Mam- Changed Times

Here goes, I thought very hard as to whether it would be a good idea to do as I have done over the past 3 years and that is to write a piece to mark Mam’s anniversary. On the 10th of September it will mark 4 years since Mam passed away and on that time much has changed and also some things have stayed the same !!

I am happy in my job and the weight of expectation has lifted. Over the last few months of course life has changed beyond on recognition due to Covid 19 and all that has gone with that be that Lockdowns to pubs closing and restrictions placed on us as to limiting our contact with others.

Many times over the last few months I have wondered how you would face these situations and I have no doubt you’d have come up with unique ways and also colourful ways to get to see people and how you may be helping people out in O Connors….

Questions constantly crop up and I know you would have the answer to most of the obscure questions about family links etc…

Turning 30 earlier this year was unique to say the very least. I managed to avoid another party thanks to restrictions. No doubt like when I turned 21 you would have celebrated for me with a few others. Your “ Golden Child “ did a nice job to mark my 30th by putting a video together of people that have had an ompact on my life and are great friends…..

Uncle Pat Joe joined you earlier this year and you now have your family with you for the first time and I can only imagine the carry on when you turn 54 on October 17th.

Those moments in September 2016 still enter my mind from time to time but as the years have moved on I have been in a position to process what happened and slowly but surely I am in a place where the thought of September 10th doesn’t make me feel sick to the pit of my stomach.

I think mother would also be pleased that I don’t dread that few days like I did back in 2017 !!!

Looking to what the rest of 2020 and beyond could look like, It will defiantly be interesting to say the very least so we will just have to see what happens over the next few weeks and months….

Crusaders 2020 Champions

The Crusaders have won the recently set up Super Rugby competition in New Zealand involving all 5 New Zealand based franchises, Waikato Chiefs, Auckland Blues, Otago Highlanders and the Wellington Hurricanes.

Rugby in New Zealand came back before elsewhere across the World. It has been a fantastic competition with extremely close finishes with the Chiefs unfortunately coming out on the end of 9 defeats under new coach Warren Gatland. On a number of occasions the Chiefs were only beaten by less than 10 points.

Back to the Crusaders who had a bye in week one and then went on to win 8 of their next 9 games only being beaten by the Hurricanes. They face the Blues this weekend in the final round of the current competition with plenty of discussions ongoing as to the way rugby will look south of the equator in 2021.

Scott Robertson has been in charge over the last 4 years winning the Super Rugby title 2 times and now adding the Aoteroa title to the ever growing collection in his impressive CV. Mark Jones ex Wales and Scarlets wing has been added to the coaching team replacing Ronan O Gara who moved to take over at La Rochelle.

When Steve Hansen left the New Zealand job, Scott Robertson was surely in with a shout of taking the big job and did go through the interview process but Ian Foster signed a deal through to France 2023. Scott Robertson will hope to continue to build on the recent achievements and build a stronger squad for 2021 and beyond.

Looking at the strength of the first 23 names on their team sheet players like Bryn Hall, Jack Goodhue , Richie Mo’unga , Sevu Reece and Will Jordan there play a open brand of rugby based on solid forward play and strong defence and then you add their backs into the equation you have a receipt for success !!

They have one game left against the Blues this weekend and Scott Robertson has already told his squad he wants to end the year on a high note by beating the Blues but you can be sure that Beauden Barrett will want to end his first season with a win before he moves to play in the Top League in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath, he will still be free to play with New Zealand if called upon while playing in Japan.

There is always going to be questions as to who the best club side in the World is and on both sides of the equator many will vouch for their chosen side but it would be an interesting clash between current European Champions Saracens and Crusaders. Only time will tell as to whether there is a real appetite for a clash between the two best sides North or South of the equator….