Waikato

27 - 26

Full Time

Counties Manukau

Counties Manukau vs Waikato

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

The 80 minutes is up! The referee has blown their whistle to end the second half.

80'

Penalty Goal

Tepaea Cook-Savage makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.

80'

Liam Gilheaney-Black comes on.

78'

Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia comes off.

78'

This is dangerous for the defence as Etene Nanai-Seturo bursts through to advance the Counties Manukau attack.

76'

Simon-Peter Toleafoa comes on.

75'

Peniasi Malimali comes off.

75'

Dalton Papali'i comes on.

75'

Cameron Church comes off.

75'

A gap opened in the defence and Joshua Moorby took full advantage.

74'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Andrew Smith getting some game time.

70'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Xavier Saifoloi being replaced.

70'

Counties Manukau make a substitution with Emosi Tuqiri coming on.

69'

Counties Manukau make a substitution with Vainikolo Fifita coming off.

69'

Tepaea Cook-Savage takes the penalty but the ball didn't come round, staying right of the posts.

69'

The defensive line has been broken as Oli Mathis goes through the gap.

66'

Counties Manukau make a substitution with Cameron Church coming on.

66'

Counties Manukau make a substitution with Dalton Papali'i coming off.

66'

Waikato sub Taipari Quinn comes onto the field.

64'

Mason Tupaea departs for Waikato.

64'

Counties Manukau sub Suetena Asomua comes onto the field.

62'

Keran van Staden departs for Counties Manukau.

62'

Conversion

The Counties Manukau supporters go wild as Riley Hohepa successfully kicks the conversion.

61'

Try

Counties Manukau are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Jackson Rainsford touching down.

60'

George Dyer comes on for Waikato.

55'

Gabe Robinson leaves the field.

55'

Jackson Rainsford comes on for Counties Manukau.

55'

Rodney Tongotea leaves the field.

55'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Tepaea Cook-Savage kicks the conversion.

55'

Try

Bailyn Sullivan scores! That alone was worth the admission price!!!

54'

What a run here by Bailyn Sullivan as they get over the gainline!

54'

That's a great try assist by Gideon Wrampling.

54'

Liam Coombes-Fabling comes on.

54'

Aki Tuivailala comes off.

54'

Leo Ngatai-Tafau comes on.

52'

William Furniss comes off.

52'

Riley Hohepa has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.

52'

Try

Nothing was going to stop Hoskins Sotutu from scoring as they record the try for Counties Manukau.

50'

Bailyn Sullivan makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

47'

Counties Manukau decide to make a substitution, with Hoskins Sotutu getting some game time.

45'

Counties Manukau decide to make a substitution, with Cameron Church being replaced.

45'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Jahrome Brown getting some game time.

45'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Malachi Wrampling-Alec being replaced.

45'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Xavier Roe getting some game time.

45'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Rui Farrant being replaced.

45'

Waikato sub Tepaea Cook-Savage comes onto the field.

40'

Aaron Cruden departs for Waikato.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

39'

Fabulous play by Waikato has led to Bailyn Sullivan being able to wriggle through a gap.

37'

Conversion

Riley Hohepa does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

36'

Try

Incisive passing by Counties Manukau is finished off by Peniasi Malimali, as they goes over for the try.

35'

Fabulous play by Counties Manukau has led to Peniasi Malimali being able to wriggle through a gap.

35'

Riley Hohepa sets up the try.

35'

Fabulous play by Counties Manukau has led to Etene Nanai-Seturo being able to wriggle through a gap.

34'

Trouble here as Blake Makiri breaches the defence.

32'

Penalty Goal

The Waikato supporters go wild as Aaron Cruden successfully kicks the penalty goal.

31'

This is dangerous for the defence as Joshua Moorby bursts through to advance the Waikato attack.

24'

Conversion

Aaron Cruden converts the try.

18'

Try

Mitchell Jacobson goes on their own for a try.

17'

This is dangerous for the defence as Mitchell Jacobson bursts through to advance the Waikato attack.

17'

Bailyn Sullivan sets up the try.

17'

Conversion

Aaron Cruden converts the try.

15'

Try

A series of passes by Waikato results in a try for Rui Farrant

14'

Spellbinding play by Oli Mathis is finished off with a try.

14'

A gap opened in the defence and Oli Mathis took full advantage.

14'

A gap opened in the defence and Etene Nanai-Seturo took full advantage.

Conversion

Riley Hohepa has kicked a conversion.

Try

Counties Manukau are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Etene Nanai-Seturo touching down.

The defensive line has been broken as Etene Nanai-Seturo goes through the gap.

That's a great try assist by Jonathan Taumateine.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Waikato v Counties Manukau 
  
 Round 3 
  
 Sat 16th August 2025, 09:35pm PDT 
  
 FMG Stadium Waikato 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Marcus Playle

Points Flow Chart

Waikato win +1

Time in lead

Mins in lead

51%

% Of Game In Lead

39%

87%

Possession Last 10 min

13%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Cook-Savage

27 - 26

80'

Hohepa

61'

24 - 26

Rainsford

60'

24 - 24

Cook-Savage

24 - 19

55'

Sullivan

22 - 19

54'

Sotutu

50'

17 - 19

Half Time

Hohepa

36'

17 - 14

Malimali

35'

17 - 12

Cruden

17 - 7

31'

Cruden

14 - 7

18'

Jacobson

12 - 7

17'

Cruden

7 - 7

15'

Farrant

5 - 7

14'

Hohepa

0 - 7

Nanai-Seturo

0 - 5

Start

Win Probability

Waikato

69%

Draw

Counties Manukau

30%

Penalty by Tepaea Cook-Savage

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.7

Entries

Attack Profile

Waikato

Counties Manukau

More Less

Defence Profile

Waikato

Counties Manukau

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

41%

59%

3-6 secs

48%

31%

6+ secs

11%

10%

Rucks Won

Last 5 Penalties

68'

74'

77'

79'

80'

Waikato

Counties Manukau

Waikato vs Counties Manukau Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Waikato face off against Counties Manukau in Bunnings NPC Round 3 on Sat 16th August 2025 at FMG Stadium Waikato. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 05:35. In South Africa it’s at 06:35 SAST, 16:35 NZST on Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now, Sky Go in New Zealand, 14:35 AEST on Stan Sport in Australia and 21:35 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

Waikato won the last encounter but Counties Manukau are in the best form of their last 5 games.

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 1 place in the league table with Counties Manukau in 7th and Waikato in 8th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Waikato vs Counties Manukau Squads

The official squads for Waikato vs Counties Manukau will become available around 24- 48 hours before kick-off. Teams can still make changes up to an hour before the match however.