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Winner: Rugby Cohesion – A Lost Art

The All Blacks got it right, holding on to the losing team in the second Test against Argentina.

I believe unstable options are at the core
their problems over the years.

The All Blacks haven’t even been able to build a strong No. 10, and the only widely accepted certainty is that if Sam Whitelock and Brody Retalek are available, they’ll be locked in at centre-back.

Compare it to the great days when nomadic tribes could name the All Blacks.

Introducing new players skillfully is crucial. It’s also a necessary switch (moving Scott Barrett to a loose forward in 2019) well honed ahead of a big World Cup game.

But building the core team was just as important, and Ian Foster chose the right moment to show some grit and stick to the 15-man loss.

In such an unstructured sport, the importance of teammate familiarity and cohesion has been forgotten.

It’s very true that Sam Cane’s leadership and form have come under scrutiny. But Foster backed his men, kept the team intact, and paid big dividends.

For Foster, however, a relatively small, loose forward combination will be a problem, especially during the World Cup. He needs to build some options there.

Winner: Bledislow Cup, kind of like

The famous old-fashioned game of rugby has lost its luster due to the dominance of the All Blacks and Australia’s run-down decline.

Australia has little chance of winning the upcoming series as the new two-match format for 2022 ends with a game at Eden Fortress Park.

But there’s already the perfect mix for next Thursday’s opener in Melbourne.

Top international rugby continues its bizarre pattern, with teams winning one week and losing the next.

According to this theory, the All Blacks’ retaliatory stomping on Argentina would ease their desperation, while Australia would regroup after faltering against South Africa.

Melbourne could be a pretty good fight, although Australia has some injury issues and the All Blacks will be the favourites.

It was hard to see anything other than a landslide victory for the All Blacks as the team headed to Eden Park.

The All Blacks’ comeback mentality in their return game nine days later could make the Wallabies’ chances even tougher, if Australia does come away with a shocking victory in the first game.

WINNER: NRL boss Peter V’landys…he got it right about rugby

At least everyone knows where they stand on the NRL chairman, even if some of his actions are naturally debatable.

Rugby Australia has made a sound of chasing Junior Roosters defender Joseph Suali – a guaranteed superstar.

As former Wallaby/author Peter Fitzsimmons and others are quick to point out, rugby offers a bigger opportunity on the world stage. There is no denying this.

But V’landys has the perfect rebuttal.

“I don’t think Suaalii will go to rugby because he’ll get bored,” V’landys said.

“The ball is played for 33 minutes in a game, and in rugby league it is played for 55 minutes.”

Still, the giant Suaalii would definitely make a splash in the rugby league – he even has the height to handle lobs.

But rugby has another downside. Players must endure a desperate Super Rugby pitch in order to make it to the exciting international stage.

Transcoding remains an interesting puzzle for Suaalii.

If the price is right, I wouldn’t bet Suaalii trying rugby at some stage.

As hosts of the 2027 World Cup, Australia’s rugby team has the perfect carrot hanging in front of him.

While the rugby league could host a decent World Cup, it didn’t make mustard a global event.

Winner: Serena Williams…and American Influence

Thankfully, the tennis legend won several victories before inevitably pulling out of the U.S. Open early and heading toward retirement.

Williams would become one of the greatest figures in sports history, thanks to America’s cultural power.

No one tells stories like America.

Would someone like Williams, who overcame race-related barriers to become a world star, be elevated to the same level as she emerged from any other country?

A: No chance.

The American story becomes the world story. We ended up learning more about Tom Brady and Williams et al. More than we do with our own athletes.

American life has a charm and charm that the world cannot resist. Americans like to reveal the realities of their lives during their careers, which makes their sport more interesting.

Winner: The Story of Scott McLaughlin and Kiwi IndyCar

This is official. McLaughlin exceeded all expectations in the IndyCar Series and became the next big name in the sport.

McLaughlin’s overall win in Portland confirms he will be a title contender for years to come.

In his second season, he has improved so dramatically that he made it to the final with a series-winning outside shot this weekend.

This has turned into a victory for New Zealand.

This looks like an Australian showdown at Laguna Raceway in California, where Scott Dixon will try to overhaul Will Power Australia.

Calm Dixon appears to be Ball’s biggest threat, with No. 2 Joseph Newgarden showing shaky form this year.

However, Dixon and his Chip Ganassi team need to up their qualifying efforts.

Loser: Warriors’ 2023 schedule…and moaning

The Warriors and fans are understandably angry that no NRL club seems willing to concede a home game next year to compensate for the Oakland club’s nomadic life during the Covid-19 crisis.

But they need to be real.

I believe it’s up to the NRL to come up with a fair solution, not individual clubs. Otherwise, it’s time to restore normal service.

Why should any Australian club cede advantage to other teams and potentially suffer financially by moving their home games to New Zealand?

These clubs have a responsibility to be the best in the game for their teams and fans.

After all, clubs are not responsible for Covid. It’s not their fault.

After dealing with the NRL and the Australian Club for a long time, I have learned that it is a dog-eat-dog world and no one gives fools a fair break.

And I will always remember how ex-New Zealand striker-turned-promoter Dean Lonergan said how ruthless the sports/business world was in Sydney and Melbourne.

In many ways, that’s why the NRL is such a tight game. It’s an all-out battle and everyone is fighting for success.

Even more worrying is the Warriors’ inability to play in the NRL.

Winner: Tohu Harris Analysis

The standout Warriors forward and captain blames a “brain explosion” for another frustrating NRL season.

He was so right.

A case in point was in the final game against the equally hapless Gold Coast Titans.

The Warriors are ready to give interim owner Stacey Jones a triumphant farewell as head coach.

Freddie Lusick then inexplicably knocked down a Titans player, giving the visitors a momentum-changing free throw as they overcame a 14-point deficit in the final eight minutes.

crazy.

Winner: Erling Haaland

The Norwegian striker is already on track to break the Premier League’s modern goalscoring record. He scored 10 goals in his first six games for Manchester City, including two hat-tricks.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored 32 goals in 38 appearances, while Andy Cole and Alan Shearer have scored 34 goals each in 42 appearances this season.

They are starting to look like soft targets for Haaland.

Pundits even wondered if he could challenge Everton’s Dixie Dean’s first division record of 60 goals set in the 1920s.

If he does, it could create some sort of worldwide buzz to rival that memorable year when Mark McGwell and Sammy Sousa chased baseball’s home run record.

Even getting close to 60 goals feels like an impossible dream, but the giants Haaland can’t handle at times, and having the EPL’s ultimate midfield creativity, Kevin De Bruyne, presents an opportunity.

It’s an odd combination.