Canterbury’s Cocksedge stars in FPC final
It’s a while since Steve Hansen was Canterbury coach but he’s still having an influence over the red-and-blacks’ fortunes.
The 19-strong All Blacks’ wider squad don’t join Hansen and company in Japan until after the Mitre 10 Cup finals. And, as luck would have it, five of those 19 players are from Canterbury with the three other finalists – Auckland, Waikato and Otago – contributing a combined total of one. Otago hooker Liam Coltman is also in the 19 but, between All Blacks commitments and injuries, has rarely featured in recent seasons.
For those thinking this is a genuine conspiracy, I jest. Hansen hasn’t jacked the itinerary up to ensure Canterbury capture yet another NPC title but there’s no doubt the presence of forwards Luke Romano and Luke Whitelock will make a massive difference to the team’s hopes of topping Auckland in the premiership decider.
Romano produced a magnificent performance, as Canterbury came from behind to beat Tasman 21-16 in Friday’s semifinal, while Whitelock is one of the few No 8’s with the defensive capabilities to potentially keep Akira Ioane quiet.
Without those two, along with halfback Mitchell Drummond, who runs everything, and fullback George Bridge, who’s the main attacking threat, Canterbury would be no chance.
First five-eighth Brett Cameron is the fifth player off to Japan but, for now at least, can’t be mentioned in the same breath as the great Canterbury No 10s who have gone before him.
As for Romano, he was the dominant second-half figure A 27-point haul from Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge has helped Canterbury to back-to-back Farah Palmer Cup victories.
The defending champions were too classy for Counties Manukau with a 52-29 victory at Rugby Park in Christchurch on Saturday.
Cocksedge scored two tries, kicked a perfect eight from eight off the kicking tee and controlled the game to perfection.
The clever halfback’s kicking game kept Counties Manukau pinned in their own half for much of the second spell after the red and blacks carried a healthy 35-10 lead into the break.
Cocksedge, playing her 75th against Tasman. Mako prop Wyatt Crockett had bossed the first 40 minutes but Romano, with all his grunt and guile and history of winning when it matters, then took over proceedings.
If others such as Mitchell Dunshea and Reed Prinsep can follow him, and Cameron kicks a few goals, then Canterbury are a chance.
As for Auckland, they produced a complete performance in beating Wellington 38-17 on Saturday.
It all started with their scrum, which gave Ioane the perfect platform to launch from. Conversely, that dominance meant Wellington were rarely able to get anything going.
Backs such as Salesi Rayasi, Tumua Manu, Melani Nanai, Harry Plummer and TJ Faiane get plenty of praise but it’s Auckland’s unheralded tight-five who’ve served them best. Marcel Renata just gets better and better at tighthead prop, while loosehead Sam Prattely has been steady and locks Fa’atiga Lemalu and Michael Fatialofa are just relentless.
You don’t associate those qualities with Auckland teams of recent vintage but there really is a solidity about this side.
Canterbury bank on winning the ascendancy up front, but there’s no guarantee they’ll get it at Eden Park.
Meanwhile, Waikato will host Otago in the championship final on Friday.
Otago left it very, very late to get past a very plucky Hawke’s Bay outfit, at Forsyth Barr Stadium while Waikato overwhelmed Northland 48-26 in the other semi. In theory, Waikato ought to be favourites, but it’s barely a week since Otago went to Hamilton and nicked the Ranfurly Shield off them.
On that basis, anything could happen in this final as well. match for Canterbury, scored their first two tries – the second, a stunning individual effort from halfway off a quick tap penalty.
Judging solely on Canterbury’s convincing final win, it seems hard to believe just Cocksedge and prop Pip Love are members of the Black Ferns squad.
Canterbury prop and captain Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox – who won’t feature much in the highlight videos but got through a mountain of work in the tough stuff, praised the influence of Cocksedge.
‘‘Her knowledge of the game, kicking to right space, she was on-point,’’ she said.
‘‘Great player to have in the team, always doing the right thing at the right time. She’s definitely valued in the team.’’
Canterbury were the defending champions but the 13-7 victory in last year’s final over Counties Manukau came in Pukekohe.
‘‘It was great to be able to give back to you guys with a home final,’’ she said.
Speedy Canterbury wing Sam Curtis, who was joined on the field by her twin Taylor Curtis when she came on as a replacement in the second half, grabbed two first-half tries.
Despite being well-beaten, Counties fought hard until the end, with 16-year-old replacement forward Anastasia Mamea’s second try coming after the full-time siren.
‘‘Always proud of the girls. That last five minutes we really went to work, I was just hoping that we could have done it in the first 75 minutes of the game but it’s all good,’’ Counties Manukau captain Arihiana Marino-Tahinu said.
Meanwhile, Wellington hammered Otago 55-5 to win the Farah Palmer Cup Championship final to win promotion to the Premiership in 2019.
Wellington scored nine tries to one in the one-sided match at Porirua Park.
Ironically, just like Counties Manukau, it was Otago who scored the first try of the match.