World Cup shadow adds spice to Cup
The Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) is back and hopes to proceed without the Covid-19 carnage that wrecked last year’s competition.
Waikato were crowned champions of the women’s national provincial championship for the first time, ending Canterbury’s four-year reign after winning a tight final 22-20 in Christchurch last October.
It was an impressive result for Waikato, albeit with the three Aucklandbased teams – Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour – absent for the finals because of the city’s extended lockdown.
Last year’s FPC was impacted by another Covid-related issue that tested its credibility, as the Black Ferns were plucked from their provinces for a national training camp and missed the finals in order to prepare for test matches in England and France.
The Black Ferns were still hammered by record margins in four successive defeats on an infamous northern tour.
Waikato were affected the most, losing nine Black Ferns, but still won the title in a campaign heavily disrupted by Covid-19 after the three-week nationwide lockdown suspended the season in August.
This season, however, the Black Ferns are likely to play almost a full part in a year that culminates with a home Rugby World Cup in October and November.
Granted, they will miss two weeks (rounds six and seven) because of the O’Reilly Cup series when the Black Ferns play Australia in tests in Christchurch and Adelaide.
Otherwise, the country’s best players are expected to play for their provinces as much as they can.
Wayne Smith, who replaced ex-Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore in April, will name a squad for the O’Reilly Cup in late July or early August and World Cup selections will be on his mind when he and his assistants, Wesley Clarke and Whitney Hansen, watch the FPC.
Last month’s Pacific Four Series, in which the Black Ferns defeated Australia, Canada and the United States, was his first good look at a host of players in contention for the World Cup squad.
After last Friday’s trial match in Pukekohe, the FPC season is next.
That can only add spice to the provincial matches which kick off with the premiership fixtures today. The championship teams start from next weekend.
Long-time Black Ferns, such as forwards Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland), Les Elder (Bay of Plenty) and Eloise Blackwell (Auckland), could be playing in their last chance to return to the national team for the World Cup after missing last month’s tests.
FORMAT
It’s straightforward. There are seven teams in the premiership: Waikato, Canterbury, Auckland, Wellington, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu¯ . There are six in the championship: Otago, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, North Harbour, Northland and Tasman.
In each division, each team plays the other once in a round-robin format and the top four advance to the semifinals. The semifinal winners contest the deciders.
There are no crossover matches between the divisions. The finals are in September.
FAVOURITES
Waikato and Canterbury are likely to challenge again in the premiership and Auckland, after last year’s withdrawal, have a strong team full of internationals who should be in the picture, although they haven’t won the title since 2015.
The championship is wide open. Manawatu¯ eased to promotion last season and will not be around, so last year’s other finals teams, Hawke’s Bay and Northland, seem primed for a title push.
Otago will back themselves after dropping from the premiership.
WHO WILL STRUGGLE?
No crossover matches means there should be no great mismatches and huge winning margins, as has happened in recent years.
Newly-promoted Manawatu¯ could find it tough in the premiership because there is a huge quality gap between the FPC’s top and bottom halves. However, many feel the Cyclones could have competed in last year’s top division. Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau will also have to improve to reach the semifinals.
In the championship, North Harbour, Taranaki and Tasman are expected to make up the bottom three. If they do, one will sneak into the semifinals of the sixteam division.