ireland then he'll miss another game against Fiji as well as the first 2 matches during the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup against both Argentina & Japan), therefore a war has broken out on head contact in rugby & was due to end at this years tournament because of the sweeping law changes such as the alteration of the tackle height set to change from the shoulders to the sternum area (And unlike Lappies Labuschagne (I now pronounce his surname similar to South African born Australian cricketer Marnus in a universal way, but most people pronounce in a South African way) who recieved a red card for a serious foul play incident during the game against Fiji which took him out of contention of making the Japan Rugby World Cup squad on the plane to France, but Michael Leitch was the one who got sent off in a game against Samoa, the first time he had been red carded during his rugby career & he had to serve a 3 week suspension for his actions due to his decent disciplinary record).

And back onto the football stuff as there has been an update that Spain are the new world champions of women's football after their successful World Cup glory against England (Who were without they key trio through ACL injuries such as regular captain Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby & Beth Mead which opened the door of Spain who triumphed in the end compared to Spain before Women's Euro 2022 that they were missing Alexia Putellas through a serious injury which allowed England to win at their home tournament against rivals Germany in the final with Chloe Kelly providing the heroics of scoring that winning goal during extra time) in a final filled with drama & excitement at Stadium Australia in Sydney (But I wonder the headlines would say? SPAIN WOMEN EDGE ENGLAND WOMEN TO BECOME CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD or more like: ENGLAND MISS OUT ON FOOTBALL WOMEN'S WORLD CUP CROWN, & I mean what a way to finish for Spain but what a disappointing end to England, what a match for our viewers right around the world, it's all happening) so let's relive throughout the last 15 minutes of the match according to the live updates on Newshub:

90TH MINUTE + 1ST MINUTE: Corner scratched clear, as we head into a whopping 13 minutes of stoppage time - thanks largely to the lengthy VAR review and the stoppage for Alex Greenwood's cut.

90TH MINUTE + 2ND MINUTE, SAVE!: Spain with a good spell on the ball, having absorbed a decent period of English. A fantastic ball from Bonmati releases Batlle in behind on the right, and she bears down on goal. Her shot takes a deflection off Carter, but Earps reacts well to turn it behind for a corner.

90TH MINUTE + 3RD MINUTE: A hurry up given to Spain as they make a late change to the corner taker, with Paralluelo taking instead of Abelleira. The corner is headed away, and England then win a relieving free kick.

90TH MINUTE + 4TH MINUTE: CHANCE! Massive moment for the youngster! Putellas wins the ball in midfield and Spain spring forward again. A wonderful low cross comes from the right flank, and Bronze fails to deal with it. Paralluelo though can't get a touch, when it looked like she might finish this final off!

90TH MINUTE + 5TH MINUTE: England are finally able to get up the other end, but Kelly's cross is stabbed clear. Spain then win the ball back in midfield, and Putellas dinks the ball up into the arm of Bronze to win a free kick.

90TH MINUTE + 6TH MINUTE: Spain doing things nicely at the moment, as a rather needless shove from Stanway on Putellas gives away another free kick. Spain will slow this down before delivering from just outside the left corner of the box.

Far post delivery, but the header back across the box is then scratched clear. England can then try surge upfield, as James and Hemp link up. However, Hermoso gets back to break things up and they have to settle for a throw.

90TH MINUTE + 7TH MINUTE: James heads towards the right corner flag, but Paralluelo is back on defensive duties and is able to nick it away. Spain then earn a defensive throw, soaking up a few extra seconds and releasing some of the pressure.

90TH MINUTE + 8TH MINUTE: Corner for Spain. They win the ball off Stanway in the middle of the park and then surge forward through Bonmati. Bonmati's shot is blocked on the edge of the area, but it's then picked up by Abelleira. She finds Paralluelo on the left, but her shot is deflected behind.

90TH MINUTE + 9TH MINUTE: Another corner, as Carter gets the last touch on the delivery and it bobbles behind yet again.

90TH MINUTE + 10TH MINUTE: There's only three Spanish players in the area as Paralluelo bends it to the back post, with Paredes making the run. She gets the last touch, and the ball bobbles out for a goal kick.

90TH MINUTE + 11TH MINUTE: England win a throw inside the Spanish half, and are quick to get on with it. However, Hemp's ball across the park is seized on by Hernandez. She charges off down the right flank, but Greenwood gets back and manages to end the run with a sliding challenge inside the area! Great defending, especially at this stage of the game against the fresh legs of the substitute.

90TH MINUTE + 12TH MINUTE: Kelly lunges in to try win the ball off Hermoso, but trods on the foot and gives away a free kick. Time ticking away on England's dream...

The free kick is launched forward and very nearly finds Paralluelo in space on the left corner of the box. She can't control though, and then fouls Carter.

90TH MINUTE + 13TH MINUTE: England launch the ball forward, but Hemp gives away another free kick as she tries to win the loose ball.

90TH MINUTE + 14TH MINUTE: The sideline are riding every kick as Hemp goes bursting forward down the right wing. She whips in a dangerous looking cross too, but Batlle is there with a good header, and Spain then hack it clear.

Late corner, as England send a long throw in, which is then helped towards the back left post. Deflected behind, and up comes Earps...

90TH MINUTE + 15TH MINUTE: Coll claims the corner above the pack, and that is that! (Oh what a catch! What a catch!...And the game is over!)

FULL-TIME: 1-0

SPAIN ARE THE CHAMPIONS! They hang on to win a thrilling, entertaining final, and have their first ever World Cup title - at just their third visit to the finals. It was a fantastic game, with the 1-0 scoreline not reflecting the open, attacking nature of the contest. Olga Carmona's first half strike proved the difference, as Mary Earps kept England in the contest with a number of key saves, including denying Jennifer 'Jenny' Hermoso from the spot midway through the second half. (For the 1st time in the tournament's 32 year history; Spain have won the women's World Cup! By the barest of margins! By the barest of all margins! (World Cup for Spain!...A hard fought win here by 1 point)

Spain are well deserving of the victory given the balance of things tonight, with their midfield quality proving key. Aitana Bonmati was phenomenal for Spain along with Hermoso and Teresa Abelleira, while the width on attack provided by the likes of Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona (Whose father passed away back home in Spain moments after the final whistle so she has to travel back home to attend a funeral rather than remaining with the team for their homecoming celebrations), Alba Redondo and Salma Paralluelo (Who the 19 year old thought that she was going to make it to the Paris Olympics as a track & field athlete, but however took up football instead) made Spain a constant threat going forward. They went close on a number of occasions to adding to their lead, but with Earps in fine form and some desperation English defending, it kept the Lionesses in with a sniff throughout. (Absolute ecstasy for Spain! Agony! Agony for England! (Spain win the women's World Cup; It's a hard fought win, they win by 1 point)

England had their opportunities too, despite being overwhelmed in midfield for much of the game. When they were able to break down the Spanish press and make their way onto attack, they looked likely, with Lauren Hemp in fine form, and impact off the bench coming from Chloe Kelly and Lauren James. Hemp went closes with her effort off the bar in the first half, and probably should have levelled things up with a far post finish that fizzed wide of the left post. James also forced Catalina 'Cata' Coll into a fine save, but ultimately they couldn't come up with the telling moment to peg back the lone goal. (And has there ever been a finish to a women's World Cup final quite like this?! (The game is over; Spain have won, by 1 to nil, it's a 1 point victory to Spain, in the Football Women's World Cup final of 2023)

It's a phenomenal win for Spain given the controversies that have surrounded their team and coach Jorge Vida. Fifteen players had protested against his coaching of the team, with only three of those fifteen (Bonmati, Caldentey and Batlle) travelling to the tournament. However, Vida remained in charge, and will feel vindicated now that he's steered his team to the World Cup title, with that trio somewhat ironically playing starring roles in the final. (But their name will now be on the Football Women's World Cup trophy; And it's a group of women, that emphasize team first (And Spain! Are the world champions! For the first time!)

For England, they'll be disappointed to come up short and not pull off the European Championship - World Cup double, but should be proud of their tournament despite falling at the last hurdle. They didn't always find peak form in the group stages, but warmed to their task through the knockout stages and certainly gave a good account of themselves in the final. (And I've got to stop; Because I've got a lump in my throat (And it's going Spanish! In 2023! Spain! For the first time ever! Is champion, of the world!)

It's been a fantastic tournament all around, with Australia and New Zealand both proving themselves capable hosts and getting right in behind not only their own teams, but the visitors as well. The attendances and television ratings have been record breaking, and it was capped off with a truly memorable final. We hope you've enjoyed our coverage here, but for now it's adios! (VAMOS! COME ON! (Bring on the next one in 2027)

And finally in motor racing that there has once been a story about my most memorable Indycar moment which was in 1996 at the Texaco/Havoline 200 (In which during the week that Robby Gordon is departing Indycar to join the NASCAR Cup Series in the following season in 1997, but he retired with an alternator problem during the race) in a action packed race filled with drama as it was full of contact, drivers mad at each other, huge accidents, and one of the wildest last laps IndyCar has ever seen which was action packed from the drop of the green flag, in which the race was won by 'Mikey Mike' of Michael Andretti (Who had a close call in the pits, but that would've been a penalty for an unsafe release nowadays which ruin racing, & that was absolutely careless/reckless) in the Newman/Haas team after 'Little Al/Al Jr' of Al Unser Jr (Who drives for Team Penske (Who the team had a winless season in 1996) back in the day in which he should've won that race if his engine hadn't been expired) had to retire from the race during the final lap in which his engine let go after Parker Johnstone was involved in a huge wreck in which Unser Jr's teammate at the time of Paul 'PT/The Thrill from West Hill' Tracy took him out but he had recieved a fine for his actions along with the late Brazilian driver Andre Ribeiro (Well, I was kinda confused with the American actor who appeared alongside Will Smith in the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel Air of Alfonso Ribeiro, just like my accusations of the American rock band of Vertical Horizon being sounded like the Xbox video game series of Forza Horizon, funny that) who took Greg Moore out going into Canada corner before Davy Jones had his car flipped upside down then Ribeiro collided with both PacWest drivers of Mauricio 'Big Mo' Gugelmin (Who lost his son Giuliano in 2001 who was a CP sufferer) & Mark 'Billy' Blundell in which Ribeiro had to retire, & also the pole sitter Alessandro 'Alex' Zanardi, who later got fined US$20,000 for taking out Gil de Ferran on the opening lap coming into turn 2 (And compared in 1997 in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada that Alex Zanardi took out Bryan Herta (Father of Colton who became the youngest winner in Indycar Series history in 2019 at age 18 in the series only venture to COTA (A current Grand Prix venue which is home to the United States Grand Prix from 2012 until 2019 & since 2021) where he made history by shattering the previous all-time record set by Graham Rahal (Son of famous racer & current team owner Bobby) at 19 where he won at St Pete in 2008) during the race, then he had been given a fine post race for the incident involving him when he caused a collision which created a friction/rivalry between both drivers, but the race went to 'Big Mo' Gugelmin who won in which the race in the end was in fact wild & in 2002 during the Indy 500 when Helio 'The Spiderman' Castroneves had been officially declared the winner after PT overtook him illegally during the yellow flag had came out in which was the most controversial Indianapolis 500 ever), but there has been an update that it's official! SVG will make a move to America to compete in NASCAR racing next year but Triple Eight Race Engineering have found an ideal driver to replace Shane van Gisbergen in 2024, as Australian Will Brown who is currently contracted to the top team dominating during the Gen 3 era of Erebus Motorsport, is in, as his replacement for the NASCAR bound van Gisbergen, & also that it's been confirmed that the former A1GP venue of the Tony 'TQ' Quinn (A Scotsman who revealed that he has a son who used to be a race car driver named Klark & he now has a grandson who is a race car driver who competed in CTFROC 2023 named Ryder) owned Taupo International Motorsport Park (Which is located in Taupo (Where the main rugby ground of Owen Delany Park is) in the King Country area of New Zealand which had been chosen ahead of Hampton Downs) will host the New Zealand round of the Supercars Championship for the next 3 years starting from next year (In which the New Zealanders & Australians will obviously get hooked into V8 car racing at that venue, according to the Taupo International Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn), replacing the now defunct Pukekohe Park Raceway which has since been closed from April this year, was recently held last year (The 1st time the New Zealand round of the Supercars Championship took place in 2001 at Pukekohe which was during the V8 Supercars era known as the Shell Championship series, with local hero Greg Murphy taking out all 3 races before it was moved to Hamilton in 2008 until in 2012 where they made the decision to head back to Pukekohe (In the aftermath of the Hamilton Street Circuit forced its closure) which had been upgraded from 2013 until 2019 & last year (In which the Aucklander of van Gisbergen won the last ever Supercars race at the venue in September last year as they sent Pukekohe off with a roar) before a decision by owner Auckland Thorougbred Racing to focus on horse racing only that Pukekohe followed the footsteps of Hamilton by closing its circuit).

So that is my 515th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 39th of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. And the AB's team has been named to play against the defending world champion Springboks of South Africa (Who are out for revenge after their loss against them in Auckland at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in which they haven't beaten New Zealand since last year in the very opening round of the Rugby Championship) for part 2 of international rugby's most storied rivalry (My standout memory between the 2 countries of NZ & South Africa in international rugby would be in both 1996 (Including we at last finally won a test series against the Boks in South Africa after countless attempts of winning the test series at their home patch including Goldie's heroics when he scored a double then 'JP the cleaner' who came on for the injured Simon Culhane nailing both long range penalty goals & of course Zinny's drop goal that proved to be the difference) & in 2013 (In which it was the greatest rugby test match in modern day history in which Bryan Habana bagged in a double for the South Africans before leaving the field with an injury then young Beauden Barrett scoring a try for New Zealand that secured the attacking bonus point as well as the championship then Kieran Read's try that put the game beyond doubt even though we played with 14 players, & of course Barrett's try saving chase down tackle on Willie le Roux denying the Boks of a would be try, & the rest was history) as well as our last international rugby test before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France gets underway (And whoever wins that pre-RWC test will claim the tag as the favourites to win the tournament in a match billed as the last 2 champions of the Rugby World Cup where both sides square off one last time in a grudge match before the tournament begins a fortnight out until the real thing (And 4 years of hard work has all come down to this) at Twickenham Stadium in London in a replay of the semi final of the tournament in 2015, so here is the starting lineup according to coach Fozzy (Ian Foster):

PLAYING XV

FORWARD PACK

FRONT ROW

1 (Loose head prop): Ethan de Groot (Highlanders/Southland)

2 (Hooker): Dane Coles (Hurricanes/Wellington)

3 (Tight head prop): Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes/Tasman)

SECOND ROW

4 (No.4 lock): Scott Barrett (Crusaders/Taranaki)

5 (No.5 lock): Sam Whitelock (Crusaders/Canterbury)

LOOSE FORWARDS

6 (Blind side flanker): Luke Jacobson (Chiefs/Waikato)

7 (Open side flanker): Sam Cane (Captain, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)

8 (Number 8): Ardie Savea (Hurricanes/Wellington)

BACK LINE

HALVES

9 (Half-back): Aaron Smith (Highlanders/Manawatu)

10 (First five-eighth): Richie Mo'unga (Crusaders/Canterbury)

MIDFIELD

12 (Second five-eighth): Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki)

13 (Centre): Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland)

OUTSIDE BACKS

11 (Left wing): Mark Telea (Blues/North Harbour)

14 (Right wing): Will Jordan (Crusaders/Tasman)

& 15 (Fullback): Beauden Barrett (Blues/Taranaki)

& REPLACEMENT PLAYERS

16 (Reserve hooker): Samisoni Taukei'aho (Who takes Dane Coles's place with Coles elevated to the starting lineup to replace Samisoni Taukei'aho who is dropped to the bench)

17 (Reserve loose head prop): Tamaiti Williams (Who takes Ofa Tu'ungafasi's place as the reserve loosehead prop to try & counter the big South African forwards)

18 (Reserve tight head prop): Fletcher Newell

19 (Reserve lock): Tupou Vaa'i

20 (Reserve lock): Josh Lord (Who takes Luke Jacobson's place to cover at lock with Jacobson elevated to the starting lineup to make way for Samipeni Finau)

21 (Reserve loose forward): Dalton Papali'i (Who takes Aaron Smith's place to cover the reserve loose forward position)

22 (Reserve half-back): Cam Roigard (Who is making way to replace Richie Mo'unga to cover at halfback with Mo'unga elevated to the starting lineup to start at first five to replace Damian McKenzie)

& 23 (Reserve back): Anton Lienert-Brown (Who has replaced Dallas McLeod to cover the reserve back position).

Under You: My 38th blog of the year 2023

Well, the latest on the Football Women's World Cup as here are the results of the quarterfinals that just come in:

Spain 2 - 1 Netherlands

Japan 1 - 2 Sweden

Australia 0 (7) - 0 (6) France

& England 2 - 1 Colombia

And finally here are the confirmed matches being played in the semi finals in this years Football Women's World Cup tournament:

Spain Vs Sweden

& Australia Vs England

And in motor racing related news in Indycar such as Scott Dixon has claimed his 54th win of his American open wheel racing career after dominating at the Indianapolis road course (He held off his nearest rival of American driver Graham Rahal (Who hasn't won in Indycar since 2017) in the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team during that race as Dixon has moved up to 2nd in the championship in his quest of capturing his record tying 7th American open wheel racing title along with the great AJ Foyt behind his Spanish teammate of Palou while Newgarden (Who had a disappointing race for Team Penske in the Gallagher Grand Prix of Indianapolis event) is dropped to 3rd behind Dixon) as part of its Indycar/NASCAR double-header but he is already out of championship contention as Scott McLaughlin's Penske teammate & twice Indycar champion Josef Newgarden (Who is the most recent Indy 500 winner this year) is all over Dixon's Chip Ganassi Racing teammate of 2021 champion of Spain's Alex Palou (Who is currently the points leader) in terms of the championship but there are rumors about New Zealander Shane van Gisbergen heading over to America next year of competing in NASCAR despite his intentions of remaining in Australia to compete in the Supercars Championship (In which he has struggled to adapt with Gen 3 although Erebus Motorsport & their driver of Australian Brodie Kostecki are currently the top team & driver excelling in that era).

And news related to the rugby such as the world champion Springboks side have announced their 2023 Rugby World Cup squad as they brought 21 survivors from their winning campaign in 2019 (Compared to the All Blacks who brought on 7 survivors from our success in 2015 such as current captain Sam Cane, Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Codie Taylor & Sam Whitelock) such as captain Siya Kolisi as well as Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk (One of 4 halfbacks in the squad along with Jaden Hendrikse, Reinach & Grant Williams but why have they chosen to take 4 halfbacks on the plane to France? So that de Klerk can cover at first five while Williams could cover on the wing position & there was an interesting selection of Deon Fourie who used to play at hooker, is now playing in the loose forward position to compensate the 2 hookers being picked by coach Jacques Nienaber such as Marx (A hooker who can cover the loose forward position) & Mbonambi), Pieter-Steph du Toit (The 2019 World Rugby player of the year who is the main star attraction of the Springbok team), Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Frans Malherbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Trevor Nyakane, Cobus Reinach, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Duane Vermeulen & Damian Willemse but they didn't include Handre Pollard as he misses the tournament through injury along with England's Jack van Poortvliet (Who will miss the tournament altogether along with New Zealand's Sevu Reece, George Bower & Braydon Ennor, Ken Owens of Wales, Lukhanyo Am of South Africa & France's Romain Ntamack now have joined the casualty ward along with Paul Willemse (Who is ruled out of the World Cup altogether with a bad injury so Bastien Chalureau who was originally not in the squad, gets the call up by French coach Fabien Galthie) now, but Ntamack will be sorely missed after that in which they made New Zealand as the clear but slight favourites to win the tournament following Ntamack's injury) after their win against Wales (In which England where down to 12 players from that point) therefore they bounced back from defeat in Cardiff (Alex Mitchell has been called into the squad immediately as an injury replacement, for van Poortvliet, followed by Jonny May who replaced the unfortunate Anthony Watson who will miss the tournament through injury), while coach Eddie Jones has revealed Australia's World Cup squad by naming both Tate McDermott & Will Skelton (Who is in fact an skipper desperately light on experience) as their co-captains instead of James Slipper, but they have included the man known as 'The Tongan Thor' of Taniela Tupou (Who got injured in the ill-fated Rugby Championship decider in Melbourne & has not played since but they didn't include Allan Ala'alatoa through a serious injury sustained in Bledisloe I) as well as a surprise selection of young 19-year old winger Max Jorgensen into the squad (And there is no Quade Cooper in the World Cup squad, but they have chosen both young Carter Gordon & Ben Donaldson who can cover at fullback as their first fives while the Wallabies had to fire their assistant coach prior to the tournament, & they had to bring that one in as his replacement).

And something terrible has occurred at the island of Maui in the American state of Hawaii as wildfires burst through killing 106 people in the process in this terrible & shocking event according to the news conference as being said by the Hawaii governor so all thoughts, prayers & condolences go to the family of the victims during that sad & difficult time in which they made the deadliest wildfires had happened in America since 1918.

And finally in cricket that I have revealed my favourite men's Cricket World Cup memory is in fact 2015 where the New Zealand Black Caps played against South Africa (Well to start with that in 2015 that both sides of NZ & SA have never reached the final before with New Zealand fell at the last hurdle against eventual champions Pakistan led by that great player of Imran Khan in 1992 after the late NZ captain Martin 'Marty' Crowe got injured during the match by pulling a hamstring & also South Africa missed out on a place in the final in the same year as England denied them a chance due to the wet weather conditions that ruined them at the SCG in Sydney according to my previous blogs) in the semifinal at the garden of Eden of Eden Park in Auckland where we won the match with South African born player playing for the Black Caps of Grant 'The Hairy Javelin' Elliott hitting the winning six with 2 deliveries remaining just like Kane Williamson did against Australia at the same ground where he hit a six down the ground to win the match, to advance to our 1st ever men's CWC final in history (In which we fell short against the dominant Australia side including New Zealand captain at the time of Brendon McCullum got bowled by an incredible bowler of Australia's Mitchell Starc earlier in the match in which we continued to lose wickets which resulted in defeat), & it was better than 2019 that New Zealand had booked a place in appearing in another final (In which we should've won against the hosts at the time of England (Who had to win their 1st men's Cricket World Cup title by virtue of the most boundaries being scored which resulted heartbreak for New Zealand after Guptill got run out by England's Jos Buttler off a brilliant throw from his English teammate of Jason Roy, 2 years before we redeemed ourselves by winning the inaugural World Test Championship against India in the final in Southampton, England, which was during the COVID-19 age period) in one of the greatest finals in sports history) after our win in the semi against India (Including Martin 'Guppy' Guptill's run out on 'Captain Cool' Mahendra Singh 'MS' Dhoni in which was deemed to be a no ball for an illegal field that went unnoticed by the umpires was in fact, the memorable but defining moment of the game).

So that is my 514th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 38th of this year, viva Ukraine.

Derail/Semi-Normal: My 37th blog of the year 2023

Well, another great win by the AB's over the Wallabies under the roof in Bledisloe II at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin with that match winning penalty goal scored by none other than Richie Mo'unga (The departing All Black along with 7 others like Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Shannon Frizell, Brodie Retallick (Who is nursing an injury which keeps him out for 4 to 6 weeks including both the South Africa & France game), Aaron Smith, Codie Taylor & Sam Whitelock with tons of experience that will be sorely missed by next year) in our last Aotearoa test of 2023 (Including Australia who led at 17 - 3 at halftime) then we play the world champion Springboks side again at Twickenham in London, England, in part 2 of international rugby's most storied rivalry as well as our last test before the Rugby World Cup, but New Zealand's 33 man squad for RWC 2023 has been revealed over at Napier in Hawke's Bay, in which the region had been impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle 6 months ago so here is the squad that had been announced in full:

Hookers:

Dane Coles (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs / Waikato)

Props:

Ethan de Groot (Highlanders / Southland)

Nepo Laulala (Blues / Counties Manukau)

Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman)

Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland)

Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Locks:

Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki)

Brodie Retallick (Chiefs / Hawkes Bay)

Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)

Sam Whitelock (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Loose forwards:

Sam Cane (Captain, Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)

Shannon Frizell (Highlanders / Tasman)

Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato)

Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau)

Ardie Savea (Hurricanes / Wellington)

Halfbacks:

Finlay Christie (Blues / Tasman)

Cam Roigard (Hurricanes / Counties Manukau)

Aaron Smith (Highlanders / Manawatu)

First-five eighths:

Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki)

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)

Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders / Canterbury)

Midfielders:

Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki)

David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman)

Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland)

Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato)

Outside backs:

Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland)

Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders / Tasman)

Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman)

Emoni Narawa (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty)

Mark Telea (Blues / North Harbour)

And the latest on the Football Women's World Cup as here are the results of the round of 16 that just come in:

Switzerland 1 - 5 Spain

Japan 3 - 1 Norway

Netherlands 2 - 0 South Africa

Sweden 0 (5) - 0 (4) United States

England 0 (4) - 0 (2) Nigeria

Australia 2 - 0 Denmark

Colombia 1 - 0 Jamaica

& France 4 - 0 Morocco

And finally here are the confirmed matches being played in the quarter finals in this years Football Women's World Cup tournament:

Spain Vs Netherlands

Japan Vs Sweden

Australia Vs France

& England Vs Colombia

So that is my 513th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 37th of this year, viva Ukraine.

Stations: My 36th blog of the year 2023

Well, a great win by the Ardie Savea led All Blacks over Australia (Who had lost Allan Ala'alatoa in the process with what looks to be a serious lower leg injury which rules him out of this years Rugby World Cup tournament) in front of 80,000 fans to lock away both the Bledisloe & the Rugby Championship for another year (And that's the first time the AB's have done it by winning the Rugby Championship in a Rugby World Cup year since 2007 which was during the Tri Nations era in which I was so stoked about the result but the Aussies will be so gutted that they have lost another game but they have their soul searching to do going into the next game under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium (AKA the glass house which is the only covered stadium here in New Zealand but Te Kaha in Christchurch has already been confirmed since it had already been given the green light & is expected to be open in 2026 as the new stadium is designed to be built to replace the dreaded Lancaster Park in which the stadium has since been demolished as a result of earthquake damage sustained in 2011) in Dunedin in our last Aotearoa test of 2023 (In which the Wallabies have never won against the AB's, on New Zealand soil since 2001 in which the John 'Ealesy' Eales led side spoiled New Zealand's party at the old house of pain at Carisbrook in Dunedin in the late Jonah Lomu's 50th test (He made his test debut in 1994 against France in Christchurch, 8 years before his last against Wales in Cardiff in 2002) according to my previous blogs) as well as the penultimate test before the World Cup as the road to France is near) so here is the live updates according to Newshub (And it'll be the 1st time I'll be doing live updates of rugby games since last year when the Black Ferns had taken a memorable close win against England to retain the Women's Rugby World Cup crown at a packed Eden Park in the final of the delayed 2021 tournament, but involving the AB's since 2021 where I last did it, but wow! (And I wonder the headlines would say? AB'S WIN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE RUGBY TITLE IN WC YEAR SINCE 2007 or more like WALLABIES TROUNCED BY INCREDIBLE ALL BLACKS IN ACTION PACKED BLEDISLOE CUP TEST, or more like: NEW ZEALAND DRAW FIRST BLOOD IN BLEDISLOE I THEN RETAIN TRC TITLE But what a disappointing end for Australia, what a match for our viewers right around the world):

Kia ora, good evening, and welcome to live coverage of the first Bledisloe Cup clash of 2023, with the All Blacks and Wallabies to square off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

These two sides could not have had more contrasting starts to their years. 

Ian Foster's All Blacks are currently two from two, and have comfortably beaten both Argentina and South Africa, firing warning shots in a Rugby World Cup year for good measure.

Eddie Jones' Australia meanwhile, makes for different reading altogether.

After a first-up loss to a weakened Springboks side, the Wallabies fell to a last-gasp defeat to Argentina two weeks ago, and are yet to taste victory in Jones' second stint in charge.

But if there's one coach to upset the apple cart against the All Blacks, it's Eddie Jones - who has made no secret his desire to get a result here tonight.

As the All Blacks look to build towards France, Foster has kept the faith with the side that beat South Africa, with the only change being captain Sam Cane's omission as precaution due to a neck injury.

Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks in Cane's absence, while Dalton Papali'i starts at No.7 as the only change to the starting side.

On the bench, keep an eye out for Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard, in line to become All Black No.1210 should he take the field for Aaron Smith.

Victory tonight would see the All Blacks not only secure a Rugby Championship clean sweep, but also lock away the Bledisloe Cup for another year.

The Wallabies meanwhile have backed the pair of Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon at halfback and first-five respectively, in their quest to win back the Bledisloe Cup for the first time since 2002.

Teams:

All Blacks: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Dalton Papali'i, 8-Ardie Savea (c), 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Jordie Barrett, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Will Jordan, 15-Beauden Barrett

Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Sam Whitelock, 20-Luke Jacobson, 21-Cam Roigard, 22-Anton Lienert-Brown, 23-Caleb Clarke

Australia: 1-Angus Bell, 2-David Porecki, 3-Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 4-Nick Frost, 5-Will Skelton, 6-Jed Holloway, 7-Tom Hooper, 8-Rob Valetini, 9-Tate McDermott, 10-Carter Gordon, 11-Marika Koroibete, 12-Samu Kerevi, 13-Jordan Petaia, 14-Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15-Andrew Kellaway

Replacements: 16-Jordan Uelese, 17-James Slipper , 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Richie Arnold, 20-Rob Leota, 21-Nic White, 22-Quade Cooper, 23-Izaia Perese

TEAM NEWS: Australia - A host of changes for the Wallabies for the first Bledisloe clash. In the front row Angus Bell comes in to join Dave Porecki and Alan Alaalatoa as James Slipper drops to the bench. Nick Frost comes in to join Will Skelton with Richie Arnold on the bench. Tom Hooper joins Jed Holloway and Rob Valentini in the loose trio. Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon are the new halves pairing with Nic White and Quade Cooper providing the back up. Samu Kerevi gets Jordan Petaia for company in the midfield and Andrew Kellaway replaces Tom Wright at the back.

TEAM NEWS: New Zealand - Just the one personnel change from the starting XV that beat the Springboks two weeks ago with Dalton Papali'i coming in for the injured Sam Cane. Ofa Tu'ungafasi comes onto the bench for last week's debutant Tamaiti Williams, with Sam Whitelock and Luke Jacobson also joining. In the backs, Anton Lienert-Brown comes in for Braydon Ennor while Cam Roigard is in line to make his international debut off the bench. Ardie Savea will captain the side in the absence of Sam Cane.

It's a huge clash gearing up as Australia and New Zealand kick off the final round of the Rugby Championship in Melbourne tonight. The Wallabies have had a bit of a poor showing in the first two matches this season, with a huge loss to the Springboks in Pretoria in the round 1 before a narrow loss to Los Pumas in Sydney two weeks ago. The All Blacks, on the other hand, are unbeaten, and a win here today will secure them the title for the 2023 season.

The Wallabies came heartbreakingly close to beating their trans-Tasman rivals in 2022 when the two sides met in Melbourne, but a late refereeing decision cost them the result as the Kiwis were given the opportunity to put one last score on the board right at the death. Their second meeting to close out the Rugby Championship competition was far less flattering for the Aussies.

This is a clash that the All Blacks have absolutely dominated in recent years. The Wallabies last lifted the Bledisloe Cup in 2002, and last beat their trans-Tasman rivals in 202 by just two points when they met in Brisbane for a truncated Rugby Championship season that didn't feature the South Africans due to travel restrictions. However, just a week earlier the Kiwis racked up over 40 points against the Wallabies again, showing just how inconsistent the Aussies have been lately.

Both sides have named massive lineups for this clash, with some huge fliers in the backline that the pack will be looking to get the ball to. The biggest surprise perhaps is the rookie halfback pairing Eddie Jones has called upon for the Wallabies in Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon. The battle of the fullbacks is going to be huge and could play a major role in the outcome of this game as errors under the high ball and some well-placed kicks will put huge pressure against the opposition.

Australia need to learn a lesson from the mistakes of the Springboks in Auckland two weeks ago. New Zealand were quick to open a huge lead on the scoreboard against their biggest rivals on that occasion, and while the Boks did come back at them in the second half you really can't play catchup rugby against this All Blacks side. The Wallabies will need a good start, and will need to keep up that intensity throughout the game if they are going to have any hope of shutting this Kiwi side out.

The Wallabies showed a much improved performance against Los Pumas two weeks ago after a shocking start in Pretoria, but they still fell short with their major issue being their discipline. The All Blacks will be only too happy to pounce on ill-discipline and will absolutely make use of a numbers advantage if the Aussies find themselves playing with men in the bin, so they will have needed to have cleaned that up drastically in the last fortnight.

The teams are making their way out on the pitch to thunderous applause in a packed MCG, and we'll have the Welcome to Country before the anthems and the Haka before we get this clash underway!

Rousing renditions of both anthems, and it's just the Haka to go before kick off!

Wayne Barnes is the man in charge for this clash, while Tom Foley will keep an eye on things from the TMO booth.

KICK OFF, 1ST MINUTE: And we're off! The Wallabies gather the ball just outside their 22, and McDermott sends it back for the kick ahead. Barrett returns with an up and under that puts Kellaway under pressure. Recycled infield to Bell who drives up into contact. Alaalatoa stopped short, and Kerevi with the hoist. Telea takes for the Kiwis and runs it back to the halfway line into contact. A couple of short passes up the left wing there, but the last one is loose and off into touch.

2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Frost brings the ball down in the air. Quick ball through the midfield and then chipped ahead. Telea under pressure as he takes the high ball. Slow on the floor before Smith sends it infield. A couple of phases going nowhere, so again it goes high. Kellaway can't gather this one! The Kiwis clean up the loose ball and Smith puts the kick downfield that sends Gordon and Barrett racing into the corner, but the ball bounces to touch.

3RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (S. FRIZELL, 0 - 5): Quick ball off the lineout for McDermott, but he gets absolutely smashed backwards in the tackle by Barrett which forces the ball loose, and Frizell is there to pounce on it in-goal to score the try! (OH MERCY ME! WHAT A TACKLE! THAT COULD'VE PUT HIM IN WARD 4! I HOPE NOT, THAT'S A MATERNITY WARD! There's the first try!)

4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION MISS ALL BLACKS: Conversion wide from out on the right wing.

6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): The All Blacks boot the ball back downfield off the restart. The Wallabies spread it wide to the right wing where they work it up to the 10m mark. Shift back infield where Nawaqanitawase bursts away in the midfield! He's up into the 22 before the All Blacks react to drag him down!

7TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TMO REFERRAL: Quick ball wide to the right wing where the home side are on the charge making metres with every carry! Porecki brings it back infield before Valetini dives right under the sticks! Millimetres short! Now they spread it wide to the left wing for Koroibete who stretches for the corner as he's thrown into touch! They are going upstairs here...

His arm is on the touchline before he manages to get the ball down. That's no try, but they also want to check under the sticks for Valetini's go!

8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY AUSTRALIA (R. VALETINI, 5 - 5): Definitely looks short as he hits the ground, but he is allowed to stretch out for the line... He's got it down right on the chalk! That's going to put Australia on the board right under the sticks! (Now here's the decision, they've been given it!)

CONVERSION AUSTRALIA: Gordon puts the Wallabies into the lead from out in front!

9TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION AUSTRALIA (C. GORDON, 7 - 5): Gordon puts the Wallabies into the lead from out in front!

10TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Kellaway under pressure as he takes the restart with Barrett bearing down on him. Cleared to touch from the base of the ensuing ruck.

11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Quick ball off the top is popped infield to Jordan who bursts up! The All Blacks are quickly into the 22! Strong carry from Savea as he drags two with him almost up to the 5. Frizell gets it onto the mark. Smith slows things down at the ruck before sending it infield, but Skelton comes flying in at the next breakdown and forces the turnover! Recycled back to Gordon who clears to touch.

12TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA (HOLDING ON): This time Barrett brings the ball down into a rumbling rolling maul that drives up into the 22. It's halted there, and the Kiwis spread it infield. A monster tackle from Koroibete on Telea in the midfield! Wallabies over the ball to win the penalty!

13TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Lineout set up just over the 10. Quick ball infield to Valetini who drives up into contact before the kick ahead. Nawaqanitawase goes chasing up the right wing after it, but Telea comes away with it in the air. Shortside ball for Savea who is stopped short on the 10. Popped back infield where it's kicked ahead. Koroibete darts back up to halfway with ball in hand. Porecki bashes his way up for a metre or two as well. Ripped free in the tackle, but still there for the Aussies to clean up. Gordon with a strong carry before Kerevi hands off one. Penalty for the home side on the floor!

14TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL MISS AUSTRALIA: Gordon pushes it wide from out on the right.

15TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Gordon claims the 22 restart and pops it to Valetini to run into contact. The box kick off the base of the ensuing ruck has gone nowhere but up! The All Blacks gather out on the left wing and barge up into contact out wide. Telea up into the 22! Recycled infield to Frizell who is stopped short, and then Barrett is driven out of the red zone and the Wallabies are over the ball on the floor again! Another penalty for the home side!

17TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Touch not found! Thumping kick sent back downfield onto McDermott. Gordon kicks it ahead, and Barrett returns. Koroibete also opts to go to the boot... This is just devolving into kick tennis now... Nawaqanitawase under pressure as he takes a chip kick out on the right wing. Slow ball on the floor is eventually hoofed back, and Barrett misses it! Jordan has to scamper backwards to gather, aaaand here's some more kicking...

18TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS: Kerevi pinged for taking out Barrett as he was trying to chase the kick.

19TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Lineout set up on the 22. Quick ball off the top is popped infield to Barrett who is muscled backwards. Back to the shortside where McDermott puts in a good tackle. Barrett again on the inside before Taylor has a go, and there's a penalty for taking out the man way past the ruck on the clean out!

21ST MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Gordon sets up the lineout around his 10. Valetini gets it off the top to drive up into contact, and McDermott puts the box kick ahead. The Kiwis gather on their own 10, carrying it up into contact once before returning off the boot. Alaalatoa with a strong carry into contact in the midfield before the Wallabies switch it back to the right wing where Kellaway sprints away! He's up to the 22 before he's dragged down!

22ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS (OFF FEET): Shift back infield to Bell who is stopped short, and now they send it wide to the left wing for Koroibete. He's taken down on the 22, and the Wallabies are straight off their feet at the breakdown!

23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS (OFFSIDE): Lineout set up just over halfway. Quick pop off the top and it's then sent back to the shortside for Telea! He bursts up the left touchline to the 22! The visitors with some quick recycling and huge carries gets them right onto the line! Wallabies have given away the advantage as they have inched offside here. Quick pick and drives... Smith dives for the line, but he's just short and has the ball ripped away. We'll go back for the penalty.

25TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Into the left corner! Retallick brings the ball into the maul, but the Aussies are all over it and manage to send them backwards! Smith pops it infield, and here come more pick and drives! Retallick stopped short under the posts. Smith back to the left for De Groot, for Taylor, for Barrett who manages to get back up over the 5 after the Wallabies shoved them back a little out wide.

26TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: Shift back infield again, and Koroibete a mile offside and knocking the ball...

Telea taps and goes and dives right through under the posts, but on the TMO check they've ruled he didn't tap it properly! They'll restart with a scrum to Australia in the shadow of their posts instead.

YELLOW CARD (M. KOROIBETE): And because the All Blacks haven't capitalised on that, Koroibete is going to the bin for the penalty that the Kiwis should have had for knocking the ball down right under the posts.

27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Quick ball out the back and Gordon clears to touch up over his 10.

28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Infield ball to Papali'i who drives up into contact. Wide through to the right wing where Mo'unga has a go into contact. Popped back on the inside, and knocked at the base of the scrum as Smith tries to recycle it!

29TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Openside ball to Kerevi who thumps the kick downfield. Jordan gathers, flicks it infield to Barrett who flicks it right back to him... Now they shift it wide to the left wing where Telea can't shake of Petaia. Back on the inside for Barrett who puts the chip ahead to chase. Valetini manages to gather under pressure.

30TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: Wide to the right wing from the Wallabies before the pop back on the inside. Nawaqanitawase with a snipe up the side of the ruck that isn't really going much of anywhere... Back on the inside where McDermott coughs it up in a crunching tackle!

31ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Not steady at all there... They'll have to reset.

33RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Strong scrum from the Wallabies! Smith told to use it as the packs wheel around though. Shortside ball and a flick pass on the inside to Taylor who goes flying up to the 22! Popped up on the inside before it goes back to the left wing, and then on the inside to Retallick. Taylor with another carry on the shortside, and then popped to Telea who tries desperately to offload back on the inside as he's thrown over the touchline, only for Petaia to bat the ball into touch.

Time off as there's some running repairs and water drinking going on.

34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (C. TAYLOR, 7 - 10): We're restarting with a Kiwi lineout. Barrett into the maul, and this is a huge drive! The Wallabies manage to briefly halt them, but the All Blacks reset their drive and wheel towards the shortside to get Taylor closer to that line to drive through the defense and right onto the chalk! (There's the try! He's broken through the defence, well done)

35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION ALL BLACKS (R. MO'UNGA, 7 - 12): Great kick from Mo'unga from out on the left wing to add the extras.

36TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: Gordon's restart has barely gone 5m, let alone the required 10...

37TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS: All Blacks with a huge shove! They force the Aussies down at the front to get the advantage! Wide to the left wing where they manage to make it up to the 10, but it's a bit lateral bringing it back infield. Barnes will take them back to the penalty.

Time off as Alaalatoa has also not managed to get back up after that scrum. Looks like the stretcher is being called onto the pitch.

They have managed to get Alaalatoa onto his feet, but he's not even touching the ground with his left foot as he's helped onto the stretcher. Not a good sight, particularly in a World Cup year.

38TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Lineout set up just outside the 22. Savea takes it at the front and pops it infield to Telea who loops around the back of the set piece and hands off three as he bursts up into the 22! He's finally dragged down 10 out. Recycled through a couple of phases in the midfield before the All Blacks set up the pick and drives right on the chalk. Savea held up over the line!

40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Barrett takes the goal-line drop-out on the 10 and barges up into the tackle of Frost. His brother makes a carry back up into the 22 before the Kiwis spread it wide to the left wing. Retallick stopped short on his carry, prompting a shift back infield. Frizell hands off one while offloading to Barrett.

40TH MINUTE + 1ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (W. JORDAN, 7 - 17): Time up on the clock now as the All Blacks switch back to the left wing. Savea stopped short, as is Scott Barrett. Papali'i going nowhere before Beaudy has a go. Taylor makes some metres with the pick and go! Telea quickly pulled to ground as he gets to the 5. 20 phases from the visitors! Now they spread it wide, and it's some lightning fast tip along passes out to the right wing where Jordan steps on the inside of one, the outside of another, and dives over in the corner! (And in the corner! Try scored!)

40TH MINUTE + 3RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), CONVERSION ALL BLACKS (R. MO'UNGA, 7 - 19): Mo'unga with a great kick from almost out on the right touchline to add the extras!

HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA 7 - 19 ALL BLACKS

It was a huge start from the All Blacks who pounced on an error in judgement from a Wallabies lineout right on their tryline, but the Wallabies managed to hit back not long afterwards and with the successful conversion the home side took the lead. It wasn't until after Australia were once again reduced to 14 players that New Zealand were able to get more points on the board, and it was enough to give them momentum to score two more tries before the break to take a good lead into halftime.

The Wallabies have looked good at the breakdowns again, with Will Skelton in particular making a nuisance of himself and forcing a couple of turnovers with the pressure he's put on the All Blacks. The Wallabies do need to make better use of their possession though, because at the moment they aren't getting themselves into the right areas of the pitch to really build momentum and pressure on the Kiwis.

New Zealand are once again looking excellent in the set pieces. Their scrum has already won them one penalty, and both their scrums and their lineouts have been a great attacking platform for the backline. Telea has made a couple of breaks off the lineouts, and one rolling maul got them over the line through Taylor. The Wallabies need to avoid giving their guests the opportunity to set up the set pieces if they want to unravel this attack a little, and need to string together more phases rather than simply kicking the ball away as they have at times. They have made some great breaks so far and they need to capitalise on that in the second 40 if they want to come back into this.

41ST MINUTE, START OF SECOND HALF: Deep restart onto the All Blacks who drive up out of the 22 before having the ball ripped off them! Infield from the Wallabies to Petaia who kicks it away... I'm sure I just covered this... The Kiwis are able to scoop it up inside the 22 and clear to touch.

43RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS: Taken quickly by the home side. Infield ball through the hands where Tupou drives up towards the 22, but it's Valetini who gets it there with a huge leg drive! Hooper gets the pop pass on the inside, but he has two hanging on around his waist. Quick hands to Bell on the left. He hands off one before he's pulled down. Wide to Kerevi on the wing, and then back on the inside to Tupou. Advantage called again. Infield for the crossfield kick for Nawanqanitawase, but that beats him to touch. Back for the penalty.

44TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Lineout set up in the left corner. Frost brings the ball into the maul, but it's a great counter from the All Blacks who are forcing them backwards, off their feet, and the turnover!

46TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Down at the front from the Wallabies, and the Kiwis have the advantage! Openside ball is spread wide through the hands to the left wing where Telea bursts up to the 10 before he's dragged over the touchline. That's advantage over too.

47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA (OFF FEET): Quick ball across the width of the pitch to the left wing as the Wallabies secure the lineout ball. Popped back on the inside where Petaia is driven backwards. Shortside for Skelton who offloads well in contact to keep the ball alive, but Taylor is trying to play the ball off his feet at the next breakdown.

48TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Lineout set up in the left corner again! Valetini with the pop off the top to Leota who loops around the back of the set piece up into contact. Infield for another two phases as they drive up towards the line before the shift back to the left where Kerevi is held up by one of the Barrett brothers!

49TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA, THEN PENALTY ALL BLACKS (HOLDING ON): Back for a penalty almost right under the sticks, and the Wallabies tap and go! They drive up under the sticks, but it's a huge effort from the All Blacks on defense and Savea gets over the breakdown to win the penalty!

Time off as Tupou is now down and looking like he's in no small amount of pain.... This could be very bad news for the home side.

50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA (NOT ROLLING AWAY): Looks like Tupou is going to play through the pain for now... Touch not found! Nawaqanitawase keeps it infield and the Wallabies spread it wide through to the left wing where they drive back up towards the 22. Penalty for the home side as the All Blacks aren't rolling on the floor!

51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: Back into that left corner. Arnold takes the ball into the maul, but again the All Blacks are managing to hold them steady... Strong second shove up the right gets them inching up, but then Australia fall off their feet and the Kiwis will come away with another scrum off a Wallabies maul!

52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Scrum wheeling around, and Savea bursts away off the base. Shortside ball to Taukei'aho who is stopped short. Kicked ahead off the base of the scrum, and that's landed in touch on halfway.

53RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Arnold with a flick off the top. Infield to Kerevi who gets man and ball. Korobete going nowhere either as he runs into Taukei'aho. Back to the shortside where Tupou is dragged down. Arnold drives up over the 10m mark. Frost eakes out another metre or so.

54TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: Huge counter ruck from the All Blacks, but they've knocked the ball on in the process. Scrum time.

Tupou looking in really bad shape here... It looks like they're going to bring him off now. This is going to cause problems for the home side...

Sounds like Bell is not going to be allowed to scrum on the tighthead side, so Tupou is opting not to leave the pitch. This is not a great idea health wise...

55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Strong second shove from the Kiwis has both packs wheeling around. They'll have to reset as White can't dig the ball out in the middle of 16 big bodies...

56TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Straight down at the front this time.

57TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Wheeling around again on Tupou's side, and Valetini is under enormous pressure trying to get the ball away... The Kiwis have forced the turnover on the floor! Mo'unga with a carry in the midfield before it's spread out to the right wing. Jordan scoops up the loose ball as it squirts out the back of a ruck. Penalty for the home side at the next breakdown!

Tupou officially leaving the pitch and Bell is returning to the game. Sounds like Slipper is shifting to tighthead.

TMO REFERRAL: There's a check here on Tupou's last tackle as well, and this is going to be even more trouble...

58TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS (HIGH TACKLE) & YELLOW CARD (T. TUPOU): Tupou being yellow carded to add insult to injury... He's gone in very upright in the tackle -- probably due to whatever injury he's harbouring -- and made contact with the head of Laulala, and that means that Bell will have to leave the pitch again and wait until that 10 minutes is served.

This is going to review actually, so this could still be upgraded to a red.

59TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (C. CLARKE, 7 - 24): Lineout set up inside the 22. Quick ball off the top from the All Blacks is spread infield, but going nowhere. Smith switches it back to the left wing where he snipes up the side of the ruck himself! He's 2m short as he's dragged down! Offside advantage called, but they won't need it! Pick and go from Clarke who drives straight over the line as he ducks low under Valetini's attempted tackle! (What a try! Surrounded by the defence, & he still manages to score!)

60TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION ALL BLACKS (R. MO'UNGA, 7 - 26): Mo'unga just slips it inside the right post from out on the left wing.

61ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Deep restart onto New Zealand who quickly drive up out of the 22. Popped up on the inside for another carry before it's recycled back to Mo'unga for the kick ahead. The Wallabies spread it through to their right wing, and the pass from Nawanqanitawase has gone to the AR...

SCRUM FEED ALL BLACKS: It's been knocked on as well, so we'll have a Kiwi scrum. Bell will have to come on here, and the Wallabies will have to sacrifice someone..

62ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS: Penalty for the All Blacks as the Aussies are straight down thanks to overextending.

Confirmation that the yellow card will remain a yellow card.

64TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (M. TELEA, 7 - 31): Lineout set up just outside the 22. Huge maul from New Zealand! They're up into the 22 before the Wallabies are starting to come through the middle. Infield ball off the base and some huge carries as well get them up to the 5. Shift to the left wing before sending it back infield. Tu'ungafasi stopped short, as is Taukei'aho. Slow ball on the floor before Roigard sends it to Whitelock under the posts. He's 2 short. Now they spread it to the right wing with some quick hands and it's Telea who gets the ball down in the corner! (For the corner!)

66TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), CONVERSION MISS ALL BLACKS: No extras as the ball just slips past the outside of the right post from out on the touchline.

67TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS (R. IOANE, 7 - 36): Deep restart onto the All Blacks who are now full of running! Some quick hands with stunning offloading up the left wing gets them up over halfway, the 10, and into the 22! Wallabies scrambling on defense! Quick shift wide to the right wing, and it's Telea who totally steps Koroibete before flicking the pass on the inside to Ioane who sprints straight through and over for the try! (He puts it down, he's broken through the defence & has scored a very good try!)

68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), CONVERSION ALL BLACKS (R. MO'UNGA, 7 - 38): No mistake from Mo'unga this time from out on the right wing.

70TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Whitelock takes the restart just outside the 22. Popped up on the inside for another carry before the kick ahead. The Wallabies spread it to the right wing where Nawaqanitawase is dragged quickly down. Shift through the hands to the left wing where Arnold is stopped short. Bell on the inside going nowhere either, nor is Kellaway. Slow ball from the Wallabies before Cooper makes a metre or two up the right wing. Slipper stopped as well, but they spread it back to the left wing where Bell breaks straight through a gap! He's deep into the 22 before he's taken to ground!

71ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Recycled to the shortside for a phase or two before they spread it to the right wing where Valetini gets man and ball. Popped back on the inside again. Cooper sends a long pass to the left wing for Perese. Knocked on by Cooper back on the inside! The All Blacks clean up and smash the kick back up over halfway.

72ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS: Nawaqanitawase scoops up the bobbling ball and runs it back into Kiwi territory. Popped up to the shortside for Valetini who is out on the wing again. Direction switch back infield through the hands where the All Blacks come up with the steal again! Wide to the right wing for Telea to sprint away, but a huge hit drags him down and there's no support! Penalty for the home side!

73RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Lineout set up on the New Zealand 10. A loose pop off the top sends White backwards to clean up. Shortside ball for Koroibete to carry up the touchline before the shift infield. Another loose pass in the midfield for Frost to scoop up. Kerevi under pressure out on the right wing as he gets man and ball. New Zealand rip the ball away and put the chip ahead.

74TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), NO TRY & PENALTY AUSTRALIA: Gathered by the Wallabies back outside their 22, and Kellaway bursts away up the middle of the pitch! He's up over halfway and the 10 before he's caught, and there's no support! The All Blacks snatch it right back and there's another kick downfield to chase! A footrace ensues between Koroibete and Mo'unga, and while the All Blacks flyhalf manages to grab the ball and dive over under the sticks it's only because he's first pushed the Wallabies winger off the ball. Penalty for the home side.

76TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Lineout set up just outside the 22. White sends the ball infield off the lineout to Cooper to Kerevi who is stopped short on the 22. Wide to the left wing where they make it up towards the 10 before coughing up the ball again... New Zealand clean up and send it through the hands to Clarke on the left wing. Roigard recycles back infield as the winger goes to ground. Whitelock makes a couple of metres with a strong leg drive.

77TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Shift back to the right wing where Perese makes a good tackle to drive the Kiwis backwards. Popped back on the inside where they keep it alive through the midfield to spread it to the left wing. This is a little static from the visitors... Mo'unga opts to put the ball high, and Kellaway returns.

78TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Wide ball to Papali'i out on the left wing, and he's up into the 22! Shift infield and a crossfield kick that's gone backwards... Jordan manages to get back for it and runs it back into the 22 into contact. Back to the midfield where the grubber through is scooped up by Cooper. The pass back to Kerevi is a horrible one! Somehow he manages to juggle and dodge the chase to be able to get the clearance kick away!

79TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Quick ball off the top to Clarke who drives back up to the red zone. Popped through the hands in the midfield for Taukei'aho who makes a couple of metres. Wallabies over the next breakdown to win the penalty!

80TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Kellaway sets up the lineout just short of his 10. Arnold brings the ball safely off the top, and infield they go. Perese carries up into contact out on the left wing before the shift back on the inside. Shortside again for Hooper this time, and then Bell on the inside with a huge leg drive!

80TH MINUTE + 1ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY ALL BLACKS (OBSTRUCTION): Obstruction from the Wallabies off the back of Bell's carry, and the clock is in the red! The All Blacks are only too happy to tap and send it into the stands!

FULL TIME: AUSTRALIA 7 - 38 ALL BLACKS

Well, that was definitely not what the Wallabies would have been hoping for tonight. They started off fairly strong in the first half, but things devolved quickly in the last 10 minutes before halftime. Once again the Wallabies discipline did them no favours. Two yellow cards again this week, with the All Blacks scoring four tries in the 20 minutes their hosts found themselves playing with just 14.

The Wallabies had plenty of opportunities throughout the 80 minutes. They found themselves with good possession in the right areas of the pitch, but they couldn't actually convert those into actual points on the scoreboard. Two lineouts right in the corner in the 22 resulted in turnover ball for New Zealand when Australia should have been able to get themselves over the line, and it was a confidence killer for the home side as they got more and more desperate with every missed opportunity.

The All Blacks looked good at both set pieces, putting pressure on the Wallabies pack at scrum time to win a couple of penalties, and defending the rolling maul with such ferocity that Australia kept finding themselves on the wrong end of the scrum just seconds later. They were steady under the high ball as well, and put a couple of excellent chips ahead to chase and put huge pressure on the Aussies.

Despite all the issues for the home side, they did have moments where they looked stunning. They were strong on defense at the breakdowns, forcing some turnovers and winning a couple of good penalties on All Blacks ball. The handling was good from both sides, with just a couple of knocks throughout the game, although one of those cost the Wallabies another potential try from deep in the New Zealand 22.

Aside from their discipline being an issue, the Wallabies really put themselves under pressure on a couple of occasions with what should have been little errors that made it all too easy for the All Blacks to pounce on. The most obvious example being the opening try of the match, with New Zealand scoring the points thanks to McDermott not getting the ball away quickly enough off the lineout and being smashed backwards over the tryline. You can't make mistakes like that on your own tryline against a team like the All Blacks.

The final scoreline doesn't really fairly reflect the effort the Wallabies put in for the first 50 or so minutes, but the All Blacks have always been an opportunistic side who will capitalise on any gaps or errors. Aside from a very disappointing result, the Wallabies will also have to deal with two major injuries in their front row as both Allan Alaalatoa and Taniela Tupou left the pitch in bad shape during the game, with Alaalatoa in particular a concern as he has a suspected ACL injury.

These two sides will come up against one another again next weekend for Bledisloe II in Dunedin, but the trophy has already been secured for a whopping 21st year in a row by New Zealand. As with their last two matches, there's a lot the Wallabies need to work on if they want a different result, especially seeing as they are playing in the House of Pain. The All Blacks will be taking plenty of confidence into that clash after this result!

And in Formula One news such as the twice defending world champion & points leader Max Verstappen (Who had his first grid penalty of the 2023 season which demoted him to 6th on the grid for a gearbox alteration) in the Red Bull (His Mexican teammate Sergio Perez had finished 2nd behind him), wins his 8th straight race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit where it played host to the Belgian Grand Prix in Stavelot, Belgium (His winning streak began in Miami then Monaco, Spain, Canada, Austria, Britain, Hungary & now Belgium to add to his other wins in Bahrain & Australia while ties the record with the late Italian great of Alberto Ascari, but is one shy of the all time record for most consecutive wins is Sebastian Vettel with 9 in 2013), his 10th of the season while Sir Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes has just gained the extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race to be 1 behind Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso in the race for 3rd in the championship as he finished 4th in the race ahead of Alonso but behind Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari in which he finished on the podium.

And the Football Women's World Cup report that the Football Ferns have missed out on advancing through to the round of 16 after a goal less draw against Switzerland in which they should've won but they'll be so disappointed that they didn't make it, not only was our defeat against the Philippines in Wellington proved costly after our upset win against Norway in the opener & we were so gutted about it, but here are the other results just come in:

Portugal 2 - 0 Vietnam

Canada 2 - 1 Republic of Ireland

Australia 2 - 3 Nigeria

Argentina 2 - 2 South Africa

England 1 - 0 Denmark

China 1 - 0 Haiti

Sweden 5 - 0 Italy

France 2 - 1 Brazil

Panama 0 - 1 Jamaica

Korea Republic 0 - 1 Morocco

Norway 6 - 0 Philippines

Germany 1 - 2 Colombia

Japan 4 - 0 Spain

Costa Rica 1 - 3 Zambia

Republic of Ireland 0 - 0 Nigeria

& Canada 0 - 4 Australia

UPDATED

Vietnam 0 - 7 The Netherlands

Portugal 0 - 0 United States

China 1 - 6 England

Haiti 0 - 2 Denmark

Argentina 0 - 2 Sweden

South Africa 3 - 2 Italy

Panama 3 - 6 France

Jamaica 0 - 0 Brazil

Morocco 1 - 0 Colmobia

& Korea Republic 1 - 1 Germany

And finally here are the confirmed matches being played in the round of 16 stage in this years Football Women's World Cup tournament:

Switzerland Vs Spain

Japan Vs Norway

Netherlands Vs South Africa

Sweden Vs United States

England Vs Nigeria

Australia Vs Denmark

Colombia Vs Jamaica

& France Vs Morocco

*: Key matchups

So that is my 512th blog of the year 2023 (MMXXIII) & my 36th of this year, viva Ukraine.

P.S. And a shoutout to my Moroccan Jewish mate & self proclaimed football fan of Leon Benbaruk wishing him all the best to link up with Michelle by moving to the UK while awaiting his visa (He stayed at our place a couple of times but I miss him now, I miss him already since he left on the 31st of July (The day of my most recent meeting with him compared to the last day of December on the 31st in 2004 (That was my final year at Raetihi Primary School before getting ready to attend Ruapehu College where I spent 2 years & 4 months there), bidding farewell to Whanganui & New Zealand) where that was my first meeting with Leon), but he is in Wellington now at Sophia Ong's place, but my last thoughts after Leon left Whanganui? May god bless you all.

And the AB's team has been named to play against the Wallabies of Australia (Who are out for payback after defeat in the previous test in Melbourne in which they haven't beaten New Zealand since 2020 during the truncated Rugby Championship, but it's been 22 years since the last time the Wallabies had beaten the AB's on New Zealand soil, & it was way back in 2001 at the then old house of pain at Carisbrook (That was 10 years before the glass house at Forsyth Barr Stadium opened its doors as a replacement for the Brook) for our 2nd Bledisloe Cup test under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in our penultimate test before the Rugby World Cup takes place in France this year as well as the last Aotearoa test of 2023, & after that, we play the world champions South Africa in part 2 of international rugby's most storied rivalry at Twickenham in London, England, which is obviously our last before the tournament, so here is the starting lineup according to coach Fozzy (Ian Foster):

PLAYING XV

FORWARD PACK

FRONT ROW

1 (Loose head prop): Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders/Canterbury)

2 (Hooker): Samisoni Tau'keiaho (Chiefs/Waikato)

3 (Tight head prop): Nepo Laulala (Blues/Counties Manukau)

SECOND ROW

4 (No.4 lock): Brodie Retallick (Chiefs/Hawke's Bay)

5 (No.5 lock): Sam Whitelock (Crusaders/Canterbury)

LOOSE FORWARDS

6 (Blind side flanker): Samipeni Finau (Chiefs/Waikato)

7 (Open side flanker): Sam Cane (Captain, Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)

8 (Number 8): Ardie Savea (Hurricanes/Wellington)

BACK LINE

HALVES

9 (Half-back): Finlay Christie (Blues/Tasman)

10 (First five-eighth): Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato)

MIDFIELD

12 (Second five-eighth): Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato)

13 (Centre): Braydon Ennor (Crusaders/Canterbury)

OUTSIDE BACKS

11 (Left wing): Leicester Fainga'anuku (Crusaders/Tasman)

14 (Right wing): Shaun Stevenson (Chiefs/North Harbour)

& 15 (Fullback): Will Jordan (Crusaders/Tasman)

& REPLACEMENT PLAYERS

16 (Reserve hooker): Dane Coles (Who takes Samisoni Tau'keiaho's place with Tau'keiaho elevated to the starting lineup to replace Codie Taylor)

17 (Reserve loose head prop): Ofa Tu'ungafasi

18 (Reserve tight head prop): Fletcher Newell (Who makes his first appearance of the year on the bench, making way for Nepo Laulala who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Tyrel Lomax)

19 (Reserve lock): Tupou Vaa'i (Who returns to the fold as he makes way for Sam Whitelock who is elevated to the starting lineup to replace Scott Barrett to be on the bench as the reserve lock forward position)

20 (Reserve loose forward): Luke Jacobson

21 (Reserve half-back): Aaron Smith (Who takes Cam Roigard's place as he is dropped to the bench to also make way for Finlay Christie who hasn't played since the South Africa test in South Auckland)

22 (Reserve first five-eighth): Richie Mo'unga (Who is dropped to the bench, replacing Anton Lienert-Brown who is moved to the starting lineup to replace Jordie Barrett)

& 23 (Reserve back): Dallas McLeod (Who is in line to make his test debut off the bench in which the man known as 'The Muscles from Methven' had an impressive Super Rugby Pacific season for the Crusaders & he hasn't played since he took a head knock in the final caused by foul play).

And finally the rugby community here in New Zealand & around the world as former All Black captain who led their side to a test series win in 1977 against the British & Irish Lions of Tane Norton (Who joins the likes of Bruce 'The prince of centres' Robertson as the list of former New Zealand rugby players passing away along with Billy Guyton) has passed away, so all thoughts, prayers & condolences to the family (Whanau), mates & colleagues of Tane Norton during this most sad & difficult time.