Hi ,

For the second time in the current International Series, the All Blacks looked like the AB's we know and admire. Fozzie got the accolades, but we all know it was due to the change in Assistant Coaches - Jason Ryan & Joe Schmidt. The secret is to now keep the Guys on this trajectory. The Table I don't believe has ever been this strange, with every Team having played 4 Games with 2 Losses each. The only difference being the AB's with a Bonus point. That said, I am not sure we have addressed the on field leadership issue yet. Clearly it was a combination of senior Players taking charge. Next week will tell. 

I backed the Sprinboks to beat the Wallabies last weekend. It is time Nic White got on with playing the Game and quits his theatrical moves. Nic is an iconic Player who has temporarily forgotten his influence to the younger ones watching. Mind you, our wonderful Game has been influenced by other codes as well - drop out from Goal (League), drinks break (Cricket) and theatricals/injuries (Soccer). Four more Games to go including Bledisloe Cup.

A tough week or two for our Wellington Lions. A trip to the bottom of NZ for a Southland Game at which Siale Lauaki and Hugo Plummer (debut for Hugo) were on the Bench. 4 days later away Game against Tasman, followed 4 days later with a Home Game aginst Otago. Otago, the Team in 4th place on the Table with our own Kemara Hauti-Parapara playing very well for them. Kem made a difference off the Bench, but BOP took the win. 

Thought I would enclose a couple of photos I meant to include in my last Report. The first one shows Scott Maclaughlin in Nashville racing over the Bridge - but did Scott realise he was racing past the Red, Gold and Blue of Tawa RFC? The other photo was taken at Phillip Island, November 2015. There was no-one else around him and he was pleased to talk to a Kiwi. Wow, how things have changed in his life! 

Yesterday, Monday our time, Scott MacLaughlin had Pole position for the Grand Prix of Portland and Scott Dixon was in starting position 16th. 110 laps later Scott MacLaughlin FIRST, Scott Dixon 3rd. Now lets put this into a little bit of context - US of A has over 300 million people, Godzone has around 5 million citizens and yet in all Sports we continue to prosper. Look at the recent Commonwealth Games. Sure does make you feel proud. Just this morning on AM Show were two young Ladies from NZ Youth (I think) Kayak/Volley Ball Team proudly showing off a massive Gold Trophy for First Place. Back to the Indycars, one more race in the series being the Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey in California. Scott Dixon still in the running for series win. Monday morning 0700hrs.

There is still a lot of local Rugby around the grounds. Last weekend I watched Wellington U19 vs Hurricanes Heartland U20 at Lyndhurst, with Wellington convincing Winners. Sat 10th, Wellington U19 vs Manawatu U19 at Lyndhurst at 1300hrs.

This weekend finds me on my annual pilgrimmage to Pukekohe for the ITM Auckland SuperSprint SuperCars round. The Final race at Pukekohe after being the mainstay for Supercars, except for a seven year stint in Hamilton, since 2001. At time of writing there is no definate track for next year, however the Supercars management are adamnt there will be a NZ leg in 2023. How about a Wellington StreetRace? 

This may come as a surprise, but I shall be backing Shane van Gisbergen

Allan G Davidson

President