Last chance for some to shine
It’s the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup before the playoffs, and there are a few things worth keeping an eye on.
For some players it may be a last chance to get in front of the national selectors, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen this week revealing they are going to be taking an extended squad to face Japan next month to allow a bunch of key men to be shipped north to begin preparations for Europe early.
Here’s this week’s talking points:
All Blacks’ cavalry returns
Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala. Good things come in threes, they say. And that’s not a bad trio to be making their return from injury all at once.
Coles is the big one. The 31-year-old, 56-test hooker has been out of action since rupturing his ACL against France last November. After further surgery was needed in May, calf issues have stunted him since, but he’s now set to play the last 20 minutes of Wellington’s match against Taranaki in New Plymouth on Friday.
The following night, props Moody (broken thumb) and Laulala (broken forearm) are set to pack down against one another as they also return to the fray.
Can the Ranfurly Shield stay in the Waikato for the summer?
After a stunning turnaround of their fortunes, Waikato can lock the Log o’ Wood away for the summer with victory over Otago on Saturday.
The Mooloos had gone a province-record 10 consecutive defeats up till their fourth game of this year, before suddenly notching six straight bonus point wins under coach Jono Gibbes.
Having already wrapped up top seeding for the championship division semifinals, Waikato’s focus can go on the Shield this weekend, but expect their attacking endeavour to continue.
Waikato face a dangerous Otago side, who, after beating high-flying Auckland at Eden Park, last week roared from behind to take down Bay of Plenty in Dunedin, before being tipped up at home by Tasman four days later.
New record beckons for Southland
The poor old Stags.
Staring down the barrel of a 19th straight loss which would equal Northland’s mark in the top flight of New Zealand domestic rugby, Southland led Bay of Plenty 22-19 with seven minutes to go in Invercargill on Sunday. But then Kane Leaupepe bowled over between the sticks, which handed the hosts a 26-22 defeat.
Now, back at Rugby Park tonight, Southland will attempt to avoid setting a new mark of 20 successive beatings. However, staring them in the face will be hot shots Auckland.
North Harbour or Wellington?
The fourth and last semifinal spot in the premiership division will go to one of these sides, who are tied on 29 points.
Harbour will be out to back up their playoffs effort from last year, having won promotion the season before, while the Lions are hunting their first premiership semi since 2013 – the season before they were demoted.
Wellington look to have the easier task, up against Taranaki in New Plymouth on Friday, with Harbour facing Auckland at Eden Park on Sunday. A bonus-point win for the Lions would be enough, because if the teams finish level on points the first tie breaker is the result of the contest between the two – which was a 35-23 win to Wellington on September 9.
Counties Manukau or Taranaki?
At the other end of the spectrum, one of these teams will be relegated to the championship.
Taranaki have been in the top grade since the two-division split in 2011, and their fall from grace has been remarkable, losing six games on the bounce.
They are three points behind Counties, so need to beat Wellington
The Steelers are in Pukekohe the following night, but face a tough assignment against Canterbury, and, after ironically being the last team Taranaki beat, Counties have to do better than finish level on points with them.