Seven into four for NPC semis

Seven teams will wrestle for NPC semifinal places in this last week of round robin play, with current frontrunners and Ranfurly Shield holders Canterbury the only team confirmed to host one of the play-offs.

At the start of week 13, Canterbury is sitting comfortably on 45 points, ahead of Waikato and Auckland, both on 40 points, followed by Wellington on 38 points, then Taranaki and Bay of Plenty both on 37 points, and still in with a chance is Southland on 34 points.

These teams will be looking for an outright win for themselves, and for other results to benefit them.

Table positions will become clearer after head-to-head clashes between Waikato v Canterbury (on Friday in Hamilton) and Southland v Wellington (Saturday, Invercargill).

Canterbury’s five-point cushion means that even if Waikato wins and moves to the top of the table, Canterbury can only drop as low as second, and are still assured of a home semifinal.

Other matches to decide the semifinals’ pecking order are the Week 13 opener Northland v Bay of Plenty (Thursday, Whangarei); North Harbour v Taranaki (Saturday, Albany) and Auckland v Tasman (Sunday, Auckland).

Counties Manukau, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Tasman, North Harbour, Manawatu and Otago are all sitting below 30 points and not in contention for the semifinals.

Meanwhile, official results for Week 12 have confirmed the make-up of teams for next year’s reformatted NPC competition.

The 2011 NPC will run in a compacted eight weeks, with the 14 provincial teams split into the Premiership and Championship.

The teams ranked one to seven at the end of this year’s round robin will play in next year’s Premiership and those ranked eight to 14 will play in the Championship.

After Week 12, Counties Manukau, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Tasman, North Harbour, Manawatu and Otago are now confirmed for next year’s Championship. The 2011 Championship Finalists will play for promotion to the Premiership.

The confirmed Premiership teams – Canterbury, Waikato, Auckland, Wellington, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Southland – will play for the NPC title with the team finishing last in 2011, being relegated to the Championship in 2012.

Next year’s NPC will see all Premiership teams play each other once, and all Championship teams will similarly play against each other once (three home, three away games). In addition, all fourteen teams will play four across-the-competition matches (two home, two away games) where Premiership and Championship teams meet.

All games will carry full competition points.

Next month, Provincial Unions begin the process of selecting and confirming the across-competition matches for 2011.

Round 13 fixtures and teams:

Thursday, October 21:

Northland v Bay of Plenty
(Whangarei – 19.35)

The teams:

Northland: 15 Jared Payne (captain), 14 Simon Munro, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Aaron Bancroft, 11 Lachie Munro, 10 David Holwell, 9 Rhyan Caine, 8 Cameron Eyre, 7 Joel McKenty, 6 Dean Budd, 5 Mark Burman, 4 Pat O’Connor, 3 Bronson Murray, 2 Mikaele Tuu’u, 1 Matt Wallis.
Replacements: 16 Tim Dow, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Roy Griffin, 19 Dan Pryor, 20 Luke Hamilton, 21 Adam Clarke, 22 Iwi Hauraki.

Bay of Plenty: 15 Toby Arnold, 14 Lelia Masaga/Smith, 13 Brett Mather, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Jason Hona/Ben W Smith, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Colin Bourke (captain), 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Luke Andrews, 4 John Moore, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Tristan Moran, 18 Aiden Kuka or Culum Retallick, 19 Solomon King, 20 Chad Tuoro, 21 Grant McQuoid, 22 Smith/Corey Aporo.

Referee: Garratt Williamson

Friday, October 22:

Waikato v Canterbury
(Hamilton – 19.35)

The teams:

Waikato: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Save Tokula, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Dwayne Sweeney, 10 Trent Renata, 9 Malcolm Barnes, 8 Alex Bradley, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Romana Graham, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Nathan White (captain), 2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Hikairo Forbes, 17 Ben May, 18 Matt Vant Leven, 19 Zack Hohneck, 20 Tawera Kerr-Barlow or David Bason, 21 Christian Leali’ifano, 22 Sitiveni Sivivatu.

Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Ash Parker, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Rob Verbakel, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett (captain).
Replacements: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Tom Broughton, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Takerei Norton, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sam Monaghan.

Referee: Mike Fraser

Saturday, October 23:

North Harbour v Taranaki
(Albany – 14.35)

The teams:

North Harbour: 15 Jack McPhee, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Niko Ratumaitavuki, 11 Josh York, 10 Michael Harris, 9 Chris Smylie (captain), 8 Mathew Luamanu, 7 Malakai Ravulo, 6 Tom Chamberlain, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 James King, 3 Taione Vea, 2 James Parsons, 1 James Afoa.
Replacements: 16 Manu Leiataua, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Michael Farmer, 19 Richard Mayhew, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Ben Botica, 22 Jack Tarrant.

Taranaki: 15 Scott Ireland, 14 Codey Rei, 13 George Pisi, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 David Smith, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Ben Souness, 7 Johnny Willis, 6 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Craig Clarke (captain), 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Shane Cleaver.
Replacements: 16 Timo Tutavaha, 17 Carl Camichael, 18 Samuela Vunisa, 19 Chris Walker, 20 Brett Goodin, 21 Willie Ripia, 22 Isaia Tuifua.

Referee: Chris Pollock

Otago v Manawatu
(Dunedin – 17.35)

The teams:

Otago: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Joe Hill, 13 Paula Kinikinilau, 12 Josh Tatapu, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Sean Romans, 8 Paul Grant, 7 Alando Soakai (captain), 6 Brad Cameron, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Hoani Matenga, 3 Sam Hibbard, 2 Peter Mirrielees, 1 Halani Aulika.
Replacements: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Scott Manson, 18 Josh Townsend, 19 Charlie O’Connell, 20 Johnny Legg, 21 Glenn Dickson, 22 Chris Small.

Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Shannon Paku, 13 Hadleigh Parkes, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Casey Stone, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 James Oliver, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Doug Tietjens, 5 Fraser Stone, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson (captain).
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 Donal McNamara, 18 Reece Robinson, 19 Bertus Mulder, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Isaac Thompson, 22 Lewis Marshall.

Referee: Shane McDermott

Southland v Wellington
(Invercargill – 19.35)

The teams:

Southland: 15 Glen Horton, 14 Mark Wells, 13 Matt Saunders, 12 James Wilson, 11 Tony Koonwaiyou, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Sonny Rangitoheriri, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (captain).
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Nic Barrett, 18 Alex Ryan, 19 Hua Tamariki, 20 Scott Cowan, 21 Seminar Manu, 22 Dion Bates.

Wellington: 15 Apoua Stewart, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Tajhon Mailata, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Alapati Leiua, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush (captain), 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Reg Goodes, 18 Brad Shields, 19 Dean Brunsdon, 20 Fa’atonu Fili/Ruki Tipuna, 21 Shaun Treeby, 22 Buxton Popoali’i.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence

Sunday, October 24:

Auckland v Tasman
(Auckland – 14.35)

The teams:

Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Dave Thomas, 13 Ben Atiga/Winston Stanley, 12 Benson Stanley (captain), 11 Atieli Pakalani, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Toby Morland,
8 Peter Saili, 7 Sean Polwart, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Andrew van der Heijden, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Onosai’i Auva’a, 20 Auvasa Faleali’i, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 Winston Stanley.

Tasman: 15 Robbie Malneek,, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Afeleki Pelenise, 12 Jack Umaga, 11 Blair Cook, 10 James Marshall, 9 Steve Alfeld, 8 Poutasi Luafutu, 7 Jonathan Poff, 6 Glen Gregory, 5 Chris Jack (captain), 4 Anthony Elisala, 3 Fai Mika, 2 Francis Smith, 1 Sam Prattley.
Replacements: 16 James Hadfield, 17 Craig Moore, 18 Ben Coman, 19 Shane Christie, 20 Daniel Hawkins, 21 Robbie Malneek, 22 Sione Holani.

Referee: Nick Briant

Counties Manukau v Hawke’s Bay
(Pukekohe – 16.35)

The teams:

Counties-Manukau: 15 Armyn Sanders, 14 Ahsee Tuala, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Tana Umaga, 11 Sherwin Stowers, 10 Dean Cummins, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 DJ Forbes, 6 Ronald Raaymakers, 5 Jamie Chipman (captain), 4 Taiasina Tuifua, 3 Jono Owen, 2 Ilaisa Maasi, 1 Simon Lemalu/Graham Dewes.
Replacements: 16 Grant Henson, 17 Graham Dewes/Jeremiah Fatialofa, 18 Sikeli Nabou, 19 Mark Selwyn/Pepa Kolomatangi, 20 August Pulu, 21 James Semple, 22 Reynold Lee-Lo.

Hawke’s Bay: 15 Zac Guildford, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Jason Shoemark (captain), 12 Ryan McLeod, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Kahn Fotuali’i, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Mike Coman, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Ross Kennedy/Brodie Retallick, 4 Bryn Evans,
3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Eugene Smith, 1 Kas Lealamanua.
Replacements: 16 Ben Tamiafuna, 17 Clint Newland, 18 Grant Webb, 19 Trent Boswell-Wakefield, 20 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 21 Gillies Kaka, 22 Mark Jackman.

Referee: Vinny Munro