NZ Rugby Grandstand – Week Six Mitre 10 Cup

CANvOTA

They say luck comes in ‘threes’ and the Mitre 10 Cup celebrated plenty this week. That is ‘hatrick of tries’ and four players obliterated the opposition; as well as the statistics, during Week Five Mitre 10 Cup action.

Another ‘double-header’ week where Southland and Bay of Plenty began the arduous schedule Wednesday. So by Sunday afternoon, each side completed their mandatory two-game cycle. Next week, the two sides are Waikato and Canterbury, so it is not just a punishment lower placed teams must face.

All around, the quality was lifted again. Some matches required better skill sets, as the weather played a part in many games. Handling has improved with more regular play, some players enjoying a hatrick of tries (four of them) while every side now has a better understanding of the new trial laws.

NZ Rugby Grandstand – Week Six Mitre 10 Cup

Results: Southland 20 Bay of Plenty 16 | Northland 21 Wellington 29 | Counties-Manukau 35 Waikato 26 | Canterbury 45 Otago 34  | Taranaki 30 Manawatu 19 | Hawke’s Bay 29 Tasman 36 | North Harbour 35 Southland 14 | Bay of Plenty 38 Auckland 44

Hatricks scored in three matches

This theme of scoring three tries began with Wellington 19-year-old hooker, Asafo Aumua. A replacement player, you wouldn’t have bet on his return of three ‘meat pies’ as the Northland side hosted the Lions.

The Taniwha held firm for 40 minutes, but after Kara Pryor was binned–the gates opened up. And Aumua rolled through for a unique hatrick by a Hooker. With that, Wellington may have driven over the Northland side but as the NZ Rugby Grandstand has mentioned, the Northland team ‘never give up’. Just losing 21-29, their resolve denied Wellington a crucial bonus point.

Note: Brad Shields celebrated 50 games for Wellington. The Super Rugby title winner is a bruising player, with much more to offer NZ Rugby.

Friday fun as prop scores three tries

Counties-Manukau prop Kalolo Tuiloma would not miss out. He is bullocking prop and he can be proud of his efforts. Not only did he challenge the scrum, he pushed the line and was rewarded on multiple occasions.

Playing their Southern neighbour Waikato, the performance of Tuiloma was one of many, as the confident Steelers team took a healthy lead 22-5. A stunned Waikato team had to be determined to challenge, and would normally recover. Exhausted from the 20-20 Ranfurly Shield draw, it cost them as they were off form.

Tuiloma ‘the Bulldozer’ was a standout (and enjoyed it too) as was the quality 9-10 combination of Augustine Pulu and Piers Frances. It will be a real bonus if both can stay healthy. Counties won with a bonus point, so are well placed in the Premiership of 2016.

Star Auckland center enjoys hatrick

Not only did the hatrick trend follow suit in Tauranga, but it was scored in a more ‘familiar style’. Backs will have chuckled at the two forwards already accomplishing that feat, so when Rieko Ioane treated fans to a clinic, normal service was assumed.

The All Blacks Sevens player has been active in 2016. Winning with the Sevens in Wellington, he returned to the Blues for several starring games. Back to Sevens, it did not end in Gold unfortunately–but in All Black. Called into the wider training group with The Rugby Championship winning New Zealand team, that environment promotes high performance.

Now starring as centre for Auckland, he showed all the skills in a high-scoring game.

MVP – Joe Tupe

Bay of Plenty would not stay down–in greasy conditions, they put their heart on the line. One of the best, was loose forward Joe Tupe (below). With 12 tries in total scored in this match, six from ‘the Bay’–three of those were from Tupe alone!

Joe Tupe
Joe Tupe of the Bay of Plenty in action during the ITM Cup match between Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty on September 19, 2015 in Napier, New Zealand. (Photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

The cut-and-thrust was a wonderful example of the emphasis on attack–even in the conditions. Defense suffered to a degree, but Tupe put in his usual hard work and benefitted from being ‘the right man in the right place’ on more than one occasion. The former All Blacks Sevens player has speed and physical presence.

Not his first try either, he now leads all scorers in the competition with seven. Now ahead of Ngani Laumape, it will be a credit to his hard work. 510 minutes played so far, that is an average of one try per game. He will be attracting the interest from Super Rugby at this stage.

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Of course, not every game was a tryfest! Well, close to it actually. There have been a huge number tries scored by all teams. Canterbury lead on 35, but surprisingly Bay of Plenty have scored 29, Counties 28 and Otago 27. If that is a result from the trial laws freeing players up from the ruck, it is a benefit.

Standout performances

Several special moments standout this week:

SOUvBOP
Jimmy Cowan (L) of Southland celebrates his try with Elliot Dixon at Rugby Park (Photo Dianne Manson/Getty Images)
  • Jimmy Cowan grounding the ball in between Elliot Dixon’s legs–thieving a personal try
  • Matt Duffie and Tevita Li finishing off Southland in style, after a saturated Harbour win
  • Johnny McNichol showing why he will be a huge loss to NZ Rugby–scoring tries, before he departs for Welsh rugby
  • Hawke’s bay running themselves to a standstill, only just losing to a stronger Tasman
  • Callum Gibbons being denied a last second try, as the referee denied him a TMO review…of what was clearly a try, that would have given Manawatu a bonus point. To his credit, Gibbons reflected “he’s the referee and we’ll have to live with that.” Full credit.

That brings us to the competition standings.

Premiership – Canterbury 26 | Taranaki 25 (7) | Counties 24 (7) | Auckland 22 (7) | Waikato 18 | Tasman 18 | H. Bay 10 (7)

Championship – Otago 29 (7) | Wellington 23 | Manawatu 15 | Harbour 14 | Bay of Plenty 12 (7) | Southland 6 (7) | Northland 4 (7).

From now, the remaining six sides to yet play their ‘double-header’ round will be playing for keeps. Canterbury are the first to embark on that round, and in an envious position. Just the single loss, and now prepared to face Waikato for a Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Week Seven starts with a Bang!

On Wednesday, the ‘shield’ goes on the line. Normally if it is a Wednesday, you think Auckland v Mid Canterbury [0-66] but this will be one of the ‘matches of the week’. Waikato have to regain some energy to deny Canterbury another victory. Mouth watering action to begin the new week.

Fixtures – Wednesday September 28 – Waikato v Canterbury, Hamilton | Thursday Sept 29 – Tasman v Counties-Manukau, Blenheim | Friday Sept 30 – Wellington v Southland, Westpac Stadium | Saturday October 1 – North Harbour v Bay of Plenty, Albany | Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North | Auckland v Otago, Eden Park | Sunday Oct 2 – Taranaki v Canterbury, New Plymouth | Northland v Waikato, Whangarei.

“Main photo credit”