This week could be unpleasant for two New Zealand teams, as they steer down the barrel of two dangerous Australian sides - the Kangaroos, and the Aussie cricket team. While there shouldn't have be any worries for the All Blacks against Wales this weekend, the same can't be said for the Kiwis and the Black Caps, who by all accounts should be no trouble for their Aussie counterparts.

The Kiwis showed glimpses of brilliance against the English league side on their way to reaching the World Cup Final, but the Kangaroos have looked unstoppable in their four games thus far, including comfortably beating the Kiwis in week one. The Kangaroos have only had 16 points scored against them in four games, which is an outstanding achievement when you consider they've faced the Kiwis and England - the two sides who were supposed to be their biggest challenge. They would have to turn in a very terrible performance for the Kiwis to have any chance of beating them, and that's very unlikely at this stage.

The only thing in the Kiwis favour is that they've been involved in two very physical clashes with England over the last two weeks, which should have them prepared for a tough battle with the Aussies. The Aussies, on the other hand, haven't had anything even close to a challenge thus far, and if the Kiwis can manage to step up, the Kangaroos may not be as prepared for a close encounter. It's hard to see this happening though, to be fair...

These are the two best sides at this World Cup, and of all the teams represented the Kiwis probably have what it takes to beat the Aussies - but it's going to take an outstanding performance from every player on the field, because you know the Kangaroos will be ready to go. It's hard for us to say this, but we honestly believe the Kangaroos will run away with this one, and should be able to put 30 points on the Kiwis. But, you just never know - we could have another 2005 Tri Nations Final on our hands.

One can only hope.

The other big trans-Tasman clash sees the Black Caps face off against the Aussies, starting today in the first of two Tests. There's a lot of people out there who believe the Aussies are wounded after their disappointing efforts in India, and that the Black Caps have some hope of actually winning. Well, if there's one thing you should always be aware of it's a wounded Aussie - especially one like the Aussie cricket team.

It's hard to see the Aussies losing to the Black Caps, especially when you look at how they've played over the past month or so. They were below average in Bangladesh, and utterly abysmal against New South Wales in the build up to the first Test. If they play anything like that against Australia, they will be easily thrashed within three days. Like the Kiwis, the Black Caps will need all players to be at their best, and even then Australia should be too strong.

The Brisbane pitch looked like it was going to be bowler friendly, and the first day today proved that, with New Zealand bowling Australia out for just over 200. A great effort, but also a very dangerous sign for the Black Caps, as it's our batsmen who have been letting the side down recently. Brett Lee will be licking his lips at the prospect of finding some form against the Black caps batsmen in the morning.

The Black Caps need to go out and play with confidence, like they did today - and, most importantly, not let the occasion get the better of them. Otherwise, it's going to be a long trip for them. They saw how the Indians attacked the Aussie bowlers, and they need to do the exact same thing. Test matches are no longer the slow affairs that they use to be - if you can't score runs quickly, you're going to lose. The Black Caps need to move away from their current style of slow batting, and hopefully when we get a new coach we can start catching up with the rest of the cricketing world.

Until then, we predict a comfortable Australian victory in both Tests.

Oh well - at least we still have the All Blacks.

The Kangaroo's sent out a warning to all teams in this year's rugby league World Cup, with a 30-6 win over the Kiwis - who are considered to be the only other team capable of winning. Although that theory may have just gone down the drain...

The Kiwis were in the match for about 50 minutes, and although they were trailing 18-6 they were still within reach of the Aussies. But the Kangaroos showed their class, and ran away with the game to secure their first-up win.

The problem for the Kiwis is that they don't have the forward pack to match the Kangaroos, who just seem to be able to eat up the meters at will - while the Kiwi boys seem to struggle to make good yards.

We're really missing Roy Asotasi in the front row, and a game breaker like Frank Pritchard in the second row. Nathan Cayless is a quality front rower, but he doesn't compare to the impact a guy like Asotasi has. We need guys who are constantly creating gaps for the backs to operate, but it's just not happening on a regular basis.

It's far too early to write them off, and if they can get through to the semi-finals they could bounce back and knock the Kangaroos off their perch. But it will by no means easy...

They need to start playing Issac Luke at hooker, move Nathan Fein into the halves with Benji, and have a guy like David Kidwell on the bench for his experience and passion.

So far the World Cup has been great, with PNG nearly beating England, and Ireland going toe-to-toe with Tonga, only to lose late in the game. It's good to see that the lesser sides are putting up a decent fight.

It shows that there are other countries who are capable of playing more international games in league, and could pave the way for more Tests ,rather than just the three or four we usually get.

The World Cup's off to a good start - bring on the rest, and bring on a Kangaroo vs Kiwi final!

The equation was simple - beat Bangladesh in all three one dayers, and move to number two in the One Day rankings.

It should have been an easy task - Bangladesh had just lost a bunch of players to the Rebel League, and were left with only a handful of experienced players.

The Black Caps, on the other hand, were heading into the series with a full strength side (anyone who says we were not at full strength without Chris Martin in the team is having a laugh...seriously), and deserved to be going into the one dayers as heavy favourites.

By the end of the first one dayer, though, all of that was blown out of the water. We were left wondering - firstly, how we could only manage 201 against an average (at best) bowling lineup, and secondly how on earth Bangladesh could chase the miserly total down with seven wickets in hand. It was disgraceful (to put it nicely - that's not what we said at the time, though), and just like the All Blacks at World Cup time, the only word that can be used is 'chokers'.

The Black Caps had a great opportunity to move up the rankings, and they choked.

Let's put it in perspective. The Black Caps are a very good one day side, and have been sitting in the top three or four one day sides for a long time now. Bangladesh, on the other hand, are not very good - and are the bottom-dwellers of the one day rankings.

They have caused some pretty major upsets against the likes of India, Pakistan and even Australia, but the one thing the Black Caps have always been able to say is - "At least we haven't lost to Bangladesh". Well, that's gone down the drain, hasn't it?

The second one dayer wasn't looking that flash, either. The Black Caps struggled on their way to 212/9, and that was only thanks to a brilliant 75* by Jacob Oram. Once again, the top order left the middle to lower order batsmen to clean up their mess - the same old story, really.

It's just unfortunate that Chris Martin wasn't there. Had he been, we might well have scored in excess of 300.

Thankfully, this time the New Zealand bowlers got it spot on - and they dismissed Bangladesh for 137.

(Why didn't we do that first time round, lads?)

Kyle Mills was outstanding, with figures of 3 for 13 off only 6.4 overs, while Oram (who was rightly named man of the match), Southee and Vettori also chipped in with wickets.

The final one dayer is on Tuesday, and the Black Caps need to win. If they don't, they'll become the first side to lose a series to Bangladesh.

Please don't bring THAT record home for the trophy cabinet, boys.

With the All Blacks coaching staff expected to name an expanded All Blacks squad for their upcoming end of year tour, expect to see some new faces.

The All Blacks will play six games on the tour, including the Test in Hong Kong against the Wallabies and a midweek game against Munster, which will be a good opportunity to give some of the new guys a chance to get some All Blacks experience.

The other four games are against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.

There are a few guys who have been knocking on the All Black's door for a while now, and this tour would be the ideal time to get them into the squad - and next year, they'll have some level of experience with the pressure that goes with being an All Black.

One player in particular who must be close to making the squad is Corey Jane, who has been in great form for the past couple of seasons. This year he's taken his game up a level, and with Leon MacDonald unlikely to go on tour, Jane would make an excellent backup to Muliaina.

Another possible cover for MacDonald is Paul Williams, who was named in the training squad earlier this year. Like Jane, Williams has been steadily improving since making his return to rugby last year.

Both are excellent attackers capable of breaking the opposition line, and are as equally reliable under the high ball.

Williams may have the edge over Jane, though, as Graham Henry has already shown interest in him by selecting him for the training squad earlier this year - but the way Jane has been playing for Wellington in this year's Air New Zealand Cup, we wouldn't be surprised to see him get the nod.

Another Wellingtonian making his mark is Thomas Waldrom who, like Jane and Williams, has been knocking at the door for the last few years. Waldrom is a lethal player on attack, and has shown that he can make a huge impact on a game coming off the bench.

We certainly think he's a better option than Sione Luaki, who isn't as versatile as Waldrom. Waldrom is a lot more agile, and certainly a lot safer with carrying the ball.

Another loose forward making his mark in the Air New Zealand Cup is Liam Meesam. His recent efforts against Otago were outstanding, and would make an excellent back-up for the All Blacks. We've been saying Meesam should be in the All Blacks for a while now, and the end of year tour is an excellent time to bring him into the squad - especially as we don't think Luaki should be selected.

Another position up for grabs is prop, where Greg Somerville's departure (due to retirement from the All Blacks) has opened up a spot in the squad. His place will most likely be taken by John Schwalger - he's played for the All Blacks before, and so is familiar with the pressures of Test rugby.

But if your looking for a prop, you needn't look past Jaime McKintosh, who has continued to prove to us that he's ready for the step up. He is a natural leader, captaining Southland in the Air New Zealand Cup, and it wouldn't hurt to replace Somerville with someone who has natural leadership abilities.

The other interesting position up for grabs is the third hooker spot behind Andrew Hore and Kevin Mealamu. Hika Elliot was brought into the squad earlier in the year when Hore was in doubt with injury, but with Corey Flynn back from injury he may get the recall he's been fighting for over the last few seasons. This tour would be a great time to get him back into the All Black mix.

It looks as though the All Black selectors will be taking a 35 man squad, which means a few extra positions are available for the odd bolter - which we think there will be a few of.

Here's the 35 players we'd be taking (*new players in italics):

Hookers: Andrew Hore, Kevin Mealamu, Corey Flynn
Props: Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata, John Afoa, Jaime McKintosh, John Schwalger

Locks: Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Jeremy Thrush
Loose Forwards: Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Thomas Waldrom, Liam Meesam
Halfbacks: Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan, Andy Ellis, Alby Matthewson

First-Fives: Dan Carter, Stephen Donald
Centers: Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Richard Kahui, Isaia Toeava
Wings: Sitivini Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf, Joe Rokocoko (if healthy)
Fullbacks: Mils Muliaina, Corey Jane, Paul Williams

Players missing: Kevin O'Neill (injured), Greg Somerville (retired from AB's), Sione Luaki (form), Brendon Leonard (injured), Anthony Tuitavake (injured, but would select him if he's healthy), Leon MacDonald (injured).

Let us know who you'd like to see go on the end of year tour - head to the forum.

It sounds terribly cliche, but we're going to say it anyway - the All Black's performance on Saturday night was a game of two halves.

The first half was dominated by the Wallabies, who were definitely playing the better rugby - but they also had the majority of the ball, which helps.

The Wallabies scored either side of half time, and for a while there it looked like the All Blacks were struggling.

But three trys in quick succession put the All Blacks back in front by eleven points, with only a few minutes to play.

The Wallabies weren't finished, though, and when Ryan Cross scored the gap closed to four points, and a Wallaby comeback was back on the cards.

All the All Blacks had to do in the final minutes was hold onto the ball, but somehow the Wallabies managed to steal the ball - and away they went. The All Black defence had to scramble, and with time up on the clock the game was there for either side.

The Wallabies were hot on attack, but miraculously the All Blacks got the turn over, and Weepu booted the ball out, giving the All Blacks a 28-24 win. And, more importantly, the Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups are now safely locked away for another year.

The difference between the two sides was the substitutions. Henry brought Donald, Mealamu and Afoa on early in the second half, and it seemed to energise the team - especially Weepu, who was in great form.

Robbie Deans didn't use his bench until into the dying stages, and it was too late - most of the Wallabies looked dead on their feet, and this gave the All Blacks, traditionally known for their fitness, a chance to take back the lead.

The combination between Donald and Carter looked good, too, with Carter moving to second five, which gave him more space to attack the tired Wallaby line.

The All Blacks now get a break for a few weeks, before the players will be allowed to play in the Air New Zealand Cup.

It's been a very tough Tri Nation campaign, and the boys thoroughly deserve a few weeks rest.

Well done lads - we're all proud of you.

This was the result we were all expecting - an absolute try-fest. The All Blacks ran in fourteen trys, and were awarded a penalty try, on their way to a 101-14 point thrashing of Samoa.

So what can the All Blacks take from a match like this?

Well, if we're honest - not a whole lot.

All this Test was good for was a chance for the All Blacks to stretch their legs, ahead of next weekend's clash with the Wallabies. Still - it was important for them play well, which they did for most of the game.

The Samoans played with a lot of passion, and were awarded with two really well earned trys. They lacked discipline, though, and they were constantly penalised around the ruck for playing the ball with their hands.

Their defence was pretty ordinary out wide, too, which the All Blacks were able to exploit on many occasions.

Overall - they gave it a good shot, and for many of their young players the experience of playing the All Blacks will benefit their personal game in the years to come.

Their standout player was Uale Mai, who scored their opening try and played a big part in setting up their second. He looks to have a solid defensive game as well, leading the way with some massive hits.

The All Blacks were strong right across the field, but Jerome Kaino and Conrad Smith were outstanding.

Isaia Toeava had a strong second half, and showed some of those skills we all know he possesses.

These kinds of Tests are extremely important for world rugby (especially for developing nations like Samoa), and we hope the All Blacks can start playing a lot more of them - not for their own benefit, but for the good of rugby worldwide.

All Blacks 101
(trys - Muliaina (3), Smith (2), Kahui (2), Thomson, Cowan, Donald, Williams, Kaino, Toeava, Weepu, penalty try; conversions - Carter (5), Donald (6))

Samoa 14
(trys - Mai, Faosiliva; conversions - Mai, Warren)

Next weekend the All Blacks will face off against the Wallabies in Brisbane, in the final game of the 2008 Tri Nations campaign.

The game couldn't have more riding it - with the All Blacks sitting only one point ahead on the competition ladder, the winner will be crowned Tri Nations champions.

The Wallabies also need to win to keep their Bledisloe Cup dreams alive - the All Blacks only need to win one of the remaining two Bledisloe games to hold onto the Cup for another year.

It is easily the biggest game of the year for both these two sides.

Australia will also be wanting to put their humiliating 53-8 loss to the Springboks behind them, and a win over the All Blacks would certainly do just that.

But the All Blacks have been very impressive in their last two outings, and have yet another successful Tri Nations campaign in their sights.

Of the three sides, the All Blacks have been the best - and although they have lost two games, they have certainly set the benchmark once again. The way they bounced back from their loss to the Wallabies was near perfect, and then to keep South Africa scoreless - in South Africa - further shows the class of the All Blacks.

And, with 20 minutes to go in the game against Samoa, the All Blacks have already put on 80 points - the most ever scored against Samoa. We'll say it again -

Class.

The Wallabies have had their moments, with their win over the All Blacks the highlight of their campaign. Their two wins against the Springboks were good, without being anything special, and to be fair the way the Boks played in those games - well, anyone could have beaten them.

The problem for the Wallabies has been their consistency. Their wins have been followed up by some heavy defeats, and for a team that has guys like Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau and George Smith, they shouldn't be beaten by such large margins.

However, they can still win the Tri Nations with a win in Brisbane, so they must be doing something right.

South Africa have been very disappointing, to say the least. They started off well, going down in a close game to the All Blacks, before beating them at Carisbrook. But other than their last game (the 53-8 win over the Wallabies), they've been terrible.

Their loss in Perth was poor. It seemed like they didn't even want to play - or they were already thinking about going home. Whatever the reason was, their effort was not good enough for 'World Champions'.

And it only got worse - two losses on home soil is almost unacceptable.

Fortunately for them, they bounced back to demolish the Wallabies. But it was too little, too late.

It's amazing to think that not so long ago they were lifting the Webb Ellis trophy...

It's been an interesting Tri Nations, that's for sure. And, it's only fitting that the two best teams in the competition will battle it out for the title next weekend.

Next week the All Blacks take on Samoa in a one-off Test in New Plymouth.

While the All Blacks should have no problem against the Samoans, the one-off Test will be a great opportunity for guys like Stephen Donald, Adam Thomson and Anthony Boric to get a decent run.

It's fantastic to see the NZRU taking Test rugby back to the provinces - it makes the All Blacks accessible to people who normally wouldn't get to see them play live.

What isn't so fantastic is the fact that the Samoan team will most likely be understrength, due to the European clubs refusing to grant the players leave.

This is a serious problem for international rugby, and has been so for a long time now. The clubs pay the players salary's, and therefore feel they have the right to stop them from playing international rugby when it interferes with club duties.

We can understand that the clubs have invested in these players, but playing for your country is the ultimate honour in any sport - and should always take precedence over club rugby.

The IRB needs to stamp it's authority on the matter, rather than sitting back and allowing clubs to control who can and cannot play for their countries.

If clubs refuse to release their international players, they should do so at their own expense by having to pay a heavy fine to the affected country(s). A system like this would certainly make club officials think twice before stopping a player from representing their country.

There are too many Tests being played nowadays with understrength sides, including the likes of England and France, who think sending a B or C side on a tour is acceptable.

Well, it's not acceptable - and it's ruining Test rugby.

Fans don't want to watch a full strength All Blacks side play England's B team. Tests are supposed to be the toughest form of the game, but at the moment what we're getting is anything but tough.

We feel for Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, who constantly have to struggle to put together sides. If the IRB doesn't crack down on the clubs, then there's no way these countries can improve.

We hope you're listening, IRB - something needs to be done.

Now.


*A quick update - Joe Rokocoko may be back in time to face the Wallabies in Brisbane, which is good news for the All Blacks. Rokocoko has been injured since the Super 14, and it would be great to see him back in the black jersey. His return will certainly put a lot of pressure on the under performing Sivivatu, who needs a good shake up.*

New Zealand's golden run at the Beijing Olympics has continued overnight, with board sailor Tom Ashley winning our third Gold medal so far.

Ashley went into the final race sitting tied for second with Great Britain, and only a couple of points behind France.

All he had to do was beat the French and British sailor's, and the Gold was his.

And that's exactly what he did.

Ashley finished the race in third place, behind Hong Kong and Israel, but was two places in front of the French guy - who had to settle for the Silver. The Israeli sailor managed to gain enough points to take out the Bronze medal, leaving the Brit to wonder what could have been.

It's another fantastic result for New Zealand, who haven't won a Gold medal in sailing since Barbara Kendall in 1992. She, incidentally, finished sixth overall in the women's board sailing.

New Zealand has also picked up three Bronze medals since 'Super Saturday'.

Haydon Roulston, Sam Bewley, Marc Ryan and Jesse Sergeant took out the Cycling team pursuit, beating the Aussie boys by 1.23 seconds. The great news for our cyclists is that they are still very young, and will be a real threat to the British team in 2012.

Bevan Docherty won the Bronze in the triathlon, sticking with the leaders for the entire run - and when the time came to sprint for the finish line, only the German and Canadian bolted ahead of him.

It's a great result for Docherty, in what is one of the most grueling events at the Olympic games.

Nick Willis won the Bronze in the men's 1500m, in what was an absolutely incredible race. When you consider that we haven't won a medal in that event since John Walker, Willis' Bronze is an absolutely fantastic result.

So now New Zealand has nine medals, in what is undoubtedly our greatest Olympics ever - and we still have a chance in the BMX racing, with Sarah Walker standing a great chance to win Gold, as is Marc Willers.

It would be great to win a couple more medals before the games finish up, but if we finish on nine we can still be extremely proud of our teams performances.

Well done guys!

What a day to be a Kiwi!

Five medals (including two Golds) at the Olympic Games, a victory to the All Blacks in South Africa, and the Warriors keeping their Top 8 hopes alive with a win over the Cronulla Sharks.

In terms of a weekend's sporting results, it really doesn't get much better than that.

Mahe Drysdale opened the evening with a Bronze medal finish in his final. Drysdale had been suffering from a flu, went into the race severely dehydrated and under strength, and spent 20 minutes after the race receiving medical assistance. To finish third in the Olympics is good, but under those physical conditions as well - well, that's just amazing.

George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle also finished third in their final, giving New Zealand a second Bronze medal.

It looked as though we might struggle to win Gold in the rowing finals - that was, before Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell ("The Golden Girls") stepped up.

It was truly one of the most exciting races we've ever seen, and with only one-one hundredth of a second between them and the German crew, it was definitely one of the closest races ever.

After a not-so-great year, they peaked at exactly the right time, and defended their title at Athens.

From five rowing finals, we won three medals - which we think is a fantastic effort.

New Zealand's night at the Olympics, though, wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Kiwi cyclist Hayden Roulsten won the silver medal in the 4000m individual pursuit, going down to the British rider by only a few seconds. Not bad for a guy who only a couple of years ago was told he shouldn't race due to a heart condition.

The night was then rounded off nicely with Valerie Vili completely dominating the women's shot put final - and it only took her first throw, with no-one coming close to her throw of 20.56m.

Two Gold, one Silver, and two Bronze, in what was New Zealand's greatest day at an Olympics - and there could be more medals to come.

Seeing our athletes doing so well against the best in the world makes us extremely proud to be New Zealander's.

And, the All Blacks and Warriors winning really topped off a fantastic day in New Zealand sporting history.

It's great to be a Kiwi!

The All Blacks are gearing up for their one off Test in South Africa, as they look to continue that good form they rediscovered in Auckland.

The same team has been named to take on the Springboks, which speaks volumes for the way they played in the second Bledisloe Cup match.

The only change comes on the bench, where Anthony Tuitavake has been replaced by Isaia Toeava - and that gives cover to fullback and the centers. Toeava has had a mixed bag in his short All Black career so far, with some real moments of skill being overshadowed by some less-than-impressive displays. Hopefully his time away from the black jersey has given him time to find the maturity needed for the top level.

The All Blacks will need to produce a similar performance to that in Auckland if they want to beat the Boks on their home soil. They do have a good record in Cape Town, though, winning five of their last eight there.

The Springboks have made a few changes due to injury, after playing against the Argentinians last weekend. Bakkies Botha and Jaque Fourie will both miss the Test, which is great news for the All Blacks.

Veteran fullback Percy Montgomery will play in his 100th Test for the Springboks. Montgomery has been a fantastic asset for the Boks over the past decade, and rates among their best players ever. Congratulations Percy, but unfortunately we hope it's not a successful 100th Test.

Here are the teams:

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: John Afoa, Kevin Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.

South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Adrian Jacobs, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (c), Andries Bekker, CJ Van de Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.

Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Conrad Jantjes.

The performance by the All Blacks on Saturday night was by far and away one of their best efforts in recent years, and will have gone a long way to silencing some of their critics.

They completely dominated the game, and played the Wallabies right out of it.

Everything they did wrong in Sydney, they got right in Auckland - and then some.

The most impressive thing about their display was the accuracy of their kicking game. Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan and Mils Muliaina were all on target with their kicks, and rather than kicking to the midfield, they drilled the ball down to the Wallabies 22 - which really put the Wallabies off their game.

We were doing to them what they traditionally do to us, and it was about time.

Tony Woodcock scored the game's first try, and to the surprise of many was on hand again to score his second of the night. His second came off a well worked lineout move, which (from the look on Graham Henry's face) you could tell was something they had been practicing.

The Wallabies bounced back to score before halftime, with Adam Ashley-Cooper scoring off the back off a strong Mortlock run. It was a rare mistake by the All Blacks, but fortunately it was the only one they'd make.

At halftime, the score was 21-10 to the All Blacks.

The All Blacks came out fired up in the second half, and from that point on the Wallabies weren't in the game.

Ma'a Nonu scored early on, which was really the last nail in the Wallabies coffin.

He score again in the final seconds of the match, giving the All Blacks a convincing 39-10 victory over the near-invisible Wallabies. It was the perfect performance to make up for their efforts the week before.

It was great to see them attacking, and winning, the lineouts, and impressively they won eight of the Wallabies throws. Didn't we say they needed to put some faith in their lineout capabilities?

I think we did, you know...

Jimmy Cowan showed why we think he is the number one halfback in the country - his kicking game was perfect, as was his passing, which was quick and accurate. He even pulled out the old dive pass.

With that one performance, he should have leapfrogged Andy Ellis as the number 9 starter.

The All Black forwards relished having Richie back. Our work around the ruck was impressive, we got numbers to the breakdown, and we drove the Wallaby forwards off the ball. Richie always leads from the front, and it obviously motivates the others to get stuck in.

What can we say about the Wallabies? Nothing really, because they weren't even given an opportunity to get into the game. The All Blacks kept the pressure on, and the Wallabies got thrown off their game plan.

When the Wallabies beat us last week, it was because we were terrible - not because they were brilliant.

We've shown that when we play well, they can't keep up with us - and Saturday was an excellent example of that.

The next stop for both sides is the difficult task of South Africa. The Springboks are a real chance of taking out the Tri Nations, with three home games still to play.

The All Blacks need to win in Cape Town if they want to hold onto the Tri Nations for another year. It won't be easy, but if they play like they did on Saturday they stand every chance of winning.

The Wallabies play two games in South Africa, and despite beating the Boks earlier on, they face a very difficult task ahead of them.

The Tri Nations, sports fans, is heating up.

After last weeks disappointing loss to the Wallabies, the All Blacks finally have some good news to report - and it's the news we've all been waiting for.

Richie's back in the starting lineup for this Saturday's Test in Auckland, and his return couldn't come soon enough.

Daniel Braid by no means let the side down, but when it comes down to him and Richie - there is an obvious difference in their skill factor.

The All Blacks coaching team has named eighteen players in the starting lineup, with Cowan, Ellis and Weepu all bracketed at halfback, while Hore and Mealamu are both bracketed at hooker.

Cowan is likely to start in the number nine jersey, and is expected to be fully fit by Saturday night. We certainly hope he plays, because we've been calling for him to start for some time now.

Weepu is in the squad, and will start if both Cowan and Ellis can't play due to injury - but at this point, it's most likely that Weepu will play off the bench. It's a good opportunity for Weepu to prove he deserves to be in the team...

Richie's return means Braid moves to the bench, although at this point he is bracketed with Adam Thomson, which means Sione Luaki drops out of the twenty-two (surprise surprise...).

So'oialo will move back to number eight in a direct swap with Kaino, who moves to the blindside this week.

Having Richie back certainly gives our side a lot more stability - especially around the ruck, which we'll need against George Smith and Phil Waugh, both of whom are starting.

In the backs, Conrad comes back into center, with Kahui dropped to the bench.

With Leon MacDonald now ruled out with ongoing concussion problems, Muliaina drops back into the fullback role, after a sniff at a shot on the wing. We'll find out who slots in where tomorrow.

Smith will have the task of containing Stirling Mortlock, who returns from injury - but we have a lot of faith in Smiths defence, and he should do the job.

This side has a solid look about it - but after last week it's going to take a much improved performance to beat the Wallabies, who look like they have settled into the ELVs more comfortably. It certainly helps that Deans had a full Super 14 campaign to get used to coaching with the new laws - not that we think that excuses the All Black's performance...

Yesterday, Wayne Smith admitted that the All Blacks coaches were out-coached by Deans in Sydney, and that they are still learning their way around the new laws. But at the end of the day, every player in the All Black team played in the Super 14, and should be used to the ELVs by now.

If they can sort out their handling issues, and get more forwards to the breakdown (rather than standing in the backline as they were in Sydney), we expect to see a much tighter performance.

The weather in Auckland at the moment is atrocious, and all signs are pointing towards a wet game on Saturday - which will no doubt mean a tough forward battle. Thank goodness Richie's back, is all we can say.

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Hore/Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: John Afoa, Hore/Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Braid/Thomson, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (c), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingly, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

The All Blacks have taken first blood in this years Tri Nations, grinding out a hard fought 19-8 win over the Springboks in Wellington.

Once again Wellington turned on the wet conditions, which meant a greasy surface and plenty of handling errors by both sides.

Despite the slippery ball, both sides tried to play an open game, with a lot of tactical kicking.

Even Ali Williams joined in on it.

Dan Carter put the All Blacks ahead with three penalties, before Bryan Habana scored in the corner, narrowing the margin to 9-8 going into half time. The Springboks were giving the All Blacks a run for their money...

John Smit was an early casualty for the Springboks, leaving the field in the first half with a groin strain, after being dumped by Brad Thorn in an off-the-ball incident. Thorn has been given a one week ban for the tackle, and will miss the Carisbrook Test next Saturday.

Jerome Kaino scored the All Blacks first (and only) try to give them a handy eight point lead, and when Carter slotted a penalty later in the half the All Blacks took a 19-8 lead, which they kept to the final whistle.

Kaino was very unlucky not to be given a second try after chasing a Carter kick, but Stu Dickenson deemed him off side, which was a completely rubbish call. Why the video ref couldn't have had a look we don't know, but it should have been referred.

Kaino had a fantastic game, and looks to be maturing as an All Black, as does Ma'a Nonu.

Other standouts for the All Blacks were Ali Williams, who had a great game in his fiftieth Test, and Conrad Smith, who continues to silence his critics with great attacking and defending abilities.

The lineouts were very successful (until late in the second half), as was the scrum, where we dominated the Springboks throughout the game.

Our only real concern at the moment is Andy Ellis at halfback. We know he's young and relatively new to the All Blacks, but we need a halfback who can pass the ball quickly. Ellis seems to be permanently stuck in slow motion.

We'd like to see Cowan get a start this weekend, just to let Ellis know he has some competition for the number nine jersey. Maybe that way he'll up his game a bit more...

All in all it was a very tough and physical Test, which is exactly what the All Blacks needed. The Springboks showed us that they are a real threat, and could give us more of a run for our money in the upcoming Tests.

We can't wait for round two this Saturday in Dunedin - we just hope the snow has melted by then.

This Saturday's Test between the All Blacks and the current World Champs, South Africa, is one you don't want to miss.

The Springboks are in great form (have been since the World Cup, actually) and are bolstered by the return of John Smit, who has been playing in Europe.

Normally, the All Blacks would be heavy favourites, especially in New Zealand - the Springboks don't usually travel well - but it's hard to see them dominating this match against the highly improved South African side.

We're definitely not saying we won't win - we just see it being a lot closer than years gone by...

South Africa are experiencing a revival in form, and are developing some great talent - think, Ryan Kankowski, who was destructive in this years Super 14.

They also have a lot of experience in John Smit and Victor Matfield, and they will not be beaten easily.

This, though, will be their toughest Test of the year - Wales only put up a fight in the second Test, and - well - no one expected much out of Italy.

The All Blacks have yet to be tested either, but they have shown some good form against England - especially in the backs. The forwards will have to step up against the Bok's forward pack, especially without McCaw, but they have shown they are capable of winning without him.

The biggest thing in the All Blacks favour is the return of the new rules (ELV's), which means a faster game with less stoppage time. The Springboks will really be tested in the later stages of the Test, where the All Blacks fitness will give them an advantage.

We don't expect a walk-over, but we're confident the All Blacks can come away with the win - we are tough to beat at home.

This promises to be a great Tri Nations competition - possibly the closest to date - but we just wouldn't be New Zealanders if we didn't think the All Blacks could win it.

Which, of course, they will.

The All Blacks have moved to 3-0 for the year, as they once again demolished the English defence on their way to a convincing 44-12 win.

It was a much stronger effort than the week before, and while there are still a few things to work on, they're at least moving in the right direction with the Tri Nations opener only two weeks away.

But the win didn't come without a heavy price. Both Richie McCaw and Ali Williams left the field early in the first half, both with what appear to be ankle injuries. The full extent is not known yet (we'll update you as soon as we find out), but they early prognosis is that Richie may miss 6 weeks - which is terrible news for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks continued to improve their attacking game, and made the English backs pay for some weak defence for the second week running.

Richard Kahui had an outstanding debut, both on attack and on defence, and scored the game's opening try. It really was a great effort from Kahui, and now puts a lot of pressure on Conrad Smith for the center position - although we expect to see Smith back in the #13 jersey for South Africa Test.

Still, nothing like a bit of healthy competition...

Dan Carter continued his fine form, and was a real handful on attack. What is often overlooked with Carter, though, is his defence - which is absolutely fantastic for a first five. He's everywhere, and makes tackles all over the field. And, he's not afraid to mix it with some of the bigger forwards.

He scored a try (through some terrible defence, admittedly) and finished the night with 22 points - and a perfect 7/7 with the boot.

The other notable mention goes to Adam Thomson, who made a big impact around the ruck, especially with McCaw off injured. Thomson got himself involved wherever he could, and was unlucky not to be awarded a try late in the game - he's has been a great find for the All Blacks.

Brad Thorn had another great night, and was outstanding in the lineouts - which were greatly improved on from last week. That's good news heading into the games against the Springboks, who are lineout masters.

Anthony Boric also got some game time with Williams leaving the field, which will do his confidence the world of good.

England had their moments, but were ultimately let down by poor defence and discipline in the rucks. For the second week running Mike Tindall found himself in the sin bin, which cost his team a try late in the second half.

Their only standout player (to us, anyway...) was half back Danny Care, who should some real pace around the field - especially his quick taps, which kept the All Blacks back peddling.

In the end New Zealand ran away with game, and showed a much better performance from last week.

South Africa will almost certainly provide a much tougher opponent in two weeks, though, so there'll be no relaxing yet.

Hopefully Williams (and McCaw, but that's sounding extremely unlikely...) will get over his injury in quick time, because he'll be sorely missed if he can't take the field.

Game Summary:

All Blacks 44
(Kahui, Carter, Nonu, Luaki, Cowan - trys)
(Carter (3 pen, 4 con), Donald (1 con)).
England 12
(Care, Varndell - trys)
(Barkley (1 con)).

New Zealand got smashed in the first One Day International against England, and were robbed through pathetic old-school regulations in the second.

But so what?

It's a 5-match series, and New Zealand are down 1-0 with 3 to play. In a situation like that, what would Australia be saying?

If you think they'd be talking about being robbed, you're wrong. They'd move on very quickly. Given 3 games left, they'd be focusing on winning the series - and probably would win. They'd be looking forward, not back.

New Zealand cricket have an attitude problem, and we're sure it stems from Bracewell. We've said it time and again, but we have some spectacularly talented players in this current Black Caps side, and the team as a whole has serious potential. We should not have to complain about being robbed - we should be winning anyway.

England's One Day side is, after years of complete 'averageness', starting to perform again. But New Zealand is 3rd in the world at ODI's - and for good reason. They should not be losing to this England side, and should not have to moan when they 'come close'

Which, of course, is rubbish anyway. Close? Needing 7 off 1 over in gloomy, damp conditions? Close? Being a single wicket, potentially 1 ball, away from losing? We'd hardly call that close. What we'd call that is balanced - it could have gone either way.

Sure, New Zealand had a good chance of winning the match. But so did England - where were their complaints of not going 2-up in the series?

Strauss has been called in to cover the struggling Cook, and will be rubbing his hands together having clocked up some serious runs against this New Zealand side - first in New Zealand, and he now continues that in this series in England. Sidebottom is still struggling, and may well miss his second game in a row.

Oram is out again for New Zealand - a huge blow to the balance of the side, and yet another missed match for the big all rounder. You're a fantastic player, Jake, but you're not much use to us in the changing sheds...

Mark Gillespie will replace Mason, who will probably be relieved to not have to bowl against young Luke Wright again. Gillespie has always been an interesting prospect for New Zealand - he can be terribly, terribly wayward, but he has an extra yard of pace than the other New Zealand bowlers, and offers a different dimension to the attack.

And he'll need it, too - Bristol is an historically high scoring ground, and if Wright can get away at the top of the order...New Zealand had better hold their breath. The bowling in this series has been average at best, and if England's openers can lay the platform for guys like Pietersen, Bopara, Shah, Mascarenhas and Broad...

McCullum, though, always keeps New Zealand in it. He batted well in the last game, and is the biggest threat to England's chances of taking a 2-0 lead in the series.

So, sports fans - who's going to take this out? In the past, we'd have backed New Zealand 100%. The lack-lustre performances with both bat and ball in recent times, though, have got us wondering - how much will our rankings drop between now and when Bracewell leaves?

Come on, New Zealand - please prove us wrong.

It was only recently that we said that Graham Henry appeared to be moving on from his rotation system, and after selecting the same team (with the exception of one forced change) for the first two Tests, it appeared to be true.

But, much to our dismay, Henry has come out and made four changes for the second Test against the English this weekend. There goes the 'no rotation' theory.

The most perplexing change sees Conrad Smith dropped for debutant Richard Kahui in the centers. Smith's combination with Nonu in the midfield has been fantastic in the opening two Tests, which has been a huge relief after all of the concerns over the midfield at the start of the year.

Why change it, Henry? Why?

We don't have a problem with Kahui getting game time, but his time should come off the bench. He certainly has the talent to play at the highest level, but Smith and Nonu need as much time together before the Tri Nations. Two Tests? Not enough.

Smith must be wondering what he has to do to cement his place in the team. He has been one of the standout players so far, and then to get dropped...

It just doesn't make sense to us. Tired after two Tests? We think not.

We have all heard Henry say he wants depth at the highest level, but when you have systems in place that are working well - don't change them, Henry! Change the things that aren't working.

Now, Nonu has to develop a new combination with Kahui, while Smith gets to watch from the sidelines. Crazy, crazy, crazy...

The other changes - Adam Thomson is in for Jerome Kaino, Rudi Wolf will make his debut in place of Anthony Tuitavake, and Leon MacDonald replaces Mils Muliaina at fullback.

Kaino had a strong game against England, and must be in the same frame of mind as Smith as to his replacement. Thomson is the kind of player that won't let you down but, just like Kahui, we feel he should be playing from the bench at the moment.

Tuitavake was relatively quiet in the first two Tests, but his defence was brilliant against England. Like the other players, he needs time to find his feet at Test level - especially heading into the Tri Nations.

Unfortunately, Henry has decided he needs a rest...of course.

We don't believe any of these players will do a bad job - we just feel it's time to start playing the best team every week.

The time will come for these young players to get their opportunity, simply due to the nature of International Rugby. There will always be injuries and drops in form, and this is the time to bring in replacements - not when guys are in good form. In Smith's case, the best form of his career...

Still, it's early days yet, and hopefully Henry will stick with his best side for the Tri Nations. We're not holding our breath, but only time will tell.

New Zealand Cricket - what is going on?

Ranked at #3 in the world in One Day Internationals, there is just no excuse for the shocking display we've seen from them in the past few weeks. We're sitting here in the Attic shaking our heads, desperately trying to figure out where things have gone wrong - and why...

The series against England started so promisingly for the Black Caps. Yes, the first game was rain affected - but that hasn't stopped New Zealand losing in the past. We actually held on for a solid draw in that First Test, and deservedly headed into the second match level-pegging with England.

In the First Test, New Zealand scored 546 runs in total, and lost 16 wickets. Not only is the total number across both innings respectable, but it's consistent.

They scored 277 in the first innings (not great, but you can work with it...), and were 269/6 in the second. With Vettori and Flynn at the crease, New Zealand were looking likely to exceed 600 runs in the match. Nothing to knock your socks off, but from a New Zealand Cricket fan's perspective - well, you wouldn't complain, put it that way.

And then...well, it would be unfair to say that the wheels fell off the Black Cap's wagon. To be accurate, we really need to describe what happened in terms of numbers - that is, the number of splinters left after the wagon exploded in a spectacular cloud of smoke, dust and fire. And low scores. And low wicket hauls. And dropped catches. The numbers, to be frank, are just scary.

The Second Test started extremely well for New Zealand. A first innings total of 381 was more than solid, and Taylor's 154 not out was absolutely stunning. There were positives in the opening department, too, with How putting a smile on our faces for the first time since Mark Richardson (a.k.a The Wall a.k.a Defense, Defense a.k.a Pretty Boring, Really, But Damn Solid) retired.

The bowling started well, too. Vettori lead from the front taking a five-for, and England were bundled out for a paltry 202 - 179 runs behind New Zealand, and the prospect of an in-form Vettori on a crumbling pitch.

We've mentioned the exploding-wagon-thing - there really is no other way to describe it, and this was the turning point of the series. New Zealand relinquished control, lay down on the ground, and let England get stuck in to them.

England, after being bowled out for 202, summoned the mental toughness to come out and bowl with excellent discipline and control - and bundled New Zealand out for 114.

114.

114.

It doesn't matter how many times we say it here in the Attic - we just can't get our head around it. That one score, and the whole series went. How top-scored with 29 - what more can we say?

England still needed 292 to win, and the media had New Zealand placed as favourites. We even thought New Zealand would do it. But we forgot one small detail - that mental toughness England had earlier displayed? Well, apparently New Zealand have none of it. They had runs to defend, a bowler-friendly pitch (despite the heavy roller) to do it on...and yet they managed just 4 wickets.

Danny - what happened?? 1/111 just isn't good enough - and from the captain, no less.

Strauss batted himself into imperious form, and Pietersen, Bell and Collingwood all had valuable knocks. Chasing 294 in the fourth innings of a game, and doing it with ease - there aren't too many better ways of re-instilling confidence in a shaky batting lineup.

And re-instill it did. Test Three, and England strolled out and scored 364 - Pietersen helping himself to a hundred, and Ambrose and Broad scoring half centuries. O'Brien bowled well to take 4 wickets, but the early pressure the New Zealand bowlers applied was let go - England's middle-lower order adding 166 valuable runs, demoralising New Zealand even further.

And their fans. Don't forget us.

To be fair, when New Zealand walked out to bat, they did do better than their miserable 114 in their previous outing. They blasted 123 in this innings, potentially putting their batting demons to rest. There were plenty of highlights - Redmond grafted out a single, and McCullum was at his blistering best during his 8 minute stay. Flynn got a duck, but he did last 3 balls - and that's better than lasting 2. All of Oram's hard-hitting skills were on display during his 7 runs, walking of with a strike-rate of 26.92, and a job well done. Chris Martin finished not out, but unfortunately couldn't get off the mark. Unusual, but it can't all be positive.

After New Zealand had compiled their 123, Vaughan decided that a lead of 241 was enough to enforce the follow-on. A risk, you say? No, no - not against New Zealand. 232 runs later, New Zealand had lost their 20th wicket, and the match by an innings and 9 runs.

So much for all the work they put in for that 123.

So - 2-nil to England, and a hugely emphatic win to close off the Test series.

We'd like to be positive, and say that there are things New Zealand will have learned from the loss. But we honestly don't think they will. The problem is, there's talent within this Black Caps unit. A heap of it. Jamie How has an excellent career ahead of him, and will fight for his wicket with his life. Ross Taylor is reckless, but showed what he can do when he gets it right, and the middle-lower order batting has always been strong.

And we don't even need to mention McCullum - the best wicket-keeper/batsmen in World Cricket right now.

Vettori is a world-class spinner, and Tim Southee has shown a heap of potential. He has real talent with the ball, and showed (when England were in New Zealand) that he'll fight to the end - even if it has to be with the bat.

But they won't learn, because what they need is application. Daniel Vettori said so himself after the Test Series loss - you need 4 or 5 guys to stand up and perform to win a test, not just 1 or 2 - and that's what has happened. The odd good performance, mixed in with some really, really bad ones, and a complete lack of concentration and determination.

John Bracewell won't be helping. He's stated his intention to leave, and in doing so has forced New Zealand cricket into a holding pattern. He's not doing the job, and yet the team can't move on to bigger and, potentially, better things because, incredibly, he's still there.

Why? Stand down, John. Do The Black Cap's (and all of their fans...) a favour - move on, and let us get on with a new regime. Admit that things haven't gone well, and clear out so that someone else can give it a shot. 3rd in the world at ODI's isn't bad - but at what cost? If anything, New Zealand's performances in Tests are getting worse. With the talent available to New Zealand Cricket, there's no way they should be performing so badly in Tests.

And what of 20/20's? A side that prides themselves on their success in ODI's should surely be able to make the transition to the 20 over game. And yet - 7 losses in a row, the latest one being the 9-wicket (nine...) loss to England. You can't tell us that's not a coaching issue...

So, New Zealand Cricket - where to now? We in the Attic will not be satisfied with an ODI Series win from here - that just will not fly any more. We can accept that there was a period where New Zealand cricket suffered after the loss of some of their big names, but it's not an excuse any more. The players coming in have shown that they're more than capable of performing - the best is just not being drawn from them consistently enough.

We've heard a lot of talk about long re-building periods - and quite frankly, it's rubbish. New Zealand and England are very similar sides on paper right now, and have similar amounts of talent at their disposal. New Zealand have a far better wicketkeeper-batsmen, and a better spinner in Vettori. The batting line-ups are fairly evenly matched, with a slight edge going to England, just for the sake of experience. Having said that, New Zealand bat deeper than England.

So why the complete white-wash? And why the shockingly bad loss in the 20/20, after all the talk of switching to New Zealand's preferred format - the shorter version of the game? Well, it doesn't get much shorter than 20 overs - so why so poor?

So many questions have been raised in the Attic this past week or so, and we keep coming back to the same conclusion - Bracwell must go. NOW.

That, and someone should invent 1-over cricket. As long as the Black Caps continue to sustain their performance for 12 deliveries, they'd be in with a shot.

When I got out of bed this morning, I tuned in to Breakfast to find out the state of the England vs. New Zealand cricket Test that's currently being played at Old Trafford.

Live television coverage starts here in New Zealand at 10pm, and the day's play wraps up at about 5am. Call me uncommitted, but I headed to bed just after midnight. England had gone to lunch sitting in a comfortable position, with Strauss and Vaughan batting nicely, but still along way off what would have been a very unlikely (and record breaking, for the ground) win.

I watched the sports news, heard the result, turned the TV off, and went back to bed. It was funny, really - I'd obviously been sleep-walking, and having a nightmare at the same time, because the news had told me that England had won by 6 wickets, with a day up their sleeve.

Half an hour of trembling under the sheets later, I got out of bed and accepted that I hadn't been dreaming, and that England had actually won.

And I was late to work, too.

We here in the Attic aren't sure what happened in that Test. New Zealand had a 179-run first innings lead, and England had a ton of pressure sitting squarely on their shoulders. Yet England's bowlers stood up, and rolled the sorry-looking Black Caps for a paltry, pathetic, useless, miserable (OK, we'll stop...) 114. Terrible from New Zealand, and a spirited fightback from an English side that was staring down the barrell of a heavy loss.

Still, New Zealand were well in the drivers seat. Thanks to their first innings total, England had 294 to chase down to win the game - and they'd have to set a new highest run-chase at Old Trafford to do it, too. England might have shifted some momentum their way, but the prospect of Vettori on a crumbling pitch kept the favourites tag with New Zealand.

And maybe that's what did it. There was no underdog status to overturn. Instead, there was an expectation to fulfill - and that's something the New Zealand Test side is not at all used to.

Maybe, too, it was the heavy roller that Vaughan decided to use before play began. It certainly seemed to extinguish the Vettori-flame - he finished with the unflattering (and unhelpful, from New Zealand's perspective) figures of 1-111 from 35 overs.

The closer England got to victory, and the more solid Strauss looked on the way to his match-winning 106, the more the pressure got to New Zealand. O'Brien should have had both Collingwood and Bell, but fumbled two fairly straight-forward return catches.

And that sums up New Zealand's day...should have.

O'Brien should have taken both catches. But he wouldn't have needed to had his batsmen performed better, and set England at least 370 to win. And England should have had to score that many. Even then, New Zealand's bowlers should have been able to bowl England out for less than 294. They really, really should have.

But they didn't - England did bowl New Zealand out cheaply, they did chase down the record score, they did win, and they do take an unasailable 1-0 lead with one match remaining.

And I'm going back to bed.