Big futures beckon
Two try-scoring forwards seem set for bigger stages after starring roles in the second round of the national provincial rugby championships.
Backrower Jordan Manihera nabbed two tries in Waikato’s 33-21 Mitre 10 Cup win over Counties Manukau on Friday to take his tally to five in the first two matches.
Not to be outone, Wellington’s barnstorming hooker Asafo Aumua grabbed an impressive brace as the Lions comprehensively beat a strong Taranaki team 42-26 at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
Manihera and Aumua are both former New Zealand under20 internationals with the latter famous for scoring three tries in the 2016 World Cup final victory over England.
Aumua, 20, is yet to play Super Rugby while Manihera, 24, had two games for the Blues as an injury replacement in 2014.
Manihera moved from North Harbour to Waikato last year and scored three tries from blindside flanker in the Mooloos’ first round loss to Taranaki.
Centre Wes Goosen said the Lions call Aumua ’’the Hulk’’ and just work on a policy of feeding him the ball and backing up.
’’He’s another version of Dane Coles. Colesy has that running game and he has that running game and he’s a freak and it’s good to watch and good that he’s on your team,’’ Goosen said.
Both of Aumua’s tries were long-range efforts, epitomising his pace and power with the first a 22m solo effort and the second coming after he latched onto Goosen’s kick, pushed off a defender and ran 40m to the line.
Wellington swatted aside a star-studded Taranaki backline containing All Blacks Waisake Naholo, Seta Tamanivalu and Charlie Ngatai, racing out to a 24-0 lead.
Taranaki trailed 27-14 at halftime but raised the tempo at times in the second spell to keep the visitors at arms length.
Goosen had a strong game in midfield and first five-eighth Jackson Garden-Bachop showed the benefit of his Super Rugby stint with the Melbourne Rebels. Captain Brad Shields, locks Sam Lousi and James Blackwell and flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi were to the fore in Wellington’s pack.
Manihera - at No 8 on Friday - predicted before the game that Waikato had ‘‘definitely got the personnel to reach the top four this year’’.
Waikato looked to have the game in the bag with a 26-0 lead early in the second half. But that seemed to stir the Steelers with tries to Donald, Augustine Pulu and Jonathan Taumateine before a try to replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho sealed Waikato’s win.
The Mooloos’ mettle will be tested with two big games in the next week - against Auckland on Wednesday and the Tasman Makos next Sunday.
Auckland - upset by Counties in week one - got on the board with a grinding 10-8 win over Northland at Eden Park. Kurt Eklund scored a try for Auckland and Crusaders wing Jone Macilai crossed for the Taniwha.
‘‘We defended really well but we’d keep turning it over and giving it back to them, and they would have another go,’’ said a frustrated Auckland coach Nick White afterwards. ‘‘We’ve got to sort that out.’’
Bay of Plenty also got their campaign underway with a convincing 46-17 win over Hawke’s Bay at Rotorua on Friday with try doubles to Joe Webber and Jesse Parete.
It looks like being a long season for the Southland Stages after their 45-20 loss to unbeaten North Harbour at Albany last Thursday.
Harbour have one of the handier backlines in the competition.