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Day of NPC upsets sees competition favourites downed by winless Taranaki

Pita Gus Sowakula. (Photo by Andy Jackson/Getty Images)

Saturday’s triple-header of NPC action has seen a trio of unfancied sides take home the spoils in three fascinating games across New Zealand.

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Canterbury, Wellington and Tasman – all heavyweights of the NZ provincial scene – went into their matches with Taranaki, Northland and North Harbour as short favourites to claim victory but it was the opposite scenario that unfolded.

In the opening game of the day, Canterbury travelled north to Pukekura Park to take on the Bulls in dismal conditions that certainly weren’t conducive to running rugby.

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The unbeaten Cantabrians – who are short-odds to take out the competition this year – were naturally looking to add a third scalp to tally this season after thumping Manawatu 62-15 and comfortably accounting for Wellington 43-10 in the opening two rounds of the competition. The home team, on the other hand, entered the match with nothing to show for their season to date but for one losing bonus point earned against Northland last weekend.

It was Taranaki who raced out of the blocks, however, with uncapped All Blacks playmaker Stephen Perofeta putting on a fine showing in his first game since the Super Rugby Pacific final two months ago to lead his side out to a 16-0 advantage going into the final quarter of the match.

Canterbury were able to score twice through George Bridge and George Bell to give themselves a shot at victory with time almost up on the close but had simply given themselves too much to do with little room for error in dire weather and ultimately came up short, falling to a 16-12 defeat.

Just a few hours south, Taranaki’s neighbours didn’t have quite so much luck against a dogged Northland side in Wellington.

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In similarly atrocious conditions the Lions and Taniwha exchanged penalties early in the piece before the visiting Northlanders were able to score two tries at the end of the first half to give themselves a 15-6 lead at the break.

While there was plenty of endeavour from both teams in the second spell despite the trying conditions, neither side was able to add to their halftime tally and Northland claimed their second win of the season – and in the process, matching their tally from 2021.

Wellington now sit on one win from three games after narrowly missing out on last year’s Premiership semi-finals.

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In the final game of the day, North Harbour played host to last year’s beaten finalists, the Tasman Mako.

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Given the dangerous talent at the Mako’s disposal – including Timoci Tavantavanawai, Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sevu Reece (in the unfamiliar role of fullback) – it’s perhaps no surprise that they outscored the home side four tries to two. Tasman couldn’t maintain their discipline throughout the contest, however, and Harbour first five Bryn Gatland was in inspirational form off the tee to convert nine attempts on goal into points and accumulate 25 points. Come the final whistle, it was the home side who held the lead, triumphing 35-27.

Saturday’s results once again reinforced that anyone can beat anyone on their day and while Waikato and Auckland may be topping their respective conferences at present, you can be cruising along in pole position one week and suddenly find yourself heading home with your tale between your legs the next.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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