All-around final masterclass secures promotion for Waikato
A first-half masterclass from 19-year-old Quinn Tupaea has launched Jono Gibbes’ Waikato side back in the Mitre 10 Cup’s Premiership Division as they defeated Otago 36-13 at FMG Stadium.
Twelve months after the historically proud province were relegated with a record of two wins and eight losses, Gibbes has turned the team around completely, shrugging off three early losses to win six straight and rocket through the playoffs.
It’s a bittersweet finish for Gibbes, who will now join Top 14 club La Rochelle in France next year after one campaign in charge of Waikato.
Waikato came out of the gates firing, looking to exact revenge on the Otago team that had robbed them of the Ranfurly Shield just two weeks earlier.
Otago were constantly tested in the first half, stuck in their own half as the home side launched a barrage of attacks and scored three tries to race out to a 19-6 lead at half-time.
Hamilton Boys’ High School product Tupaea was the catalyst for Waikato’s attack, striking from set piece to break the line twice in the early going before crossing for a try of his own. To close out the half Tupaea set up Maori All Black Matty Lansdown with an impressive sky-hook style try assist after drawing a pair of defenders.
Otago’s only points of the half came from the boot of first-five eighth Josh Ioane – rumoured to be shifting to the Waikato to join the Chiefs next year – as he kicked two long-range penalties in the first. The visitors were simply shut down, able to manage just 12 seconds inside the opposition 22.
Otago had limited opportunities with ball in hand during the first forty minutes, failing to break the line as Waikato consumed 67% of possession.
While Waikato’s attack stole the headlines all season, their defence was as impressive as ever. Winger Sevu Reece proved that he is more than just a finisher, forcing Otago fullback Michael Collins to lose the ball in a perfectly timed tackle after chasing a high ball. Waikato missed just one tackle in the first half compared to Otago’s 18.
Coming out of the sheds the visitors looked like they still had life in them yet when flanker James Lentjes crossed to open the scoring in the second half, and when Ioane added the extras it was quickly back to a six-point margin.
However, Waikato hadn’t lost a step as winger Tyler Campbell picked off the ensuing kickoff and raced away to score under the posts and essentially erase the previous try.
From there Otago heads dropped. Perhaps fans knew it wasn’t their night when Ioane – who had shown poise all night – suffered a critical brain fade, accidentally tapping the ball instead of finding touch.
Waikato tacked on another score after a tightrope walk down the sideline from Lansdown helped free the electric Reece, who scored his second of the night and 14th of the season – the most in the competition.
Smith iced the game and locked the Championship trophy away for Waikato with a penalty in the 69th minute to push the margin to 36-13 – the game’s final score.
For the visiting Otago, it’s another crushing blow after they lost the 2016 promotion final by a narrow 14-17 margin and failed to reach the final last season, but they will still have one over Waikato as they hold the historic Ranfurly Shield over summer.
WAIKATO 36 (Reece 2, Tupaea, Lansdown, Campbell tries, Smith 4 cons, pen) OTAGO 13 (Lentjes try, Ioane con, 2 pens) HT 19-6
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Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments