Farah Palmer Cup 2023 Wrap Up | Highlights
The Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) 2023 concluded in dramatic fashion with the away teams winning both finals. In the Premiership, Auckland upset Canterbury, boasting the Black Ferns World Cup-winning front row, to capture national spoils for the first time since 2015. In the Championship, Northland, who assembled from far and wide just to compete, inflicted defeat for the first time upon Manawatu.
In postcard conditions for the Premiership Final at Rugby Park in Christchurch, a storm called Auckland upset the apple cart to win the Premiership for the first time since 2015 with a thrilling 39-27 victory over Canterbury.
When Canterbury and Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby rumbled over from a lineout drive in the 61st minute, it appeared the hosts would commence a trademark surge. Rosie Kelly’s conversion kissed the posts, and the scores were tied 27-27.
Instead, it was Auckland who refused to yield, sticking to the ambitious and expansive approach that brought them so much earlier reward.
In the 67th minute, Black Ferns centre Sylvia Brunt punched through the Canterbury defense and released winger Angelica Vahai. The 17-year-old streaked 40m down a stunned grandstand sideline. She could have finished herself, instead, she nonchalantly offloaded to trailing Black Ferns lock Maia Roos who reclaimed the lead for Auckland.
Prop Amy Rule (29-0) and lock Chelsea Bremner (43-0) had never lost in the red and black until the 77th minute. From a lineout drive, the visiting forwards shunted Canterbury backward at a rate of knots before a stampede turned subtle. Ruahei Demant, unmarked on the wing, cheekily smuggled the ball and a cherry was applied atop a sweet cake.
Auckland thoroughly deserved their triumph. A shocking start saw an intercept try conceded in the first minute, but they were hungrier and more enterprising than the hosts who perhaps suffered from a lack of stiff opposition.
Whereas Auckland had battled to two fierce victories over Waikato in the space of three weeks, Canterbury had amassed 133 points in two games against Hawke’s Bay.
For Auckland, prop Sophie Fisher, second-five Patricia Maliepo, and veteran lock Elosie Blackwell had blinders. Black Ferns centre Amy du Plessis was Canterbury’s best.
Northland is headed to the Premiership in 2024 after a wild Championship title win over Manawatu? in Palmerston North.
With six minutes remaining, and ahead 32-24, it appeared the visitors had successfully removed the pace from the game by kicking smartly for territory and squeezing the Cyclones with tight carries and muscular lineout drives and scrums.
A turnover by Manawatu No.8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker revived the contest. Former Black Ferns Sevens representative Rebekah Tufuga breached the defense and surged into the Kauri 22. Quick ball left saw lively replacement Ruci Malanicagi dot down in the corner for 32-29.
Inexplicably, with five and a half minutes left, the stadium lights went out at Central Energy Trust Arena causing an anxious 25-minute delay. When the players returned, Manawatu attacked frantically and ventured inside the Northland 22 but were eventually foiled by a scrum penalty.
Northland led all the way, but Manawatu, with their athletic loose forward trio of Layla Sae, Elinor-Plum King, and Olsen-Baker, threatened consistently.
In the eighth minute, Serai Murray-Wihongi blasted down the right wing for Northland. Selica Winiata flashed across to make a covering tackle for Manawatu but accidentally collided with the head of Murray-Wihongi. The Cyclones captain, and Black Ferns legend, was sent off in one of the most unfortunate and controversial moments in FPC history.
Black Ferns and Northland prop Krystal Murray was superlative with only one blemish from the tee, robust carries, brutal scrums, tackles, and a skip pass that led directly to a try. Her superior territorial kicking was decisive in determining the outcome.
Ahora Savage was another hero. The 2017 Black Ferns World Cup winner has played five positions in 2023. She was at first-five for the final and her cross-kick to winger Ocean Tierney helped set up No.8 Hikitia Wikaira for the opening try. She made 14 tackles.
Manawatu winger Te Whetumarama Nuku was electric but strangely substituted in the last quarter.
Northland’s success was herculean with some players commuting three hours one way just to take part in a practice. It was driven by the evangelical zeal, leadership, talent, experience, and resourcefulness of Black Ferns’ Savage, Murray, Charmaine Smith, and Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate.
They cultivated a culture of selflessness and determination against great odds which is unusual. Northland is a geographically vast area with some tough social challenges.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments