Well, what a weekend of sport this has been but 1st in the rugby that it was the proud Hawke's Bay union led by Highlander Ash Dixon (Who was once a Hurricanes player in 2014) who came out on top against Northland at McLean Park in Napier to win promotion into the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership next year for the 1st time since 2016 (They beat Wellington in the ITM Cup Championship final way back in 2015) from the Championship on Friday then in the cricket that the Black Caps secure a phenomenal victory (Including that wonderful performance by New Zealand pace bowler Lockie Ferguson as he becomes the 2nd Black Cap to achieve a 5 wicket haul in the T20 international format (1st it was Tim Southee against Pakistan 10 years ago before Ferguson now) for NZ) against the West Indies in the 1st T20 at Eden Park in Auckland (The eyes of the yachting world will be on Auckland as the city plays host to the America's Cup series early next year which is the next major sporting event before the summer Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan (It was delayed this year because of COVID-19), the Euro 2020 soccer tournament throughout Europe (Also delayed as well this year due to COVID) as well as possibly the British & Irish Lions rugby union tour to South Africa if it goes ahead (It could be cancelled as a result of the corona virus) & the Rugby League World Cup in England) on the same day to go 1 - 0 up in the 3 match T20 series & snap a 7 game losing streak (It was England twice last year then India 5 times earlier this year) before back to the rugby when the David Havili led Tasman brushed Auckland aside at the same ground at Eden Park yesterday to successfully defend & retain the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership that they won last year against Wellington in Nelson denying Auckland a chance to win an 18th New Zealand provincial rugby crown & regain the title that they won in 2018 against Canterbury in front of their adoring home fans but the main sporting headlines this weekend was the All Blacks (Coached by Ian Foster who managed to save his job with a win) return to winning ways (And normal service has resumed after a miraculous victory for New Zealand like this) as they thrash Argentina by 38 points as well as they exact payback/revenge/utu after losing to them on the 14th of November (And it was a reversal of the previous result that the Argentinians had made rugby history in a historic upset win for the ages & what a turnaround for the AB's to win a test match like this & they snap a 2 match losing streak (Back to back losses against Australia in Brisbane including that yellow card by All Black second rower Scott Barrett which cost us the game (After Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Who had to serve a 3 match ban as a result of a red card for a high tackle (Dangerous tackle) on ex-Manly Sea Eagles rugby league player Tom Wright) got sent off early in the same match along with Wallaby Lachlan Swinton (Who was suspended for 4 matches for a head high tackle/high shot (I mean he did the same as Tu'ungafasi did) on All Black second rower Sam Whitelock) & Argentina in Sydney as I mentioned before) but they haven't won the Tri Nations title (They led the standings on points difference before going into that match last night but the last match of the Tri Nations is between Argentina & Australia at Bankwest Stadium (The site that Argentina claimed their 1st win against the AB's) in Sydney but Australia need to win the game by 101 points to claim the Tri Nations title compared to Argentina who'll want to win the match by 93 points but we won the Tri Nations title after the final Tri Nations match between Argentina & the Wallabies had ended in another draw (Well, the Wallabies have had 3 matches drawn this year, 1 against the All Blacks in Wellington then Argentina not once but twice in both Newcastle & Sydney) at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney) so here is the match commentary provided from Newshub:
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Tri Nations clash between New Zealand and Argentina from Sydney.
Two weeks ago, the Pumas shocked the rugby world - and the All Blacks in particular - with their historic first-ever win over the perennial world No.1 team.
If anything, the 25-15 scoreline flattered the Kiwis and since then, the team and nation have searched their souls for reasons to continue living.
Captain Sam Cane has drawn the most reaction, with his comments that All Blacks fans can be "brutal' - and he's dead right, but that's just an occupational hazard and you need think skin if you want to wear the black jersey. It's not a bulletproof vest.
Coach Ian Foster has also drawn heat for his winning only twice in his first five tests at the helm, but has responded by making only three changes to the starting XV for this match.
Nepo Laulala replaces Tyrel Lomax at prop, Scott Barrett will take Patrick Tuipulotu's spot in the second row and Akira Ioane gets a second chance at blindside flanker, replacing Shannon Frizell.
Barrett is back from the doghouse, after his late yellow card cost the All Blacks victory against Australia three weeks ago, while Ioane makes his second test start - he was the unlucky man to make way for a replacement prop, after Ofa Tuungafasi was red-carded early in that same match.
All Blacks: 1-Joe Moody , 2-Dane Coles, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Scott Barrett, 5-Samuel Whitelock, 6-Akira Ioane , 7-Sam Cane (c), 8-Ardie Savea, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Richie Mo'unga, 11-Caleb Clarke , 12-Jack Goodhue, 13-Anton Lienert-Brown, 14-Jordie Barrett, 15-Beauden Barrett
Reserves: 16- Codie Taylor, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 18-Tyrel Lomax, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Hoskins Sotutu, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Rieko Ioane, 23-Will Jordan
Argentina: 1-Mayco Vivas,, 2-Julian Montoya, 3-Santiago Medrano, 4-Guido Petti, 5-Lucas Paulos, 6-Pablo Matera (c), 7-Marcos Kremer, 8-Facundo Isa, 9-Felipe Ezcurra, 10-Nicolas Sanchez, 11-Santiago Cordero, 12-Jerónimo De La Fuente, 13- Juan Cruz Mallia, 14- Ramiro Moyano, 15-Emiliano Boffelli
Reserves: 16-Santiago Socino, 17-Nahuel Tetez Chaparro, 18-Luca Sordoni, 19-Matias Alemanno, 20-Santiago Grondona, 21-Gonzalo Bertranou, 22-Santiago Carreras, 23-Lucas Mensa
8:53PM: Just a reminder that New Zealand can still claim the Tri Nations title with a big win tonight. They currently lead the standings on points differential.
Sam Cane has won the toss and the All Blacks will kick off.
9:15PM: 31 degrees C in Newcastle at the moment. Great day to head to the beach, but what affect will that have on the rugby?
9:22PM: Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has named 10 changes to the side that beat the All Blacks two weeks ago, but he hasn't sacrificed quality.
9:36PM: Prop Joe Moody will play his 50th game for the All Blacks tonight.
They may have underplayed their hand at the last meeting with the traditional 'Ka mate' challenge. Clearly, Argentina deserve the full treatment this time...
9:40PM: First big question of the night: which haka will the All Blacks employ?
Yes, the All Blacks are rolling out 'Kapa O Pango' for their opponents - they really mean business tonight.
9:47PM: Sam Cane presents the Pumas with an All Blacks jersey emblazoned with the name 'Maradona', a show of respect for the Argentinian football star that passed away this week.
9:49PM: 33 degress C at kickoff. Scheduled drink breaks every 20 minutes will now not happen, but it's hot!
KICK OFF: Beauden Barrett fields the clearing kick and Clarke gets an early run.
1ST MINUTE: Beaudy kicking off and Argentina seek to exit their own 22.
2ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Jordie finally finds touch for a Pumas lineout on their side of halfway. They knock on after a long throw over the back.
4TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Smith to feed the first scrum of the match, this could be a defining moment.
PENALTY: The scrum is taking some time to set. Savea off the back, finds Clarke and Pumas are penalized at the scrum.
6TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY MISS: Jordie lines up a penalty attempt at goal from about 45m out, but pushes it to the right.
All Blacks win a lineout and build phases in midfield.
7TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Goodhue puts a high kick up and Jordie chases hard to catch the Pumas defender outside the 22.
8TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga kicks laterally to Jordie on the wing, but he's smashed into touch as he reaches high for the ball.
9TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks win a lineout on the 22 and build pressure in the red zone. They're playing under advantage.
10TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TMO REFERRAL: Beaudy chases Mo'unga's kick to the goal-line and touches down, but ref Nic Berry calls it a no-try on the field. Replays show Lienert-Brown has knocked backwards in mid-air, but Beaudy loses the ball before he can force it.
NO TRY: No try and advantage had ended, so Pumas get a scrum 5 metres out.
11TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Good All Blacks scrum have the Pumas under pressure and Cane is up quickly on his opposite.
Argentina try to clear, but only as far as the 22.
13TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Dane Coles
All Blacks build pressure, Clarke makes a powerful burst up midfield and when the ball goes right, Mo'unga floats a long pass to Coles on the wing and he has too much gas for the final defender.
CONVERSION: Mo'unga attempts the conversion from near touch and slots it (NZ 7-0).
15TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Beaudy clears from the 22, finding touch just inside the NZ 10.
16TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez fumbles the ball and Akira Ioane snaffles the ball to spark an attack. Beaudy kicks to the corner for Jordie, but the ball eludes him.
PENALTY: Berry was playing advantage and brings them back for an All Blacks penalty.
17TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY GOAL: Mo'unga slots the penalty from in front and the NZ lead is double figures (NZ 10-0).
18TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Sanchez kicks off and Clarke loses track of it in flight. The ball finds touch near the corner, NZ throw.
SCRUM: All Blacks win the lineout, but are held up in the maul. Pumas scrum just 5m out.
19TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Another big push from the All Blacks disrupts the scrum and they hold an early edge. Scrum reset.
20TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Another big shove from the All Blacks buckles the Pumas and they win a clearing penalty. Those forwards are breathing fire tonight.
22ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Sanchez kicks towards the corner, but it rolls dead in goal, so All Blacks' ball way back beyond halfway.
23RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks trying to overpower another scrum.
24TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): After the reset, they push again and win a penalty advantage.
The ball goes left and Clarke tries to outflank the Pumas defence, but trips a couple of metres from the line and clips the touchline as he slides over.
25TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Pumas win a lineout on their line and almost make a hash of it, but Akira Ioane is called for a high tackle (Dangerous tackle).
26TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks are contesting the lineouts tonight and Pumas barely win a throw on their 10. Clarke takes a high kick beautifully.
27TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: ALB is up quickly to tackle his man and knock the ball loose, but Jordie is penalized when his follow-up tackle slips high.
28TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Pumas win a lineout in the NZ half and mount an attack. They're finding no way through the All Blacks defence and Boffelli knocks on in Coles' tackle.
29TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks dominate another scrum and Smith sprints upfield to mount an attack.
30TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Mo'unga tries to find Jordie with another lateral kick, but the Pumas pounce on the loose ball. Coles tidies up a speculative kick.
31ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Pumas win an attacking lineout and start to maul towards the line, but when the ball comes free, they knock on again.
From the scrum, Beaudy kicks deep and gets it back again for a mark.
33RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks steal a lineout through Ioane and earn a penalty advantage for a head high tackle/high shot.
Jordie kicks for touch and All Blacks have a lineout inside the Pumas 10.
34TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Beaudy straightens and is tackled on the 22. Phases building.
35TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): After 15 phases, Beaudie puts a little chip over the defence for ALB to chase, but Cordero rises high to claim the ball.
37TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Mo'unga puts up a high kick inside the Pumas 22 - it's knocked on, but no call and the Argentinians clear.
38TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Ioane wins a lineout for the All Blacks and the forwards maul inside the 22, winning penalty advantage.
40TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Mo'unga lines up a kick at goal from just left of the uprights, just outside the 22, but hits the post. Sanchez clears and the All Blacks will have one last crack from a lineout.
Whitelock wins the throw, Clarke makes a break up centre field and the forwards take over.
Laulala has the ball knocked loose and Matera hacks forward. Pumas come streaming through, but Jordie dives on the loose ball and the All Blacks find touch to end the half.
HALFTIME
All Blacks have dominated the contest, but are only 10 points ahead at the break. They'll be ruing missed opportunities to extend that advantage and if Argentina score next, they're back in the game.
41ST MINUTE: Argentina work a brilliant move off an early lineout, but Akira Ioane creates a turnover and the All Blacks have a chance to clear.
43RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): All Blacks have a lineout in Argentina territory and Ioane wins again.
PENALTY: Savea sets ALB loose towards the line, Beaudie and Cane are dragged down short, and Nic Berry blows a penalty. NZ take a five-metre scrum.
46TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Several scrum resets needed. Pumas have their backs to the wall.
47TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Savea charges off the back fo the scrum, but is dragged down short. Pumas defence is good, and they push Mo'unga towards touch and he loses the ball forward.
49TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Big scrum from the All Blacks and Smith is meancing No.8 Facundo, but Pumas clear as far as Clarke.
50TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Ioane and Cane charge towards the line, but when the ball is cleared, Smith's pass to Clarke is spilt on the line.
51ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Another big scrum wins another All Blacks penalty on the goal-line. They'll take a lineout this time.
52ND MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Ardie Savea
CONVERSION: Scott Barrett rises high to claim the throw and Savea runs off the back of the lineout - Pumas can't keep him out. Mo'unga converts (NZ 17-0).
54TH MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Rieko Ioane has come on for Lienert-Brown in the midfield.
55TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Boffelli runs onto a bouncing ball on the All Blacks side of halfway, but the Pumas are penalized at the breakdown/ruck.
SUBSTITUTION: Pumas replace both props, so maybe their scrum will improve.
56TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: All Blacks match the front row replacements, with Tu'inukuafe and Lomax replacing Moody and Laulala.
59TH MINUTE (3 MINUTES LATER): Argentina have made 115 tackles tonight, the All Blacks 23.
PENALTY & SUBSTITUTION: Argentina win a scrum penalty, but they were still struggling. Codie Taylor replaces Coles, TJ Perenara is on for Smith.
60TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SCRUM: Pumas launch an attack out right, but when they come left, they knock on again. Good pressure from NZ.
62ND MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER), SCRUM: Scrums are socking up considerable time as the match progresses. Argentina struggle to exit their half and when they do, another knock-on.
SUBSTITUTION: Patrick Tuipulotu is on the park for Whitelock.
63RD MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Sanchez has also left the field for Argentina, so they may struggle to come back from here. He's scored all their points so far in this competition.
64TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: Jordie and Savea are quickly on Boffelli, who is penalized for not releasing (Holding on). Mo'unga kicks to the corner for a lineout.
65TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): Barrett wins another lineout, but when Mo'unga kicks a cross field for Clarke, the ball goes into touch.
SUBSTITUTION: Clarke leaves, Will Jordan gets his second cap.
66TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), SUBSTITUTION: Sotutu replaces Akira Ioane, so all the NZ reserves are on.
Mo'unga chips behind the advancing defence, but Pumas tidy up and clear.
67TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks have 80 percent territory, 69 percent possession for the game.
PENALTY: Jordie charges towards the posts, but Mo'unga is caught awkwardly with the ball and Pumas win a clearing penalty.
68TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Will Jordan
Argentina have a lineout inside NZ half, but when they win it, the ball goes loose in midfield. Jordan simply swoops on it and runs 40m unopposed to score.
CONVERSION: Mo'unga converts (NZ 24-0).
70TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Will Jordan
From the kickoff, Argentina again try to construct an attack in midfield, but Jordan is up quickly on Carreras, reading his pass and intercepting to sprint away again.
CONVERSION: That could be the try that seals the Tri Nations. Mo'unga converts (NZ 31-0).
75TH MINUTE (5 MINUTES LATER), PENALTY: All Blacks play under a penalty advantage for offside, Beaudy kicks to touch and Nic Berry brings them back. Mo'unga kicks to the corner.
76TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER): All Blacks win the lineout, Savea, Sotutu and Tu'inukuafe charge towards the line, before the prop is held up. Five-metre scrum.
80TH MINUTE (4 MINUTES LATER): After the scrum finally sets, Sotutu charges off the back and the All Blacks lay siege to the line.
TMO REFERRAL, PENALTY & YELLOW CARD: After the siren, Rieko Ioane lunges at the goal-line - he doesn't look confident, but officials have spotted a high hit from Lomax earlier and issue a yellow card.
80TH MINUTE + 1ST MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), PENALTY: NZ are now a man down, Carreras finds touch, Pumas win the lineout and another penalty.
80TH MINUTE + 3RD MINUTE (2 MINUTES LATER): Another lineout on halfway and the Pumas forwards maul. As they try to build phases, Mensa clears Cane from the breakdown/ruck area by flipping/tipping him over.
PENALTY: That's a penalty, but Taylor charges for some pushing and shoving by causing a scuffle - and the penalty is reversed.
80TH MINUTE + 4TH MINUTE (1 MINUTE LATER), TRY ALL BLACKS: Patrick Tuipulotu
Argentina attack breaks down and All Blacks counter. Jordan bursts/charges/surges through a gap/hole and eventually Rieko Ioane finds his Blues captain, who lopes 20 metres to score.
CONVERSION: Nice way to cap a convincing bounce back performance. Mo'unga converts (NZ 38-0).
FULL TIME
NEW ZEALAND 38 ARGENTINA 0
NEW ZEALAND: Coles, Tuipulotu, Jordan 2 & Savea tries; Mo'unga 5 conversions & penalty
So that is my 380th blog of the year 2020 (MMXX) & my 40th of this year.
P.S. And well, it all comes down to this because I have announced that this is going to by my last ever blog of 2020 (And I have done 40 blogs so far this year (Same as it was in 2016 before I did a record 100 in 2017 & 80 in both 2018 & last year) & what a way to end a year like this) as I take a self imposed break until January next month after the Christmas-New Year period so thanks so much & have a very good Christmas & a happy new year (And stay safe out there during the pandemic we had this year (It all began last year when the very 1st case of COVID had happened in Wuhan, China at a fish market) but finally I would like to say thanks to my whole friends & whanau such as Pops, my dog Buck, Dad, Jansen, Raewyn, Aunty Tania, Rejean, Uncle Bryan, Aunty Viv, Leon Benbaruk, Sophia Ong, Kathryn, Ken Branch, Ben Blain, Ben's girlfriend Robina, Carole Webb, Carole's son Andy, Andy's wife Kelsey, Carole's brother Zaki, Zaki's wife Aysha, Wairaka (Or Wai), Matt Pine as well as Mum for all my support, thank you...As we will see you all in 2021.
And in sports news that I have missed just come in this month during the month of December just before Christmas (I went to the Christmas parade here in Whanganui last Saturday along with Pops) such as the England rugby team coached by former Brumbies, Wallaby & Japan rugby team coach Eddie Jones completing the rare double of winning both the Six Nations & the Autumn Nations Cup (They easily beat France in the Autumn Nations Cup final at Twickenham) then the Black Caps win both the T20 & Test series against the West Indies (It was 2 - 0 in the T20 series (Lockie Ferguson picking up a 5 wicket haul in the 1st T20 at Eden Park in Auckland a day before Tasman retained the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership title against Auckland then a day later it was Glenn Philips scoring a century in the 2nd T20 in Tauranga) after the 3rd T20 had been washed out in Tauranga & it was 2 - 0 also in the test series (It was in the 1st test in Hamilton that man of the match & New Zealand captain Kane Williamson scored a double ton followed by Henry Nicholls (Brother of Black Caps media manager Willy) who scored a century in the 2nd test in Wellington as well as the big tall bowler who used to be an opening batter during his 1st XI secondary school days, Kyle Jamieson (Who was named player of the series) & wily old veteran & experienced pace bowler Tim Southee both getting 5 wicket hauls in the 1st innings but man of the match went to Nicholls for his impressive ton) as well as the Maori All Blacks claim a win against the newly formed Moana Pasifika team in our last rugby match of the year here in New Zealand (The rugby season is now over because the cricket season had already started) at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton then in all of a sudden, the draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has been revealed so here is the list of rugby nations who are in the pool stages of the 2023 tournament:
Pool A
New Zealand, France (Host nation), Italy, Americas 1 & Africa 1
Pool B (AKA pool of death)
South Africa (Defending champion), Ireland, Scotland, Asia/Pacific 1 & Europe 2
Pool C
Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1 & Qualifier winner
Pool D
England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1 & Americas 2
Well, to start with after the All Blacks had drawn pool A along with hosts France (The only country to have appeared in all 3 Rugby World Cup finals but never won all of them (1st it was New Zealand twice in 1987 & 2011 & Australia in 1999), Italy (We're going to face the Italians again after we thought we're going to play against them last year at the Rugby World Cup but it had to be cancelled as a result of the typhoon in Japan but 2007 was they last time New Zealand played against Italy (Who will meet the French for the 2nd time at a Rugby World Cup (Their 1st since 2015) at a RWC), Americas 1 & Africa 1 that I was like 'Oh my goodness!' But we have a rich history between the 2 rugby nations & our 1st meeting at a Rugby World Cup was in the 1987 RWC final at Eden Park in Auckland in which we totally dominated the match (Including tries from famous All Blacks such as Michael Jones (Father of Auckland rugby player Niko who the Iceman named his son after his middle name), captain David Kirk & John Kirwan (Who is married to an Italian wife & has both sons named Luca & Niko (Whom Sir JK named after Sir Michael Jones's middle name) & has a daughter named Francesca who plays beach volleyball) to win the inaugural Rugby World Cup then the next meeting in 1999 that the All Blacks wheels had totally fallen adrift in which France (Their worst result at a Rugby World Cup was at the quarterfinal in which they lost to England in 1991 (Including after the match were French coach Daniel Dubroca shoved a New Zealand rugby referee at the players tunnel), New Zealand in 2015 & Wales at the last Rugby World Cup in 2019 (Including South African referee Jaco Peyper sent Sebastien Vahaamahina (Who had announced his retirement from international rugby after the red card which cost France a place in the semi) off for elbowing a Welsh player's head which proved to be the game changer which resulted in a victory for Wales (It was a reversal of 2011 when Welsh captain Sam Warburton got red carded for a lifting tackle on French winger Vincent Clerc which cost Wales a place in the Rugby World Cup final as they lost to France by a single point (The night before the All Blacks had our 1st win against the Wallabies at a Rugby World Cup in the other semifinal (All Black winger Cory Jane was the man of the match for defusing the bombs at a high ball situation during our semifinal encounter (Including during the match that AB's fullback Israel Dagg broke a couple of Wallaby defenders before setting the try up to All Black second-five Ma'a Nonu scoring the only try of the 2nd semifinal & New Zealand blindside flanker, hard man & enforcer Jerome Kaino manhandled Wallaby winger Digby Ioane who broke a couple of tackles preventing Ioane from scoring) came from behind to snatch a famous semifinal victory at Twickenham (Including French player Christophe Lamaison who bagged 28 points then tries from Philippe Bernat-Salles, the now late Christophe Dominici & Richard Dourthe in which France massacred the AB's & stunned them to bits after a dramatic come from behind moment when they managed to reach the final against Australia to unsuccessfully challenge for the Rugby World Cup in 1999) before we thrashed them at Stadium Australia in Sydney to claim 3rd place in 2003 (New Zealand halfback Justin Marshall didn't play because of an injury so Australian born All Black Steve Devine got the nod as starting halfback) then 4 years later in 2007, our chances of reaching the semi went horribly wrong (1st Dan Carter got injured & he was replaced by Nick Evans before Evans got injured as well so he had to be replaced meaning that Luke McAlister (Who was playing at second five) went on to play first five for the rest of the game but after the Cardiff disaster, the All Blacks coach Graham Henry managed to survive his job as head coach of the All Blacks whom he served (He took over the job from John Mitchell (Who is now the England rugby team assistant coach (Whom he specializes in defence) in 2004) until after our Rugby World Cup triumph in 2011 (Steve Hansen took over from 2012 until last year before it was Ian Foster who is now currently the head coach of the AB's) as France capitalized by scoring a try after English ref Wayne Barnes (Who had sent All Black Luke McAlister to the sin bin during the match & hadn't penalized the French in the last 50 minutes of the game) missed an obvious forward pass at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff which cost us before we met them twice in Auckland in 2011, one was during the pool stages in which we smoked them on the back of a Dan Carter (Who was on fire but didn't play in the final in 2011 after injuring his groin which ruled him out of the whole tournament (Aaron Cruden had been called up instead of Stephen Donald but suffered a knee injury during the 2011 final so Donald took Cruden's place for the remainder of the final) just before the AB's last pool game against Canada in Wellington) masterclass & the other was a close encounter in which we won the 2011 Rugby World Cup by a single point (Including the match winning penalty goal provided by Stephen Donald (Who had been white baiting before he was called up to the All Blacks squad as an injury replacement to Colin Slade who had injured his groin similar to Dan Carter's during the RWC quarterfinal match against Argentina before the Rugby World Cup semifinal match against Australia) which proved to be the turning point of the 2011 RWC final dubbed as The Kick) in the final ending our 24 year drought of winning the Rugby World Cup but our most recent meeting between both sides at a Rugby World Cup was in 2015 at the quarterfinal in Cardiff in which we annihilated them 62 points to 13 (The biggest thrashing ever produced at a Rugby World Cup knockout game since the All Blacks semifinal encounter in 1987 against Wales (Who had Huw Richards sent off for assaulting Gary Whetton with a blow to the head before being attacked by Buck Shelford (He would've been sent from the field in disgrace should today's modern video technology be available) with Shelford pole axing Richards with a punch to the head) in a blowout (Including a hat-trick of tries out of nowhere by All Black winger & elder brother of back rower/loose forward Ardie, Julian Savea) to reach the semifinal against the Springboks in which we won in order to bury the demons from 2007 but South Africa's defence of the Rugby World Cup will start in the pool of death in Pool B (Whoever loses against hosts France in Pool A for New Zealand will face the defending world champion Springboks in the quarterfinals but trust me, the AB's have never been beaten in pool play (It was 31 wins from the inaugural 1987 tournament to last year (Our most recent win in pool play was against Namibia (Including that acrobatic rugby league style try from the corner by halfback TJ Perenara) & a draw against Italy because of the match being called off due to typhoon Hagibis) but let's hope that the French doesn't become the 1st team to beat the All Blacks in pool play) along with Ireland (Who the Boks have never met at a Rugby World Cup & will meet Scotland again at a pool game just like last year), Scotland (The last time both South Africa (Who adapted to the law changes on their way to world glory in 2019) & the Scots (Who will clash with Ireland yet again just like in 2019) met was in 2015 during a pool game), Asia/Pacific 1 & Europe 2 then in Pool C where Australia is expected to meet both Wales (Who will meet the Flying Fijians yet again for the 5th Rugby World Cup in a row (It was in 2007 that Fiji eclipsed the Welsh in pool play to reach the quarterfinal (Who they lost to South Africa in the quarterfinal who went on to win their 2nd of 3 RWC titles) then Wales defeated Fiji 3 consecutive times at a Rugby World Cup in 2011, 2015 & last year) & Fiji again just like in 2015 & last year along with their other pool opponents, Europe 1 & Qualifier winner & last but not least, Pool D consists of defending Six Nations & Autumn Nations Cup champions England (Who had not triumphed at the Rugby World Cup since 2003 & came so close of winning the tournament last year against the Siya Kolisi (Who missed the whole Rugby Championship in which the Springboks won in 2019 through injury) led South Africa in the final (They were favourites going into that match until Kyle Sinckler came off the field straight away with a head knock allowing the Springboks to capitalize by going in for the kill which proved to be a game changer/turning point to seal a 3rd Rugby World Cup crown (Along with New Zealand who won it in 1987, 2011 & 2015 are in 1st equal along with the South Africans compared to Australia who have won the Rugby World Cup twice in 1991 & 1999 & England with that solitary win in 2003) after their dominant victory in the final to add to their triumphs in 1995 & 2007) after they famously outplayed & toppled New Zealand (Who had missed out of completing a successful three peat (And were reigning world champions at the time) in which the law alterations must have made the All Blacks harder & tougher of winning a 3rd straight tournament when we were defeated in the semi against England but discipline has been a bit of a problem for the All Blacks to lose a semifinal like this (And it must have been the most recent law changes (Like alterations to the high tackle laws (Including the decision making framework for high shots & no arms tackles (Mitigating factors will result in a yellow card while if there's no mitigating factor, it's red) introduced already in 2019 (Which was World Cup year), the first man in only allowed to legitimately turn the ball over at the breakdown (The second man can't do that nowadays as the referee will blow them for a penalty as a result for handling the ball in a ruck), free kicks are awarded for not hooking the ball in a scrum properly & the ban on kicking ball through rucks (You'll only have to hook the ball in a backwards motion) in rugby union have helped South Africa win a 3rd Rugby World Cup in 2019) in the semifinal & will meet Argentina again in pool play just like 2019), previous Rugby World Cup hosts Japan (Who topped the pool in Pool A after wins against Russia, Ireland, Samoa & Scotland to become the 1st & only Asian team to reach the quarterfinal at a Rugby World Cup last year but their dream run at the tournament got shattered by the hands of the eventual world champions the Springboks (Who had English referee Wayne Barnes shown the yellow card to the great, legendary Springbok prop forward Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira instead of a red card for a lifting tackle on a Japanese player during the match which was a little bit unlucky), Argentina (All Blacks conquerors at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta in Sydney during this years Tri Nations series who failed to qualify for the quarterfinals of the RWC last year after losing to both France & England (They defeated both Tonga & the United States but both losses have sent the Argentinians packing & are expected to face the English yet again in the pool games of the 2023 Rugby World Cup), Oceania 1 & Americas 2.
And finally the America's Cup is officially back after 2 & a half years but 1st it's the America's Cup World Series in Auckland where in the 1st race the defenders Emirates Team New Zealand were too good against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Old nemesis & adversary of ETNZ, Australian Jimmy Spithill is the helmsman aboard the Italian yacht) then the Dean 'Deano' Barker (How did he easily know the race course since he left Emirates Team New Zealand? Since Peter 'Pete' or 'Pistol Pete' Burling replaced him at the helm of ETNZ since 2014 but he is now doing it for the Americans (He did it in 2000 with Team New Zealand as an understudy to Russell Coutts (But Barker is now acquired the same style of racing with American Magic just like Russell Coutts did with Alinghi in 2003) helmed American Magic defeated the struggling INEOS Team UK (Skippered by Olympic gold medalist Sir Ben Ainslie) followed by Luna Rossa who easily won after the Brits had withdrawn due to a mechanical problem before American Magic were too good against the defenders (And how did they beat Emirates Team New Zealand? They were too fast but our hopes of retaining the Auld Mug are currently under threat because American Magic have now claimed the favourites tag of winning the Prada Cup therefore taking over from INEOS Team UK but next year's America's Cup could be like 1987 when Australia failed to defend the Auld Mug (Unlike New Zealand did it in 1995 in San Diego, California by emulating Australia's success in 1983 in Newport, Rhode Island then they had to go one better by defending the America's Cup in 2000 on home waters at the city of sails in Auckland) against the brave, patriotic American syndicate, Stars & Stripes led by Dennis Conner) after ETNZ made crucial errors during the last race of the day yesterday (There has been an update that Emirates Team New Zealand easily won races respectively today against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Who ended American Magic's hopes of a 100% record in the America's Cup World Series in Auckland) & INEOS Team UK respectively but ETNZ is racing American Magic tomorrow so let's hope for a win against Dean Barker (I wonder what he will say if they beat Emirates Team New Zealand again today 'We know how to beat these blokes' just like Wallaby Toutai Kefu said when Australia was trailing against New Zealand at a Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Sydney in 2001 just before they finished the All Blacks off at the death when Kefu scored the match winning try at the stroke of full time) & the Americans but there are both important races tomorrow for the defenders Emirates Team New Zealand, but 1st there's perennial Prada Cup favourites in the form of American Magic (Well can we finally get our 1st win against the Americans? But their last race of the America's Cup World Series for American Magic is INEOS Team UK a day before the Christmas race this Sunday (It will feature a semifinal format before the 2 best syndicates battle it out to determine the winner of the Christmas race in Auckland a month before the Prada Cup (3 challengers (American Magic, INEOS Team UK & Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli) from 3 countries (Italy, the United Kingdom & USA) but there can only be 2 syndicates challenging for the Prada Cup final to battle it out for a place in the America's Cup) & after the newly christened Prada Cup it's the America's Cup match in March next year with the winner of the Prada Cup will have the chance to dethrone Emirates Team New Zealand as holders of the Auld Mug) & the challenger of record Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Whose 1st race of the day tomorrow is against INEOS Team UK) but we did it at last because we won the America's Cup World Series after we needed a win against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli (Who had taken victory against the struggling INEOS Team UK but were on the cusp of something special when they led against ETNZ during the all important race but they were fallen flat as Emirates Team New Zealand scored a crucial win to claim the America's Cup World Series) after finally able to beat American Magic (Who had to win easily against the Brits but during our race against American Magic that there were no mistakes this time but Dean Barker has had a shocker according to commentator Scotty Stevenson during the race against Emirates Team New Zealand where Barker easily made an error or should I say a mistake) 2 days ago but yesterday's Christmas race had been called off due to a lack of wind but the semifinal of the Christmas race between ETNZ & INEOS Team UK had exceeded the 45 minute time limit (And we were robbed of reaching the Christmas race final because it was shades of 2013 that our bid of winning the America's Cup against Oracle Team USA were in tatters because of the time limit had been exceeded).
