Dream final is truly a free-for-all
It couldn’t be set up any better.
Canterbury v Auckland, historically New Zealand’s most successful provinces in the premiership final, and a repeat of Otago’s Ranfurly Shield raid against Waikato for promotion. Here’s the final edition of talking points for 2018.
1. How much do fans care?
Hands up if you’re taking advantage of free entry and heading to Eden Park to watch Auckland and Canterbury do battle?
Auckland boss Jarrod Beer has been praised for opening the gates to the 50,000 seat stadium, but this could blow up in his face if fans still can’t be bothered getting off their couches. In fact, it wouldn’t just be embarrassing for Auckland rugby, it would speak volumes regarding where the national provincial competition sits with rugby fans.
People love free things, don’t they? So if less than 30,000 people from a city of more than 1.5 million show up to watch the greatest rivalry in New Zealand domestic rugby, it will be nothing short of an almighty flop.
2. Listen carefully . . .
Put your ear close to the deck and you’ll hear the Canterbury dynasty closing in on Auckland’s record for provincial titles.
Should the red-and-blacks topple Auckland, they’ll be crowned champions for the 10th time in the past 11 years, and for the 15th time in history.
That would drag Canterbury to within one title of Auckland, who won the last of their 16 all the way back in 2007.
Canterbury and Auckland matches sure get the juices flowing, and if Saturday’s decider is anything like the 2015 final, won 25-23 by Canterbury, it will be a peach.
As Canterbury assistant coach, and former Canterbury midfielder, Nathan Mauger said this week, it doesn’t get better than fixtures between these two sides.
‘‘You naturally think back to when you were involved in these experiences, so you do get a true sense of what the players are going through and experiencing.’’
3. Third time lucky for Otago?
Few people remember past winners of the championship. After all, it’s not like they can call themselves national champions.
But teams sure as hell want to clamber out of it, something Otago fell agonisingly short of in 2016, when North Harbour’s Bryn Gatland sank them with a late drop goal in Dunedin.
The blues-and-golds also lost the promotion match against Counties Manukau in 2012, and are desperate to replace Taranaki in the premiership next season.
Here’s a question for Otago fans: Would you rather have the Ranfurly Shield or promotion to the top tier?
4. Two remarkable turnarounds
Kudos to Auckland and Waikato for putting their rotten 2017 campaigns behind them.
Much credit must go to Auckland coach Alama Ieremia and Waikato coach Jono Gibbes, particularly if they complete the u-turns with wins in the coming days.
The two sides scrapped it out at the bottom of the premiership ladder a year ago. A sole competition point was the difference between Waikato dropping instead of Auckland.
5. Prediction time
Canterbury by three. Waikato by eight. Forget the fact Canterbury are vastly less experienced than in recent title winning years, they’ll find a way to get it done – as they did against Tasman last week.
As for Waikato, the extra motivation from losing the Shield to Otago a fortnight ago will be enough to make sure there is no repeat in Gibbes’ last game in charge.