NPC semi-finals: Former Wales international and flanker-turned-wing star

The NPC Premiership final will be at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 2:30 pm next Saturday after Wellington beat Waikato 29-24 to set up a showdown with Bay of Plenty who overpowered Canterbury 32-20 in Tauranga. Bay of Plenty and Wellington each trailed at halftime in earning their passage to the decider.

Uilisi Halaholo (Bay of Plenty) 

The first half was tight with little space on offer when teams stuck to their structure. In the 43rd minute, Halaholo blew proceedings wide open when he barged off Canterbury fullback Isaac Hutchinson to give Bay of Plenty a lead they never lost. Halaholo made a dozen earnest carries and was the rock in a Steamers backline that grew in stature throughout and finished with a flourish thanks to great impact from the bench, especially Lucas Cashmore.

Halaholo is a vastly experienced player. He debuted in the NPC for Southland in 2013 and racked up 33 appearances before shifting north to Waikato. His Super Rugby breakthrough was with the Hurricanes in 2015. In 2016 he was part of the Hurricanes team that won their first and only Super title.

Wales beckoned, where Halaholo enjoyed even more decorated success. He played 112 times for the Cardiff Blues and featured in 10 Tests for Wales. In 2021 he was part of the Welsh team that won the Six Nations. Their 40-24 victory over England was the first time Wales scored 40 points against England.

Halaholo has won nine of his 12 matches for the Steamers.

Joe Johnston (Bay of Plenty) 

The openside flanker scored a try and made 18 tackles and 11 carries in a trojan display. With 165 tackles this season, Johnston has passed round-robin leader TK Howden.

Johnston debuted for Bay of Plenty in 2019 and then shifted to Waikato, struggling to gain a foothold in both provinces.

His time with the New England Free Jacks (48 games, 38 wins) in Major League Rugby has built his durability and confidence. At 26 Johnson is at his peak, a tough and consistent performer who might be a shot at a maiden Super Rugby contract. Opposite Corey Kellow (20 tackles) had another eye-catching game.

Ollie Mathis (Waikato)

While at Hamilton Boys’ High School, Mathis won World Schools titles in Japan and Thailand as well as the domestic Super 8, National Top Four, Moascar Cup, and Condor Sevens titles. In 2023 he was the Bronze Boot winner as the “most constructive player” in a New Zealand, Australian Schools test.

The openside flanker has been shifted to the wing to cover injury with startling results. Five linebreaks and a spontaneous Jeff Wilson-like try he scored had the Lions on edge.

There’s significant growth to come from Mathis but will it be in the seven jersey? Does he have the height and physicality to become a trojan in that part of the game or will he migrate into the backs where perhaps his pace and other skills can be better utilised?

FREAKISH plays from Oli Mathis 🤯#BunningsNPCPlayoffs

📺 Watch live on @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/jHVPchSDNm

— Bunnings NPC (@BunningsNPC) October 19, 2024

Du’Plessis Kirifi (Wellington) 

Speaking to Ben Castle on Sky TV afterwards, Kirifi said, “It’s not often you get a game of that intensity at this level, an absolute pleasure bro.”

Kirifi would have felt anything but pleasure when he knocked on from a regulation carry just outside his 22 with about 20 minutes remaining. Behind 22-17, Waikato was very much in the hunt. The next ten minutes was a stirring captain’s knock. A jolting tackle by Kirifi forced a knock-on, and two breakdown turnovers followed. The biggest call Kirifi made was in the 68th minute when he rejected a possible penalty shot at 22-17, instead opting for a lineout from which replacement hooker Penieli Poasa drove over for a try.

Kirifi missed seven games this season with a broken jaw. He had 11 tackles, five turnovers and 13 carries.

Brad Shields was immense with 18 tackles and though Wellington was pinged a couple of times at the scrums. Xavier Nuima and Siale Lauaki plowed through a pile of work. Before halftime, Wellington was reduced to 14 players when second-five-eighth Riley Higgins was yellow-carded. Lauaki won a penalty and then scored a try to close the halftime deficit to 17-15.

Hugo Plummer, Akira Ieremia and Caleb Delaney were imperious in the lineouts, Wellington won 15 of 16 throws, and Waikato only retained two-thirds of their lineout possession.

Wellington has won all four of their NPC semi-finals against Waikato and beat Bay of Plenty 30-25 earlier in the season. However, the Lions have an awful record in finals. Wins in 2000 and 2022 are offset by defeats in 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2019.

Bay of Plenty won the inaugural NPC in 1976 but otherwise hasn’t contested a final. The final was introduced in 1991. In 2017 Wellington beat Bay of Plenty 59-40 in a championship final that went to extra time at Sky Stadium in Wellington.