Josh Jacomb leads NPC performers of the round with historic Eden Park showing

The third round of the NPC was wild, with Southland staging a comeback that rivalled the Wallabies in Johannesburg. Canterbury suppressed chipper Bay of Plenty, while defending champions Wellington stumbled once again.

However, the most remarkable story was the century-old record-breaking performance of Josh Jacomb and Taranaki at Eden Park against Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest and most successful union.

Josh Jacomb – (Taranaki) 

Rugby was first played at Eden Park in 1913. Never before has Auckland faced such humiliation at its fortress.

Joseph on what he expects from Boks

Joseph on what he expects from Boks

Taranaki’s record 50-8 defeat of Auckland was as comprehensive as the score suggests. The match took place in pouring rain, with Taranaki’s Amber and Black forwards imperious throughout, while Auckland managed only a try in the final minute.

Before this match, the only team to score over 50 points at the Garden of Eden was Canterbury, who won 50-17 in 1998.

Josh Jacomb enjoyed a remarkable individual haul of 30 points, which almost certainly secures the record for the most points scored by a player against Auckland at Eden Park. He kicked six conversions, one penalty, and scored three tries, all from long distance.

For his first try, Jacomb pushed off AJ Lam and sprinted 25 meters. He collaborated twice with Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens over a span of 80 meters for his second try, and then made a dazzling solo run of 40 meters for his third try.

Ironically, Jacomb hails from Auckland. A product of Sacred Heart College, he relocated to New Plymouth and made his debut for Taranaki in 2021. That season, Taranaki won all 10 matches and claimed the now-defunct Championship. Two years later, they won the Premiership, and last season they secured the Ranfurly Shield. Jacomb has played 21 games for the Chiefs and has proven to be a capable backup for All Black Damian McKenzie in Super Rugby Pacific, earning selection for the All Blacks XV.

Auckland’s largest defeat in any match was 59-11 against Waikato in 2004, where All Blacks winger Sitiveni Sivivatu scored five tries.

Previously, Taranaki defeated Auckland 49-38 at Eden Park in 2017, with six different players scoring tries, and Marty McKenzie contributing 16 points. Their largest victory margin against Auckland previously was 39-11 in New Plymouth in 2011, where Beauden Barrett, fresh from the World Cup-winning New Zealand Under-20 team, scored 14 points.

Meanwhile, Auckland have lost six games in a row, rivalling their worst losing run in 1922.

Some of the most notable individual point scoring feats against Auckland include:

Marty Banks, Tasman, 26, Eden Park, Auckland, 49-31, 2016
Tyler Bleyendaal, Canterbury, 26, AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 56-26, 2013
Bryn Gatland, North Harbour, 22, North Harbour Stadium, Albany, 2017
Nick McCashin, Bay of Plenty, 22, Rotorua International Stadium, 37-16, 2012
Matt Berquist, Hawke’s Bay, 22, McLean Park, Napier, 47-13, 2009
David Howell, Wellington, 20, Eden Park, Auckland, 48-23, 2000
Naas Botha, Springboks 19, Eden Park, Auckland, 39-12, 1981

Nic Shearer (Southland)

Southland achieved an improbable comeback against Manawatu in Invercargill, rallying from a 22-0 deficit to earn their first victory over the Turbos since 2015. This comeback marks the largest recovery by any team to win a match since Waikato overturned a 34-8 deficit to defeat Wellington in Hamilton in 2021.

Lively and clinical halfback Nic Shearer played a crucial role in igniting the resurgence. His statistics include 86 passes, 12 kicks, 8 carries, and 6 tackles, demonstrating his versatility.

Shearer’s initiative, vision, and precision helped create the second of four second-half tries for Southland when winger Michael Manson sprinted after a Shearer kick. Mason might be the fastest bloke in Invercargill since Burt Munro.

Southland has become something second home for players who would otherwise be on the professional rugby scrapheap. Shearer, a product of Christ’s College and a New Zealand Under-19 representative, played eight matches over two seasons for Canterbury. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities, he moved south.

Fletcher Morgan, who scored the winning try on his debut, hails from Wahi and is a cousin of the All Blacks’ Gordon family. He was part of the Hamilton Boys’ High School First XV in 2017, which shared the Super 8 title with Hastings Boys’ High School, the National Top Four champions. After relocating to Canterbury, he won a Senior Metro title with Lincoln in 2020. By 2024, he had returned to the North Island, winning a senior club title with Marist in Hamilton and helping Thames Valley claim the Meads Cup. He has also trained with the All Blacks Sevens.

Faletoi Peni, Southland’s second five-eighth, powered through traffic to score the first try that sparked Southland’s remarkable comeback. Peni is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished club players, having won four Gallaher Shields in Auckland over four seasons with Eden, Manukau, and Ponsonby. He was called up by the Stags in 2024 as temporary injury cover, but ultimately stayed for the entire season, winning the Rugby Southland Supporters Club’s Most Improved Player award and being named Stags Rookie of the Year. Additionally, Peni was part of the New England Free Jacks, who secured the Major League Rugby championship last season.

In Auckland, the only club player whose record matches Peni’s is Originals All Black George Nicholson. He played for City in 1905-06, leading the team to an unbeaten record in both years. After his time with City, Nicholson joined Ponsonby, where he finished in second place. However, Ponsonby rebounded in 1908-09, enjoying two more unbeaten seasons and securing a third consecutive title in 1910.

Sam Darry (Canterbury)

Canterbury’s season ended at the hands of Bay of Plenty at the Tauranga Domain in the semi-finals in 2024, so the Red and Blacks will take great satisfaction from their 21-7 shutdown of the Steamers to remain unbeaten.

Bay of Plenty backed their pack to outmuscle the visitors, an approach lacking typical flair, and that was ultimately fruitless against an even more rugged Canterbury, who had 153 carries compared to the Steamers’ 96.

All Blacks lock Sam Darry missed all of Super Rugby Pacific with a shoulder injury. He reminded national selectors of the form that saw him debut in 2024. He was busy, accurate and physical in his most stringent examination in 2025. He made 14 vigorous carries and topped the visitors’ tackle count with 11 while securing two lineout catches and clearing bodies with gusto.

Dylan Pledger (Otago)

The highly touted New Zealand Under-20s halfback out of King’s High School delivered a noteworthy performance on his starting debut for Otago. Down 14-0, he scored the first try receiving an audacious offload from the full-throttle Jona Nareki. Pledger then made a slashing break from a lineout to set up Lucas Casey and thus set Otago on the road for a famous comeback victory.

Pledger was urgent, cunning, composed and exuberant in a display that reeked of his enormous potential. Casey, a former North Otago flanker, is another making strides. In 2025, he was named Otago Rugby Club Player of the Year for his starring role in Kaikorai’s unexpected title success.

When Wellington won the NPC Premiership in 2022, they lost two out of their first three games. This wasn’t a fixture they were expected to lose, a second at home. The Lions’ defence was toothless at times in conceding their third-largest NPC score against Otago. Typically, scoring 41 points would be sufficient to win the game, but a loss with 40 or more points isn’t without precedent. Remarkably, Wellington lost to Auckland 44-42 in 1997.

Former Poneke halfback Junior Tonu’u scored three tries for Auckland, who had 14 internationals in their starting lineup, with loosehead prop Grant Hill being the only exception. Karl Te Nanna and Jason O’Halloran each scored two tries. All six of Wellington’s tries were converted by All Blacks halfback Jon Preston.