Wrap - At Last

Boys,

1. Bledisloe Cup. A great tense win with some harder heads emerging. Great to see a kick go over under pressure. The team is certainly improving of late. NZ have a bit to worry about. Starting to see a lot of rubbish in Quade Cooper's game. Goose, but can play. Mitchell needs to improve his defence too. Beale must start - he is a winner. Forwards tough, but we go to sleep at key times. A strong result - albeit a dead rubber.

2. What about the Hong Kong crowd? Someone must be playing a big kick back to the ARU/ NZRU. It was pathetic. Why were they there? How can the game grow in our country with this carry on? If ever they needed an Aussie relevance it is now.

3. Finally Merv Hughes has been given the axe as an Australian selector! Too many tours overseas and too little knowledge of the subtleties in the game. He truly is a mug goose. See you later clown.

4. Greg Chappell as the new bloke on the block could well stuff things up. As usual - Chappel's record is terrible. He is a human curse, but has been appointed to enact change. Hilditch is under pressure. Compulsive hookers are cut from a similar gib. Nowadays instead of constantly playing the same stupid shot all the time against Hadlee, he keeps selecting teams which underperform. Old habits die hard.

However, at least we may see new names and talents emerge. Phil Hughes is overrated. The D'Costa camp practice their hairstyles and shampooing more than their batting sometimes. But Ferguson, Maddison, Khawaja, et al are the future.

Hussey and North will struggle to play in the first test for mine. North got 10 and Hussey a golden duck!! Not good timing!!!

How good is Perth cricket? It ruins your sleep for the week. 20-20 can be as big a dud as a bad ODI if too many early wickets fall.

5. Cricket. Keen to take the Indian cash at a state level but beware. What about the bad side - illegal bookmakers and the influx of Indian cricketers who will displace Aussies playing the game locally. They are not an altruistic lot and they are looking for more than just a cash handout. Self interest sails close to their hearts. This is not another pathetic call centre.

6. League. The Four Nations should never again be played in Australia. Can anyone get excited about the big buck earning players suddenly finding a pang of interest in anyone but themselves? Like a patrotic surge? The NRL is what the crowd want.

By the way, when is that bloody match fixing corruption finding being handed down? How hard can it be? It is dragging on like a Lindy Chamberlain trial/ inquest/ royal commission.

7. Surfing. A 10th World Championship? Kelly Slater is up there with Sampras, Federer, Nadal, Woods, Tendulkar, Wally Lewis as the best sportsmen of our lives. Any others? (I have overlooked Johns and can't think of a rugby equivalent).

8. Soccer. Man City are in serious strife. Mancini has lost the Midas touch. Two soft losses. Look for a change. Also, Perth Glory have given up. They are a disgrace.

9. Tennis. Stosur. No. 6 in the world! Pretty good when you consider how overweight she once was. She will not play Hopman Cup ever again now. It is the place to be seen when you are a struggler.

10. Texas Rangers coming back against the San Francisco Giants with two more home games. They are likely to square it all up very soon. One to watch. Look at their left handed pitcher, Cliff Lee. Unbelievable.