In a week that has been dominated by Rugby World Cup selections, spare a thought for un-wanted All Blacks Hosea Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Liam Messam, Jarred Hoeata and Wyatt Crocket who may all return for their Provincial sides this weekend in the ITM Cup.
Week 12 Review
Twenty nations announcing their RWC squads. A 89 point thriller in Whangarei. The leaders of the Premiership beaten by a team that had lost three-in-a-row and Taranaki lifting the Ranfurly Shield in Invercargill – you can’t complain about that for mid-week rugby action.
Week 12 Results & Analysis
Game 60 Waikato (31) v (27) Wellington Prediction: Waikato by 10-15 points
Game 61 Bay of Plenty (35) v (31) Canterbury Prediction: Canterbury by 10-15 points
Game 62 Northland (45) v (34) Hawke’s Bay Prediction: Hawke’s Bay by 10-15 points
Game 63 Southland (12) v (15) Taranaki (RS) Prediction: Southland by 5-10 points
Week 12 Win Percentage 1/4 25% Season Win Percentage 33/62 53%
Sharksworld Superbru Pool (Pool Size 43)
Leaderboard
1st Widcow 52.08
2nd BIG BITE 52.08
3rd Smiley 50.47
12th HH 46.08
ITM Premiership Points Table – Week 12 (Games played in brackets)
1. Canterbury (9) – 29
2. Waikato (9) – 28
3. Taranaki (9) – 27
4. Bay of Plenty (9) – 26
5. Auckland (9) – 25
6. Wellington (9) – 21
7. Southland (9) – 20
ITM Championship Points Table – Week 12 (Games played in brackets)
1. Manawatu (8) – 29
2. Hawke’s Bay (9) – 29
3. Otago (8) – 19
4. Northland (9) – 19
5. Counties Manukau (9) – 17
6. North Harbour (9) – 12
7. Tasman (9) – 12
Match Previews – Week 13
Game 64 Tasman v Manawatu Prediction: Tasman by 10-15 points
This pits top of the Championship against bottom. However, due to the nature of this season that means very little.
TEAMS:
Tasman: 1. Fai Mika, 2. Quentin MacDonald, 3. Sam Prattley, 4. Craig Moore, 5. Joe Wheeler, 6. Liam Squire, 7. Shane Christie, 8. Mark Bright, 9. Steve Alfeld, 10. James Marshall, 11. Mitchell Scott, 12. Andrew Goodman (capt), 13. Kieron Fonotia, 14. Robbie Malneek, 15. Tom Marshall.
Reserves: 16. Francis Smith, 17. James Hadfield, 18. Vernon Fredricks, 19. Jonathan Poff, 20. Shawn Begg, 21. James Proctor, 22. Jack Umaga, 23. Hamish Cochrane.
Manawatu: 1. Grant Polson, 2. Rob Foreman, 3. Ma’afu Fia, 4. Reece Robinson, 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Nick Crosswell (capt), 7. Callum Gibbins, 8. James Oliver, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Junior Tomasi Cama, 12. Frank Bryant, 13. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 14. Craig Clare, 15. Nehe Milne-Skudder.
Reserves: 16. Bryn Templeman, 17. Jared Brock, 18. Fraser Stone, 19. Doug Tietjens, 20. Hamish Gosling, 21. Isaac Thompson, 22. Lewis Marshall, 23. David Te Moana.
REFEREE: Mike Fraser
Game 65 North Harbour v Wellington Prediction: Wellington by 10-15 points
Wellington was unlucky last time out against Waikato and may be buoyed by the return of arguably the best winger in the world last year – Hosea Gear.
Game 66 Waikato v Auckland Prediction: Auckland by 5- 10 points
Mooloo, Auckland clashes are always close. With this week looking a week for the away sides I’ll therefore opt for the visitors.
Game 67 Counties Manukau v Northland Prediction: Northland by 5-10 points
Northland was stunning at home mid-week and it looks impossible to bring that form south. However, even if they bring an ounce of that form they will still be a handful for the South Aucklanders.
Game 68 Otago v Canterbury Prediction: Canterbury by 15-20 points
After a false start last time out due to snow, Dunedin’s new stadium will welcome its first game of ITM Cup action with the reigning Champions Canterbury coming to town.
Game 69 Southland v Bay of Plenty Prediction: Bay of Plenty by 10-15 points
Southland will have to lift themselves off the floor for this tussle, an ask that may be just too tough – relegation looms.
Game 70 Taranaki v Hawke’s Bay (RS) Prediction: Hawke’s Bay by 5-10 points
Taranaki the new holders of the Ranfurly Shield will welcome one of the form teams of this year’s Championship competition. The Magpies will be in with a real chance here and the tenure of the holders could be short lived.
7 away wins in a row for me!
I had 2 picks opposite from you and still only managed 1\4
Tuesday I had 2/2 and 2 margin points, yesterday I got 0/2 and 1 margin point
North Harbour 10 – 3 Wellington
12 minutes
NH 18 – 10 Wellington
26 minutes
North Harbour 23 – 10 Wellington
HALF TIME
North Harbour 23 – 26 Wellington
50 minutes
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 6) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : That must have been a hectic 10mins!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) :
@Ben (Comment 8) :
That was supposed to say 23 – 16, but they have now scored another try..
North Harbour 23 – 26 Wellington
60 minutes
North Harbour 28 – 26 Wellington
67 minutes
North Harbour 28 – 29 Wellington
72 minutes
North Harbour 28 – 29 Wellington
FULL TIME
0 from 2
At least got the Win point but far from margin…..
2 from 2 for me, but no margins
2 from 2 for me, one margin point
Waikato 26 – 19 Auckland
FULL TIME
Counties 39 – 19 Northland
FULL TIME
Otago 13 – 11 Canterbury
Half Time
Otago 16 – 11 Canterbury
43 minutes
Otago 16 – 14 Canterbury
46 minutes
Otago 16 – 17 Canterbury
52 minutes
Terrific try by Canterbury fullback Taylor
Otago 16 – 22 Canterbury
57 minutes
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 23) : I needed that, am 3/4 with 1 margin so far this round a win and margin/bonus here would do me the world of good! Have canterbury by 18
I’m on a roll here this round, 4 from 4 so far
@Greg (Comment 24) :
Im 4 from 4 but I went with Otago..
Watching the game, it looks like its only a matter of time until Canterbury pull away..
The Canterbury centre pairing of Freuan and Crotty looks dangerous..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 26) : Just turned game on a few minutes ago, stats look fairly even?
@Greg (Comment 28) :
Otago lead when I started watching..
Canterbury have come close a lot..
Otagto havent had an attacking move in almost 20 minutes now..
Not that it really matters, I am so far behind here, my gsp for this round is out the window, even a bonus point won’t do me much good!
Cmon Otago!!
@Greg (Comment 30) :
If Otago can win this.. I am 5 from 5.. would help a bit to get the GSP..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 29) : that was close..
Game Set Match…
Freuan with an intercept try..
Oooooops that try seals it… I think
Otago 16 – 29 Canterbury
75 minutes
Fruean try under the posts, that’s more like it!
Okay that’s me for the time being..
I will be back for the Tri Nations match a little later..
That wil be 5 from 5 for me….
An unconverted try sees me spot on
Otago 16 – 29 Canterbury
FULL TIME
@Franshark (Comment 41) : Margin point for me!
2 from 5 for me
Was this on ss?
@bergshark (Comment 44) : yes