One loss away from Stag-nation
Two rounds out from the semifinals and now every team in the Mitre 10 Cup competition has tasted defeat, after Auckland were upset by Otago last Friday.
Both the premiership and championship playoffs races are officially five-team contests, with Counties Manukau and Taranaki now just battling to avoid relegation and Manawatu and Southland out of the running in the second tier.
Can Southland fire up to avoid equalling Northland’s record losing streak?
The Stags have racked up 18 consecutive losses and sit just one game shy of equalling the ‘division one’ record held by Northland.
The Taniwha went 19 in a row from 2014-2016 and that streak represents the fifth-equal worst of all-time in NPC history, and the worst by a side playing among the top flight.
Southland have shown some fight, but last Saturday’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato epitomised their torment, where they led 11-7 approaching halftime before being overwhelmed 42-11.
This Sunday – one day short of two years since their last victory – the Stags host Bay of Plenty in Invercargill, and with the Steamers coming into it on the back of five straight defeats, the hosts may sniff a chance.
Canterbury v Taranaki . . . yeah, nah
This one had a real lick-the-lips feel about it at season’s start . . . a couple of weeks out from the playoffs, the defending champions up against the top qualifiers from last season, a rematch in Christchurch exactly one year to the day the amber-and-blacks shocked the red-and-blacks with that stunning comeback to snatch the Ranfurly Shield.
It’s hardly an attention-grabber anymore, however, thanks to Taranaki’s surprisingly woeful campaign which has them in bottom spot in the premiership.
They’ve lost five in a row, including the Shield. After running Auckland to within a kicked conversion of victory they were then walloped 55-26 at home by North Harbour last weekend – their second 50-plus concession in three outings.
Are Auckland getting the wobbles?
Five from five and flying high following their first win in Christchurch in 11 years, but since then Auckland’s campaign has started to get a little shaky.
Yes, they made it six from six, but only by a single point against a struggling Taranaki, then last weekend they suffered their first loss, as Otago pulled off a surprise win at Eden Park.
Tomorrow Auckland go in as underdogs away to Wellington, then in the last round they endure their ‘storm week’, facing Southland away on the Wednesday, then hosting North Harbour four days later.
A home semifinal still needs to be worked on for a team which has so often under-delivered in recent times and is seeking its first title since 2007.
Is it Tasman’s turn?
Following their win over Wellington in the capital last Saturday, the Mako have gone top of the table to emerge as a title-contender again.
Since earning promotion in 2013, Tasman have been a model of consistency, making the playoffs every year, but ending up heartbroken as runners-up three times out of four.
After taking down Canterbury in round one they have already landed a psychological blow on the perennial powerhouses, now with Otago and Hawke’s Bay to come they’ll be out to nail top spot and a potential historic home final.
Will Tevita Li ever be an All Black?
The North Harbour left winger has rocketed to the top of the competition’s try-scoring chart, with 10, after bagging four in the romp over Taranaki. They weren’t exactly tough finishes but nonetheless someone had to complete them.
Formerly with the Blues and now with the Highlanders the past two Super Rugby seasons, the 23-year-old has shown he has pace to burn and can foot it at that level too.
At just 21, Rieko Ioane seemingly has the All Blacks No 11 jersey sewn up, but there is still a fair bit of time for Li – a former New Zealand Schools and national under-20s representative – to put some heat on for his inclusion in a squad.