Grand Slam???

The AB's completed their international season for 2008 with a sound win over England 32-6, hence completing the Grand Slam (wins over all 4 home nations). But I would have to say apart from Wales the home nations were fairly lame this time round, and the Munster game against the dirt trackers was probably the best spectacle and they are a club? Is this tour worthy of the 'Grand Slam' status I wonder? I think not. The game in the northern hemisphere isn't shade on the south, therefore devaluing the Grand Slam. Playing with passion for 30-40 minutes of games really doesn't cut it these days, not against the Blackness. But after all of this, I'll take the wins.

Results as follows;

New Zealand v Scotland 32-6
New Zealand v Ireland 22-3
New Zealand v Munster 18-16
New Zealand v Wales 29-9
New Zealand v England 32-6

Cheers GB

Air New Zealand Cup Semi's

It's crunch time in the Air NZ Cup, semi's time and Hawkes Bay have drawn the short straw and are playing Canterbury at Jade Stadium. It's going to be a HUGE game for the Magpie's, but not one they can't win. Yes, yes, ye the Cantab's have Richie back and a few others, but it's semi's rugby and anything goes. The Southland Stags, who played a cracking 1/4 final are up against the Wellington Lions in the Cake Tin with their own smattering of AB's. This too will be a tough game for the Stags.

Go the Magpies!!!!

Grayson 'The Scrum' Bainbridge

We are the warriors, warriors..

Meanwhile, as a departure from the rugby we have the NRL and the New Zealand Warriors have salvaged their season to qualify 8th and have just knocked off competition front runners the Melbourne Storm, with a 18-15 victory, with a massive try in the last few mintes to progress to the semi's, creating history at the same time, as no 8th placed team has beaten # 1 in the finals round. Good stuff. And with another rousing performance they will get past the Roosters on Friday night!!!

We are the Warriors, warriors......

Cher

All Blacks own the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations cups, 2008

Some would have to say that this years Tri-Nation's tournament has been a rall hum-dinga! After Saturday the AB's walked away with the trophy cabinet full for another season, but with 2 losses and 3 wins, it wasn't all easy, but winning the deciding game on Saturday 28-24 was enough to put the Aussie's away for another year. SA are the wooden spooners for 08', world champs my arse! Focus now turns to the Air New Zealand Cup, NPC for true believers, until the Grand Slam tour of Britain in Nov. Of course there is another Bledisloe Cup (Nov 3), staged in Hong Kong to think about for the blackness.

Cher

Mid way in Tri-nation rugby.

With 2 games to go for the All Blacks, both away they are looking good for taking another Tri-nations. However we first have to get past a Spring Bok side playing at home in Cape Town. Coach Henry has retained his winning team from the 39-10 thumping of OZ in Auckland on the 2nd, while the Boks have lost 2 crucial inform/experienced players. Come saurday morning we shall see & if the AB's can fire up like they did against the Wallabies then we shall have a win.

Not going so well.

Reporting after the first Bledisloe Cup game in front of 80,000 screaming Wallaby Sydney fans, the AB's we totally out muscled, out kicked and out played to lose 34-19. In Rugby terms, a thrashing at this level. Re-match is this Saturday at Eden Park Auckland. The AB's season is at a real turning point from being bad to worse. Injuires and the lose of 13 front line Abs from last year have really hit hard, not to mention the number of top players who have been lured to Europe for big money.

I expect and good hard fought win this weekend in Auckland. Australia haven't won a game at this ground since 1994, but history means crap if you don't hold on to the pill.

Richie McCaw has returned after a 6 week injury, he has been missed, more than just his captaincy. He's a welcome return to the # 7 jersey. Hopefuly he can last the whole 80 minutes without question?

Rugby "The Scrum" Bainbridge reporting.

Second Test against SA.

Damnit we lost in the last 3 or so minutes 30-28.
I guess experiences does count for something eh? Guess you have to blood young players in sometime aye, & they did very well too?

Roll on OZ in the 26th.

Gdog

New Zealand v South Africa I 2008

Although my blog is late and the 2nd game in the tri-nations is upon us, i must make comment. The first test match was simply suberb. It was a hard fought gritty sometimes dirty game and ofcourse the AB's were victorious 19-8. It was definitely a hard fought affair against the Boks. However after Thorn's brain explosion (AB #4) he's suspended for game 2 which may change the tight five's dynamics. Dunedin will be pumping, after not hosting a test match for 3 yrs.

My prediction AB's by nine and some biff!!

Gdog.

JUSTICE IN THE CRICKET

Winners!

The Blackcap cricket team cleaned up the last one-dayer international against England, winning by 51 runs, winning the series 3-1 and in doing so ending their tour of England. It's been a dour tour, loosing the test series 2-0 and England deciding to bring down the spirit of the game in 2 one-dayers!! But winning the one-day series has resurrected the tour, a bit.





Cheers Gdog.

INCENSED AND OUTRAGED

In the 4th one-dayer vs england there was a run-out incident with Elliot and Sidebottom, that has soured relationships b/w the 2 teams and also the 2 countries. As you can tell by the video above, the kiwi player was 'accidentally' taken out by Sidebottom and was then subsequently runout. In the spirit of the game and fair-play the English captain (Collingwood) should have recalled is appeal, letting the NZ player to stay at the crease. However he didn't and Elliot had to leave the field. LUCKILY we won the game, needing 2 runs from the last ball. A great victory, and the kiwi's lead the series 2-1 with the last game this Saturday at Lords.

JUST VIEW THE FIRST 60 SECS.

June Tests.

The All Blacks have cleaned up the English with a comprehensive win Saturday, downing the Poms 44-12, claiming the series 2 zip. However...... just around the corner and the Springboks and the Wallabies who are a whole different kettle of fish. They will both be more sterner and more attacking opponents than the English.

On a bum note, both Richie McCaw (6 weeks) & Ali Williams (1 week hopefully) have sustained ankle injuries. McCaw (AB captain) is a huge loss, hopefully my man Chris Masoe can take his place @ # 7.

Stay tuned, first test is July 5th.

Gdog.

PS. We won the 3rd cricket one-dayer against England in a nail biter!!

All Blacks vs England.

All Black Captain, Richie McCaw.

Second test match of the International Series against England will be fought this Saturday. A different kettle of fish from the Irish, the English will probably benefit from better weather in Auckland from the freezing conditions in Wellington the weekend before. But then again so will AB's. Both teams have spoken of a current rebuilding phase which makes it hard to predict a score line, but I see the AB's fitness level to outlast England but their intensity level will have to lift for a an AB win.

English media reports have touted their team as one of the strongest to be sent downunder. We shall have too see?

McCaw will need to have another man-of-the-match performance.

NZ vs England Test Series

England have wrapped up the test series against the kiwi's with an emphatic win in the third test, winning by 9 runs and an innings and the series 2-0. A poor showing by the Blackcaps, whose woeful batting let them down once again.

Hopefully NZ can resurrect the tour with a good showing in the one day internationals.

All Blacks v Ireland highlights 2008

The first test of the 2008 season was played in freezing driving rainy conditions at the 'Cake Tin' Wellington. It was a hard fought first outing fo the AB's, who were relived to have their first win for the season 21-11. The Irish, who have never beaten the AB's in 103 years played good, hard, tight rugby, but couldn't pull off their first win.

Captain Richie McCaw played outstandingly.

June Test season.

Now that the Super 14 is over, the international series starts, with 1 test against Ireland this weekend and 2 against england before the tri-nation series starts in July against Oz and SA.

A squad of 26 has been selected on form from the super 14 with a few surprises, 4 recalls, 6 new caps and only 9 remaining from the World Cup squad. Henry and his team are hopefully looking towards the future and i guess the next world cup in 2011.

It will be an interesting first game for the AB's. The Irish have played together as a team and have picked a number of players from the winning Munster club, where as the AB's have just assembled a week ago. Ireland have NEVER beaten the AB's..never!

Ona sad note, my man Jerry "the inforcer" Collins was absent and has subsequently retired from NZ sport altogether. A shame but his service to NZ rugby has been huge and good luck for the future, mostly probably in Europe with a fat contract doing what his does best, the damage.

Rebel Sport Super 14 Finals

The Canterbury Crusaders
By now the finals have been and gone, the champions have been crowned and it wasn't my team the Wellington Hurricanes. The Cane's couldn't quite get past the Crusaders adn the final was played out b/t the NSW Waratahs & the Crusaders and the kiwi team was triumpant...again. The Canterbury Crusaders have now won this competition 7 times, the most of any team. Although it wasn't the mighty Cane's, at least it was a kiwi team eh.

Now the international test season begins...the serious stuff.

NZ Cricket Tour of England.

Well, the first test match with England ended in a draw after five rain interrupted days, but some positive performances can from it. Firstly, NZ didn't loose, Jacob Oram scored a match saving 101, Jamie How chimed in with a much needed 68 and Dan 'the man' Vettori got a 5 wicket bag, bringing him up to 250 test wickets. England let the kiwi's get out of jail to often and couldn't bowl them out in the second innings with NZ finishing on 269/5 when play ended. A good resurgent draw for the Kiwi's.

On to Old Trafford Friday for the 2nd test.

Super 14 Rugby final round.

Rodney So'oialo

The last round of the Rebel Sports Super 14 Rugby was played over the weekend, with 6teams trying to get into the last 3 semi-final spots. My team, the Wellington Hurricanes played the Auckland Blues Friday night. With a test-like buzz from the 37,000 strong crowd the Blues just edged out the Cane's 19-17. BUT...the Cane's only needed 1 point to grab a place in the last 4 and did so with 1 bonus for being within 7 of the Blues. The Blues placed sixth.

The Hurricanes now travel to Christchurch to play the top placed Canterbury Crusaders @ Jade Stadium, instead of hosting a home semi-final. Both teams have injury concerns, Rodney So'oialo for the Canes (a 50/50) and Mose Tuiali'i for the Crusaders.


The NSW Warrantah's are hosting Natel Sharks in Sydney.

It should be a great weekend of rugger.

New Blog.

So over the weekend after I watched the rugby on www.mediazone.com I had a thought. I need to create a separate blog solely for sports, rather than clog up my other blog, so today I have created Gdog's Sports Emporium. This will be the place I can mention the Blackcap cricket tour to England, the Super 14 rugby finals, June Test matches again Ireland/England, V8 Supercars and of course the Tri-nation rugby tournament with Australia and South Africa...amongst other sports.

Stay tuned. Cheers Gdog