All eyes last week were looking north from this side of the world, as the 2015 Rugby World Cup (RWC) began with a big clash involving hosts England and Fiji on Friday. New Zealand fans had to wait until this Monday past, for our side to play Argentina and were happy to arrest some early nerves, and take the win.
With so much rugby on offer, it was ‘rugby heaven’ and an increased interest in the game; domestic and International, was like Christmas for All Blacks fans. The national team are current World Champions, and the teams goal is to be the first All Blacks side to win away from home and the first the win back-to-back World Cups. That pressure alone is monumental, but add in the hopes of four million people at home and you have a huge amout of anticipation on that sides opening clash against Argentina at Wembley Stadium. Gladly, the team persevered and held off a fast-improving Los Pumas team. Winning 26-16, they withstood the pressure to win by two tries to one with Dan Carter kicking 100% of goals and even though two players were sent to the bin; reducing the side to just 13 players at one point, this mature team knew how to absorb the passionate Argentine side and prevailed.
The RugbyNZ_ Overview recognizes that the huge significance of this quadrangular tournament is lost on nobody (including the English hosts) and wish our team all the best but we would like to highlight our domestic game in this edition–ITM Cup Week Six continued this weekend with more fine provincial matches on our home soil.
While that International side looked rusty, many of the leading Provincial teams back in New Zealand (NZ) began to reach their peak – Canterbury, Tasman, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Mid Canterbury [Heartland] are winning the matches to put themselves in the best positions to win their respective Premiership/Championship or Cup competitions.
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ITM CUP – Week Six
Results: Wednesday 16th September, Tasman 39 North Harbour 20 | Thursday 17th September, Wellington 36 Otago 37 | Friday 18th September, Taranaki 41 Waikato 0 | Saturday 19th August, Hawke’s Bay 23 Bay of Plenty 17 [RS] | Southland 49 Manawatu 14 | Northland 17 Counties-Manukau 42 | Sunday 20th September, North Harbour 10 Canterbury 17 | Tasman 19 Auckland 28
In last weeks matches, we saw a much closer competition than the week earlier, with less ‘blowout’ scores of 50 plus points, as the standout result was the epic encounter between Wellington and Otago. Denied the week before, Otago were not going to be on the losing side at Westpac Stadium again and demonstrated their ‘never say die’ attitude. With dynamic Naulia Dawai in great form, this strong team overcame the Capital side in an even scoring match coming down the final tryscoring act of the game – proves the fact that it is an 80 minute game.
Hawke’s Bay retained the Ranfurly Shield, holding out a energetic Bay of Plenty side hoping to gain the title of ‘the real Bay’ for another 12 months – they were denied by a resilient team who did enough but must improve, if they want to keep their hands on the ‘log of wood’ and the lead in the Championship division.
With the big four Premiership sides demonstrating their strength, the ‘biggest clash’ was Tasman hosting a powerful Auckland team. It was another tight encounter but Auckland succeeded in besting Tasman for their first loss of their season even though you could say that it might have been different if some calls went the hosts way. Those two teams look likely to meet again come the finals, so with Taranaki gaining in their mid=season strength; a monumental flogging of Waikato 41-0, that side are coming good near the top of the season.
Our LWOS Player of the Week – George Moala. A record was made in the match between Tasman and visitors Auckland, as second-five Moala scored his sixth try in six games. Thie tryscoring feat is unprecedented, even for a back who has excelled in the face of personal issues at the start of the year, as well as the poor performing Blues franchise. It is tremendous to see him putting that behind him after his call up to the All Blacks, playing Samoa and also scoring a try.
His record will take some beating, and he has scored the majority of those in closer, showing good support play and determination. Right now, he is a stand-out in the ITM Cup and looks set to drive his side to more Provincial glory.
Canterbury are now the only unbeaten team, but they still have some critical matches to play — Taranaki on Sunday at home and of course, a wounded Tasman team in October. That sides progress will be important, but all eyes this week will be on the Ranfurly Shield match between holders Hawke’s Bay and Auckland. This game see’s the 3rd most successful Shield province face a challenge from the most successful team ever [Auckland] It will be a huge match in itself, for a cross-promotion match of course but also for ‘bragging rights’ as much as important ITM Cup points for both.
As well, Otago face Southland in a battle for the ‘Mainland’ but the points standings in the Premiership are now very close, with Tasman heading the table, having played more games though. Canterbury sit just behind them and will play twice this week and they could overcome that small points difference. Ominously, Auckland sit in third with Taranaki holding fourth, as Waikato dropped a place.
Future fixtures: Wednesday 23rd September, Canterbury v Waikato | Thursday 24th September, Hawke’s Bay v Auckland [RS] | Friday 25th September, Northland v Bay of Plenty | Saturday 26th September, Counties-Manukau v Tasman | Otago v Southland | Manawatu v North Harbour | Sunday 27th September, Waikato v Wellington | Canterbury v Taranaki
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HEARTLAND CHAMPIONSHIP – Week Five
Results: West Coast 36 Wairapa Bush 33 | Horowhenua-Kapiti 26 North otago 22 | Mid Canterbury 50 East Coast 32 | South Canterbury 35 Thames valley 19| Wanganui 17 King Country 17 | Buller 36 Poverty Bay 14
Five wins out of five matches, a terrific record for points leading Mid Canterbury and they are genuinely leading the way and scored 50 points in defeating East Coast. While they did let in an astonishing 32 points to the Ngati Porou team which may have been as they rested and mentally looked forward to the next few games. One of the biggest results was the draw between Wanganui and King Country. That is an impressive fight from the mid-North Island team who will take more from that match as they themselves fight for a top four position.
The table is looking set, while the teams in spots six to eight would only need to collect maximum points this weekend to make the competition close, but South Canterbury dealt to Thames Valley last Saturday and look ‘likely’ to compete for the Meads Cup.
Heartland News – With the teams continually traveling throughout the country, such a tight schedule can take it’s toll on some of these smaller unions and their players. While the big regions [ITM Cup] are very used to the required logistics and in having professional players, they can focus on recovery, training and preparation for the next match.
Pink Batts Heartland Championship sides still rely on players who have regular jobs, or have sacrificed income to represent their province. Last Word On Sport takes our hat off to these hard working teams, and commends the organisation, management and the families of those players. It is hard work player ‘Real Man’s Rugby’ as Nigel Yalden would call it.
Kudos must also go to the local ‘free-to-air’ broadcast of MainFreight Rugby that screens on Prime TV in New Zealand and on SkySports pay TV channel. This show follows all six matches over the competition, and both Cup finals, this hour long highlights show has in-depth coverage and post-match interviews with the players. It has a real Grassroots feel to it which reinforces the strong depth that Rugby has in our country.
Credit to the producers of this program, including commentators Richard Mason and Ian ‘Kamo’ Jones and their guest local announcers, their show sponsors and all the staffs and volunteers who provide this excellent coverage. Great work team.
Future fixtures: Saturday 26th – East Coast v West Coast, Ruatoria | Thames Valley v Wanganui, Paeroa | Wairarapa Bush v Horowhenua Kapiti, Masterton | King Country v South Canterbury, Te Kuiti | North Otago v Buller, Oamaru | Poverty Bay v Mid Canterbury, Gisbourne
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WOMENS PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP – Week Five
Results: Hawke’s Bay 5 Canterbury 58 | Otago 41 Bay of Plenty 10 | Wellington 27 Counties Manukau 12 | Waikato 0 Auckland 17 (BYE: Manawatu)
The competition is really building towards a crescendo, with great games played last weekend to continue the high standards of women’s rugby. The big result was Wellington turning over Counties-Manukau that gives them a jump now over their rivals, to put them in a position to possibly finish third as Waikato and Auckland are topping the table clearly with four wins a piece.
The length of this short season means that with only one match left in the round-robin (six matches) so this weeks draw has Otago host Auckland, That South Island team could benefit the most from a bonus point win; that will be a big challenge, to advance them into the final series.
A great match-up there, as will the Counties-Manukau v Waikato game. It all comes to a head this weekend, so if you are looking at going to one of these matches we hope you really enjoy the rugby and Last Word On Sports will focus on this championship next week, in our RugbyNZ_ Overview series.
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