Lawrence Dallaglio Deluded

Apparently, the former captain of England's rugby team, Lawrence Dallaglio thinks if England win the 2019 World Cup final against South Africa, that it would be the greatest rugby World Cup victory of all time.

Err, newsflash, the greatest final has already been played and that was in 1995, the game was between South Africa and New Zealand's All Blacks, a game that was won by the Springboks in overtime. It's great because of the political and social significance of the result. It united a fractured country. Nelson Mandela famously wore the Springbok uniform when greeting the players.

Then in second place we have the greatest feat, New Zealand going back-to-back in 2011 and 2015. Truly remarkable. That's similar to Brazil in soccer going back-to-back, 1958 and 1962.

If England do win in 2019 it can at least be said to be a proper win. England previously won a World Cup in 2003, a soft world cup that as they didn't defeat New Zealand on the way through.

However, I don't think England are going to win in 2019. I predict that will be South Africa, for the simple reason they have more to play for. They desperately want to equal NZ's three victories, and put themselves in place to score a back-to-back and in so doing go to the top with four titles. Watching the semi-finals, England will have to get back up again after playing out of their skins, while South Africa played in a very measured and calculating way against Wales. They'll have the reserves of endurance needed to win.

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's Death

US President Donald Trump has made a big announcement over the claimed killing of ISIL terror group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He claims that the terrorist was killed over the weekend and that the buildings he was staying in were destroyed.

Here is a link showing the destroyed buildings, the best photo is the second image embedded within the story:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/russia-casts-doubt-version-isis-20740219

The Russians have doubted the claim and before their statements I too could see an obvious inconsistency. The photos of the destroyed buildings do not look like the rubble eventuating from bombing or missiles. To my trained eye they look like the destruction resulting from construction equipment pulling the buildings down. From the aerial view you can see raised tracks or roads through the site so trucks and wheel loaders can gain easy access. If this is the site of al-Baghdadi's death then it can't have happened just a couple of days ago. The site has been worked on some time ago and now rubble is being retrieved for sites elsewhere and this has been happening for some time.

I'm agreeing with the Russians on this one. I have no doubt this is the site shown from the air before destruction; but what I am saying is that when it was destroyed, was not days ago but more like weeks.

RWC 2019 Semi-Final South Africa v Wales

South Africa go through to the Rugby World Cup final against England, beating Wales 19-16. It was a tight contest but South Africa had the better bench while Wales had a couple of injuries, forcing them to make replacements earlier than expected. The Springboks were able to capitalise on this slight advantage.

I'm picking South Africa for the championship. My reasoning is twofold; England have already climbed Everest but to win the final they now have to climb K2. Meanwhile the Springboks must have the feeling they've been let out of jail after their loss to the All Blacks at the start of the tournament. They'll be out to steal the title from England, and all round I think they've got the talent to do it. South Africa by 10.

RWC 2019 Semi-Final England v New Zealand

England beat New Zealand 19-7. The All Blacks were thoroughly outplayed, the score flattered them. England were completely dominant, they read the NZ game well and effectively shut down the All Blacks possession. It's hard to think of a single thing NZ did well, apart from restricting the rate of England scoring, getting lucky at times with referee decisions that went their way.

For England, it's on to the final and facing either Wales or South Africa. My pick is for South Africa to take Wales out and go on to win the tournament.

NZ will need to re-think their approach, clearly the better nations have caught up and now have them figured out.

NBA Season 2019/20

Last season my picks were 50/50 at best. This year I've got no idea which team will emerge at the top. They're all so close, all looking good, and there has been so many big moves of top players between teams.

Having said that, I like the look of the Denver Nuggets, and the Milwaukee Bucks. Of course I always support the Houston Rockets but I'm not convinced they can get the most out of Russell Westbrook. He's just too much of a ball hog.

The Los Angeles Lakers can never be discounted either, they've got a powerful lineup.

Teams that will disappoint? Maybe the Los Angeles Clippers, they've never won a title, old habits are hard to break. The Brooklyn Nets won't be a real force until Kevin Durant is back from injury, so their fans will have to wait until 2020/21.

Surprises? Not so much of a surprise really; the Philadelphia 76ers, look for them to be the main challenger to the Bucks in the east. Oh and the Toronto Raptors, even without Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors may surprise once again.

Summary:

Looking Good;

Denver Nuggets
Milwaukee Bucks

Don't Discount;

Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets

Disappointing;

Los Angeles Clippers
Brooklyn Nets

Surprises;

Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors.

Auckland SkyCity Convention Centre Fire

Blame the inability to contain the fire on 9 years of National government under-funding while they were in office. They're bloody incompetent. Read this blog post;

https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/10/24/nz-herald-online-coverage-of-the-sky-city-fire-concerns-the-cbd-can-be-shut-down-by-a-blowtorch-why-the-fire-is-a-perfectly-delicious-metaphor-of-national-in-power-for-9-years/

I talk about the lack of infrastructural investment and the tendency to centre everything on Auckland in my book Snob's Guide to New Zealand; funny thing is, it's been read all over the world but New Zealanders are not so keen. Ridiculous I know, but there you go.

Rocket Lab Launch Largest Yet

NZ based satellite launcher, Rocket Lab has successfully launched its largest satellite to date. read about it here:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/116655316/rocket-lab-aims-for-new-heights-with-its-eighth-orbital-mission

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the Media

They're properly known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, but in a more familiar style they're often referred to as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It's probably a tabloid thing, much the same way the Duchess of Cambridge is called Kate. Anyway, Harry and Meghan have been in the news lately, firstly suing the newspapers that actually give them oxygen. Funny decision that, then Harry starts blubbing when talking about his child, which sounded kind of strange, rather like watching someone have a breakdown mentally. Now we have interviews, where Harry doesn't deny a rift between him and his brother, and where Meghan talks of how difficult life has been.

I don't normally wade in to this kind of thing, not my business and all that. But it does appear to me there is a simple solution - Harry and Meghan can retire from public life and resign all titles. There, problem solved. It's not as if they're important royals or anything; important is Harry's grandmother the Queen, his father Charles and brother William and his children. Clearly Harry is under stress, it is obvious from his facial expressions. He needs a break. Take it.

RWC 2019 Quarter-Finals

Rugby World Cup quarter-finals have gone the way people would expect; England easily dispatched Australia 40-16 (I got this one wrong), then in a thoroughly dominant display New Zealand's All Blacks crushed Ireland 46-14. The All Blacks were simply superb and if they maintain that form, they'll be marching into the final.

Boris Johnson's Deal

Boris Johnson on his new Brexit deal below, we now see whether Westminster will support it...

Feminism 2020

The very sensible Rachel Stewart on the hiring of a venue at Massey University by a group of feminists, and why this seems so threatening to so many, so-called enlightened people. The below link was published before the event in question was banned, making her words all the more poignant.

https://speakupforwomen.nz/the-rachel-stewart-column/

RWC 2019 - Japan beat Scotland

Japan have topped their group, going through unbeaten. In their last game they held on strongly to defeat Scotland. Earlier they beat Ireland as well, Japan have arrived on the world stage and surely now must be considered Tier 1.

The quarter-finalists are:

England v Australia
New Zealand v Ireland
Wales v France
Japan v South Africa

Based on current form, I'm picking the semi-finalists:

NZ v Australia
Wales v South Africa

And for the final:

NZ v South Africa

Cancelled Games: RWC 2019

Two games have been cancelled; they are All Blacks v Italy and England v France. The second of these wouldn't have caused a change in group outcomes, however the AB's v Italy game raises a question. It was possible that with a bonus point win, Italy could knock NZ out and South Africa and Italy go through. People are now crying favouritism.

Wait a minute, all teams knew the rules when they agreed to compete. What would be improper is changing venues at the last minute in order to engineer results. Tournaments by their nature have an air of uncertainty about them, so cancelling due to severe weather events is the only thing the organisers can do and remain impartial.

Typhoon Threatens Rugby World Cup Results

A Pacific Ocean typhoon called Hagibis is currently on course to disrupt the final Rugby World Cup group-stage matches. The tournament allows for washouts, each team receiving 2 points. Here's the rub; if the final games involving Ireland are affected, then Ireland could be eliminated. The number 2 team in the world could be out. Oh no.

Well, the organisers of the Rugby World Cup are planning to move the final Ireland game against Samoa to somewhere unaffected. What? The teams knew the rules when they entered the competition. The rules are meant to apply to every team equally. Get the feeling the tournament is rigged? Read about it here:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby-world-cup-2019/2019/1007/1081517-irelands-final-pool-game-threatened-by-typhoon/

Boris Johnson's Proposed EU Deal

Personally, I don't see what's wrong with the latest Brexit plan. Check it out here:

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-49914326

Under Mr Johnson's proposals, which he calls a "broad landing zone" for a new deal with the EU:

• Northern Ireland would leave the EU's customs union alongside the rest of the UK, at the start of 2021
• But Northern Ireland would, with the consent of politicians in the Northern Ireland Assembly, continue to apply EU legislation relating to agricultural and other products - what he calls an "all-island regulatory zone"
• This arrangement could, in theory, continue indefinitely, but the consent of Northern Ireland's politicians would have to be sought every four years
• Customs checks on goods traded between the UK and EU would be "decentralised", with paperwork submitted electronically and only a "very small number" of physical checks
• These checks should take place away from the border itself, at business premises or at "other points in the supply chain"

The government is also promising a "New Deal for Northern Ireland", with financial commitments to help manage the changes.

Christchurch Mayoralty

I'm voting John Minto for mayor of Christchurch and ask everyone to do the same. Minto is well known in New Zealand, he led the action protesting the Springbok tour of NZ in 1982. Importantly, while he's a professional agitator, he's not a professional politician. I'm sick of professional politicians. The latter just say what they think you want to hear.

Minto is campaigning for free buses. That's a good idea as it will lower the cost of road maintenance, and get people moving at the same time. He's also opposed to selling off city assets. He wants to clean up the rivers, a bit harder to do that one but good luck to him. All in all he stands for something.

What's the downside? Christchurch will have to put up with his achingly annoying PC crap. A small price to pay I'd say when you consider the alternatives; Lianne Dalziel who Christchurch can't seem to get rid of, her answer to everything is to increase rates. Then that dipstick Darryl Park talked about himself in the third person in the candidate brochure. I'm not voting for anyone who thinks he's god.

So in your postal ballot, tick Minto, place your ballot inside the reply paid envelope and post pronto. Done.