At a glance
Time to find out how good this Auckland rugby side really is.
Auckland continued their fine start to the Mitre 10 Cup under first-year coach Alama Ieremia at Eden Park on Friday, dispatching Tasman 36-10 in a top-of -the-table premiership clash.
The result means Auckland, who won just three of 10 games last season, are flying high with four wins from four in the premiership section.
Auckland might be sitting pretty as the lone unbeaten team in either division but the true test lies ahead in their next match, this Sunday when they travel south to face Canterbury in Christchurch.
Canterbury have won nine of the past 10 premiership titles and three in a row and will provide a perfect indication whether this Auckland side have turned the corner under Ieremia.
Auckland have a woeful record in Christchurch, losing their last eight matches in the Garden City, including two finals and a semifinal.
They haven’t tasted victory there in more than a decade with their last win coming on September 29, 2007, when they knocked over the red-and-blacks Round four scores:
Waikato 43 (Sevu Reece 3, Jordan Manihera, Raniera Takarangi, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Fletcher Smith 5 con, pen) Wellington 31 (Trent Renata, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Matt Proctor, Malo Tuitama, Losi Filipo tries; Pakai Turia, Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 con). HT: 19-0
Canterbury 34 (Reed Prinsep, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Caleb Makene, Brett Cameron, Luke Romano tries; Brett Cameron 3 con, pen) Manawatu¯ 23 (Liam Mitchell, Lifeimi Mafi tries; Sam Malcolm 3 pen, 3 con) HT: 12-13
Otago 27 (Dylan Nel, Jona Nareki, Joketani Koroi tries; Josh Ioane 3 con, 2 pen) Northland 23 (Tamati Tua, Jack Debreczeni tries; Jack Debreczeni 3 pen, 2 con)
Auckland 36 (Patrick Tuipulotu 3, Melani Nanai, Akira Ioane tries; Harry Plummer pen, 4 cons) Tasman 10 (Ethan Blackadder try; Mitchell Hunt pen, con) HT: 29-10
Counties Manukau 43 (Fotu Lokotui, Luteru Laulala, Te Aihe Toma, Nigel Ah Wong, Joe Royal, Cardiff Vaega tries; Latiume Fosita 4 con, Luteru Laulala con, pen) Southland 26 (Bill Fukofuka, Morgan Mitchell, Lewis Ormond, Nico Costa tries; James Wilson 3 con) HT: 19-14
Hawke’s Bay 29 (Brad Weber 2 Jonah Lowe, Joe Apikotoa tries; Tiaan Falcon
Bay of Plenty 28 (Richard Judd 2, Mike Delany tries; Delany 3 pen, 2
Wellington 35 (Asafo Aumua, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Malo Tuitama, Wes Goosen, Jackson Garden-Bachop tries; Garden-Bachop 2 pen, 2 con) North Harbour 23 (Tevita Li, Matt Duffie tries; Bryn Gatland 3 pen, 2 con) HT: 18-13
26-15 at Lancaster Park in the final round to also capture the Ranfurly Shield under captain Sam Tuitupou.
Working in Auckland’s favour is the fact Canterbury have two games this week, playing North Harbour in Albany on Wednesday night, before backing up four days later against their longtime rivals.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu starred in Auckland’s win over Tasman in his first game back since injuring a shoulder playing for the Blues against the
Hurricanes in May.
The 16-test All Black scored a first half hat-trick in his 65-minute stint.
Tasman, who have looked like premiership favourites in the early stages of the competition, turned in a lethargic performance that will have upset coach Leon MacDonald.
It doesn’t get any easier for Tasman with Taranaki, who boast plenty of talent, but have been inconsistent, next up in Nelson on Friday.
Canterbury made it three wins