Shield payback, northern pride
What’s going on in the upper North Island? Waikato have won the Ranfurly Shield and Auckland are still unbeaten.
Will their changed fortunes continue, should the old bonus point system be scratched, and what’s wrong with Taranaki? They are just some of this week’s talking points.
Will Waikato’s Shield tenure last just four days?
Halfback Brad Weber owes Hawke’s Bay the Ranfurly Shield, something he’s regularly been reminded of the past three years.
Weber helped raid the Log o’ Wood from Hawke’s Bay when he played for Waikato in 2015, making tomorrow night’s fixture the ideal way to make amends for his home province.
‘‘Yes, I get it Hawke’s Bay fans, I owe you guys a Shield, blah blah. Been hearing it nearly every day since I’ve been back,’’ Weber tweeted after Waikato knocked over Taranaki to claim the Shield for the 11th time.
Weber and his Magpies lead the championship section of the Mitre 10 Cup, but the bookies have them as $2.40 outsiders to win the shield.
As for Waikato, where the heck did that performance against premiership side Taranaki come from? Talk about a turnaround under coach Jono Gibbes, who also celebrated beating big brother Chris Gibbes and his highly-fancied Wellington side last week.
What’s wrong with Taranaki?
What a disappointment the amber-and-blacks have been so far this season. Two wins from five matches leaves them second from bottom in the premiership, and it could get uglier against Tasman in Nelson on Friday night.
Taranaki, who boast a roster littered with Super Rugby players, went into the season with the Ranfurly Shield in their trophy cabinet, and as one of the favourites to win it all.
The Shield’s gone on the back of a limp first- half against Waikato last week, and they look anything but the team which qualified as the top-seed for the playoffs a year ago.
They’ll be stinging ahead of the rematch of last year’s remarkable semifinal loss to Tasman. The only thing is the Mako are in the same boat, having come crashing back to the rest of the pack after their 36-10 towelling to Auckland last week.
Ditch the bonus point system
Anyone else keen for New Zealand Rugby to introduce the bonus point system Sanzaar use to the NPC?
Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship ditched the old system (a bonus point for scoring four tries) in 2016, instead awarding teams a bonus point for scoring at least three more tries than the opposition.
It demands teams with large leads don’t take their foot off the throat, and stops losing teams walking away with two points for scoring four tries and finishing within seven points.
Auckland’s Christchurch pain
Last week’s comprehensive win against Tasman was one thing, but resurgent Auckland can make an even bigger statement if they beat Canterbury on Sunday afternoon.
They haven’t won in the Garden City since 2011, but will be beyond confident ahead of the fixture at Christchurch Stadium.
Unbeaten Auckland were immense against previously unbeaten Tasman last week, blowing them off Eden Park on the back of a stirring display by their forward pack.
Lock Patrick Tuipulotu scored a first half hat-trick, although he won’t play due to his injury cover call up to the All Blacks. Canterbury could also be without a key player – lock Luke Romano – due to a calf injury.
Battle of the south
Provincial crowds often struggle, but expect the rowdy locals to show their faces at Invercargill’s Rugby Park on Saturday.
Forget the fact Southland are waist deep in a 15-match losing streak, you get the feeling all will be forgotten if they tip up Otago for the first time since 2013.
New coach Dave Hewett is still chasing his first scalp with the Stags, who are entrenched at the bottom of the championship section.