NPC Team of the week: Round three
OPINION: The short turn-around matches began this round with Taranaki and Counties Manukau first up.
A clinic of exceptionally poor handling by Taranaki’s wings had Counties Manukau winning at half time. In Taranaki’s favour was a scrum that won them a lot of penalties in their second win of the season, 19-26.
Auckland simply had far too much firepower for a Waikato side that was not helped by a referee that either didn’t know, or couldn’t remember, some of rugby’s basic laws.
Not that Waikato would’ve won, as they only sparked into life in the final 10 minutes, after the match was well and truly over. Leaving them with their third loss on the trot, 35-17.
Full credit to the Wellington Lions for their total annihilation of their visitors, but it was only Southland.
The first half was incredible, with the hosts breaking 33 tackles and missing just 3, all the while smashing out 40 points to nil.
Ben Lam picked up his hat-trick early in the second half before Southland finally fought back, grabbing a consolation try. Wellington then finished them off, 52-7.
Bay of Plenty put in a huge first half effort to scare the defending champions. But Canterbury showed their metal with a big second half, squeezing the Steamers out, 19-31.
Otago, having spent the first two rounds out the back of the stadium smoking, finally turned up versus Manawatu. The first forty looked like any other half of rugby with Otago looking distracted and vacant. But some stunning rugby by the visitors, scoring 36 unanswered points, saw Otago thrash the Turbos, 17-50, and announce themselves as real contenders in the tight Championship race.
It was a back-and-forth battle in Albany on Saturday night. But Tasman returned to the top of the table by beating North Harbour, 20-32.
Tasman and Auckland now remain the only unbeaten teams in either division.
On a balmy Sunday afternoon, Counties Manukau finally picked up a win in their second game of the round.
In a messy game that belied the good weather, both teams relied on incredible individual brilliance to score long range tries seemingly out of nothing.
The Steelers did just that little bit extra, aided by some poor Magpies goal kicking, to get the win, 25-29.
It was a strange round, with only three of eight home teams taking the win.
This included a last second penalty goal win by Northland to beat their much vaunted opponent, Taranaki, for their first win of the season.
Taranaki, backing up from their Wednesday match, started strongly but inertia set in.
They ran out of creativity on attack, seemingly trying to run down the clock a mere two points ahead.
Northland were the only team to score in the second half with a try to Tamati Tua and then the penalty that sealed it, 18-17.
Team of the Week – Round Three:
15 – Wes Goosen (Wellington):
Got a lot of ball (16 carries) and used it with aplomb, breaking tackles left and right to rack up 130 run metres and set up two tries.
Special mention to George Bridge (Canterbury), Will Jordan (Tasman) and Michael Collins (Otago)
Bubbling Under: Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)
14 – Ben Lam (Wellington):
Another incredible host of talent took to the field in this position this week, but Ben Lam’s speed, power and hat-trick wins out.
Special mention to Vilimoni Koroi (Otago), Jonah Lowe (Hawkes’ Bay) and Mosese Dawai (Waikato).
Bubbling Under: Fa’asiu Fuatai (Bay of Plenty)
13 – Rob Thompson (Manawatu):
The only reason Manawatu were in the game in the first half. Thompson broke 9 tackles, scoring a try and setting another one up.
Special mention to Levi Aumua (Tasman), Loketi Manu (North Harbour) and Tumua Manu (Auckland).
Bubbling Under: Sio Tomkinson (Otago)
12 – Teihorangi Walden (Taranaki):
Two excellent performances from the Highlander, he has added some strong line-breaking abilities to his usual well-timed distribution.
Bubbling Under: Thomas Umaga-Jensen (Wellington)
11 – Jona Nareki (Otago):
One of the main reasons Otago blitzed Manawatu in the second forty, Nareki dismantled the Turbos.
Special mention to Tamati Tua (Northland), Salesi Rayasi (Auckland), Tevita Nabura (Counties Manukau), Caleb Makene (Canterbury) and Chase Tiatia (Bay of Plenty).
Bubbling Under: Malo Tuitama (Wellington)
10 – Mitch Hunt (Tasman):
A fantastic return to the starting line-up by the Crusaders’ impact flyhalf. A couple of mistakes aside, Hunt ran the cut like a boss and kicked well, too.
Bubbling Under: Daniel Waite (Taranaki)
9 – Te Toirua Tahuriorangi (Taranaki):
A master-class from the young All Black, his passing, tackle-breaking, kicking and defence were all spot on. This is what the national selectors saw in him.
Special mention to Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty) and Kurt Hammer (Otago).
Bubbling Under: Jamie Booth (Manawatu)
8 – Akira Ioane (Auckland):
Showed that he is more than just a crash and bash specialist, with some very well timed breakdown steals and huge defence. An All Blacks call up in November is looking more and more likely for this week’s Player of the Round. Special mention to Shannon Frizzel (Tasman) and Matt Matich (Northland) for outstanding efforts.
Bubbling Under: Dylan Nel (Otago)
7 – Mitch Karpik (Bay of Plenty):
Tireless on defence, Karpik made an unbelievable 29 tackles and was a nuisance at the breakdown. Special mention to Sam Henwood (Counties Manukau).
Bubbling Under: Ardie Savea (Wellington)
6 – Dalton Papali’i (Auckland):
He’s having a big year, and if he continues in this form, he’ll secure Jerome Kaino’s vacated blindside spot at the Blues, for sure.
Bubbling Under: Ethan Blackadder (Tasman)
5 – Jack Whetton (Auckland):
Another Aucklander looking to stake their claim. Whetton stole two line-outs, missed no tackles and put dents in his opposition with his hard running.
Bubbling Under: Baden Wardlaw (Bay of Plenty)
4 – Luke Romano (Canterbury):
A huge game on offence for the veteran Crusader with 21 carries. Also, stole a line-out, a breakdown and made 9 tackles. Special mention to Tom Rowe (Otago).
Bubbling Under: James Blackwell (Wellington)
3 – Angus Ta’avao (Taranaki):
A massive effort in the scrums saw Taranaki demolish the Steelers and his workrate at the breakdown and defensively was high as usual. A good game to have before making his way to the All Blacks’ camp.
Bubbling Under: Ross Geldenhuys (Bay of Plenty)
2 – Asafo Aumua (Wellington):
He’s back!
Bubbling Under: Robbie Abel (Auckland)
1 – Reuben O’Neill (Taranaki):
The hard-working prop was the top tackler of the game against the Steelers and backed it up against the Taniwha, four days later, on the other side of the scrum.
Bubbling Under: Sam Prattley (Auckland)
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
