The Canta Goes Wild: Issue 12
Fiji celebrating their streak breaking win over Australia. Photo: Eurosport.
Fiji smash Australia breaking 69-year streak
A spectacular result from the Men’s Rugby World Cup: Fiji defeated Australia, 22-15.
Fiji played brilliantly, with Josua Tuisova and Simione Kuruvoli emerging as star players. Tuisova said, “It's history for us.”
As two-time Rugby World Cup champions, the Aussies are usually a Cup favourite. But they’ve had a terrible year, and their 2023 Cup results have been grim. Coach Eddie Jones claimed responsibility for the loss against Fiji, who last beat Australia in 1954 – 69 years ago.
Jones was previously England’s head coach and got sacked in 2022. His coaching of Australia has been unpopular, they came last in the 2023 Rugby Championships, and they’ve suffered harsh losses to South Africa, Argentina and now Fiji.
By contrast, Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui – who grew up in Australia – is being lauded for his leadership.
This marks the first time that Australia have lost to a Pacific Island team at the Cup.
Ryan Fox first kiwi to become PGA champion
Ryan Fox, a professional golfer from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, has won the BMW PGA Championship. It was a bit of a chaotic run: a triple-bogey early on, followed up by a stunning eight birdies that carried him all the way to a win.
As Fox celebrated the biggest success of his career, a commentator praised his “gold-star performance.” It seems that Fox agreed – he told Sky Sport, “I played great.”
The win earned Fox $2.6 million NZD and a big career boost. All eyes will be on him to put Aotearoa New Zealand on the map at the Masters Tournament.
In the Official World Golf Ranking, Ryan Fox is #31. He is the first BMW PGA Champion from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Football federation president resigns amid sexual assault scandal
Luis Rubiales has resigned from his role as the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). His departure follows an incident at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final involving Spanish footballer Jennifer Hermoso.
As medals were being presented to the Spanish team, Rubiales grabbed Hermoso and kissed her on the lips without her consent. The incident was captured on video and subsequently went viral. Rubiales was criticised worldwide with many calling for his resignation, including Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Rubiales’ mother, Angeles Bejar, locked herself inside a church on a hunger strike in protest of the furor, which she called an “inhuman and bloody hunt.” She was hospitalised and later discharged.
This is not Rubiales’ first time getting into hot water. Throughout 2022, he was accused of embezzlement, espionage, and corruption.
Hermoso received support from footballers across Spain and around the world. She has filed a criminal complaint of sexual assault against Rubiales.
Broncos bring down the Wahs
Our rugby league stars, the New Zealand Warriors, inspired nail-biting across the country as they headed into the preliminary NRL final against the Brisbane Broncos. In the days leading up to the match, “up the Wahs!” was heard all around Aotearoa.
Unfortunately, they weren’t on their way up – the Broncos absolutely stormed their home game, winning 42-12 and ending the Warriors’ hopes of making it to the Grand Final.
It was a fantastic night for 21-year-old Bronco’s fullback Reece Walsh. He left the Broncos in 2021 to join the Warriors, then in 2022 left the Warriors to rejoin the Broncos. His impressive work in this match ensured that he’s sorely missed from the Warriors lineup.
The Broncos memorable defeat of the Wahs has won them a spot against the Panthers in the NRL Grand Final.
