Clock ticking for World Cup hopefuls
At a glance
Time is running out for All Blacks hopefuls in their last-ditch bids to force their way into World Cup reckoning, with the second round of provincial footy doing little to enhance their chances.
While New Zealand’s commanding 36-0 Bledisloe Cupretaining rout of the Wallabies at Eden Park did the world of good for players in that group, there are still some running around in the Mitre 10 Cup hoping for a late selection re-think.
However, the weekend’s domestic action didn’t register them as a threat to barging their way into the 31-man group bound for Japan.
Prop Karl Tu’inukuafe suffered a leg injury playing for North Harbour on Friday night, while winger Waisake Naholo picked up a knee problem against Counties Manukau last weekend and wasn’t able to take the field for Taranaki in round two. That match, against Manawatu in Palmerston North on a waterlogged field, wasn’t what halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi was after in order to press his claims.
Asafo Aumua, uncapped at test level, went almost 80 minutes for Wellington as he strives to be the All Blacks’ third-choice hooker, while flanker Dalton Papalii played the second half for Auckland after featuring off the bench against the Springboks last month, following two tests last year.
The round started with that Auckland game, with the defending champions blowing away Northland 43-10 in Whangarei on Thursday night.
Following a first-up draw with North Harbour, Auckland were far more dominant this time out against their championship opponents, in a six-tries-to-one demolition at the Northland Events Centre, in a game which saw first five-eighth Harry Plummer ruled out late and D’Angelo Leuila injected at short notice but looked at ease running the show.
On Friday night, Tu’inukuafe limping off in the second half capped a tough night for North Harbour, who remain winless after losing 39-25 at home to Counties Manukau.
The big loosehead had won three scrum penalties in his
58-minute stint at QBE Stadium, though he had limited involvement elsewhere, as Counties bounced back from their first-up loss to Taranaki.
Later that night, a late fightback from Hawke’s Bay secured the championship team a
27-27 draw at McLean Park in Napier against premiership side Wellington.
The visitors led by eight with six minutes to play but a longrange try by Magpies fullback Caleb Makene put the hosts in with a shot, and after the siren Lincoln McClutchie was able to calmly slot a penalty goal to grab a share of the spoils.
On Saturday, it was a case of contrasting conditions for the two matches on show.
Firstly, there was atrocious weather in Palmerston North, where hosts Manawatu¯ suffered a second successive home loss, edged 13-10 by a two-from-two Taranaki in the all-championship clash.
Then, it was to the comforts of Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, where it’s always perfect under the roof, and Otago were able to defend the Ranfurly Shield in style, with a 41-22 victory over Southland.
After their first-up 50-7 pummelling away to Bay of Plenty, Otago bounced back in a big way with the Log o’ Wood on the line, which extended the Stags’ losing run to 23 games.
Bay of Plenty are at the opposite end of the championship standings to Southland, having belted Waikato 40-14 yesterday, their second bonus point win in as many games to start the season.
The Steamers, Taranaki and Tasman, who rolled Canterbury 23-8 yesterday, are the only teams with 2-0 records.
On the other hand, traditional powerhouse Canterbury have dropped their first two games to start a season for the first time since 1996.