Yes; it's the 1st of July; halfway through 2011; where has the year gone? Winter has finally arrived as well, about a month late, and the skifields on Mt Ruapehu are open for business just a couple of weeks late.
But it's rugby that will dominate the sporting weekend; it's play-offs time in Super Rugby with two New Zealand teams and one each from Australia and South Africa remaining. Both matches take place in the dark of night tomorrow, so MySky will again be appreciated!
First-up it's the Blues taking on the Reds in Brisbane. The Queenslanders will go into the match as favourites, but the Blues are capable of causing an upset. It will take an eighty-minute effort from the Blues though, and that has been their Achillies heel in 2011. At their best, they are as good as any side in the competition, but they have a habit of switching off. But if the Blues forwards can step up, especially the likes of Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams and Jerome Kaino, they could really stretch the Queenslanders. The head though would suggest a home win.
The Crusaders have already beaten the Stormers at Newlands this season, and that will be in the forefront of both teams' collective consciousnesses. On that occasions the Crusaders forwards were dominant, and they will have to be dominant again tomorrow night to have any chance of a repeat. But with Richie McCaw back, and with Daniel Carter due for a big game, we're going for the red and blacks to win by a narrow margin. A finals rematch with the Reds (minus Stu Dickinson) would be a deserved end to the season for the nomadic Crusaders.
The Warriors have a bye this weekend. Thank goodness. 'Nuff said.
Elsewhere, we'll keep our fingers crossed for Marina Erakovic and her Thai doubles partner tonight in the semi-finals at Wimbeldon. It's been a gutsy fightback for Erakovic, whose career looked done and dusted a year ago. Now she stands to earn the biggest paycheck of her professional career, and to make a Wimbledon final. The women's Black Sticks had a setback overnight with a 5-3 loss to Korea, but they will finish the Champions Trophy no worse than fourth which is a fantatstic achievement. The ambitions of the U-17 All Whites to make the last eight at their World Cup were blown off the park by Japan yesterday, but they can still take pride from a tremendous performance in making the sudden-death round.
That's all we can think of this morning. Please feel free to fill in any gaps that we've left; the floor is, as ever, yours...
5 comments:
I think the Reds have been flattered by the fact they get to play all the weaker Aussie sides twice, the Blues (even with that show-pony Ali Williams) should beat them no trouble. I'm going with my Stormers-supporting colleague and picking the Crusaders too...All Kiwi final? Boo-ya!
You have, however, missed the biggie Inv - the MySky is about to get a hammering for the next couple of weeks as the Tour de France kicks off Sunday morning our time.
It was looking a bit dodgy for a time there, but Julian Dean has made it onto the Garmin team and will be leading out Tyler Farrar (surely no relation!) and probably the only rider fast enough to seriously trouble Mark "Manx Missile" Cavendish in the sprints. I think there are part-Kiwi claims on a couple of the Tasmanian Aussie riders as well.
Being your token pom commenter, I'll be cheering Cav on for green (he must be favourite there)and hoping Wiggins can make it as high in the top 10 GC as possible.
I'd like to think Andy Schleck can finally beat Contador but...
Whoops; I thought that the TdF didn't start until next weekend.
Here's a thought; James; fancy as guest spot as TdF correspondent? Flick me an e-mail if you do...
I've Bookfaced you Inv...and I've put my money where my mouth is with the TAB paying $4.25 for Blues and 'saders wins.
I'm picking the Crusaders to beat the stormers, but the blues reds is more problematic.
I think the blues but they have to start better than they did last time.
The TDF. I'm looking forward to that. I think I am in the any one but Contador club.
My love the wide shots when Chateaux are on the route. Some of the shots they get are absolutely superb.
JS - you are a bit harsh on Ali Williams. I think he is an integral part of any possible All Black World Cup success. Mind you I have gone for home team wins in both games but will be cheering mightily for the Crusaders who deserve success. However I think the task might be just too much.
Well done to Marina Erakovic I will be cheering her on as well.
Finally I too thought the TDF was a week away and will endeavour to follow as much as I can. Sometimes the commentators are in the Peter Montgomery (why use 5 words when you can use 25) mould and I will be cheering on everyone but Contador and the pommy sprinter. It is a shame Roulston and Henderson didn't make the cut.
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