1
Les Kiss on the Springboks challenge after Wallabies make history
11
{{item.n}}
The three top performers from round six of the Hilux NPC
Comment
Share 
Hawke’s Bay stayed undefeated in the sixth round of the NPC, rallying from 24-7 down to conquer Otago 35-24 in a gripping top-of-the-table clash at McLean Park in Napier.
North Harbour climbed to second with a freewheeling 57-42 win over Northland. Cam Howell scored 20 points for the winners, the most for North Harbour against Northland since Warren Burton’s 23 in a 39-18 win in 1991.
North Harbour’s previous best score against Northland was 56 in 2005. In that game, Nick Williams, cousin Tim Nanai-Williams, Sonny Bill Williams and Niall Williams-Guthrie scored three tries.
VIDEO
On Thursday, Taranaki continued their resurgence with a 28-12 victory over Auckland in inclement New Plymouth weather. Maori All Blacks Hooker JJ Pokai scored two tries, made 17 tackles and threw with 15 per cent more accuracy than his opposite.
Taranaki have won their last three matches against Auckland. Between 1981 and 1995, they did not win any against Auckland.
Manawatu had not won in 15 away games but remedied that with a fantastic finish against Bay of Plenty at the Tauranga Domain.
Down 12-0, the Turbos scored 24 of their unanswered 29 points in 19 minutes. Talismanic flankers TK Howden and Brayden Iose combined for 27 carries, 21 tackles, seven lineouts and three turnovers in a typically productive and lion-hearted effort.
However, it was the visiting bench that delivered the knockout blow with tries from substitutes Joe Gavigan, Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou and Rory Woods.
Wellington were better but remained winless against Tasman 42-28. The Lions have lost seven successive away games, equaling their worst road run since 1991 and 1992.
Counties Manukau charged to a second consecutive win 47-24 over Southland while defending champions Canterbury snapped their two-game losing streak, firing a warning shot with an impressive 36-14 win against Waikato in Hamilton.
Who were the performers of the week in Round 6 of the NPC?
Folau Fakatava (Hawke’s Bay)
The second coming of Folau Fakatava? Last an All Black in 2022, the 26-year-old who’s won 48 of his 71 appearances for the Magpies has been on fire this season and salvaged a winnable game against Otago.
Fakatava hinted at his menace with a searing first-minute break. That opportunity went unconverted but, down 12-0, Fakatava burst 20m through a hole to open the hosts’ account.
Later, another lineout break, coupled with slick distribution and assured option-taking, helped Hawke’s Bay erase the Otago lead.
In the 69th minute, Hawke’s Bay was down 24-21 with Fakatava involved in a break that saw Otago talisman Lucas Casey yellow-carded somewhat harshly for what was deemed a cynical interference. Two minutes later, Fakatava fired a bullet pass to centre Bailyn Sullivan, who went through untouched to propel Hawke’s Bay 28-24 ahead.
In the 74th minute, he drove the final nail in the coffin by booting a 50/22. Otago cleared meekly from their 22 and Harry Godfrey eventually sizzled 40m for the matchwinner.
In a new era of “optimistic” running rugby, could All Blacks coach Dave Rennie turn back time and recall Fakatava? Besides incumbent Cam Roigard, there isn’t a more noted running halfback in New Zealand.
Furthermore, Cortez Ratima, Noah Hotham and Kyle Preston have hardly set the world alight.
Since 2011, Hawke’s Bay have won 14 out of 17 games against Otago.
Maloni Kunawave (Tasman)
If the NPC is a glimpse into the future, then Tasman’s 42-28 win against Wellington offered plenty to like, especially from fullback Maloni Kunawave.
The Fijian from Rotorua Boys’ High School and former All Blacks Sevens representative made four line breaks from eight carries.
His sizzling 40m run in the 65th minute at 28-14 subdued winless Wellington, who were showing some promise.
Kunawave was part of the 2025 New Zealand Under-20s who were runners-up at the World Rugby Junior World Championships in Italy and won the Tri Nations against Argentina, Australia, and World Champions South Africa.
In seven games for New Zealand, he scored ten tries.
Hooker Eli Oudenryn was a teammate of Kunawave in the 2025 New Zealand Under-20 team. He scored a try and was the top forward carrier for the Mako: 13 carries for 38 meters gained.
He also made 16 tackles, two fewer than lock Jake Frost, another from the 2025 New Zealand Under-20 class.
Smile, anticipation, speed, balance, footwork—what isn’t there to like about the electric Tasman winger Kyren Taumoefolau?
His 80m try from a quick tap at 35-21 extinguished any prospect of a Wellington comeback. Taumoefolau made three other line breaks and charged for 188 meters, more than any other player.
With 12 tries in six games, he’s only three short of the record for most tries by a player in a single NPC Division I season of 15, shared by Auckland’s Terry Wright in 1984 and Otago’s Brendan Laney in 1998. Both their teams won the competition.
Finn McLeod (Canterbury)
Another New Zealand Under-20 prospect making the most of his opportunity. In just his second start, he scored two tries and helped Canterbury to their biggest win against Waikato in Hamilton since a 58-27 win in 2014.
His low body position on the first drive over was textbook, while his 68th-minute burst to the blindside of the scrum at 22-14 sealed victory.
It was shades of his grandfather, All Blacks and Canterbury legend Alex “Grizz” Wyllie. McLeod was Canterbury’s leading forward carrier with 16 and added 12 tackles to his strong showing.
Canterbury’s other McLeod, centre Dallas McLeod, was in fine touch, scoring two tries, his dribbling down the sideline just after halftime rivalling that of Elijah Just.
The one-Test All Black is headed to Exeter in 2027. He’s had a very decent career with Canterbury (73 games, 50 wins, 31 tries) and the Crusaders (67 games, 48 wins, 9 tries). He’s won four Super Rugby titles and an NPC championship.
Watch Rugby's Greatest Rivalry LIVE
Two rugby giants collide. Stream live, replays and highlights free on RugbyPass TV.
