June 2017

The stars have aligned and we have quite a month of sport coming up.

The British and Irish Lions are in town.  Although only one test will be played in June there are all those other games that differentiate this series from the normal three tests and nothing else tours we normally get at this time of the year.

It is well documented that the Lions have struggled against the All Blacks since 1971, but they normally go pretty well in the provincial matches.  From a rugby union point of view, this is as close to nostalgia as you are going to get.

Then there is the Americas Cup; a strange ritual of national loyalty getting behind Team Emirates, complete with wearing Chinese produced red socks.  May racing would indicate the 2017 incarnation of Emirates Team NZ are good value for making the final.

We know what happens then.

Cricket’s second biggest international tournament, the ICC Trophy, takes place in June.  OK, there are bigger tournaments taking place; like the Ashes or anything happening in India.  But this is the ICC’s 2^nd biggest global event and it’s a good quick-fire tournament.  And it’s the one ICC tournament NZ has won in the past.

Football’s second biggest international tournament, the Confederations Cup, takes place in June.  OK, there are bigger tournaments that take place; like Euros and Copa Americana.  But this is the FIFA’s 2^nd biggest global event and it’s a good quick-fire tournament.  New Zealand is taking part, and how often do you get to see the All Whites play meaningful football against decent sides?

A couple of State of Origin matches, and a couple of Phil Gould monologues.   And you know what happens to the Warriors when State of Origin is on.  Keeping the faith etc.

NBA and Stanley Cup finals will be completed, and there are the French Tennis Open, and US golf Open to pad things out.

And the Phoenix will officially appoint Darije Kalezić as manager, and they might even sign some players