Otago outclass Bay of Plenty to advance to 2025 NPC final

Otago have claimed an NPC final berth for the first time in 20 years, roaring home to a 41-17 win over Bay of Plenty in front of more than 10,000 fans under the roof in Dunedin.

It was a crowd that dwarfed many Highlanders games, and found its voice after a dangerous start from the visitors. In the end, the Otag hype train rolls on for one final week off the back of influential performances from the likes of Cam Millar, Jona Nareki and Christian Lio-Willie.

Play went back and forth early, with both teams having opportunities to play with the ball in hand. It was the eighth minute when Bay of Plenty pushed into Otago’s territory and started to play with pace.

After threatening down the right edge through Kele Lasaqa, the ball was swung to the left edge, where his cousin, Veveni Lasaqa, was put into space. The Highlanders’ flanker had the pace to finish the play and silence a crowd that so often cheered for him during the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Otago responded in the 13th minute, scoring through Jona Nareki, who weaved through a disjointed defensive line to crash over.

Otago was chewing through the phases on attack, and Bay of Plenty’s defence wouldn’t give an inch. Cam Millar, who had a handful of strong carries early in the contest, looked to the air in hope of a better result.

However, the Steamers were quick to find space with a cross-field kick after collecting the contestable kick, and Fehi Fineanganofo weaved his way through the defence before dropping the pass to Cole Forbes for a try under the posts.

Once again, Otago were quick to strike back. A sublime Lucas Casey offload set the attack in motion, and some scrappy play led to Christian Lio-Willie crashing over.

The relentless pace of the game was taking its toll by the 30th minute, and during a period of big hits and more line breaks, Jae Broomfield was handed a yellow card for head on head contact.

Jona Nareki continued his strong evening with a 50/22 just shy of halftime, and while Bay of Plenty wrestled possession back shortly after, their clearance didn’t find touch, and Otago were back on the counterattack. The hosts were finding half-gaps in the defensive line and making ground, scoring through Will Stoddart without breaking stride.

Play got even more frenetic as the clock ticked past 40 minutes, with the half eventually brought to a close with Otago nursing a 21-12 advantage while down a man.

Resolute Otago defence started the second period, with a Jona Nareki breakdown penalty getting Otago into Bay of Plenty territory. Once there, the hosts’ phase play execution was again on point, and Cam Millar broke the line before delivering the try assist to Dylan Pledger, who touched down under the posts.

Otago pushed their lead to 19 just shy of the hour mark with a penalty kick landed by Miller. More Steamers errors kept Otago in control of the contest.

Finn Hurley’s return injected more energy into the contest, and the youngster was rewarded with five points when he skimmed two defenders on an Otago counterattack.

All Blacks Sevens veteran Ngarohi McGarvey-Black got one back for Bay of Plenty late in the piece, but the game was as good as gone for the visitors. A Sam Gilbert penalty brought the Otago tally to 41, with Bay of Plenty managing just 17 points when the final whistle was blown.

Otago will play the winner of Saturday’s semi-final between Canterbury and Hawke’s Bay in next weekend’s final.