Former Edinburgh 10 KO'd by ugly head shot in Mitre 10 Cup
NZ Herald: Auckland have announced their intentions early in the Mitre 10 Cup season, dispatching Otago 38-6 in their season opener in Dunedin. But while the Auckland side put on an attacking clinic, it was overshadowed late by the ill-discipline of Otago, highlighted by Sio Tomkinson being sent off in the final minute – writes Christopher Reive.
Otago had already spent time in the second half with two men in the sin bin for repeated infringements deep inside their own territory, before Tomkinson, who has developed a reputation for reckless defence, was sent for an early shower for a reckless shoulder charge which connected with the head of Auckland reserve five-eighth Simon Hickey, who lay prone on the ground for a few moments before being able to get to his feet.
Thinks he’s trying to find a charity to get them to put in a good word for him.. pic.twitter.com/q8pClADUao
— Steve Lenthall (@steve_l15) September 12, 2020
Otago gave away 20 penalties during the match, inviting the Auckland side to attack by giving them field position time after time. The visitors obliged, finding holes throughout the Otago defensive line – with loose forwards Akira Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu and fullback Jordan Trainor having significant success.
But while Otago were coughing up territory, Auckland coughed up just as much possession. Despite causing problems for the Otago defence throughout the contest, Auckland still turned the ball over more than 10 times, inviting pressure back onto themselves.
Otago had their chances throughout the game, though most came inside the opening 40 minutes. Otago went up 3-0, before Auckland took the lead through a Leni Apisai try from the back of a lineout drive.
It was the hooker’s first of two tries, while Rieko Ioane and AJ Lam crossed the stripe as well, with a penalty try also awarded to Auckland.
While they have plenty areas to work on, it was a good start for the 2018 champions as they turn their attention to a wounded Wellington side next week. Wellington were upended by a rampaging Waikato outfit earlier on Saturday. On the back of 33 points from fullback Damian McKenzie, Waikato claimed a 53-28 win in Hamilton.
McKenzie scored a try and kicked six penalties and five conversions to post one of the largest individual points totals seen in the competition.
Waikato outscored Wellington five tries to four, but it was McKenzie’s boot – and Wellington’s poor discipline – that proved the difference.
Waikato had similar success in the Farah Palmer Cup, thrashing Taranaki 76-14. Second five-eighth Chelsea Alley, winger Cheyelle Robins-Reti and hooker Grace Houpapa-Barrett each scored two of the team’s 12 tries, with Taranaki only able to muster two of their own.
In today’s other Farah Palmer Cup matches, Canterbury beat Manawatu 36-10 and Wellington hammered Tasman 62-0.
Auckland 38 (Leni Apisai 2, Penalty try, Rieko Ioane, AJ Lam tries; Harry Plummer 4 cons, pen) Otago 6 (Josh Ioane 2 pens). HT: 24-6.
Waikato 53 (Xavier Roe, Fletcher Smith, Adam Thomson, Damian McKenzie, Luke Jacobson tries; McKenzie 5 con, 6 pen) Wellington 28 (Julian Savea, Vaea Fifita, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con). HT: 23-21.
This article was first published in the New Zealand Herald and republished here with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments