All Blacks v England will be one of the highlights of the year. Photo / Getty
All Blacks v England will be one of the highlights of the year. Photo / Getty
After a mixed bag sporting year in 2017, Chris Rattue highlights the events he's most looking forward to in 2018.
All Blacks v England (London, November 11)
War of the Worlds. 'Extremely highly anticipated' springs to mind. The All Blacks will have flown in from Japan, England will have just played a Twickenham test against South Africa. This will trump the 2017 Lions tour, by far. England coach Eddie Jones will take care of the pre-match publicity, not that any boosting is required. This is the biggest non-World Cup rugby clash for decades and with major ramifications for the 2019 World Cup.
Joseph Parker v Anthony Joshua (Cardiff?)
Sorry Joseph Parker, but it is Anthony Joshua who gives this fight most of the credibility. Officially, there is no undisputed champion of the world. But Joshua deserves that tag.
Officially this will be a contest between two belt holders. Unofficially, it is Parker challenging for Joshua's crown. This fight will stop this nation and could pip the All Blacks-England game in interest, although boxing has lightweight credibility and heavyweight pay-for-view charges.
FIFA World Cup (Russia, June/July)
The four yearly event where the world gets to laugh at English football, whether it be via their humiliating defeats, goalkeeping howlers, penalty shootout mishaps or refereeing cock-ups. At least they will be in Russia, which is more than can be said for powerhouses Italy and Holland. So take that, you England knockers. Eight teams have won the 20 tournaments but Belgium could make it nine. Kiwi sports fans might transfer their allegiance to Australia (gulp) as the brave little battlers in a tough group alongside France, Peru and Denmark.
Supercars Championship (Australasia, March - November)
Super Aussie Jamie Whincup took the chequered flag yet again in 2017, but Kiwis Scott McLaughlin, Fabian Coulthard and 2016 winner Shane van Gisbergen led the chase sustaining great anticipation for the 2018 season. Added to that, the highly regarded Richie Stanaway becomes a full time driver for the first time. If the F1 procession isn't your thing, try a bit of this.
Formula One (worldwide, March - November)
Brendon Hartley. Photo / Getty
The arrival of Brendon Hartley has given F1 a whole new dimension for Kiwi fans, with a perfect starting point in Melbourne. On the other hand, interest will tank if Hartley and Toro Rosso, who will be using new Honda engines, can't move up the field.
Kiwis v Kangaroos (October, somewhere over here)
That's the rumour - yes indeed, a Kiwis test against Australia in New Zealand. That's a rare thing for some reason, probably linked to money.
Tennis Grand slams (January - September)
The grand old men and the grand old slams. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer go into the season ranked one and two — what's wrong with the kids these days? Anyway, one of the greatest rivalries in the history of sport lives on. They've even outlasted that young whippersnapper Novak Djokovic, whose 2018 prospects rate from great to hopeless depending on who you believe.
Manchester City (until May)
Manchester City celebrate one of their many victories this season. Photo / Getty
Pep Guardiola has got his team purring along, playing some of the best football ever seen in the English Premier League. Worth the watch, if you can put the obscene amounts of money in football out of your mind. Fairy tales are not just about the underdogs.
Would have got top billing years ago, but it's more a curio now with feel-good potential. It is a chance to get reacquainted with stars Tom Walsh, Valerie Adams, Eliza McCartney et al. Prepare yourself well in advance for plenty of Advance Australia Fair.
Volvo Ocean Race stopover (February/March)
Big seas, big names. And there is something magical about welcoming any yacht after a long sea adventure. This will be the 10th Auckland stopover in 40 years. America's Cup headliners Peter Burling (Team Brunel - Holland) and Blair Tuke (Mapfre - Spain) make up for the lack of a Kiwi entry. The fleet of seven Farr-designed boats, which left Spain in mid-October, should arrive in Auckland in late February.
