Waikato

24 - 35

Full Time

Wellington

Waikato vs Wellington

Events

Commentary

Live Updates

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

80'

Tom Maiava comes on.

79'

Losilosivale Filipo comes off.

79'

Rui Farrant comes on.

79'

Xavier Roe comes off.

79'

This is dangerous for the defence as Julian Savea bursts through to advance the Wellington attack.

78'

A gap opened in the defence and Losilosivale Filipo took full advantage.

74'

Conversion

Aaron Cruden has kicked a conversion.

70'

Try

A bit of individual brilliance by Pita Anae Ah-Sue leads to a try for Waikato

69'

A gap opened in the defence and Pita Anae Ah-Sue took full advantage.

69'

That's a great try assist by Tepaea Cook-Savage.

69'

A gap opened in the defence and Siale Lauaki took full advantage.

67'

Wellington sub Stanley Solomon comes onto the field.

63'

Tjay Clarke departs for Wellington.

63'

Wellington sub Matolu Petaia comes onto the field.

63'

Akira Ieremia departs for Wellington.

63'

Waikato sub Andrew Smith comes onto the field.

63'

Hamilton Burr departs for Waikato.

63'

Waikato sub Taipari Quinn comes onto the field.

63'

Mason Tupaea departs for Waikato.

63'

The defensive line has been broken as Xavier Saifoloi goes through the gap.

62'

Wellington sub Sione Halalilo comes onto the field.

60'

Dominic Ropeti departs for Wellington.

60'

Wellington sub Siale Lauaki comes onto the field.

60'

PJ Sheck departs for Wellington.

60'

Waikato sub Sefo Kautai comes onto the field.

60'

George Dyer departs for Waikato.

60'

What a run here by Tjay Clarke as they get over the gainline!

57'

Liam Anderson comes on for Waikato.

56'

Patrick McCurran leaves the field.

56'

Pita Anae Ah-Sue comes on for Waikato.

56'

Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia leaves the field.

56'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Jackson Garden-Bachop kicks the conversion.

56'

Try

A penetrating move by Wellington results in a try for Akira Ieremia.

55'

What a run here by Akira Ieremia as they get over the gainline!

55'

That's a great try assist by Esi Komaisavai.

55'

What a run here by Losilosivale Filipo as they get over the gainline!

54'

Penieli Poasa comes on.

52'

James O'Reilly comes off.

52'

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Jackson Garden-Bachop kicks the conversion.

52'

Try

Tjay Clarke scores! That alone was worth the admission price!!!

51'

What a run here by Tjay Clarke as they get over the gainline!

51'

Peter Lakai sets up the try.

51'

Tepaea Cook-Savage has hooked the conversion to the left of the posts.

50'

Try

The defence are desperately trying to hold out here but it was to no avail as Xavier Saifoloi dots the ball down from close range.

48'

Xavier Roe makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

48'

Conversion

Tepaea Cook-Savage adds the two points for Waikato.

44'

Try

Nobody was going to stop Xavier Roe from scoring that try!

43'

Xavier Roe makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

43'

Wellington make a substitution with Esi Komaisavai coming on.

43'

Wellington make a substitution with Nui Muriwai coming off.

43'

Fabulous play by Waikato has led to Oli Mathis being able to wriggle through a gap.

40'

The second half kicks off.

40'

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

41'

The left post denies Tepaea Cook-Savage from adding the extras.

38'

Try

The pick and go results in a try for Waikato as Aaron Cruden goes over.

37'

Fabulous play by Waikato has led to Oli Mathis being able to wriggle through a gap.

37'

Conversion

Jackson Garden-Bachop does the business as their conversion attempt goes over.

34'

Try

Silky skills by Wellington ends with a try for Julian Savea.

32'

James O'Reilly sets up the try.

32'

Trouble here as Losilosivale Filipo breaches the defence.

28'

Trouble here as Xavier Numia breaches the defence.

25'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Aaron Cruden getting some game time.

22'

Waikato decide to make a substitution, with Waisake Salabiau being replaced.

22'

This is dangerous for the defence as Losilosivale Filipo bursts through to advance the Wellington attack.

18'

This is dangerous for the defence as Nui Muriwai bursts through to advance the Wellington attack.

18'

Waikato make a substitution with Austin Anderson coming on.

16'

Waikato make a substitution with Dan Sinkinson coming off.

16'

Conversion

Jackson Garden-Bachop converts the try.

10'

Try

A series of passes by Wellington results in a try for Jackson Garden-Bachop

Peter Lakai played a key part in that try.

A gap opened in the defence and Akira Ieremia took full advantage.

Conversion

Jackson Garden-Bachop has kicked a conversion.

Try

Wellington are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with PJ Sheck touching down.

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

Match Details

  
 Waikato v Wellington 
  
 Round 2 
  
 Fri 8th August 2025, 07:05pm PDT 
  
 FMG Stadium Waikato 
  
 Flo Rugby 
  
 Ben O'Keeffe

Points Flow Chart

Wellington win +11

Time in lead

Mins in lead

% Of Game In Lead

95%

47%

Possession Last 10 min

53%

Points Last 10 min

Key Events

Full Time

Cruden

24 - 35

70'

Anae Ah-Sue

22 - 35

69'

Garden-Bachop

56'

17 - 35

Ieremia

55'

17 - 33

Garden-Bachop

52'

17 - 28

Clarke

51'

17 - 26

Saifoloi

17 - 21

48'

Cook-Savage

12 - 21

44'

Roe

10 - 21

43'

Half Time

Cruden

5 - 21

37'

Garden-Bachop

34'

0 - 21

Savea

32'

0 - 19

Garden-Bachop

10'

0 - 14

Garden-Bachop

0 - 12

Garden-Bachop

0 - 7

Sheck

0 - 5

Start

Win Probability

Waikato

50%

Draw

Wellington

49%

Penalties Conceded by Aaron Cruden

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

4.3

Entries

Attack Profile

Waikato

Wellington

More Less

Defence Profile

Waikato

Wellington

More Less

Ruck Speed

0-3 secs

57%

52%

3-6 secs

31%

34%

6+ secs

12%

15%

Rucks Won

100

Last 5 Penalties

62'

63'

67'

71'

80'

Waikato

Wellington

Waikato vs Wellington Kick Off Times & TV Channel

Waikato face off against Wellington in Bunnings NPC Round 2 on Fri 8th August 2025 at FMG Stadium Waikato. Kick-off in the UK is scheduled for 03:05. In South Africa it’s at 04:05 SAST, 14:05 NZST on Sky Sport, Sky Sport Now, Sky Go in New Zealand, 12:05 AEST on Stan Sport in Australia and 19:05 EST on Flo Rugby in the US.

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

Table Standings

Heading into the fixture the two sides are separated by just 3 places in the league table with Wellington in 7th and Waikato in 10th underlining just how tight this match could be.

Waikato vs Wellington Squads

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