2015 - Favourite NZ Sporting moment

I may have posted this in one of my sports posts, but the Halberg Awards are coming up, and there is a viewers choice for the sporting moments of the year. View the full list here. Here's my standouts. 

(1)    The Football Ferns win against Brazil.

(2)    Grant Elliot’s innings against South Africa, and his sportsmanship after it, in the World Cup Semi Final     

(3)    The Kiwi’s winning the ANZAC Test against Australia in Rugby League – the first time in 17 years.

25 years in Australia

I have now lived in Australia for 25 years. It's not news to anyone, but the longer I've been in Australia, the attachment I feel towards New Zealand grows. That's not to say I don't like Australia, its just NZ is part of who I am. A lot of this piece echoes my sentiment, even if it is in places unnecessarily provocative.

So, this post is a little about NZ, a little about Australia, and the rivalry between. The recent world cup clash added another chapter.(and maybe a meeting in the final will too....)

What better place to start than with some of my lasting memories in Trans-Tasman sport.

Cricket

• Hadlee's 9/52 and Crowe's 188 (1985/86)
• Whitney & McDermott batting out most of the last hour against Hadlee in Melbourne (1987)
• Both McGrath & Warne's highest test scores came against NZ (Gillespie and McGrath put on 114 for the tenth wicket, McGrath made 61, 2004),
• Warne made 99 before he decided to offer catching practice in 2007.
• The 2007 Chappell-Hadlee trophy series - NZ chased over 340 twice (and won the series 3-0)
• Bracewell's 6/40 (and Warner's hundred) in Hobart. (2011)

Rugby Union

• George Gregan's tackle (1992), Mortlock's intercept or Carlos Spencer's pass, (2003), numerous last minute penalty goals or tries (by Burke, Kefu & Eales). Does anyone else remember Eales stopping a penalty before it went over the crossbar. 
• The All Blacks flawless 43-6 win in torrential rain (Wellington, 1996)
• Lomu's try after the siren in the first Rugby Union international at Homebush. The All Blacks won 35-31; and the test has been described as the best played.
• The one Bledisloe cup I saw at ANZ Stadium (won 50-21 by the All Blacks, 2003)
• The miracle in Brisbane last October.

Netball

• The closeness of the Netball results most tests are decided by a handful of goals, I can only remember two which were won by more than six goals. Both NZ and Australia have won in Extra-time.

A few other sporting memories (which don't involve Australia)

Cricket

• Most recently Guptil's 237* (highest score by a Kiwi; highest score in a World Cup Game, and the second time Guptil has batted all 50 overs in an ODI)
• Crowe's 299
• McCullum's 302
• Corey Anderson's 36 ball hundred (until earlier this year the fastest ever).
• It says something about the NZ team that in ODI Cricket, NZ have 3 entries in the top 10 highest successful chases.
• Crowe & Jones shared a 467 run partnership for the third wicket in 1991, 
• Watling shared in an unbroken stand of 365 with Williamson; and a 352 run stand with McCullum
• Ronchi & Elliot's 267 run stand for the 6th Wicket in the ODI against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
• As an aside Hastings and Collinge (1973) had the highest stand for the 10th Wicket until Agar & Hughes (165) and then Jimmy Anderson & Joe Root (198) both went past their stand of 151. 

Rugby

• At school watching the All Blacks game against Italy during the 1987 world cup
• The drop goal in 1995, the two French disasters; this song sums it all up
• Madly refreshing a phone during the last few minutes of the World Cup Final in 2011. 
• The miracle in Dublin (2013)

Rugby League

• Any win by the Kiwi's is one to cherish, given they are so rare (the World Cup win in 2008, the 24-0 win in 2005, and last year's Four Nations where they beat Australia twice) would be the highlights. :) 

Other sports... 

• The America's Cup Win (and retention) before the amazing loss in the 2013 series (they led 8-3 before losing 9-8.
• Can't forget the All Whites being the only undefeated team at the 2010 World Cup, despite leaving at the group stage. 
• The Breakers - who were the first team from NZ to win in an Australian competition, and earlier this month won their fourth tittle in the past five years.
• The Phoenix have done really well in the A-League and may not have a better chance to win the competition

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South Africa here we come...

So, after a break of 27 years, the All Whites are back in the World Cup. 

Last night, in front of a sellout crowd in Wellington the All Whites held on for a deserved 1-0 win. Here's the match report from the NZ Herald , BBC, and the NYT.

The next key date is Dec 4, when the draw from group stage will be made. Wouldn't it be funny if the Socceroos and All Whites ended up in the same group.
 

T+19 Years

So, today, my family celebrates 19 years in Australia. We moved here when Dad got a job at ANSTO in March of 1990. It is hard to believe it has been nineteen years since we left New Zealand. I must say though, that I do support New Zealand in all sporting matters  :-)

New Zealand… “Slice of Heaven”

Milford Sound and Queenstown have been named the top two destinations in the world by members of the world's largest online travel community. (Article here). No, I don’t think I’m biased at all. I would say though if you like Milford Sound, next time you’re in NZ visit Doubtful Sound, (see picture below).

4800

So, if you hadn’t caught it yet, the All Blacks are out of the Rugby World Cup. Aside from the question of who to support now, the folk back home are looking for a sacrificial lamb to blame it all on (the usual suspects have emerged, the players; the coach; the referee); other folk are calling it a choke.

For me, New Zealand was beaten by a better team (or perhaps a smarter team). The last twenty minutes New Zealand attacked the French line; wave after wave of silverbacks attacked the French line and for next to no gain. The French defended beautifully and on that alone they are deserved winners. (Check out some of the stats).

As for the referee; some say he made a mistake; but we should remember that there are 4800 seconds in a Rugby match, and each of these can turn a game. During the last 10 minutes, the All Blacks had near to 25 phases and at any point during this time, NZ could well have set up for a drop goal attempt, which may have turned a 2 point deficit into a 1 point win. It does sadden me to read that the NZRU laid blame at the referees feet, and some fans have threatened the referee. Anyway, was said famously not so long ago… "four more years" for the Kiwi’s (and Aussies).

I haven’t decided which of the remaining teams I’m going to support, but I do think it will be nice for “Bill” to go somewhere new; Argentina or France maybe but I’m expecting England and South Africa to meet in the final. Given last weekend, I’m not making that prediction with any degree of confidence.

NZ Top 50 DVDs

While I was NZ, I was picked up Whitcoulls list of the Top 50 DVDs (incl. Franchises), as voted by the public. No prizes for guessing what was number 1. (I suspect that Australia's wouldn't be much different).

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50. The Usual Suspects 49. Gladitor 48. The Queen 47. Gandhi 46. The Fifth Element
45. Out of Africa 44. King Kong 43. Amelie 42. Goodbye Pork Pie 41. Schindler's List

40. Blade Runner 39. Saving Private Ryan 38. Crash 37. Blood Diamond 36. Casablanca
35. Fight Club 34. The Labyrinth 33. The Castle 32. Borat 31. Finding Nemo

30. Serenity 29. Gone With the End 28. Cars 27. Whale Rider 26. The Green Mile
25. Forrest Gump 24. Notting Hill 23. Top Gun 22. Titanic 21. Braveheart

20. Star Wars (Fr.) 19. Grease 18. The Sound of Music 17. Pulp Fiction 16. Pretty Women
15. The Matrix 14. Bridget Jones Diary 13. The Departed 12. Little Miss Sunshine 11. Happy Feet

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10. Casino Royale
9. The World's Fastest Indian
8. Pirates of the Carribbean (Franchise)
7. The Notebook
6. Harry Potter (Franchise)
5. Pride and Prejudice (BBC)
4. Shrek (Franchise)
3. Love Actually
2. The Shawshank Redemption

1. The Lord of the Rings (Franchise)

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While I think I've seen just over half of the top 50 (bolded), only a few would be on my Top 10. (Lord of the Rings, Whale Rider and maybe Amelie). Here's an approximation of my top 10 (films), yes there's 11 there. ;-)

Lord of the Rings (The Two Towers) // Wings of Desire // Whale Rider // Goodbye Lenin // The Shawshank Redemption // Paris, Texas // As it is in Heaven //Mr. Holland's Opus // Turtles Can Fly // Hotel Rwanda // Pan's Labyrinth.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~

More Links

Opening Address of the Sydney Writers Festival, by Andrew O'Hagan. Edited Extract, both via SMH.

Another reason to move to NZ. Here’s NZ’s ranking explained. More about the study, including the indicators used are here. It would seem that Australia’s involvement in non-UN missions is the main reason for its position (#25).

Links …

Did he really say …

“Gossip is not a trivial pastime”

Sounds like …

Random acts of kindness; and senseless acts of beauty..

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The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy; no its not the World Cup, but wow. NZ win by 10 wickets, 5 wickets (chasing 336), and 1 wicket (chasing 346).

More on Zimbabwe's tour of NZ

"The [NZ] Government also said it would refuse to issue visas to the governor of Zimbabwe's central bank, and the national cricket team, which had planned to tour in December. But the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, said it remained an open question whether New Zealand's national side would play a series of games in Zimbabwe in August as it is contracted to do." [SMH]

Views of the NZ public, published by the New Zealand Herald on the New Zealand's team tour of Zimbabwe. Rather than refusing to let the Zimbabwean team tour, the NZ team should inspite of the fine, refuse to tour Zimbabwe.

T-minus seven days (and yes counting is involved) …

In about seven days times, I will jump courtesy of Freedom across the ditch to New Zealand, and to Dunedin. I always love flying to New Zealand it is like a sort of homecoming. I mean I do live in Australia, and feel home here, but there’s something extra-special about New Zealand.

I’m heading back for my grandmother’s 90th Birthday. Yes, I have to admit that I’m not as close to her as I would like. I’m taking opportunity now to write a few reflections. But I wish I knew her better.

I remember going down to visit Dunedin, and we would always have a walk together. I also remember the fact that we would always receive a phone call on our birthdays; she was interested in hearing what we were up to, where we were heading. I feel doubly blessed, in that she raised my father, and aunts, and uncles, all of whom I treasure. [I know I don’t say that often enough, but I know it is true]. In some ways I have found it hard thinking about special stories, and incidents, because each time we visited her it felt special. I won’t forget staying with her just after I finished my High School, and just have meals, and spend quality time with her.

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Personally though, this trip has come at just the right time. I am absolutely scattered from organising the move (and dealing with the ‘fall-out’), was blessed by having a great colleague, who was priceless in terms of keeping me sane, and did way more than realistically she should have been expected of doing.

It is going to be great to get away from the office, and have a change of scenery for four so days. Will be great to see the cousins as well, though, once I get back it’s three-or-so weeks until the Conference I’m organising at work.

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It was with pleasure I read the SMH this morning and how the Liberal Government is now changing their policy relating to refugees. While not an abolishment of Mandatory Detention, it is a step forward. Though now I would like to hear an apology (especially if the majority of those on TPV end up being granted asylum), for the damage has been done.

Just when you thought it safe to cross the ditch . . .

Was reading the SMH over lunch, and found this - Look after your purse and mind the wobbling. It seems that DFAT have put out new travel advice for New Zealand.

Pokarekere Ana

I just thought, for those who read this who are not Kiwi's I'd post the words of the traditional Maori song.

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Pokarekere Ana
(Trad. Arr. Sarah Cass; George Martin Music Ltd./Universial Publishing Limited)

Pokarekere ana
Nga wai o waiapu
Whiti atu koe hine
Marino ana e

E hine e
Hoki maira
Kamate au
- i te aroha e

Tuhituhi taku rita
taku ata taku ringi
Kia kiti to iwi
Raru raru ana e

E hine e
Hoki maira
Kamate au
- i te aroha e

E hine e
Hoki maira
Kamate au
- i te aroha e

Kamate au
- i te aroha e

Translation:

Stormy are the waters
of restless Waiapu
If you cross them, girl
They will be calmed

Oh girl
Come back to me
I could die
Of love for you

I write you my letter
I send you my ring
So your people can see
How troubled I am

Oh girl
Come back to me
I could die
Of love for you

Oh girl
Come back to me
I could die
Of love for you

I could die
Of love for you
===

ABs

Today, I am heading down to Melbourne to watch the New Zealand All Blacks play Canada. While its true that Canada would have to do a Bradbury to win... It still should be a great spectacle.

It's also pretty amazing to read the Umaga, may be fit for the Quarter Finals. (most likely versus South Africa, or England).

The biggest game to date will be England v South Africa, to be played 10pm Satruday night AEST. This will pretty much determine if New Zealand plays England or South Africa in the quarters.

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In bible study last week we looked through Zephaniah 3. It has really struck me as I read Zephaniah how when the Bible speaks of God's judgement, it is tied into his love.

In showing wrath, God displays his love and mercy. This chapter also has what are my favourite verses (Zeph 3:17) (Ever since Karen showed it to me; thanks Karen!)

And, I want to post here the words of a Rebecca St. James song (incidently Karen also introduced me to her music), written from these verses.

Quiet You With My Love

Come to me, all who are weary
And I will give you rest
Come to me, all who are weary
And I will give you rest
Lay your head down
On my shoulders
Be Still My Child
rest a while.

I'll Quiet you with my Love
Rejoice over you with my song
I'll Quiet you with my Love
Rejoice over you with my song

Come to me all who are weary
And take My yoke upon you
Come to me all who are weary
My burden is easy and light
Lay your head down
On my shoulders
Be Still My Child
rest a while.

*Written by Rebeccc St. James and Matt Bronleewe
(c) 2002 Up In The Mix Music (BMI)

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The other news I have is that tomorrow morning, my sister is flying out of the country. She will be spending a year or thereabouts overseas, in the UK, and firstly Japan. Wishing you all the best for your trip, and praying that you'll stay safe. Take care LJ.