A history of Mitre 10 Cup launch activities
Every year, the Mitre 10 Cup is the competition that I most look forward to for a multitude of reasons. One of those reasons is the season launch.
Since 2012 – as far as I’m aware – team representatives have duked it out in some way, shape or form at the season launch in an attempt to gain the early edge on the competition. With the 2018 iteration taking place earlier this week, I decided to take a look through the archives and see just what the launch activities are all about.
2012 – Sin-Bins
This activity was ahead of its time. This was the first time – that I could find, at least – where teams took part in some friendly competition during the season launch, following suit after Super Rugby’s Jenga phenomenon one year earlier.
In 2012, ITM Cup coaches assembled at Auckland’s Shed 10 and were tasked with constructing a ‘sin-bin box’. We didn’t realise it then, but life was imitating art as this activity foreshadowed exactly where rugby was headed.
Before the building began, then-Auckland head coach Wayne Pivac – the next man to lead Wales – stated “I just don’t want to come last”, and vowed to beat his North Harbour and Northland opposition.
While it looks like Canterbury coach Tabai Matson received the top going for his handiwork at the launch, Pivac made good on his promise of beating his Blues catchment compatriots during the actual season as Auckland beat Harbour 36-13 during round robin play before finishing the competition as runners-up.
Launch Winner: Sorry, everyone gets 10 in the bin for this one
2013 – ITM Cup rides the Game of Thrones wave
In 2013 things got serious as the players were given their chance to shine. In similar fashion to 2012, competitors were again asked to construct something. This time we would move a little closer to the field, from the sin bin to the bench as players built wooden ‘fan thrones’.
Hosted at Auckland’s Unitec campus, players were aided by building apprentices and raced against each other to complete their thrones.
Wellington – led by All Black Jeremy Thrush – beat out a star-studded field and the recently relegated Hawkes Bay to claim the first silverware of the season. Thrush was one of four All Blacks present – the others being Nathan Harris, Rene Ranger and Jamie Mackintosh. Auckland’s Hadleigh Parkes and Canterbury’s Nasi Manu would go on to represent Wales and Tonga respectively.
Launch Winner: The ITM Mascot – I loved this guy in “Child’s Play”.
2014 – The Great Barbecue Cook-Off
2014 saw the ITM Cup launch take a step away from the construction site and into the kitchen as representatives from the 14 provinces came together for a historic barbecue cook-off. Players swapped their headgear for the toque blanche and whipped up some delicious burgers for a panel of judges to enjoy.
After plenty of research I couldn’t find the winner, but was able to find out that Wellington – represented by hard-hitting hooker Motu Matu’u – claimed third place.
Matu’u’s burger was reportedly titled ‘Paua to the People’, which gives us the chance to come up with some more food-based puns to decide who would have taken the top prize.
I feel like a lamb-based ‘Marty Shanks’ burger would have fared well for Tasman, but in my eyes, there is no looking past Counties Manukau’s ‘Aubergine Pulu’.
Launch Winner: Bad puns
2015 – Lunch Tables For Good
The 2015 ITM Cup launch signaled the end of an era. In its last year as the ITM Cup, the naming sponsor made a bold statement.
2015 saw team representatives back on the tools as they built lunch tables for the children of Auckland’s New Windsor School. For the first time, teams donned all-white jumpsuits, hiding the colours of their respective provinces to come together as one collective table-building force and show that this was about more than rugby. This was about the kids.
No doubt the kids appreciated the efforts, with one child dubbing Auckland first-five Dan Bowden’s effort “pretty average” before awarding it a “seven or eight” out of ten.
Heartwarming photos also captured players eating lunch with the children at the new tables. Later Counties Manukau flanker Jimmy Tupou was pictured reading to children, while Tasman’s Shane Christie and Otago’s Craig Millar manned the school traffic signs. Simply and truly inspiring.
Launch Winner: Everyone
2016 – Let’s Get Quizzical
2016 saw Mitre 10 take over naming rights for New Zealand’s provincial competition and the launch competition was downscaled. Construction was at a minimum as coaches assembled at Auckland’s Eden Rugby Club and put together miniature goalposts from PVC pipe.
Getty Image archives tell us there was some sort of quiz that took place, with teams from different regions joining forces. There is no evidence online of a winner, but my money would have been on Canterbury coach Scott Robertson.
Launch Winner: Probably Canterbury
2017 – Paint Bombs
The Mitre 10 Cup turned up the heat in 2017, with players asked to get a bit more creative.
Team representatives jumped into a time machine and were transported back to third form art class as they tried to find the true meaning of provincial rugby by firing paint bombs at a map of New Zealand to ‘mark their territory’.
Otago’s Sam Anderson-Heather showcased his ambition as the only player to miss the map entirely. To me, that just proves that he is willing to go above and beyond for his team.
Marking their territory at the @Mitre10Cup launch! What colours are you supporting this season? #Mitre10Cup #ShowYourColours pic.twitter.com/eWkpo1DQ7c
— Mitre 10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) August 8, 2017
In an interview with Josh Kronfeld on The Crowd Goes Wild, Hawke’s Bay halfback Brad Weber may have dropped the best soundbite of any provincial competition launch when he said Hawke’s Bay was set to usurp the Bay of Plenty as King of the Bays.
Weber justified his statement by arguing the latter would be too concerned with “checking out hot single mums walking up the Mount [Maunganui] in their activewear.”
Launch Winner: Brad Weber
2018 – Letterboxes
Finally, we arrive at the 2018 iteration. This year’s edition saw history made as, for the first time, representatives from both the Mitre 10 Cup and the Farah Palmer Cup made their way to Gribblehirst Park to launch the season.
The order of the day was letterbox decoration. Some teams came more prepared than others, with Northland’s Matt Moulds crafting his letterbox into a tough-looking Taniwha and Manawatu’s Brayden Iose and Nicole Dickins pulling out all the stops, including a wind turbine, flag and fidget spinners to boot.
Moulds’ solo effort was eventually crowned as best in show and Northland’s 2018 campaign was off to a perfect start.
Launch Winner: Snail Mail – it’s officially BACK
Comments on RugbyPass
Just such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
4 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
4 Go to comments