SBW to make his All Blacks case in Counties colours
Time is running out for Sonny Bill Williams before All Blacks coach Steve Hansen names his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup. Williams’ expected appearance for his province this weekend kicks off the talking points for the opening round of this year’s Mitre 10 Cup.
1. All eyes on Sonny Bill Williams
Left out of the All Blacks for their Bledisloe Cup test in Perth, Williams will make a rare appearance for Counties Manukau in Pukekohe on Saturday.
Hansen needs the injury-prone midfielder to chalk up some minutes before he submits his 31-man squad for the World Cup, and has decided provincial rugby is the place to do it.
Williams got through 80 minutes in a game-ofthree-halves pre-season match with Bay of Plenty and Wellington in Katikati last weekend, and is now set to line up against Taranaki in the Steelers’ season-opener.
Despite Williams recently taking to social media to shut down talk of him being under pressure to crack the World Cup squad, it’s clear he has a fight on his hands to squeeze into the midfield group.
Counties have promised to give ticket holders free entry to their four remaining home games if they draw at least 8000 fans on Saturday.
2. Any other big guns in action this weekend?
There should be plenty, particularly if you hone in on the Tasman-wellington clash at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim on Saturday.
The Mako have a bunch of current or past All Blacks available, including loose forwards Liam Squire and Shannon Frizell, who like Williams was omitted from the squad for Bledisloe I.
Tasman could practically name a starting side of Super Rugby players, with the likes of Jordan Taufua, Quinten Strange, David Havili, Will Jordan, Mitch Hunt and Alex Nankivell also on deck.
Elsewhere, Taranaki could uncork wing Waisake Naholo against Counties, while Canterbury will likely wheel out Luke Whitelock and Luke Romano against Waikato.
3. How long can this go on for?
Spare a thought for Southland fans, who haven’t tasted victory sauce in almost three years.
Indeed, the Stags have lost a horror 21 straight national provincial championship games, a record for top-flight provincial rugby in New Zealand.
Criticism has flowed after two consecutive seasons without a win, with some even suggesting the southerners down tools and flee for the Heartland Championship.
New Zealand Rugby head of provincial rugby Steve Lancaster has shut down any such talk, but it won’t be buried if the Stags continue to be a punching bag.
The good news for the Dave Hewett-coached southerners is they have added some firepower this season, with Marty Mckenzie returning home from Taranaki, and hooker Brayden Mitchell back from a neck injury, notable additions.
If ever they’re to snap their dreadful run, you get the feeling tonight’s home fixture against Northland – the team they last beat (October 8, 2016) – could be the time.
4. Is there one rookie punters should keep an eye on this year?
Let’s go with Canterbury midfielder Rameka Poihipi, who would have cracked the red and blacks last year had it not been for a serious knee injury.
However, the 20-year-old former Hamilton Boys’ High School first XV captain has put that behind him and has a chance to form a strong midfield partnership with veteran Tim Bateman this year.
Poihipi, whose father – also Rameka – played 61 games for Bay of Plenty, was touted as one of the most promising players in New Zealand after shining as a first-five eighth for Hamilton Boys’ in 2015 and 2016.
He represented the Chiefs under-20s, before moving south to Christchurch to study at Lincoln University in 2017.
Before blowing out his knee last year, he started at second five-eighth for the Crusaders against the French Barbarians.
5. Which are the teams to beat?
A year after the red and blacks’ hold on the trophy was snapped by Auckland, the bookies have Canterbury as $2.80 favourites to nab their 10th title in the past 12 years.
However, expect Tasman ($3.25) and reigning champions Auckland ($5) to have plenty to say about that.
As for the Championship, keep an eye on Taranaki ($2.40), who were an almighty flop last season and deserved to be sent packing from the toptier.
Then there’s Ranfurly Shield holders Otago ($4.33), losers of two of the past three Championship finals. Taranaki and Otago are firm favourites for the Championship title won so convincingly by Waikato last year, but can anyone else compete in the race for promotion to the Premiership?
After a 2018 campaign that lurched from one problem to another and ended with relegation after their home ground, New Plymouth’s Yarrow Stadium, was condemned because of safety issues, Taranaki will play out of the second tier for the first time since the competition changed to two divisions in 2011.
Boosting their squad are unwanted All Blacks Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Waisake Naholo, who look likely to be available for their entire season, but Otago also shape as strong contenders and they will be desperate to finally move up a division after losing Championship finals in 2012, 2016 and 2018.
Meanwhile, the Ranfurly Shield adds further intrigue in the second tier with holders Otago first defending it in a southern derby against Southland in Dunedin on August 17, then possibly Manawatu¯ and Taranaki afterwards, so as many as three Championship rivals could get a shot at lifting the Log o’ Wood.
Southland’s battle to their end