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
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 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.
9 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.
36 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.
2 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
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
36 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.
36 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.
17 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.
17 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.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments