Farewell to TV’s 800 Words
OPINION: Regular season done and dusted. Now it’s time for the serious stuff – playoff footy. Here’s this week’s talking points.
1. Does it get any better than Tasman v Canterbury?
No. If there’s one semifinal worth tuning into, it’s this allCrusaders region peach to kickoff your long weekend. In a rematch of the 2016 and 2017 finals, both won by the red and blacks in Christchurch, the second-seeded Mako are favoured to advance to their third consecutive final, and fourth in the past five years.
The bookies have them as $1.82 favourites and, with both teams plastered with Super Rugby players, this has match-ofthe-season written all over it.
There is no chance Tasman, who beat Canterbury 25-17 in Blenheim in round one, will take the red and blacks lightly.
‘‘Last year left a bitter taste in our mouths, so to get another crack is a good thing, especially at home,’’ Tasman tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax said.
2. Will teams lose players to the All Blacks in the playoffs?
Yes and No. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen hasn’t asked any of the 19 players scheduled to fly to Tokyo for the November 3 test against Japan to leave until after the Mitre 10 Cup is over (October 27).
That’s good news for semifinalists Canterbury, Tasman, Wellington, and Otago, who all have players included in the group to join 10 other All Blacks in Japan for the test.
Canterbury have the largest contingent, with halfback Mitchell Drummond, five-five Brett Cameron, outside back George Bridge, lock Luke Romano and No 8 Luke Whitelock named.
‘‘Obviously, if we do win [our semifinal], you’ll be doing well to keep me out of playing a final,’’ Romano told media on Thursday morning.
However, Auckland have lost openside flanker Dalton Papalii after he was named in the 32-man squad, which on Friday departs for Yokohama to prepare for Bledisloe III.
Loosehead prop Joe Moody (Canterbury) and hooker Dane Coles (Wellington), on the road back from injury, are available for the semifinals, before joining the All Blacks next week.
3. Is it Auckland’s to lose?
Snaring the top-seed with a 9-1 record sure gives them a head start as they chase their first national provincial title since 2007.
As long as they beat Wellington the Alama Ieremiacoached Aucklanders will host either Tasman or Canterbury next Saturday.
They’ve already beaten both this season, and history tells us home-field advantage is not to be underestimated in this competition. Only Canterbury have won deciders on the road since 2004 – against Wellington (2004 and 2013), and Waikato (2011).
For the record, the bookies have Auckland and Tasman at $3.00 favourites to win it all, trailed by Canterbury ($3.50) and Wellington ($5).
4. Are Otago now the favourites to gain promotion?
They sure made a statement by rolling into Hamilton and snatching the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato last week, but it’s hard to go past the top-seeded Mooloos.
The team which opened the season with three straight losses, and had lost a team record 10 games on the bounce at the time, are still top dogs in the championship.
Their fans should enjoy it while they can. After all, who knows what’s in store after coach Jono Gibbes departs for Europe after his one and only season concludes.
We should get a tasty rematch of last weekend’s Shield game in the final, after Waikato and Otago are likely to fend off Northland and Hawke’s Bay respectively.
5. Will Brad Weber be a man possessed?
The Hawke’s Bay halfback will turn up the heat when the Magpies visit Otago on Saturday night. Weber wasn’t one of 51 All Blacks picked earlier this week, and called assistant coach Ian Foster for an explanation.
‘‘Yes. I thought I was a decent chance. I’ve been playing some of my best rugby this year. Certainly gave myself a hell of a shot but they obviously thought differently,’’ he told Radio Sport.
It leaves Weber as the sixth ranked halfback and he’s set his sights on proving the selectors wrong.