Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Super Saturday–Rugby Calendar Overflowing

Ryan Crotty returns to the starting line-up

From Scott HornellLastWordOnRugby.com

In New Zealand this weekend, not only are the All Blacks playing again, but so is everyone else! Don’t take me literally, but there are literally so many games this weekend, that fans rugby calendar is overflowing.

The All Blacks are just one of a number of matches this Super Saturday.

At one of the busiest times of the year, fans have the ultimate choice. With games running from Wednesday to Sunday, multiple choices need to be made every Super Saturday.

That list includes: Farah Palmer Cup (Women’s Provincial Championship) with the Harbour Hibiscus playing Manawatu Cyclones. It is the curtain-raiser to one of this afternoons games, and it begins our full afternoons schedule.

This choice ranges from Farah Palmer Cup, to Heartland Championship and includes the Mitre 10 Cup. A great selection, fans have the greatest choice to make.

Fans set for a wealth of options

Those options will almost always begin with the All Blacks…as you do. And on Saturday night the competition is elevated when the impassioned Argentinian side visits. This match forms part of The Rugby Championship, where the All Blacks have won both their opening matches.

Look for Los Pumas to kick-on from their last result; a win over South Africa. It was that sides first ever home victory of the Springboks, so the only step now is up–a victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

7:35pm – New Zealand v Argentina

Steve Hansen is sending his men into battle again, with an eye more on the continuation of developing the side in the post-McCaw era. Argentina have been quite a challenge over the recent times, and captain Kieran Read would expect nothing less. His side have only two changes to the one which withstood a fired-up Australia.

That was two weeks ago, and while they had to await this weekends opponent, a handful of players were released back to their provincial sides. A rare outing for some, each would have used the high standards they enjoy within the All Blacks environment while in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Some now rejoin that AB’s camp, including Ryan Crotty and Codie Taylor. Both recovered from concussion, the levels would be well advanced during the Investec Rugby Championship but that is no admonishment of the provincial sides.

MITRE 10 CUP WEEK FOUR

The Mitre 10 Cup is New Zealand’s premier provincial rugby competition, celebrating it’s 30th season. Today, that celebration includes two quality matches:

2:35pm – North Harbour v Manawatu, Albany

This reporter will be present at QBE Stadium, as these two sides face each other. In a Championship clash, this critical game will see the winner making steps closer to the top of their division.

Expect loyal ‘bucketheads’ to be present in Albany. The famous Manawatu supporter adds colour and enthusiasm that is wonderful a feature of provincial rugby. The camaraderie, the banter and if you are unlucky, the singing! Look forward to a sing-a-long if the MC plays ‘The Gambler’.

Plus, there is a rugby game to enjoy as well.

4:35pm – Otago v Tasman, Dunedin

As well as the ‘here and now’ provincial rugby has a proud history. Celebrating 30 years, some of the more notable championship sides must be the Otago sides. Often in the shadow of Auckland or Canterbury, Otago have created fond memories for fans.

The late afternoon match is both an inter-division clash, but will also acknowledge the side from 25 years ago. Coached by former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains, the modern team will hope to take inspiration from the former players.

https://twitter.com/OtagoChamber/status/773330485422403584

While much of the provincial focus will fall on the Mitre 10 Cup–as it should–there is also the next level below that.

Heartland Championship matches

One of the more enjoyable, and traditional fixtures on a Super Saturday, are the Heartland matches. Part of the grassroots of NZ rugby, the championship consists of 12 sides who play more for the love of the game, than the money.

On Saturday, another six Heartland ‘Super Saturday’ matches will entertain fans in the rural heartland of the country:

MID CANTERBURY v WAIRARAPA BUSH – Ashburton Showgrounds, Ashburton

THAMES VALLEY v KING COUNTRY – Boyd Park, Te Aroha

NORTH OTAGO v HOROWHENUA KAPITI – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

POVERTY BAY v BULLER – Rugby Park, Gisborne

WANGANUI v SOUTH CANTERBURY – Cooks Gardens, Wanganui

WEST COAST v EAST COAST – Rugby Park, Greymouth

A number of these matches will go a long way to establishing the leading sides of the Championship. Wanganui at the forefront, but sides like Poverty Bay, Mid Canterbury and King Country will all profit from wins this weekend.

With the much vaunted Meads Cup as the major prize, that is balanced with the sad news of the illness afflicting it’s namesake. So like the immortal Colin Meads, the status of this championship is the same–exemplary.

Full selection available for Fans

So with the list of options, fans hold a rugby calendar overflowing with choice. Your Super Saturday reaches a crescendo with the All Blacks v Argentina–followed by Australia v South Africa.

And forgive me if the options continue–on Sunday, there are two more Mitre 10 Cup matches.

  • Canterbury v Hawke’s Bay, Christchurch
  • Auckland v Waikato, Eden Park

These games will complete week four of the Mitre 10 Cup. Most rugby commentators will surely agree, there can’t be any better provincial matches than a Canterbury or Auckland fixture.

Such rich choices, the game is in a healthy state–add to that the worldwide popularity of the New Zealand All Blacks side, and the superlatives seem inadequate. A Super Saturday is all that Last Word On Sports can say.

Oh yeah “take a seat and enjoy”.

 

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