Derby round perfect opportunity to spy on your Super Rugby franchise's upcoming talent
New Zealand’s provincial rugby competition, the Mitre 10 Cup, kicked off with a bang last weekend.
53 tries were scored over seven matches played – which means more tries are being scored in the Mitre 10 Cup than any other professional rugby competition.
Last year’s finalists, Auckland and Canterbury, were ambushed by less-fancied sides North Harbour and Waikato and failed to secure expected victories. Ranfurly Shield holders Otago were also destroyed by Bay of Plenty, 50-7.
The second week of the competition will see neighbours do battle with neighbours – which means it’s the perfect opportunity for fans to get a glimpse at the talent that’s coming through the ranks in their local regions.
On Thursday, Northland will host Auckland in one of only two games this round between undefeated teams. The Northland halves combo of Sam Nock and Jack Debreczeni bossed the Taniwha around the park last weekend and will likely have their work cut out for them against a probably paring of Jonathan Ruru and Harry Plummer.
Keep an eye out for Hoskins Sotutu, who grabbed a brace for Auckland last week. Sotutu is the son of former Blues and Crusaders flyer Waisake Sotutu and has a flash of his dad’s pace about him, despite playing in the loose forwards.
Counties Manukau travel up the motorway to take on North Harbour in the first of Friday’s fixtures. Etene Nanai-Seturo looked sharped for the Steelers, coming off a season with the Chiefs and the New Zealand Under 20 side. Counties will look to bounce back strongly after falling to Championship side Taranaki last weekend.
Harbour, by contrast, somehow snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat – and would have won the match if either of their last gasp penalty attempts made it between the sticks. Shaun Stevenson looked particularly dangerous for North Harbour in the backfield whilst Karl Tu’inukuafe showed the All Blacks selectors that he’s mobile as any other props in the country.
Hawke’s Bay took a while to warm up last weekend but eventually overcame Manawatu in the wet. They’ll play host to Wellington on Friday night and will be looking to build on a solid if unspectacular start to the season. Sam McNicol has only just returned from a long stint on the sidelines and is on a quest to earn a new Super Rugby contract for 2020.
Wellington were one of the big disappointments of the first round, being well and truly dealt to by the Tasman Mako. Brothers Jackson and Connor Garden-Bachop will play a big role in Wellington’s campaign moving forward.
Saturday’s first match sees the Taranaki Bulls pop over to Palmerston North to try and inflict more misery on Manawatu. The Bulls did well to contain an inspired Counties Manukau last week and have a number of stars in their team – including unwanted All Black Waisake Naholo. It was first five Daniel Waite who probably played the biggest role in the victory, however, pinning back Counties with a number of clever kicks.
The Turbos won’t want to start their season on 0 from 2, however, and have a pair of wily operators in Jamie Booth and Otere Black at halfback and first five. Manawatu will have spent countless hours on their lineout work at training after conceding four tries to driving mauls over the weekend. Watch out for fullback Sam Malcolm, who has a booming punt on him (and is a handy distance goal-kicker too).
Saturday’s showpiece event is the Ranfurly Shield match between Otago and Southland. Southland are on a 22-match losing streak, but all will be forgiven if the Stags can claim the sacred Log of Wood. Big Moses Faletau looks like he could be a useful centre for Southland – and appears to possess some well-maintained kicking boots.
Otago, despite being crushed by Bay of Plenty, will have ample belief that they can defend the Shield for the third time this season. Vilimoni Koroi has the X-factor to step up to the next level but struggled at running the ship last weekend. Otago will again be without Josh Ioane for the clash but may be better served shifting Koroi to fullback where he’ll have more space to work his magic.
The first of Sunday’s matches will see Canterbury and Tasman duke it out to be crowned big brother of the Crusaders region for another year. Canterbury looked dangerous on attack last week but insipid on defence at times. Fullback Josh McKay was one of the best on the park and could be going head-to-head with Koroi for the Highlander’s 15 jersey next season.
Tasman are a side absolutely stacked with talent. Their own outside back, Will Jordan, was also rumoured to be open to a move to the Highlanders for a short time but has re-committed to the Crusaders. His pace was a huge problem for Wellington on the kick chase – a tactic that Tasman will no doubt look to use again this weekend.
In the final game of the round, two of the opening week’s best performing sides will wage war. Bay of Plenty, at home in Rotorua, will host neighbours Waikato. Mitch Karpik was one of the busiest players on the field against Otago and will look to continue his rich form from the Maori All Blacks’ series against Fiji.
For Waikato, Quinn Tupaea continues to look like a future New Zealand superstar. He made countless breaks against Canterbury and packs a hugely powerful fend. His combination with experienced campaigner Dwayne Sweeney was reliable in round one.
There’s plenty to look forward to in the second round of the Mitre 10 Cup, but if you can only catch one match then don’t miss out on the Crusaders sides’ battle for supremacy. That match promises to be an absolute ripper.
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments