The key to Waikato's miraculous eight day run
Waikato have concluded a dream eight-day run by claiming their third consecutive win and first successful Ranfurly Shield defence of the season, edging Hawke’s Bay 42-22 at FMG Stadium Waikato on Thursday night.
Another spirited performance from Fijian flyer Sevu Reece ensured Waikato head into an eight-day break with the Ranfurly Shield in tow as Jono Gibbes’ men now sit first on the Mitre 10 Cup Championship table – a miracle turnaround after starting their season with three heartbreaking losses.
First Waikato fended off Premiership contenders Wellington 43-31 at home on Wednesday before toppling Taranaki 33-19 at Yarrow Stadium on Sunday to win the Shield for the 11th time in the union’s history.
Back in front of their home fans the Mooloos perhaps saved their best for last, running away victors in a six-tries-to-three onslaught against Hawke’s Bay to complete what once seemed an unfathomable task and pass their most grueling test of the season with flying colours.
The home side held the visitors, led by former Mooloo man Brad Weber, to just one try in the second half to keep the famous Shield locked away and avoid the dubious title of shortest Shield tenure after an inspired 80-minute effort.
It was Hawke’s Bay who jumped out to an early lead through the aforementioned Weber – hellbent on winning the Shield back for his new province – less than five minutes into the match after the diminutive halfback sliced past three would-be defenders on his way to the line.
It looked like the fatigue stemming from the two previous matches was beginning to show, but Waikato answered shortly after through captain Dwayne Sweeney and never looked back.
Connacht-bound Reece turned the game when he scooped up an overthrown lineout ball and scampered away to score before setting up a Jordan Manihera try to close out the half.
Waikato carried a 21-15 lead into the sheds and turned up the heat once they re-emerged. Reece and 18-year-old midfielder Quinn Tupaea were involved in everything as the home side added three more tries to their tally. New signings Jack Stratton and Fletcher Smith continue to find their feet with their new province as well, with the latter grabbing his first tri-colour try late in the second half to complement a flawless display off the tee.
Waikato outclassed Hawkes Bay in almost every statistical category, chalking up 588 metres with ball in hand, making 24 clean breaks and missing 19 tackles over an impressive 80 minutes. Hawke’s Bay put up figures of 280, six and 35 in the same respective categories.
The key to Waikato’s run has been their emergence as a potent attacking force. Conceding an average of 26 points per game during their winning run meant the attack had to be firing on all cylinders. Over the eight-day span Waikato outscored their opponents 118-72 and put 17 tries on the board, four of which belonged to Duane Monkley Medal leader Reece.
Reece said the Shield – long regarded as one of New Zealand rugby’s greatest rewards – has provided Waikato with an extra boost as they continue to turn their fortunes.
“The short turnaround for us, the Shield has been driving us so much because not everyone gets to play Shield games. We’re so privileged to be playing,” said Reece.
“Trying to fight for the Shield against Naki, we managed to win that, now it’s just defending that and that’s what we did.”
Reece also shrugged off the role fatigue has played during the whirlwind week.
“Everyone’s fatigued but it’s what we do. We’re here to play rugby. It’s our job, so get all the recovery done, tick all of those little boxes and we’re good to go,” Reece said.
“We played Wellington, then Naki. We just set a really good foundation from all that.
“Today we got the result.”
As for personal performance, Reece remains humble. His five total tries currently lead the competition. He picked up three against Wellington and managed a try assist against Taranaki despite limited involvement.
“I just try my best every week to stick to the structure and hopefully get those extra tries coming in. It’s a pretty good feeling,” Reece said.
Assistant coach, former All Black and Waikato winger Roger Randle expressed his pride in the young side after the match.
“Just really proud of 15 points in three games against some really quality opposition. Just so proud of our young group getting some rewards over preparation and what genuine preparation is,” Randle said.
“I think it’s been outstanding. Just as a young group it’s been a big step forward in their short semi-professional careers. We do have a lot of club players and we’re fighting up against a lot of Super guys, but we’re punching above our weight consistently. It’s just good for them to get some positive outcomes.”
Randle also spoke of the expectation that comes with holding the storied Ranfurly Shield.
“It was a different feeling going out and challenging for it [the Shield] and then today there was a definite edge around expectation. I think Hawke’s Bay started really well and put us under a lot of pressure and our set-piece didn’t function as well as we could but to get six converted tries, hang in there and run over the top of them in the second half with the quality of our bench which was really pleasing.”
Waikato will now get a breather as they have an eight-day wait for their next match, a conference clash with Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.
“I think it’s important that we’ve got an eight-day turnaround, and we don’t make that a six-day turnaround by letting ourselves down over the next couple of days,” Randle said. “It’s important we enjoy each other’s company tonight with our family and then recover well tomorrow and get a genuine week’s preparation.”
Waikato will next put up the Shield when they host Southland in two weeks’ time. If they can keep up performances like those seen this week, they may not be letting it go anytime soon.
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Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
55 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
55 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
55 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
55 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
55 Go to comments