O'Connor ends All Blacks' 15-game unbeaten run


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Australia hero James O'Connor insisted his last-gasp conversion was "just like every other kick" after the winger pulled his side back from the brink of defeat to edge out New Zealand 26-24 at Hong Kong Stadium.

Trailing by five points when the final hooter was sounded, the Wallabies were staring at an 11th consecutive loss to their bitter rivals but they kept the ball alive and O'Connor crashed over the line from close in to level the Bledisloe Cup encounter.

And with victory resting on the last kick of the game, O'Connor stepped up to nervelessly slot the conversion through the posts and also end the All Blacks' 15-game unbeaten run.

"To be honest, I've tried to put myself in that situation a lot in training," he said.

"Robbie (Deans, coach) has said plenty of times 'this is the last kick to win the game' and I think that's the only one I've hit, so I'm pretty happy about it.

"The team were all pumping me up, giving me the confidence. I'd done all the training I needed, I just went through my motions, my little triggers I've been working on, and it was just like every other kick.

"I blocked everything out in my head and just focused on the kick. When I looked up I was happy enough to see it go through the posts."

Deans had no doubt O'Connor - a surprise inclusion in the squad when Australia faced New Zealand in Hong Kong two years ago - would kick them to victory.

"To be honest, I was actually very confident," he said.

"James is one of those blokes who wants the ball in those moments as you saw with his carry. It's what you want, it's a great indicator."

It provided a dramatic end to an entertaining game that swung back and forth throughout. Australia established an early 12-0 lead before New Zealand found their stride to stretch out a 12-point advantage with 20 minutes to go before the Wallabies' late rally snatched victory.

The New Zealand captain Richie McCaw felt too many individual errors ultimately cost his side.

"We were under pressure, we had a chance to clear our line and we didn't do that, we gave them the ball back in a good attacking position," he said.

"The guys were trying pretty hard, scrambling on defence and I guess it sometimes comes down to one turnover or not and they got the try at the end, which was pretty disappointing.

"A few of us made mistakes out there that in Test rugby, you can't really afford to make because that can sometimes be the difference."

The New Zealand coach Graham Henry was full of praise for the Australians, who bounced back from the crushing 23-22 defeat in Sydney last month to turn the tables on their rivals.

"The Wallabies played particularly well, that was the end of the game and they scored to win," he said.

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Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt