The sporting stories that made the news over the past 12 months.
July 4
'Kicked everyone's ass': US media reacts to SVG's stunning NASCAR victory
Kiwi Shane van Gisbergen's stunning debut NASCAR win has captured the attention of motorheads across the world, but none more so than the United States.
Van Gisbergen became just the first driver in 60 years to win his maiden race, leaving his competitors and Chicago fans in awe.
Such was the gulf in speed, his third-fastest lap was still quicker than any other driver on the day, as he surged to a famous victory.
While Supercars fans are used to seeing the flying Kiwi cross the winning line, his performance earned rave reviews in the US.
Boy, did this tourist show the locals a thing or two about driving
By Tom Bowles, CBS
"New Zealander Shane Van Gisbergen paid America a visit on July 4th weekend, the recipient of a one-race NASCAR Cup Series vacation out in Chicago.
The Australian V8 Supercars Champion, affectionately known as SVG, rewrote history by capturing the first NASCAR street race in the sport's modern era (1972-present). He's the first road course 'ringer' to come in and beat NASCAR's top competition at a right-turn track since Mark Donohue in 1973."
July 15
'Little Matariki baby': Warriors star Johnson, wife Kayla welcome second child
NZ Warriors Shaun Johnson has something more to celebrate this week, with the arrival of his second child - Sachi James Johnson.
Warriors fans will breathe a collective sigh of relief, with the birth seeming to clear the way for the star half to line up against his old Cronulla Sharks outfit on Sunday.
"Our little Matariki baby meeting her big sister," Johnson and wife/former Silver Ferns netballer Kayla announced on Instagram. "Born at 5:26pm, July 14, 2023.
"We love you."
July 16
Watch: All Blacks captain Cane suffers injury scare in win over Springboks
While the All Blacks can reflect with satisfaction on their post-to-post Rugby Championship victory over world champions South Africa at Mt Smart, the sight of captain Sam Cane sidelined by a neck injury at halftime will provide some concern, with a World Cup looming.
The openside flanker showed out, as his team dominated the Springboks through the opening 20 minutes of the contest, but did not emerge from the tunnel for the second half, replaced by understudy Dalton Papali'i, after he was victim of a high tackle from 'Boks captain Eben Etzebeth.
Coincidentally, the first half ended with a similar challenge from South African lock Lood de Jager on All Blacks No.8 Ardia Savea, who was promoted to the captaincy with Cane's departure.
"[Coach Ian Foster] made the call in the end," said Cane. "It was probably a bit precautionary, but I've got the coming week to get it right and hopefully it's not too bad."
July 17
'He's been outstanding': Foster updates on All Blacks hopeful Stevenson
All Blacks hopeful Shaun Stevenson will leave the team before their Bledisloe Cup trip to Melbourne in a fortnight, despite impressing in training.
Stevenson was called up to the Rugby Championship squad as injury cover for winger Mark Telea, but looks unlikely to make his test debut against Australia.
With Telea back to full health and Leicester Fainga'nuku on track to feature at Melbourne, the Chiefs star has been let go.
Coach Ian Foster reluctantly reveals Stevenson will depart the squad for good, but is desperate to keep him involved in the future.
"Shaun's been outstanding and has gone really well. We'll be looking at whatever opportunity we can to keep him involved."
July 20
Ferns frenzy! New Zealand shock Norway with historic win in World Cup opener
New Zealand have launched their Women's Football World Cup campaign in stunning fashion with a 1-0 win over highly favoured Norway in the tournament opener at Auckland.
The win is the first for New Zealand - both men and women - at the sport's showpiece event, breaking a 32-year drought in a moment that will go down in the annals of NZ sporting folklore.
In the match's decisive moment, outstanding striker Hannah Wilkinson steered home a pristine cross from Jacqui Hand to give the Football Ferns the lead in the 48th minute and send the 42,137 packed into Eden Park - a record attendance for a football match in New Zealand - into hysterics.
Ria Percival had a chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 88th minute, but struck the post from the penalty, after a review for handball went New Zealand's way.
Adesanya blasts du Plessis for pulling out of UFC title bout, calls out new opponent
Israel Adesanya may have to wait to settle his grudge with Dricus du Plessis, with injury poised to rule the South African out of their proposed headline bout in Australia.
After du Plessis' shock second-round win over Robert Whittaker in their unofficial No.1 contender fight at UFC 290 this month, 'The Last Stylebender' entered the Octagon to square off with his newest contender in a racially charged square-off to set the stage in explosive fashion for a middleweight title showdown at Sydney's UFC 293 on September 10.
Although the UFC had yet to announce the bout, it was widely expected to fill the marquee slot in the promotion's first Australasian event since 2020.
In an expletive-laden rant posted on social media, Adesanya reveals a "sore foot" will rule Du Plessis out of contention for the short turnaround title fight.
"I don't even know how to start this but, Dricus DuP*ssy, you f**king b*tch," Adesanya said in a video posted to Twitter.
July 22
Raiders coach Stuart fumes over costly refereeing decision in defeat to Warriors
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has unleashed over what he claims was a clearcut penalty try during his side's 21-20 golden-point defeat to NZ Warriors.
With the Warriors clinging to a two-point lead towards the end of the first half, Raiders half Jamal Fogarty laid what seemed a certain try on a platter with a chipkick for Sebastian Kris.
Before the fullback could get to the turf, Warriors wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak emerged from the shadows to knock the ball out of his hands and deny the Raiders the four-pointer.
Referee Todd Smith ruled it a clean strip, but referred the matter to the bunker, due to a suggestion there may have been some contact to Kris' head, as Watene-Zelezniak made his save, but it also deemed the strip clean and play continued.
"So many people were probably wondering why we even came over here this weekend, because they didn't give us a hope in hell in regards to winning this game and it should never have got to golden point," said Stuart.
"In regards to that decision before halftime with Kris' no try - that was a high shot. It should have been a penalty try."
Watch: Ex-Black Ferns Seven star Nathan-Wong scores on NRLW debut
Former Black Ferns Sevens star Tyla Nathan-Wong made a successful start to her NRLW career, scoring on debut, as her St George Dragons fell to a 32-16 defeat against Newcastle Knights.
Nathan-Wong, 29, was released from her NZ Rugby commitments earlier this year to head across the Tasman and play rugby league.
Starting at five-eighth against Newcastle - the 2022 NRLW winners - Nathan-Wong looked at home in her new surroundings.
Playing alongside Kiwi Ferns halfback Raecene McGregor - the reigning Dally M Female Player of the Year - Nathan-Wong scored one try, made one linebreak, threw one linebreak assist and kicked one conversion, to go with 13 tackles in 80 minutes.
'I'm ready': Tuivasa-Sheck confirms centre switch for Warriors return
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has ended speculation over his positional future, when he returns to NZ Warriors, confirming he's likely to slot into centre in 2024.
After struggling to adapt to rugby union, Tuivasa-Sheck, 30, has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors from next season, but has found the team he left in 2021 is much different to the one he'll come back to.
This season, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has done everything to cement himself as the Warriors' go-to in the No.1 jersey and has been publicly backed by coach Andrew Webster to carry on as fullback next season.
"From the chat, I'm going in as a centre," Tuivasa-Sheck told the Morning Shift podcast. "I'm going in as a centre for pre-season and then we'll see what happens from there.
"I'm just front-line now. When I'm fullback, I'm just coasting from side to side.
"This time, I'm leading the kick-chase. I'm making sure I'm getting the edge [defence], I'm owning my edge."
July 26
'Brilliance, precision, pace': World media reacts to All Blacks masterclass
The All Blacks' exquisite display against the Springboks at Auckland has sent shockwaves across the rugby globe, as the three-time world champions forced those who had written them off as World Cup contenders to sit up and take notice.
They ran in four tries against the shellshocked South Africans, en route to a 35-20 victory that sent an ominous warning to their rivals leading into the sport's showpiece event France in September.
Understandably, some of the reaction from scribes across the world has been very enthusiastic.
New Zealand underline World Cup credentials, blitzing reigning champions South Africa
Charles Richardson - The Telegraph UK
"There is little untoward about New Zealand emerging as victors in Auckland - a city in which the All Blacks have not lost since 1994, a now gargantuan 57-match unbeaten streak - but the voracious manner in which they blitzed and bashed the world-champion Springboks will have made the rest of the global game stand up and take note with the World Cup less than two months away."
July 28
Why McKenzie was overlooked for All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup clash
Damian McKenzie still has a place in a first-choice All Blacks side, despite missing selection for the last two test matches, says coach Ian Foster.
After a standout season for the Chiefs in the No.10 jersey, McKenzie's Super Rugby performances were rewarded with a start at first-five in the All Blacks' season-opening win over Argentina.
Despite an initial wobble - seeing an early clearance nearly charged down by Pablo Matera - McKenzie's display put him in the conversation to be Foster's main man in the No.10 jersey.
Fast forward three weeks and McKenzie hasn't donned the black jersey since.
"It's actually no reflection on Damian to be honest," said Foster. "It's the fact that it's a chance for us to keep looking at some of the other options."
July 29
Spain reportedly abandon Palmerston North World Cup base due to boredom
Spain's women's team have reportedly left their Palmerston North Football World Cup training base and relocated to Wellington, citing boredom.
Nicknamed 'La Roja', Spain have been based at Palmerston North for this year's tournament, co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, staying at Massey University.
With both of their games so far played at Wellington and Auckland, Spain have upped sticks before their final match of the groupstage to move to the capital, where they will face Japan on Monday.
According to ESPN, Spain have shifted to Wellington amid boredom setting in among the squad.
"The lack of things to do in the area has taken its toll," said correspondent Sam Marsden.
July 30
'Same old black story': Australian media reacts to All Blacks retaining Bledisloe
Two decades and counting.
The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 21st year, after a 38-7 win over the winless Wallabies at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In his second stint as Australia coach, Eddie Jones has yet to taste victory in 2023, with three straight losses in the Rugby Championship. Their woes were compounded by another heavy defeat to rivals New Zealand, and the result hasn't gone unnoticed across the trans-Tasman.
Tiny green shoots, but the same old black story
By Iain Payten, The Sydney Morning Herald
The All Blacks blew out the candles on the 21st year of holding the Bledisloe Cup after fighting off a spirited early showing from the Wallabies and racing away to a 38-7 win in Melbourne on Saturday night.
'That's my fault': Jones holds hands up as All Blacks outclass Australia
Even as his Wallabies slipped to a 0-3 record to start 2023, coach Eddie Jones isn't hiding.
For the third week in a row, Jones, 63, must return to the drawingboard, after a performance that saw his side finish second best. As the Rugby Championship concluded, his Australia finished bottom of the pile.
A first-up defeat to South Africa, weakened by sending players to New Zealand in advance, followed by an added-time loss to Argentina was bookended with another blow at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
"It's a terrible result, I take full responsibility for it," said Jones. "I'm pleased the way the players applied themselves in the first 20 [minutes] and the first bit of the second half.
"We had them under pressure for a long period in the second half, but got no points out of it.
"I'm so proud of our players, [with] the way they've gone about their work. They've worked really hard."
July 31
'Not usually like me': Scott Barrett reveals why he shushed Wallabies halfback
All Blacks lock Scott Barrett has explained his out-of-character shushing of replacement Wallabies halfback Nic White during their 38-7 Bledisloe Cup victory at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Barrett put in arguably his best-ever performance in black, inspiring New Zealand to their third straight win in 2023 and another Rugby Championship title.
His bone-crunching tackle on Tate McDermott saw Shannon Frizell score a try in the opening minutes and set the tone, but his exchanges with White told the story.
Despite being on the receiving end of an All Blacks onslaught, like most halfbacks, White wasn't going to go away quietly. With his appeals falling on deaf ears, Barrett was captured gesturing to White to shush, as well as putting his finger on the halfback's lips following a ruck cleanout.
"I guess, in the heat of the battle, there were a few words about holding him at the breakdown," said Barrett. "I probably cleaned him out a couple of times earlier, so it wasn't the first time he had complained to the referee."
Newshub Sport wishes you a Merry Christmas... catch you in the New Year!