Heidi and Mike were fan favorites on Beauty and the Geekand one of the few couples to spark a romance together during their time on the show.
Here we watched their relationship blossom, with the pair sharing a kiss on their first date and Heidi even taking Mike home to meet her family.
Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.
But Mike revealed to 9Entertainment that since they left the show the pair have decided not to continue exploring a romantic connection.
“Things pretty much ended as soon as things ended on the show. We went back and it kind of just ended from there,” he revealed.
“She just said she wasn’t ready to keep things going.”
Heidi and Mike still remain good friends. (Nine)
But despite the pair deciding to end things, the Geek assured that there’s no bad blood between them and that they still talk every day.
“I still love her, but not in the way that everyone wishes. We’re still really good friends and that’s all that matters… as long as I didn’t lose her, I didn’t care,” he said.
Mike and Heidi have even caught up several times since the show ended.
“I’ve been to Melbourne three times since the show ended and I’ve caught up with her every single time, so there’s nothing bad between Heidi and I,” he said.
READMORE:Aaron and Karly reveal their surprising prize money plans after winning Beauty and the Geek 2022
(Nine)
But when asked if he would ever want to get back with the Beauty, Mike revealed that he’s just focusing on himself at the moment. However he didn’t rule out the possibility of it happening later down the track.
Throughout the Beauty and the Geek experience, we watched Mike and Heidi share a romantic connection after the Geek took her on her first-ever date.
I have prepared a romantic fine dining experience for her, and even a hand-written love letter. The date ended with a slow dance and their first kiss.
From there, the couple continued to grow closer, and Heidi even took him home to her family farm during the Life Swap Challenge.
It was a momentous day for Heidi, as it was the first time she took a partner home to meet her family.
But sadly, their on-screen journey came to an end in Episode 9 after they failed to impress with their video skills during the TikTok Challenge.
Despite their Beauty and the Geek journey coming to an end, Mike sees Heidi as a life-long friend.
In Pictures
All of the best Mixer looks from Beauty and the Geek 2022
All of the cast return for the Grand Finale.
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Catch up on the latest episodes of Beauty and the Geek on 9Now.
Australia has suffered a historic three-goal loss to Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games, rocking their gold medal campaign in Birmingham.
The Diamonds had been expected to sail through their Pool A matches and meet the second ranked team in Pool B in the semi finals.
But they coughed up a six-goal lead heading into the final term to suffer their first ever loss to the Sunshine Girls.
A brilliant 47 goals from international superstar Jhaniele Fowler and some remarkable defensive efforts from Shamera Sterling ensured Jamaica nailed a 57-55 win.
Fox Netball’s Catherine Cox said the Diamonds “just shut up shop” in the last quarter as Jamaica ran home with the win.
“Australia couldn’t win the ball back – it was some brilliant defensive work from Jamaica. They really just lifted another level in the fourth quarter,” she said.
Questions will be asked of coach Stacey Marinkovich’s selections, with just Sunday Aryang entering for four minutes in the second term and Sarah Klau coming on to a rejigged defensive line with four minutes remaining in the match.
Gretel Bueta finished the pick of the Diamonds attack, despite being silenced in the final quarter by Sterling, with 36 goals from 39 attempts.
Steph Wood’s night ended with 19 goals at 86%.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
Australia opted to start Gretel Bueta at goal shooter, with Steph Wood and Liz Watson out in front of her. Kate Moloney got the nod at center with Ash Brazill, Jo Weston and Courtney Bruce rounding out the defensive trio.
For Jamaica, Jhaniele Fowler started at GS, with Beckford and Williams at GA and WA respectively. Nicole Dixon-Rochester was center with Super Netball trio Jodi-Ann Ward, Latanya Wilson and Shamera Sterling the starting defenders.
The world’s best shooter started the match with a bang, with five quick goals to open up the first break of the match for Jamaica.
Courtney Bruce kept her West Coast Fever teammate in Fowler as high as she could, but Shanice Beckford was brilliant around the edges to keep feeding from close range.
GAMES WRAP: Aussie men stunned as Titmus, McKeon finish on top in 25-gold blitz
FULL MEDAL TALLY >
Browning finishes 0.06 off a medal! | 00:25
Bruce and Jo Weston got early tips, but it was Jamaica who were able to convert while down the other end the connection to Gretel Bueta just fell away.
“The Diamonds are stunned here,” commentator Sue Gaudion said.
Australia scored just three goals in the opening seven minutes, before Steph Wood went from range and leveled up scores.
A Jodi-Ann Ward intercept gave Jamaica the lead once again as the long ball caught Weston’s eyes down.
“They exposed the Diamonds defense again,” Gaudion said.
A quick double play by Bueta ensured the Aussies took the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first term.
Coach Connie Francis was left less than impressed when the Sunshine Girls threw away a brilliant Sterling intercept.
“But that is the issue – the conversion of those brilliant moments,” commentator Cath Cox said.
By the first break, it was Australia leading by one goal.
The Aussies went unchanged for the second term – the first time this tournament coach Stacey Marinkovich has opted for no changes after a break.
A big Sterling rebound gave Jamaica the first opportunity, but they couldn’t convert as Courtney Bruce’s brilliant hands over disrupted play.
“There’s plenty of feeling out there,” Cox said.
“Courtney Bruce giving the death stare to Beckford.”
The Aussies chanced their luck feeding Bueta with Sterling in hot pursuit but the move continued to pay off.
When Shanice Beckford found the top of the circle, the Sunshine Girls opted for a rare straight ball feed to Fowler.
“On the circle edge, feeding to Fowler – unbeatable,” Cox praised.
A rare mistake by Bueta saw the replay called, but once again Jamaica couldn’t convert as Khadijah Williams was penalized for footwork.
“It’s the simple things letting Jamaica down isn’t it,” Cox said.
Sunday Aryang was introduced at goal defence, joining her Fever teammates Bruce and Fowler in the goal circle.
And she almost had the immediate impact, getting a tip on a high ball to Fowler, but ultimately couldn’t stop the conversion.
Beckford had a brilliant intercept in front of Ash Brazill and suddenly the margin was back to one.
“Connie Francis willing them on,” Gaudion praised.
Wood backed her teammate Bueta when she went with the feed from the transverse, and the Firebird didn’t let her down with beautiful hands.
“The courage to let that go over the best goal keeper in the game… look at that take,” Cox praised.
By half time, it was Australia leading 30-29.
Weston returned to the court as some bad hands by Wood allowed the Sunshine Girls to draw level early in the third.
Jamaica managed to pull down another deflection but once again threw it away in the midcourt.
“That long outlet ball, if they just shortened it up and do one safety ball, I reckon they’d get themselves on the attack,” Cox said.
A rare shooter contact call on Fowler handed Australia the chance to pull away. Sterling’s cheeky pickup when Bueta put the ball down to set the penalty didn’t go unnoticed by the umpire as suddenly the lead was back out to four.
The physicality stepped up in the third, with Brazill getting under the skin of Adean Thomas and sent sprawling into the goal circle off the ball.
Once again, a Ward pick up on the circle edge ended up sailing over Fowler’s head as another turnover was wasted.
A second straight rejection from Sterling was called for obstruction as the crowd started to find their voice.
A misdirected midcourt ball ensured another turnover as the Diamonds extended the lead to six – the biggest of the match.
A strong take by Bueta over Sterling in the dying seconds pushed Australia out to a 46-40 lead at the final change.
Marinkovich went unchanged once again for the final term as Jamaican wing defender Jodi-Ann Ward came through with the deflection to help her side close within three.
Williams’ return at WA lifted the Sunshine Girls’ attack in the final term as they looked to find their rhythm to Fowler once more.
And when Wood couldn’t regather the short ball, and got done for replay, Jhaniele Fowler made the Aussies pay seconds later to close within one goal.
Liz Watson overcooked the lob to Bueta, and remarkably the Sunshine Girls took the lead with eight minutes to play.
“We haven’t seen that this game – that is the pressure. Mistakes like that have been few and far between for the Diamonds,” Cox said.
Despite Jamaican assistant coach Rob Wright pleading with his defenders to shut down Wood’s influence, it was Bueta they silenced as Wood had to step up.
And the Lightning star was up to the challenge with three successive mid-range shots.
Another Diamonds turnover, this time from Weston to her Vixens’ teammate Watson, gave Jamaica a two-goal buffer as injury time was called.
Weston headed to the bench, Bruce pushed out to GD and Sarah Klau was introduced for her first minutes of the night.
When Shamera Sterling came up with the big rejection and regather, Jamaica pushed out the lead with just a minute to play.
And in remarkable scenes, the Sunshine Girls held on in the thrilling final seconds with Shanice Beckford landing the final goal of the match.
In the end, it was Jamaica who claimed the win 57-55.
Tobias Friedrich Moran, accused of murdering his former German backpacker girlfriend, will be released on bail as prosecutors decided not to proceed with a detention application.
The 42-year-old was freed by a magistrate today and can now return to Western Australia from where he was extradited.
Bail conditions stipulate he must report to police three days a week and must not communicate via any encrypted websites.
Tobias Moran, formerly known as Tobias Suckfuel, has been danced but will not be released today. (9News)
Magistrate Margaret Quinn in the Downing Center Local Court earlier on Thursday accepted submissions from Moran’s barrister there was no new evidence connecting him to the murder of Simone Strobel in 2005.
And while the Crown submitted new witness statements taken from people in Germany showed that he lied about the state of their relationship, that evidence was not currently before the court.
The magistrate said evidence showed the couple had been fighting, drinking a lot and perhaps on some drugs about the time of the alleged murder.
“(But) it doesn’t appear in this case to be any direct or indirect evidence connecting him to the offence,” Quinn said.
“It’s not the strongest circumstantial case I have seen.”
German backpacker Simone Strobel was found dead in Lismore in 2005. (9News)
His wife has offered $200,000 in security if he fails to show up in Lismore court when required, while another $250,000 has been offered as an undertaking.
Moran is charged with murdering his then partner and acting with intent to pervert the course of justice between 11pm on February 11, 2005 and 3.30pm the following day.
Police allege Moran suffocated or smothered his girlfriend in a camper van in Lismore and disposed of her body nearby.
Moran reported the school teacher missing before she was found days later 100 meters from the camper van.
Her body was too decomposed for a coroner to determine the cause of death, but it is believed to be asphyxiation.
Tobias Moran, formerly known as Tobias Suckfuel, had been traveling around Australia with Simone Strobel in 2005. (Supplied)
The magistrate disagreed with the Crown’s submission that Moran had not co-operated with police, acknowledging he had refused to show up for an inquest in 2007.
But he had submitted plenty of DNA samples to police, one of which was lost, and most recently put himself forward for extradition, she said.
Police last week confirmed they were communicating with German authorities about two arrest warrants for suspects who had been “persons of interest from the very beginning”.
Moran’s sister Katrin Suckfuel and friend Jens Martin were also traveling with the pair.
Donald Trump’s image as GOP kingmaker wastarnished by several high-profile election losses earlier this year, but Tuesday’s primaries in states like Arizona put the Republican shine back on the former president.
In what’s shaping up to be a clean sweep in Arizona, 11 of Trump’s 12 endorsed candidates won in primaries for US Senate, secretary of state, Congress, state House and state Senate. (Trump’s pick for governor leads in a race that remains too close to call in the battleground state.)
All of those candidates have embraced Trump’s false claims of a stolen 2020 election.
The Arizona wins were a sharp contrast to Georgia’s primaries in May, when most of Trump’s major candidates lost in the swing state as they tried to unseat a governor and secretary of state who had refused to aid in Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results.
While Arizona illustrated the strength of Trump’s influence in the GOP, it wasn’t the only primary state to showcase his power on Tuesday. His preferred candidates dominated him in Missouri and Kansas, as well as Michigan, where one of the 10 members of Congress who voted for his second impeachment was defeated by a Trump-backed challenger.
“Trump is still the 800-pound gorilla,” said Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan Republican Party chairman and GOP consultant. “He has significant influence.”
With just a handful of state primaries left, 188 Trump-endorsed candidates have won primaries during his post presidency, 14 have lost, two dropped out or were disqualified before their races, 26 await their primaries and two are in races that have yet to be called, according to his staff and statistics compiled by Ballotpedia.
Trump padded his endorsement stats by backing many incumbents with minimal opposition, but his obsessive involvement in all of the races and the degree to which candidates have prostrated themselves for his support — as well as the difference it has made in some races like Ohio, Arizona and Michigan — makes him an outlier among former presidents.
Trump’s record also shows that, while he may be damaged by the multiple investigations focused on him, the former president appears most likely at this time to secure the GOP nominee for president should he run again in 2024.
But Trump’s endorsement isn’t so magical that it can elevate an unelectable candidate, nor are Republicans clamoring for Trump to run again; polls show him getting about half the hypothetical vote in a crowded Republican presidential primary, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second carrying about half the amount of support as Trump.
Arizona Republican consultant Sean Noble said it’s undeniable that “we’re in uncharted territory with a former president having this level of control over the party. It’s more of his party than anyone else. His endorsement of him obviously matters more than anyone else’s.”
But, he said, Republicans worry that Trump might decide to make his announcement for re-election before the midterms, making himself more of a campaign issue that could turn off independent and swing voters who are crucial to winning elections in swing states.
Democrats agree that Trump’s influence is unique, but they say he and his endorsed candidates are outside the mainstream for states like Arizona and Michigan.
“The Trump-endorsed slate in Arizona is by far the most extreme we’ve seen, and that word is far too tame,” said DJ Quinlan, a top Arizona Democratic consultant, referring to gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, Senate candidate Blake Masters and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem, a fervent election denier like Lake.
Quinlan said, however, that Democrats “face headwinds” and they should not underestimate the energy that Republicans, especially Lake and Trump, can muster.
In another swing swing-state the former president lost in 2020, Michigan, Trump-endorsed gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon won her primary Tuesday but began backing off her claims that the election was stolen. (Trump’s pick for secretary of state and attorney general in Michigan are also election deniers, but they secured their party nominations at a GOP convention instead of Tuesday’s primary.)
Still, Trump’s record on Tuesday was not without some blemishes. In Washington, GOP Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler and Dan Newhouse, who both voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot, are leading their respective Trump-backed challengers.
Of the 10 pro-impeachment Republicans, six decided not to run for office again, and only one has so far made it through a primary, California Rep. David Valadao. As with Newhouse and Beutler’s races, Valadao’s race was a so-called “jungle primary” where every candidate from every party runs, as opposed to a partisan primary.
In Michigan, Rep. Peter Meijer paid for his impeachment vote by losing his primary on Tuesday to Trump-endorsed John Gibbs.
“It tells you there’s not a big appetite among Republican voters to support Republicans who side against Trump,” said Andy Surabian, Republican strategist who’s a former Trump White House official.
“I would describe what happened in Arizona and Michigan as the anti-Georgia. Last night proves that the media narrative out of Georgia, that Trump was losing his influence, was completely wrong, ”he said. “There were local factors at play in Georgia — the candidate quality more than anything. The primary results since then have all clearly shown the unique power of Trump and his endorsement of him.”
Democrats, however, don’t see any staying power with those endorsements.
Pamela Pugh, a Democrat who serves on the Michigan State Board of Education, echoed the views of other Democrats in swing states by predicting that Trump’s involvement and the extremist nature of some of his picks will hurt Republicans in November.
Westpac Bank has made a surprising move, choosing to spare some customers from escalating price hike pain.
The big bank has announced it will be decreasing its four-year owner occupied fixed interest rate by one per cent, down to 4.99.
Westpac is the third of the big banks to announce its rate changes following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to increase the official cash rate by 0.50% per annum (pa) on Tuesday.
The big bank has unsurprisingly followed its rivals the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ in increasing its variable home loan interest rates.
The interest rate changes will come into effect for new and existing home loan variable rate products on Thursday, August 18.
Earlier today, ANZ joined CBA in announcing it will be passing on the hike to variable rate mortgages and one savings account by the full 0.50 percentage points.
The major bank said its up-scaled up mortgage rates will come into effect for both new and existing customers from Friday, August 12.
The lowest variable rate will now be increased to 3.69 per cent – just under that of CBA, which pumped up its lowest rate to 3.79 per cent.
Both rates are at three-year highs.
The ANZ decision also included increasing the rate on its new ANZ Plus Save account by 0.50 percentage points to 2.50 per cent for balances up to $250,000, which will come into place on Monday.
The move came just hours after Australia’s biggest bank, the Commonwealth Bank, announced it will pass on the full 0.50 percentage point hike to its variable home loan customers and some savings customers.
CBA will bring its occupier principal and interest standard variable home loans rate to 5.8 per cent.
Uncharacteristically, Australia’s other big banks have been slow off the blocks following the RBA’s decision on Tuesday, with CBA’s competitors Westpac, NAB and ANZ yet to make their announcements.
Mortgage rates for new and existing customers at CBA will rise by 0.50 percentage points on August 12, with investor rates rising to 6.38 per cent.
Research director at RateCity.com.au Sally Tindall said while the CBA’s decision comes as no surprise, for customers who are already feeling the heat, this fourth hike is a “difficult pill to swallow”.
“From next week, CBA’s basic variable rate will hit a three-year high of 3.79 per cent – a huge increase from three months ago when it was just 2.19 per cent,” she said.
For an owner-occupier with $500,000 debt and 25 years remaining, the 0.5 percentage point hike means they will see their monthly repayments rise by $140.
To ease the strain, Commonwealth Bank is cutting its lowest four-year fixed rate to 4.99 per cent – a drop of 1.60 percentage points.
This special rate, which comes into play on Friday, is strictly for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest on a package rate ($395 annual fee) for a limited time.
While Ms Tindall said the “whopping cut” will make it the lowest in its category, she warned it may not necessarily be a good idea.
“People should think carefully about whether they want to lock up their mortgage for the next four years because there can be significant consequences if they decide to break their loan,” she said.
For those with a NetBank Saver account, who will see the full rate hike, the research director said an ongoing rate of just 0.85 still won’t cut it.
“In this market, where we could see ongoing rates over 3 per cent, these savers are still getting paid peanuts,” she said.
But Ms Tindall said there are signs things could be turning around.
“On Tuesday, Macquarie announced it was making significant cuts to its fixed rates and now CBA is following suit,” she said.
“We expect this will trigger further fixed rate cuts from other lenders in response to both evolving market expectations and competition among the banks.”
Snapchat fans have never been able to officially use the hugely successful app on their computer – until now.
The social media company, which has 332 million users, has announced that Snapchat for Web allows you to log on and continue conversations online, make and receive video and voice calls, plus send text-based Snaps all via a web-browser.
Ryan Thomas, head of synchronous experiences at Snap Inc, says the move to a PC screen for Snapchat fans seemed an obvious step for the platform.
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“With over 100 million Snapchatters making calls to their friends on Snapchat every month, we knew this was a critical element to get right,” he told Mumbrella.
While users in the US, UK and Canada have to pay a monthly fee to access Snapchat on their laptops, it’s a different story for people in Australia and New Zealand.
All Australians can use the web-based function free of charge – at no additional cost.
Australians can now use Snapchat on their computers. Credit: AP
Want to use Snapchat on your computer? Here’s how.
How to use Snapchat for Web on your computer
To use Snapchat for Web on your computer, follow these simple steps:
Go to web.snapchat.com in either Chrome or Edge, and then log in with your Snapchat account. At present, you cannot access Snapchat for Web on any other web browser, including Safari and Firefox.
Once you are logged into your account, you’ll be able to make video and voice calls and send messages from your laptop.
Popular features such as Chat Reactions and Chat Reply can also be used. Insiders say Lenses will roll out in the coming months.
Up until now, users could only access Snapchat via the app. Credit: AP
Kate Ritchie shares throwback Home and Away performance.
Kate Ritchie shares throwback Home and Away performance.
Ryan Seacrest and Aubrey Paige have been an item for more than a year after being spotted together in the posh New York neighborhood of The Hamptons.
And despite Seacrest’s busy schedule, the 47-year-old TV host set aside time to hangout with the 24-year-old model in New York City on Wednesday.
The couple, rocking their athletic wear of choice, were spotted moments after hitting the gym together.
Quality time: Despite his busy schedule, Ryan Seacrest set aside time to hangout with his girlfriend Aubrey Paige in New York City on Wednesday. The couple, rocking their athletic wear of choice, were spotted moments after hitting the gym together
Seacrest, 47, completed his afternoon workout in black drawstring shorts and a black t-shirt that paid homage to the hit Fox series Gotham.
He also donned a pair of black running sneakers and a baseball cap over his short brown hair.
Looking equally sporty, Paige, 24, flaunted her toned figure in skintight black leggings and a white crop top.
She also wore gray and blue running sneakers and pulled her long brown locks back off her face and into a ponytail.
All-black: Seacrest, 47, completed his afternoon workout in black drawstring shorts and a black t-shirt that paid homage to the hit Fox series Gotham. He also donned a pair of black running sneakers and a baseball cap over his short brown hair
Fit: Looking equally sporty, Paige, 24, flaunted her toned figure in skintight black leggings and a white crop top
The Emmy-winning producer has famously been known as one of the busiest men in show business, who can pose a problem when it comes to relationships.
Along with his co-hosting duties on Live With Kelly And Ryan, Seacrest also plays host on American Idol, his radio shows American Top 40 and On Air with Ryan Seacrest, as well as E! Live From The Red Carpet and the Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
On top of all that, he also has the shows he works with through his production company Ryan Seacrest Productions and the Ryan Seacrest Foundationwhich is a non-profit organization that ‘dedicated to inspiring today’s youth through entertainment and education focused initiatives.’
Socializing: Paige frequently shows off her fab figure on her social media platforms
Most people marvel at his work ethic, and how he’s able to be able to multi-task with so many endeavors on his plate.
‘I work pretty fast and efficiently. Consolidation is something I’ve learned,’ he revealed during an interview with GQ, adding, ‘I’ve got a lot of things in the same place. For instance, I’ve got the radio show, but then I can walk across the hall to the TV studio.’
He continued, ‘Another thing that allows me to stay on top of things is that I’ve got a great team. I try to find an expert in each of the places I’m working, and I keep updated through them. It’s a puzzle every day, and at the end of the day I get an email brief of everything that happened in every division.’
Social media butterfly: And while Paige and Seacrest like to keep their romance on the down low, she does post photos of the couple on social media on occasion
Seacrest went on to reveal that he wakes up about 5 in the morning, and has made his workouts a priority in order to keep his stamina as high as possible.
‘There were times in my life when I wasn’t getting it done, and it’s because I wasn’t making it a priority on my schedule,’ he said his gym time. ‘So now, I treat all of my workouts as if they are an executive meeting. Once they’re in the schedule, they’re locked in. But the time can float.’
Seacrest and Paige were first linked together romantically in June 2021, according to Us Weekly. But they only made their red carpet debut on June 8 at the Tribeca Festival premiere of Netflix’s rock-doc Halftime starring Jennifer Lopez.
Going strong: The couple have been an item for more than a year, but only made their red carpet debut at the Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 8
All Blacks coach Ian Foster has begun his fight for survival by making four changes to his starting team for the test against the Springboks in Mbombela, South Africa on Sunday morning (NZT).
Following the 32-22 defeat to Ireland in Wellington last month, which confirmed a 2-1 series loss and resulted in assistants John Plumtree and Brad Mooar being dismissed, the All Blacks are likely to have to win at least one of their two Rugby Championships tests in the Republic to prevent Foster being sacked by NZ Rugby.
Sky Sports
Jeff Wilson urges All Blacks coach Ian Foster to be bold against South Africa as he fights for his job.
With lock Brodie Retallick unavailable because of a fractured cheekbone, Foster was always going to have to tinker with his combinations in the forwards.
He has made three changes to the pack that started against Ireland in Wellington.
Scott Barrett, who was a late withdrawal from the third test because of injury and had to be replaced by Akira Ioane at blindside flanker, starts at lock.
Samisoni Taukei’aho will start at hooker in place of Codie Taylor, and Angus Ta’avao comes in at tighthead prop ahead of Nepo Laulala. Taylor and Laulala have been dropped since the match-day 23. It will be the first run-on start of the season for Taukei’aho and Ta’avao.
Foster has also brought Caleb Clarke on to the left wing, in place of Sevu Reece. Clarke wasn’t considered for the Ireland series because of a hamstring strain.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Samisoni Taukei’aho will start at hooker for the All Blacks against the Springboks.
The reserves bench has also had a makeover. Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Finlay Christie and Quinn Tupaea have been added, with Dane Coles and Richie Mo’unga the only survivors from the Wellington test.
Loose forward Dalton Papalii, halfback Folau Fakatava and midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – all were in the substitutes in Wellington – are notable absentees. There is also no room for lock Patrick Tuipulotu, with Vaa’i to provide back-up for Barrett and Whitelock.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Caleb Clarke will start on the left wing for the All Blacks when they play the Springboks on Sunday morning (NZT).
Although contracted through to next year’s World Cup in France, Foster is clearly on thin ice with his paymasters at NZ Rugby. Four losses from the last five matches, an all-time low of No 4 in the World Rugby rankings, are an indication of how far the All Blacks’ standards have declined.
A win in Mbombela would go some way to helping Foster convince NZ Rugby that he should be retained. The second test will be played in Johannesburg next weekend.
Hagen-Hopkins/Getty Images
Jason Ryan has replaced John Plumtree as the All Blacks forwards coach.
Following the departures of Plumtree and Mooar, Jason Ryan was added to the coaching group. Ryan, who had assisted Scott Robertson at the Crusaders for six years, has filled Plumtree’s position as forwards coach and Foster has taken over Mooar’s backline attack portfolio.
With less than two weeks to familiarize himself with the All Blacks’ environment, Ryan is likely to have been cautious about overloading himself and his forwards with too much information.
One of his most important tasks will have been to analyze why Ireland was able to score two tries off rolling mauls, and then fix the problem.
“What a great way to start this year’s Rugby Championship,” Foster said. “It’s always an exciting tournament to be part of. This year’s draw means we have a massive challenge of two games here in the South Africa.
“We have settled in well in Mbombela and are preparing for what is always an intense game against our old foe. Many of our squad are here in South Africa for the first time. This gives us another opportunity to add new experiences and grow our game.”
The Springboks have predictably selected a massive pack loaded with experienced physical specimens, and with Malcolm Marx at hooker, they will aim to use his bulk and power to hunt for tries off attacking lineout drives.
Hagen-Hopkins/Getty Images
All Blacks coach Ian Foster is under immense pressure to keep his job. The All Blacks have lost four of their last five tests.
Experienced locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit are likely to be Marx’s main lineout targets, with Jasper Wiese and Siya Kolisi also providing options.
The Springboks have also stacked their bench with six forwards, a clear indication they will want to use brute force to break down the All Blacks in the second half.
The two teams haven’t played each other in South Africa since 2018 because of the pandemic.
Last year they played each other twice in Australia. They shared the spoils, winning one match a piece, but it was the All Blacks who claimed the championship title.
All Blacks: Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, David Havili, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (captain), Akira Ioane, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Angus Ta’avao, Samisoni Taukei’aho, George Bower. Reservations: Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo’unga, Quinn Tupaea.
There are “significant” cultural issues within the Queensland Police Service (QPS) affecting how officers respond to domestic violence, the state’s most senior officer in charge of domestic violence investigations has told an inquiry.
Key points:
Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd says the majority of criticism of police cultural issues is “unchallenged”
He told the inquiry inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout were contributing to poor culture
Police data shows a major jump in strangulation cases and DVO breaches in the past five years
The commission of inquiry, which began on May 30, is examining the police response to domestic and family violence cases.
Headed by Judge Deborah Richards, it is also probing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system and the way corrupt conduct and complaints against police are handled.
The inquiry heard today from Assistant Police Commissioner Brian Codd, the head of the state’s domestic violence and vulnerable persons command, who gave his take on the evidence heard in the public hearings so far.
Counsel assisting the commission Ruth O’Gorman said the issues raised included officers avoiding DV call-outs, showing “disinterest” when attending call-outs, conducting “insufficient investigations” and misidentification of the victims and perpetrators.
“There are significant issues of police culture at play here that need to be addressed,” Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry.
“We may have some members, albeit I hope very few, who do have some deeply misogynistic attitudes”
“I do accept that there are significant areas of concern that have been raised… that certainly will require us to look… beyond just isolated incidents.”
‘Pockets of issues’ around police culture
Assistant Commissioner Codd said he accepted “the majority” of evidence given relating to police culture was “unchallenged”.
“There’s very clearly in my view … pockets of issues of poor performance … behaviors and attitudes across our organization — aspects of culture that are impacting on our performance of our duty in DV,” Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry.
“I certainly accept that the evidence provided has highlighted a range of concerning aspects of culture.
“It’s far from, in my humble opinion, the majority.
“But that doesn’t matter to a point, because whilst there’s still victims and people who need our help … [there’s a need for] focus and improvement.
“I do accept that there are significant areas of concern … that certainly will require us to look beyond just isolated incidents. There’s been too many consistencies in too many places.”
The inquiry heard inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout were contributing to poor police culture.(AAP: Dan Peled)
However, Assistant Commissioner Codd told the inquiry he did not believe cultural issues were “widespread” or “systemic” within the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
“I’d avoid the term ‘systemic’ because that suggests it’s absolutely through every part of our organization,” he said.
“I guess the observation I’d like to make though is the term about ‘widespread’ or ‘endemic’ that’s tied to it.
“I’m wary that almost every one of the witnesses, or certainly a number [of them,] …also made the point that it wasn’t their experience with every officer.”
He told the inquiry “a range of complex factors” were contributing to issues with police culture, including inexperience, lack of training and officer burnout.
Strangulation cases more than double in five years
Assistant Commissioner Codd also told the inquiry domestic violence strangulation had “progressively increased” from 1,060 reported occurrences in the 2016/2017 financial year to 2,145 in 2022/2023, according to QPS data.
He said domestic violence reports had also climbed from 89,458 in the 2016/2017 financial year to 138,551 in 2022/2023.
The inquiry heard breaches of domestic violence orders (DVOs) were another area of concern, increasing from 25,771 in the 2016/2017 financial year to 46,601 in 2022/2023.
“There’s been a significant increase there but, by the same token, it is perhaps a measure of us being better at identifying them,” he told the inquiry.
Assistant Commissioner Codd had previously told the inquiry in the first week of public hearings that the police service was struggling to keep up with demand, with officers spending more than 40 per cent of their time responding to domestic violence matters.
He said officers were overwhelmed and fatigued and were reporting high levels of burnout and psychological distress.
The QPS will not comment on specific issues raised during the hearings but has committed to work with the inquiry to “ensure that organizational values, standards of practice and responsibilities are being maintained and, where the opportunity arises, enhanced”.
Public hearings will continue in Brisbane tomorrow, before moving to Mount Isa for the inquiry’s final two days next week.
The inquiry will hand down its final report in October.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called to the business on Sunday around 2:47 am following a report of an attempted armed robbery.
Surveillance video obtained by CNN shows a man entering the Norco Market & Liquor store and pointing a rifle at the owner behind the counter. The owner then reaches for a firearm and shoots the suspect.
The sheriff’s department said the owner fired a single round from a shotgun, which caused the suspect to flee.
“A lawfully armed member of our community prevented a violent crime and ensured their own safety, while being confronted with multiple armed suspects,” the department said.
The owner, who did not want to be identified to protect his privacy, told CNN he had seen an armed man approaching the store moments before he entered.
Surveillance footage outside the store shows another armed man get out of a parked SUV and move toward the store just before the injured suspect runs back to the vehicle, apparently screaming “he shot my arm off.”
Authorities said one suspect was later found at a Southern California hospital suffering from an apparent shotgun wound. He remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition, the sheriff’s department said, noting he will be booked into jail after he is released from medical treatment.
Three other people in the SUV were arrested and booked on robbery and conspiracy charges, the department said, adding authorities found multiple stolen firearms inside the stolen vehicle.
They were arraigned in court Wednesday and entered pleas of not guilty, a spokesperson for the Riverside County District Attorney told CNN.
