Auckland team to beat after first Christchurch win in 11 seasons
For the first time in a decade, there’s a new power at the top of the Mitre 10 Cup. Perhaps Auckland would quibble being classed as “new” — they have won 16 titles, after all — but after 11 years without success, they are looming as the team to beat following a 34-29 victory over Canterbury.
Maybe they would play down that assertion, too, but when you beat Tasman and Canterbury in back-toback weeks — both convincingly — and claim your first win in Christchurch since 2007, it’s hard to deny Auckland’s potency.
With five wins from five, Auckland Auckland 34 Canterbury 29 North Harbour 32 Bay of Plenty 20 are the competition’s only unbeaten team, and considering they survived relegation by one point last season, it has been a rapid return to the top under new coach Alama Ieremia.
Breaking their title drought might be too much to ask, but then again, yesterday was meant to be their downfall. Canterbury had won 12 of their last 13 games against their old rivals and lost just one of their last 19 at home. So for Auckland to come to Christchurch and take down the victors of nine of the last 10 titles — well, consider the competition on notice.
They had a bit of luck — their first try came after clearly putting a foot in touch — but there were no problems with the rest of their performance. TJ Faiane shone with a hat-trick, including finishing off a superb 100m counter-attack started by a cross-kick, and Auckland looked dangerous attacking from all areas.
Canterbury had their chances and a reasonable chunk of possession but their usual stout defence was lacking, missing 28 tackles, and the scoreline looked respectable only due to consolation tries in the last two minutes.
Canterbury’s reign isn’t over but the dog days are done for Auckland. ● It was a good afternoon for northern sides, with North Harbour jumping off the bottom of the Premiership ladder thanks to a 32-20 victory over Bay of Plenty. They move into fifth but are still well outside the top four.
Bay of Plenty also sit fifth in the Championship but their semifinal chances look rosier, with their final five games all against Championship opposition.
Auckland 34
(TJ Faiane 3, Jonathan Ruru, Tumua Manu tries; Harry Plummer 3 cons, pen)
(Greg Pleasents-Tate, Sef Fa’agase, Chris King, Brodie McAlister tries; Brett Cameron 3 cons, pen). Halftime: 22-15.
(James Parsons, Bryn Hall, Tevita Li, Bryn Gatland tries; Gatland 3 cons, 2 pens)
(Mike Delany, James Lay tries; Delany con, 2 pens, Jason Robertson con). Halftime: 15-13.
Canterbury 29 North Harbour 32 Bay of Plenty 20