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Coverage this hour includes the Women's Rugby Sevens final between New Zealand and Australia, and the Men's Rugby Sevens final between New Zealand and Fiji.

Coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games from the Gold Coast in Australia.

Primary Title
  • Gold Coast 2018: Commonwealth Games Today
Date Broadcast
  • Sunday 15 April 2018
Start Time
  • 17 : 00
Finish Time
  • 18 : 00
Duration
  • 60:00
Channel
  • TVNZ 1
Broadcaster
  • Television New Zealand
Programme Description
  • Coverage of the 2018 Commonwealth Games from the Gold Coast in Australia.
Episode Description
  • Coverage this hour includes the Women's Rugby Sevens final between New Zealand and Australia, and the Men's Rugby Sevens final between New Zealand and Fiji.
Classification
  • Not Classified
Owning Collection
  • Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
  • Television
Languages
  • English
Captioning Languages
  • English
Captions
Live Broadcast
  • Yes
Rights Statement
  • Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
  • Commonwealth Games
Genres
  • Event
  • Sports
Hosts
  • Guy Heveldt (Presenter)
this stage is set for what should be an absolute classic between these two old rivals. The two best woman sevens team in the world, that is for sure. Here is the Australian lineup. Charlotte Caslick, one of the superstars. They have depth too. So too has New Zealand. Some of the standout players in the world. Sarah Goss will lead them. Portia Woodman, just such a wonderful player for such a long time. Sets a standard. Strength and depth too wwith the likes of these in the reserves. They've all made their mark. Both teams are pretty much injury free for the front line players. Both at full strength for this gold-medal match. William, Goss, Nathan-Wong, Brazier, Fitzpatrick and Woodman. The black ferns sevens. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) early possession here. Australian 10 m mark. Good chance here for New Zealand. A good chance to get an early Touch. A few gaps out wider. Fitzpatrick. This is Goss, Woodman outside of it. Portia Woodman circling. And the first mistake from Theresa Fitzpatrick. They have done everything so well. They tried to get Woodman inside. The Aussie defence was so alert that. They know each other's strengths so well. The Aussies do that swarming defence. They swarm in. The blitz defence almost which we saw and that Olympic final. The first pass goes to Brazier out wide, they force New Zealand back in. Australia with the ball now to the 10. Lovely switch and a knock on from Australia. The pressure telling from both sides. Hands are usually ultra safe, Emma Tonegato. Few nerves might be creeping in. In the background, you might have seen the Aussie reserves all had their hands on the head. Because this is an Australia, Australia has more at stake, they feel more on edge. Michaela Blyde. Good strong fend. Goss is right with her. This is a great clash, isn't it? She is away! What a step! Portia Woodman. For the try line and Woodward will score 1st in the gold medal match. Brilliant! The New Zealand flyer. It wasn't as if it was a race with the ball. She had work to do. Portia Woodman adds to his superb tally of tries. Cover coming inside. The defender thought that she would go out. She had too much pace for Emma Tonegato. Woodman gets the opening points for New Zealand. That try is a reflection of Portia Woodman to a T. The step of the left foot and that the pace to burn off the Australian defence. Absolutely outstanding. Confident start for New Zealand. Play has been around the halfway area within the two 10s most of the time. Good strong claim from Niall Williams. Nathan-Wong was listed but Tenika Willison starting in the black jersey. I think it might have been slipped through the hands. (CROWD BOOS) double knock on. Yep. It will be New Zealand's feed anyway. You can see with that Australian defence, out in centrefield, one Australian comes up really quickly. They are forcing New Zealand to use the impasse. They are in control and know what to do. Nice ball. Australian defence looks good. They cut down Williams. Outcomes are defence again. The past goes out of play. She is creating doubts though, Williams, and the Australian minds with the ability to offload the ball in the tackle. MissEd chance they are. She's had a couple of flicked balls out the back, a la Sonny Bill. She is dangerous. Can New Zealand retrieve posession? Have we had a substitute for Australia? Hot work now. The defence is going to need to be accurate, and it is there. A couple of really good hits. Goss directing play. Outcomes New Zealand and centrefield now, Very good play, Portia Woodman. On attack but defensive qualities in Woodman again. Portia Woodman with the turnover at the breakdown, winning the penalty. Michaela Blyde! Second try, New Zealand. Enjoy this because the first half is coming to an end. This came from the big hit earlier from Niall Williams. Really good work to get the ball free. A lovely pass which found Michaela Blyde. She turns it into towards the post. Gayle Broughton off the bench. She's done this a lot. She has the ability to go left or right. We haven't seen Michaela Blyde too much in the final. But she has a magical touch. The halftime hooter going in the distance. Conversion attempt is over. It is halftime here. It is New Zealand leading Australia. Welcome back. The second half is almost it to begin. The first gold medal to be handed out at the Commonwealth games and women's sevens history. I'm sure New Zealand would have said start at zero, Take no account that you're up by 12. Be alert and go into this half as if you are starting a match. This Australian team is the best in the world. They know what they are like. They will fight. They just haven't had a lot of ball, have they, John? Danger time for New Zealand. The Australians are inside the 22. Great work at the breakdown by Williams. New Zealand will just have to keep their heads here. Goss... Broughton will play half. Player behind their own goal line. Woodman... big numbers here. If they can work it out to the left. He come the chases for New Zealand. Awkward ball and gained. There might've been a knock on their. There was. There was pace there. It went green. Unfortunately, the referee spotted it. (CHUCKLES) That is good. That is confident work behind their own goal line. Australia have got within an ace of scoring. Brilliant defence by Woodman. We don't see much kicking and sevens. That was a good kick that has taken New Zealand down to the 10 m mark in Australian's territory. Australian ball. Portia Woodman is off. Interesting call. Hang on. You guys hold it. Australia needs to score twice. Crouch. Find. Set. Australia bring it left. They are looking to work the New Zealand defence across to the side. New Zealand defence has to get scrambling across. Chasing was Baker. Green is having a big game. Escapes. What a chase! Brilliant defence. Desperation tackle and a penalty. Well, Michaela Blyde, you might look on that is one of the determining, defining points in this game. Grit and determination from a Kiwis. Blight has this uncanny knack of turning up in the right place at the right time. Just held on to the bootlaces of the threatening Emma. She is very fast. Michaela Blyde is outstanding. New Zealand have had the line attacked. It hasn't been breached at all. Take a bow, Michaela Blyde. That will rock the Aussies confidence, if they had any left. The other thing is that it will keep the Kiwis confidence going. They need to win this line out. Retain possession for another minute. Just keep the Australian survey. Bad throw. Australia are in for the try. Yes, they are. Cherry gets it. Again, we see how crucial those lineouts, the restart are. Whether it is 15 or sevens. It looked as though things are a little confused. Emily cherry is in for Australia's first try. And they are back. Great work by the runner. While I said bad throw, I always am annoyed because the hooker is not the only person involved. There are jumpers and lifters. Absolutely. I take that back. Two minutes to go. New Zealand need to claim the restart. Woodman is back on their. Lifting Sarah Goss. It is just a matter of patients now. When you are leading, you face it differently as to when you are chasing. Australian defence is up. Isolated and knocks it on. Back to Australia. Here we go. Australia needed try to draw level and convert it to win. And there it goes! What a mistake by New Zealand! When all they really needed to do was retain possession. She tried to play the ball and to herself and knocked it forward. She might well has won this game for Australia. Good work. The conversion has to go over but it hasn't. Dear oh dear. A minute to play. Some joy there. At 12 all in theN not so much joy. I'm still trying to work out how that conversion was missed. It was pretty much out in front. Crucial restart. Calmness is required. Yes, patience is needed. She has played a crucial role in this game, Michaela Blyde. No offload attempted. (HOOTER BLARES) and the mistake comes from Woodman and the black ferns. It is a penalty to Australia. The Australians have tapped. Can New Zealand hold on? This crowd... And the Australians have decided to kick the ball out and go to extra time. Well, was that a tactic? When you're in a position like that, I would have thought they would try to win it. We go into extra time. (CHUCKLES) She didn't know, I think. Locked up at 12 all. The way in that extra time, gold-medal match. 12 all after regulation time. Every play now crucial. Australia with the early possession. They won the toss. Good covering tackle by Michaela Blyde. Hold it, hold it! Woodman so dangerous. Who can make a break here for the Kiwis? Michaela Blyde has been brilliant. Did that go forward? Yup. Woodman into the hands of Fitzpatrick. Could be costly. Fitzpatrick subbed. Australia ball. They fought back from 12 nil down at halftime. Two errors by New Zealand. They capitalise on them. Missed the conversion and then it kicked the ball out when the full-time whistle went to go to extra time When they had posession. Good spot tackle. The Australians will earn the penalty. Here come the Aussies. Drops the cut ball. New Zealand get the turnover. They must take advantage of having Posession now. This is nerve jangling stuff. These players do not usually make these errors. The crowd is tense as green drops it. 12 all. Extra time. Crouch, bind, set. Golden point. Brazier finds Broughton. No risks. Great drive over the top. A knock on again. Brilliant work there by Pelite. They have done well, the Australians. Very good work defensively from the Australians. Some extra time. The first period of extra time. The golden point. First score will win the gold medal. Re-meeting of the Olympic final. Green has it. Green get through one but cannot knock over Bourton. Here is the woman who kicked the ball out at full-time. Now one-on-one. Woodsman chases, watches for the past. Someone must get the inside ball! Someone must! Again, outstanding chasing, This time by Williams. A penalty by Niall again. Second time in the final they have dug deep for the ball and was awarded the penalty. Look at these players out on their feet. Brilliant. Williams dragging Australia down and then working hard for the ball. A match Saver. 31 seconds in the first extra time about. They should be out on their feet. 30 degrees within the stadium. This is the first lineout since the one that's Australia score the first try. Better this time. Better executed. Broughton. Again Australia work the breakdown. Fortunately for New Zealand, they get the penalty. (CROWD BOOS) a lot of the crowd particularly those in that yellow jersey... They are not happy with that call. The extra time hooter has sounded. Can we see a miracle here? She set up play well all afternoon, Sarah Goss. Risky play near the touchline. Good defence, Australia. New Zealand going backwards. Brazier. Away from the 22. Up to was a halfway line. Where is the support? Kelly Brazier. She is going! New Zealand has the gold! An 80 m try by Kelly Brazier. That tenacious, tired New Zealand team has the gold medal. I said it would take a sevens miracle. Look what happened. Kelly Brazier from the ends of the earth. She didn't expect to have to run that. She looked and looked and there was no one there. Not a black jersey within passing range. Having kicked the ball out at full-time, thinking that Australia was ahead, They go to extra time, And New Zealand win iy For the wonderful try, breathtaking try, long range try. She has just written herself into New Zealand rugby folklore. The crowd is gone silent. The Kiwis are ecstatic. What a wonderful match And which New Zealand were up by 12 nil, Level at 12 all at full-time. They have gone ahead and won the New Zealand sevens title. Gold-medal to New Zealand. What an unbelievable win for the New Zealand women's sevens team. Here is that try again. She ran about 80 m to score. To beat Australia in the gold medal match. Just superb stuff. Portia Woodman's try in the first half and Michaela Blyde tried saving tackle. Brilliant. How your nerves New Zealand? I hope they not too frayed because there is another gold medal match just around the corner. Can New Zealand make it to from two? Let's head back to the park now. I think we have caught our breath from the women's final in time For the gold medal play-off between the two old rivals. Fiji and New Zealand. Tim Mikkelson leads at the New Zealand team. Jerry Tuwai, the Fijian captain on the left. Can the New Zealand sevens men make it 15 gold medals? Ladies and gentlemen the national anthems of New Zealand and Fiji. ('GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND' PLAYS) ('GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND' PLAYS) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) ('GOD BLESS FIJI' PLAYS) ('GOD BLESS FIJI' PLAYS) ('GOD BLESS FIJI' PLAYS) (PLAYERS SING) (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) Plenty of emotion in both of those national anthems. Here is the New Zealand lineup. Kurt Baker will be along with Mikkelsen the most experienced player. He is on the bench. The starting lineup for Fiji. We know what a great skipper Jerry Tuwai been. The site is not ranked the best in the world for nothing . They are the one constant across the history of sevens. New Zealand are looking to bury some demons from Glasgow and four years ago . Can they won Commonwealth games gold? (WHISTLE BLOWS) We are underway. New Zealand have early possession. Good start by the New Zealand black sevens. Fiji will provide muscle at the breakdown. New Zealand won't be able to leave it undefended. Isolation will be absolutely disastrous. They are doing it well here. Bring it to the halfway. Mikkelsen looking for the long pass. It finds its target. Spot tackles from the Fijians are so dangerous. They can provide a little bit of an opening for New Zealand. Brilliant step! The first try to New Zealand and the gold medal play-off. Scott Curry, I think it was picked up. Bang! Well, he left the Fijian skipper for dead in that particular move. New Zealand sevens are always on the lookout for someone with either/or both explosive pace and stepping ability, Someone who can read the pLay well. That little stepdown sums up why both rugby league and rugby union both chased Nanai Seturo with vigour. There will be a turnover. Mikkelsen applauds. Such an experienced player. He was holding up two of the Fijians by himself. The referee called an early. Smart play by the New Zealand captain. Great attacking chance here. Number two is on the side of the scrum for Fiji. Tuwai watches. The pass is a good one. Instantly switch back to the mid of the field. There is the support. This is Mikkelsen up towards the 22. Dixon... Curry. Patient play by the New Zealanders. A lot of ball movement early from New Zealand. He is still going. Oh, my word! What a try! Absolutely brilliant! I think he just about the whole Fijian team! He was waiting to be hit. Here they come. Steps and then there is still so much work to be done. It was slow motion. That is a stunner. That was through six of the seven Fijians. Wow. The benches happy. The women's team are watching on the sidelines. They will be very happy. A converted try. What a start by New Zealand. Fiji have just not had possession. Not totally unexpected but in a final like this against Fiji, it is a start That will be gratefully accepted. Now it is a matter of just watching these Fijians Try to get back into the game. A few mistakes creeping in under pressure. This is the same team that played in Hong Kong last week. You have to wonder if this is taking its toll on them. Let's not write them off. They can be down 14 nil and end up winning 30. The way New Zealand has started, they have retained possession which has been impressive here. Regan Ware, can you do it again? There will be a stop here. The New Zealand benches up and having a look at this. At first glance, it looked like a forearm. Step away, please. He did keep the ball in play, I think. It was something after. The ball flicked up here and it is the next bit of action here. Cleaned out without the ball for a start. That happens. That is Dixon flat on his back. Initial contact is here. Thinking yellow card. He has been cautioned and yellow card I think was the call from the referee. Just not what the Fijians need with a minute 13 to play. He'll miss the rest of the first half plus. In the meantime, dangerous. Time back on. Two minutes in the bin for the player. The New Zealand coaches quickly on his feet, Appealing to the officials. We are down to 50 seconds to go. New Zealand have a handy lead. They would love to go to the break with another, wouldn't they? Smart play. Set move from the line out. Nicely played there by Curry. Ware is really proving a handful. What a great offload! Brilliant pass! Regan Ware on the left-wingers and. The referee will check the grounding, I think. Brilliant play from them. He threw the attacker off again. This will be a close call. I thought he would have gone into the corner. It is a knock on. The separation was there. No try. Knock on. Unfortunate for the New Zealand team. That would have put them up 19 nil. The ability to throw the attacker off him. Then we saw the step again. They will run it from here. (HOOTER BLARES) turnover again. Can't keep it in. The hooter has sounded. It is half time in this gold-medal match between New Zealand and Fiji. Kiwis are leading 14 points to nil. They will be kicking themselves though, there were opportunities there in the first half. They could easily have been up 19 or 21 nil. Koroi to get underway. Both teams making a few changes. Both coaches have plenty to say at the break. The defence really has been outstanding. Nanai-Seturo has done a lot of defence of work, an attack he has been brilliant. Great pass. Staggers to the line. Can't quite... He was out. Great defence, Scott Curry. Grit and determination from the New Zealand co-captain. Look at this from Scott Curry. That is desperation. That is desire. Not out of trouble yet though, the New Zealanders. Taken by Curry. New Zealand on the line. Breakout now. Places that nicely. Oh! There is space here. Fiji defence coming across. He finds that gap again. The Fijians are required watching very closely. There wasn't time for the offload and they might regret that. Back to the halfway. Now Fiji on attack again. The pace out wide... Again the defence. This time from Mikkelson. Tim Mikkelson, superb again over the ball. Receives a penalty for New Zealand. Hot conditions start to bite. Great defence there from New Zealand, scrambling defence. This New Zealand team is pumped. Dylan Collier is on. He came on in that tail end of the first half. If you just tuned in, the woman sevens are the champions for 2018. Winning and golden point extra time, Kelly Brazier, length of the field try. That will be watched thousands of times. Quite a few hundred times from her, I would say. In that woman's final, Nathan-Wong was due to start. Our understanding is that she injured her neck in the warmup before kickoff. We hope all is well full Nathan-Wong. The New Zealand team will have more possession. Clark Laidlaw using his bench. CROWD CHANTS: Defence. We think that is a Fiji chance, not a Kiwi chant. That will be the Australians. They sense that these are the two best teams around. There will be disappointed that Australia is not in the final. Strength of the Fijians. Three of them in there. Nanai-Seturo is being subbed. I think what we have now is the sense that Fiji are going to muscle And a big defensive fresh defence might be acquired. Nanai-Seturo has done an amazing job. Kurt Baker is on, good man in the sort of situation. Experienced. Good pressure at scrum. Put that down to the shove. Fiji and players looking a bit concerned here. The clock is ticking isn't it? Yup. They don't tend to show any emotion. But they know now that three minutes, 20 to play, they have to score 3 times to win this. They are doing everything right at the moment apart from the error there, but they have New Zealand inside the half. They will be ready for the scrum this time. New Zealand ball. Fiji might return the pressure. Andrew Knewstubb switches it right and left. Up to a halfway line, still going! Great defence from the Fiji captain. Tim Mikkelson. Scott Curry has been outstanding today. An advantage being played by the referee, so New Zealand could get the penalty here. A penalty to New Zealand. I think time is running out for the Fijians. Just remember what you said. Two minutes 30 is a long time. Who would have picked double gold in the last day? Not many people would have picked the woman were amongst the favourites. The men's team... they were the out and out favourites. Fiji, the defending champions, the gold medallist at Rio. New Zealand playing a measured game. Not many errors. The clock ticks down. I think New Zealand are safe. Andrew Knewstubb. I think time is running out. Curry has played well. New Zealand has another penalty. Baker runs in quickly. Tell his team to calm and soak up more time. This would be a great redemption story if the New Zealand side wins gold. A lot of players from this team in Glasgow. Bitter disappointment four years ago. Their coach, we had that wonderful Period, Seymour, all those sorts of players, and there has been a fall away as other teams have improved. This is what Clark Laidlaw has been targeting. This is what we're after. Quick hands. It leaves the defence open. They don't need to score, they just need to hold. More possession for New Zealand. 30 seconds to play. Gold medal should be in the bag. It is in the bag. For New Zealand, this has been a stunning performance. Two great tries, and then at the half... Last warning. How many times over the years have we seen Fiji held to a nought? Great defending . And we saw it from the woman as well. The men have gone on and they are desperate. They said, we will leave nothing to chance. We will throw everything at it. Scott Curry goes off. He damaged his hand in that last tackle. He can smile through the pain. The crowd might boo. But in the same situation, every team would do this. Let's go please. Andrew Knewstubb trying to wind the clock down. He will have the final say of this final. There is the final hooter. Kurt Baker, the veteran who hoots the ball across the touchline. It is double gold for New Zealand on the Gold Coast. Through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows that this New Zealand team has gone through, this truly is the high point and sevens rugby. Gold medal for the men over Fiji. It has been a double gold. A wonderful performance for New Zealand. Commonwealth champions. Men's and women's gold medallists for New Zealand. A proud moment for Clark Laidlaw, one of rugby's great names out of Scotland. He is very much a Kiwi now. Not much success pre-series, but they were building towards the comm games, and they have achieved the goal of gold. Earlier, if you missed it , the New Zealand team are also gold medallists, beating Australia in a stunning final after extra time. This is the men's result. Gold medallistS for 2018. A very happy New Zealand side. Regan Ware there. You mentioned Curry and Mikkelson, and Baker in particular as the three senior players who have had their share of injuries. They have gone through this down period. They have given their hearts and souls to this New Zealand sevens team. Watch the step from Nanai-Seturo. Bang, gone. First try New Zealand. Only two tries in the game. Regan Ware ran through seven of the Fijian sevens. He did get over the line later the first staff, but that was it. The final here from Baker. What an unbelievable way to finish New Zealand's competition. Back-to-back goals and the woman sevens and the men sevens. This afternoon is just superb. It is just about time for one news. Don't forget, at 7 o'clock Toni Street returns. Of course, we finish the night with the closing ceremony. Right now, here is one news with the latest on the Syrian crisis. 'PRECISE, OVERWHELMING AND EFFECTIVE' THAT'S HOW THE US HAS DESCRIBED TARGETED ATTACKS ON ALLEGED CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITIES IN SYRIA. RUSSIA HAS CALLED THE STRIKES ILLEGAL. MORE GOLD AT THE GAMES, AND AN EXTRA TIME THRILLER AS THE WOMEN'S SEVENS GO DOWN TO THE WIRE WITH OLD RIVALS AUSTRALIA. AND BRINGING SOME FEATHERED FRIENDS BACK TO HEALTH. WHY A WAVE OF HUNGRY LITTLE BLUE PENGUINS IS WASHING UP ON THE NORTH ISLAND. CAPTIONS BY JOHN GIBBS AND CAMERON GRIGG CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 KIA ORA, GOOD EVENING. HE'S DECLARED IT 'MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.' US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS MADE THE BOAST AFTER THE US JOINED WITH FRANCE AND THE UK FOR AN ATTACK ON THREE ALLEGED CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITIES IN THE CAPITAL DAMASCUS. AND FURTHER NORTH IN HOMS, PICTURES ARE NOW EMERGING OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED. SYRIA'S CLOSEST ALLY, RUSSIA, SAYS THE ATTACKS ARE UNLAWFUL AND AGGRESSIVE. US CORRESPONDENT REBECCA WRIGHT HAS MORE FROM NEW YORK. (COUNTING DOWN IN FRENCH) A SHORT, SHARP STRIKE, SENDING A MESSAGE TO BASHAR AL ASSAD. FRANCE, BRITAIN AND THE US COMBINING FORCES AND LAUNCHING 105 MISSILES INTO SYRIA. INITIAL INDICATIONS ARE THAT WE ACCOMPLISHED OUR MILITARY OBJECTIVES WITHOUT MATERIAL INTERFERENCE FROM SYRIA. I'D USE THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS MISSION - PRECISE, OVERWHELMING AND EFFECTIVE. IT WAS ALSO MUCH MORE LIMITED THAN ANTICIPATED. THE US AND ITS ALLIES TAKING OUT THREE CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITIES, LIKE THIS MILITARY RESEARCH CENTRE NORTH OF DAMASCUS. BUT IT WAS A BALANCING ACT ` PUNISHING THE ASSAD REGIME WITHOUT PROVOKING ITS KEY ALLY - RUSSIA. MOSCOW HASN'T RETALIATED MILITARILY, BUT IT HAS CONDEMNED THE ACTION AT THE UN. TRANSLATOR: THE US AND ITS ALLIES CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW. TRANSLATOR: I SAY THAT YOU ARE LIARS, YOU ARE SPOILERS, YOU ARE HYPOCRITES. AND THERE WAS DEFIANCE ON THE STREETS OF DAMASCUS, AND FROM BASHAR AL ASSAD, TWEETING A VIDEO OF HIMSELF CASUALLY STROLLING TO THE OFFICE, SAYING HE REMAINED STEADFAST. BUT THE US WARNING HIM ANY FURTHER USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS WOULD PROMPT MORE ACTION. THE UNITED STATES IS LOCKED AND LOADED. WHEN OUR PRESIDENT DRAWS A RED LINE, OUR PRESIDENT ENFORCES THE RED LINE. PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD A RATHER MORE UNFORTUNATE LINE, TWEETING 'MISSION ACCOMPLISHED,' THE SAME FAMOUS LAST WORDS FROM PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH WHEN HE PREMATURELY DECLARED VICTORY IN IRAQ. THAT BATTLE RAGED ON FOR YEARS. THOUGH THIS TIME, US AND ITS ALLIES HAVE BEEN CLEAR ` THEY HAVE NO APPETITE FOR A GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN SYRIA. THIS WAS NOT ABOUT INTERFERING IN A CIVIL WAR, AND IT WAS NOT ABOUT REGIME CHANGE. IF YOU START TO NORMALISE THE USE OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS, THEN YOU REALLY RISK THAT CHEMICAL WEAPONS WILL BE USED MORE AND MORE. WITH BRITISH AND FRENCH WARPLANES ALREADY BACK HOME, THE ALLIES HOPE THIS IS A ONE-OFF, AND THAT THEIR MESSAGE TO ASSAD WAS DETERRENCE ENOUGH. REBECCA WRIGHT, 1 NEWS, NEW YORK. TO THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES NOW AND ALL THE DRAMA SAVED FOR THE LAST DAY. A FANTASTIC GOLD MEDAL WIN FROM THE WOMEN'S SEVENS FINAL, AND FROM THE MEN'S. AND A MAJOR UPSET IN THE NETBALL, NO MEDAL FOR THE SILVER FERNS, AND ENGLAND GET GOLD AFTER BEATING AUSTRALIA IN THE FINAL. WE'LL GET TO THE GOLD COAST SHORTLY, AT THE MEDAL TALLY. NEW ZEALAND NOW HAS 15 GOLDS, 16 SILVERS AND 15 BRONZES, TAKING OUR TOTAL TO 45. THAT BUMPS US UP ABOVE SOUTH AFRICA TO FIFTH IN THE MEDAL TALLY.
Subjects
  • Commonwealth Games