Why I Love June

June.  First month of Winter, half way point of the year, shortest day, Queen Lizzie's birthday, Emersyn's birthday...  but more importantly...

ALL BLACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Sunday the All Blacks squad, to take on Ireland was announced.  Suddenly the media is full of the All Blacks - articles, photos, opinions, criticisms, compliments.  EVERYONE has an opinion, EVERYONE has something to say.  And they do.  And it is glorious.

My first thought upon waking on Sunday morning was "OH MY GOD, THE ALL BLACKS TEAM IS ANNOUNCED THIS MORNING!"... first thing I then did was ring Lauriel and the second thing I did was go on my phone, check out Twitter & find a tweet stating what time the team was being announced.  Lauriel and I spoke about who we thought would make the squad, and who would be left out - more importantly who we WANTED to be left out.

The team was announced and it was speedily up on the All Blacks website.  I read through the list - waiting to get to the #9 position, to find out whether Piri Weepu had made it... But NEVER in my wildest dreams - no, nightmares, did I imagine that one very important name would be missing from the list. 

Andy Ellis missed the cut.

How.
The.
Fucking.
Hell?

Other than the omission of Andy (aka TinTin) I was in agreement with the choices (and y'know - my opinion REALLY counts!)... even if I was (and still am) sad that CJ isn't in there.  Yes, he's injured - and that's WHY he's not in there, but still...  Even in the team photo, the dude who took his place (Hosea Gear) is standing beside Izzy, who is standing beside Zac.  How freakin' epic would it have been, to have the trio standing together in the official photo?

I guess there is still the Tri-Nations.. well.. Rugby Championship.. or whatever it's called with the inclusion of the Pumas this year.  And the end of year tour.

[we will now pause for a brief prayer.
Dear Rugby God:  Please don't let CJ injure himself again.
Amen.]

Anyway.  Boo Piri.  Boo Andy.  Boo CJ.  Yay Zac/Izzy/Richie/DC/etc.

Of course, the announcement of the team also means something else...

HEADSHOTS!!!!!

Zac, putting his best side forward

Can't have Zac, without Izzy

Can't have a post about the All Blacks
without Captain Fantastic, himself

As with Izzy & Zac, you can't have
Richie without Dan...

Tamati, oh Tamati...

Most exciting thing of course, is that on June 16th, Lauriel & I are going to SEE the All Blacks playing....

Bring.  It.  On.