NPC Team of the Week: Round Six

The back end of the tournament has begun and the gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening.

The Wednesday night match was surprisingly close as one of the whipping boys of the Championship took on one of the contenders in the Premiership.

Tasman only beat Manawatu in two main areas, discipline (Manawatu gave away 16 penalties and a yellow card to Tasman’s 8 penalties) and winning turnovers (Manawatu won a mere 4 to Tasman’s dominant 14).

The match swung back and forth, with only 2 points in it at halftime.

Antonio Kirikiri was yellow carded for a high shot and Tasman stretched their lead and took the bonus-point win, 19-29.

In the battle of the extremes, Southland stood tall for a good 15 minutes before disintegrating before Northland.

The Stags had an extended period of the second half in which they applied some pressure but then they gave up and lost 26-10.

Two Chiefs’ teams went head to head on Friday night with Waikato on their way up and Bay of Plenty on their way down.

Waikato dominated the first half due to superior breakdown work, a huge maul and better discipline.

Bay of Plenty showed signs of life just before the break, but Waikato steamrollered them into the park in the 21-54 desolation.

James Parsons celebrated his 100th NPC match with North Harbour by scoring a double against Hawkes’ Bay.

The Magpies put up quite a fight before North Harbour stepped up a gear in the final 20 minutes and stole the match, 34-51.

Canterbury returned to winning ways over Otago with a solid 25-47 win away from home.

In the final match of Saturday, Taranaki looked much more focused at home against the unbeaten Auckland.

The lead changed hands 7 times as the hosts struggled to get their first win since round 3.

With 9 minutes remaining, Auckland led by 11 points and winger Melani Nanai was carded for a cynical breakdown entry.

The Bulls immediately struck through Mitch Crosswell although Beaudein Waaka missed the conversion and, then with time up, Waaka’s replacement Ciarahn Matoe went over out wide.

Stephen Perofeta stepped up for his first conversion attempt of the match and, due to an early Auckland charge, he got two chances.

However, he pulled the first to the left and the second to the right to end the thrilling match, 30-31 for the still-unbeaten Auckland.

Sunday’s first match turned out to be skin-of-their-teeth tight, too.

Tasman botched several almost-certain chances but went into the break 14 to nil up.

Shortly after the break, they extended it out with a piece of Will Jordan magic, but that was all they could muster as Counties Manukau fought back.

With superb forwards and backs tries, Counties were within a single conversion, sadly missed by Luteru Laulala who did everything else right after entering off the pine.

With the 21-19 win Tasman leapt into second in the Premiership.

Next up, Wellington took on Manawatu at home.

The Turbos desperately needed a win as the round 1 win over Waikato is their only talking point this season.

Wellington had other ideas, and came out firing… and firing accurately.

By the 60 minute mark, the Lions had scored 7 tries. However, replacement Trent Renata had the only conversion, in a shockingly bad night for Garden-Bachop’s boot.

The home team scored a try but were then relegated back to trying to defend as Wellington finished them off, 7-47.

Round 6⃣ of the #Mitre10Cup delivered scintillating scores, but which of these top five tries was YOUR favourite? #Ours pic.twitter.com/sjDSDcflUL

— Mitre 10 Cup (@Mitre10Cup) September 24, 2018

Next Week: This coming Saturday is going to be seen as very important come the end of the season. Taranaki have a chance to lift themselves out of the relegation spot against also-struggling North Harbour. Then directly after, Wellington are at home to Tasman in a match that could solidify a semi-final place on the Premiership table.

Team of the Week – Round Six:

15 – George Bridge (Canterbury):
All you need is the stats: 16 carries, 132 metres, 11 defenders beaten, a try, an assist and no turnovers conceded.
Special mention to Will Jordan (Tasman).
Bubbling Under: Jamie-Jerry Taulagi (Hawkes’ Bay)

14 – Matt Duffie (North Harbour):
Not quite at the level, he was when he was discussed for the All Blacks, but not too far off it.
Bubbling Under: Jamie Spowart (Tasman)

13 – Levi Aumua (Tasman):
Two blockbusting performances from a man whose name you will want to remember come Super Rugby time.
Special mention to Quinn Tupaea (Waikato) and Tumua Manu (Auckland).
Bubbling Under: Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki)

12 – Scott Gregory (Northland):
Giant debut from the young inside centre. Just pips Umaga-Jensen but both of them had huge all-around matches.
Bubbling Under: Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)

11 – Ben Lam (Wellington):
Has been quieter than usual recently, but this week, against some poor defending from Manawatu, and with some excellent distribution from his centres, he cut loose.
Bubbling Under: Salesi Rayasi (Auckland)

10 – Mitch Hunt (Tasman):
Hunt was highly influential off the bench on Wednesday with 10 points and backed that up with an all-round starting run on Sunday. His kicking was the difference against Counties Manukau.
Bubbling Under: Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)

9 – Finlay Christie (Tasman):
Was involved in many of his team’s important moments with 3 try assists. Also got involved without the ball with some big defence.
Bubbling Under: Bryn Hall (North Harbour)

8 – Thomas Waldrom (Wellington):
The old man of Wellington got it done and did not take a backwards step. The energiser bunny picked up a try and set up 2 others while making 22 carries and missing no tackles.
Bubbling Under: Hapakuki Moala-Liava’a (North Harbour)

7 – Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato):
Fantastic charge down for Tupaea’s try, a nuisance at the breakdown and some devastating defence. All the things a good openside should be doing.
Special mention to Sione Havili (Tasman) and Dalton Papali’i (Auckland).
Bubbling Under: Dillon Hunt (North Harbour)

6 – Pita Sowakula (Taranaki):
Any questions around Sowakula’s workrate have been well and truly dismissed. The big man made a round high 23 carries for 79 metres, while also being runner-up on defence for his side with 8 tackles.
Special mention to Adam Burn (Waikato).
Bubbling Under: Ethan Blackadder (Tasman)

5 – James Tucker (Waikato):
A Player of the Round performance from the giant. He carried well, breaking tackles and setting up Jacobson’s try with a brilliant break through the centre. He also took numerous line-outs that became tries from the resulting mauls, even scoring a try himself.
Special mention to Michael Allardice (Hawkes’ Bay).
Bubbling Under: Isaia Walker Leawere (Wellington)

4 – James Blackwell (Wellington):
Powerful on defence. Blackwell didn’t miss a tackle. Big on attack with 12 carries, some nice linking play and a try. And strong at set piece time.
Bubbling Under: Luke Romano (Canterbury)

3 – Marcel Renata (Auckland):
The big package is turning up the heat and at this rate he should be on fire come playoff time.
Bubbling Under: Tyrel Lomax (Tasman)

2 – James Parsons (North Harbour):
Fantastic way to bring up his 100th match, scoring a double.
Bubbling Under: Samisoni Taukei’aho (Waikato)

1 – Wyatt Crockett (Tasman):
Just keeps performing at a very high level, week in and week out. This time, twice in a week.
Special mention to Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Auckland).
Bubbling Under: Isi Tu’ungafasi (Northland)

Team of the Week – Round Five: 15 Wes Goosen (Wellington), 14 Mitchell Scott (Otago), 13 Matt Faddes (Otago), 12 Tinoai Faiane (Auckland), 11 Sevu Reece (Waikato), 10 Fletcher Smith (Waikato), 9 Jono Kitto (Northland), 8 Dylan Nel (Otago), 7 Dalton Papali’i (Auckland), 6 Vaea Fifita (Wellington), 5 Paripari Parkinson (Tasman), 4 Ben Fotheringham (Southland), 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott (Waikato),  2 James Parsons (North Harbour), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Tasman).

Team of the Week – Round Four: 15 Wes Goosen (Wellington), 14 Nigel Ah Wong (Counties Manukau), 13 Rob Thompson (Manawatu), 12 Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), 11 Sevu Reece (Waikato), 10 Fletcher Smith (Waikato), 9 Brad Weber (Hawkes’ Bay), 8 Dylan Nel (Otago), 7 Mitchell Jacobson (Waikato), 6 Mitchell Crosswell (Taranaki), 5 Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland), 3 Kalolo Tuiloma (Counties Manukau),  2 Robbie Abel (Auckland), 1 Sam Prattley (Auckland).

Team of the Week – Round Three: 15 Wes Goosen (Wellington), 14 Ben Lam (Wellington), 13 Rob Thompson (Manawatu), 12 Teihorangi Walden (Taranaki), 11 Jona Nareki (Otago), 10 Mitch Hunt (Tasman), 9 Te Toirua Tahuriorangi (Taranaki), 8 Akira Ioane (Auckland), 7 Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty), 6 Dalton Papali’i (Auckland), 5 Jack Whetton (Auckland), 4 Luke Romano (Canterbury), 3 Angus Ta’avao (Taranaki),  2 Asafo Aumua (Wellington), 1 Reuben O’Neill (Taranaki).

Team of the Week – Round Two: 15 Will Jordan (Tasman), 14 Melani Nanai (Auckland), 13 Rob Thompson (Manawatu), 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wellington), 11 Manasa Mataele (Taranaki), 10 Matthew Lansdown (Waikato), 9 Brad Weber (Hawkes’ Bay), 8 Sam Henwood (Counties Manukau), 7 Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty), 6 Liam Mitchell (Manawatu), 5 Ben Nee Nee (North Harbour), 4 Luke Romano (Canterbury), 3 Angus Ta’avao (Taranaki),  2 Ash Dixon (Hawkes’ Bay), 1 Ross Wright (Northland).

Team of the Week – Round One: 15 Shaun Stephenson (North Harbour), 14 Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), 13 Levi Aumua (Tasman), 12 Matthew Johnson (Southland), 11 Rene Ranger (Northland), 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop (Wellington), 9 Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty), 8 Akira Ioane (Auckland), 7 Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki), 6 Ethan Blackadder (Tasman), 5 Aaron Carroll (Bay of Plenty), 4 Quinton Strange (Tasman), 3 Marco Fepulea’i (Auckland), 2 Andrew Makalio (Tasman), 1 Wyatt Crockett (Tasman).

Team of the Tournament – 2017: 15 George Bridge (Canterbury), 14 Monty Ioane (Bay of Plenty), 13 Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), 12 Jack Goodhue (Northland), 11 Tevita Li (North Harbour), 10 Richie Mo’unga (Canterbury), 9 Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), 8 Toa Halafihi (Taranaki), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (Wellington), 6 Tom Sanders (Canterbury),  5 Jimmy Tupou (Counties Manukau), 4 Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury), 3 Alex Fidow (Wellington), 2 Asafo Aumua(Wellington), 1 Ross Wright (Northland).

By Richard Neal
@rugby365com