NPC Final Matches

New Zealand Rugby has announced the locations for the finals matches in the 2021 Bunnings NPC competition.

In the Premiership, Waikato will host Tasman at Hamilton's FMG Stadium on Saturday 20th November at 7.05pm after it was announced the Waikato area will drop back to Covid level 2 on Tuesday night. The Waikato rugby team had spent 6 weeks on the road after relocating to the Bay of Plenty when Hamilton and surrounding areas went into level 3 lockdown.

The Championship final has Taranaki hosting Otago at TET Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday 20th November at 2.05pm

Super Rugby 2022 Draw Announced

The draw for the twelve team 2022 Super Rugby Pacific has been announced, and will feature new teams Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. The competition kicks off on Friday February 18th, where new side Moana Pasifika will face the Brumbies at Mt Smart Stadium.

The competition will be played over 15 rounds running through until the end of May, and each team will have a bye weekend through rounds 7-9. The quarter finals will start on 3-5 June, and run through to the 18th June final.

Teams are: Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua, Blues, Chiefs Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders, Waratahs, Reds, Force, Brumbies, Rebels

All Blacks Suffer First Loss On Northern Tour

The All Blacks have lost their first match on the Northern Tour, going down 29-20 to Ireland. Ireland scored three tries to two and dominated much of the territory and possession in the match, with the All Blacks forced to make 158 first half tackles to Ireland's 37, and 235 total for the match to Ireland's 101. The All Blacks lost Beauden Barrett to a head knock, and Anton Lienert-Brown to a dislocated shoulder, and the cause was not helped when hooker Codie Taylor spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin for a high tackle in the first half.

New Zealand All Blacks: 20 

Tries: Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Conversions: Jordie Barrett 2, Penalties: Jordie Barrett 2

Ireland: 29 

Tries: James Lowe, Ronan Kelleher, Caelan Doris, Conversions: Johnny Sexton, Penalties: Joey Carbery 3, Sexton

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Ireland on Sunday 14 November, 4.15am at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The side has minor changes to the one that beat Wales 54-16 two weeks ago, with Reiko Ioane in at centre, Anton Leinert-Brown moving to second-five and Sevu Reece on the left wing. Hooker Danes Coles is in the reserves, as is halfback Finlay Christie due to Brad Weber's head knock against Italy last week.

New Zealand All Blacks: 

Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sevu Reece, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea, Dalton Papalii, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Whitelock (c), Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. 

Reserves: 

Dane Coles, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Tupou Vaa'i, Akira Ioane, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo'unga, David Havili.

Ireland: 

Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (c), Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, James Ryan, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. 

Reserves: 

Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Keith Earls.

NPC Results And Semi-Finals Draw

In the final round of the 2021 Bunnings NPC, Bay of Plenty have beaten Northland 22-14 in their re-scheduled mid-week match, Waikato have beaten Otago 27-25, Tasman have beaten Wellington 34-22, Canterbury have beaten Bay of Plenty 40-28, and Taranaki have beaten Southland 24-10.

The semi-finals for the Championship will see Manawatu v Otago at Central Trust Arena in Palmerston North on Friday 12 November at 7.05pm, with Taranaki v Southland at TET Stadium in Inglewood at 2.05pm on Saturday 13th November

The semi-finals for the Premiership will see Hawkes Bay v Tasman at McLean Park in Napier, 4.35pm on Saturday 13th November followed by Waikato v Canterbury at 7.05pm at Rotorua International Stadium.

Bay of Plenty: 22 

Tries: Peni Lasaqa 2, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Nathan Harris, Conversion: Lucas Cashmore

Northland: 14 

Tries: Blake Hohaia, Justin Davies, Conversions: Rivez Reihana, Dan Hawkins

Waikato: 27 

Tries: James Thompson, Ryan Tongia, James Tucker, Conversions: D'Angelo Leuila 3, Penalties: Leuila 2

Otago: 25 

Tries: Freedom Vaha'akolo 2, Matt Faddes, Conversions: Josh Ioane 2, Penalties Ioane 2

Tasman: 34 

Tries: Quentin MacDonald, Jacob Norris, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Levi Aumua, Anton Segner, Conversions: Mitch Hunt 3, Penalty: Hunt 

Wellington: 22 

Tries: Taine Plumtree, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Tyrone Thompson, Conversions: Aidan Morgan 2, Penalty: Morgan

Canterbury: 40 

Tries: Chay Fihaki, Dallas McLeod 2, Waisake Naholo 2, Conversions: Fergus Burke 3, Penalties: Burke 2, Fihaki

Bay of Plenty: 28

Tries: Leroy Carter, Viveni Lasaqa, Lucas Cashmore, Conversions: Cashmore 2, Penalties: Cashmore 3

Taranaki: 24 

Tries: Kini Naholo, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Conversions: Stephen Perofeta 3, Penalty: Perofeta 

Southland: 10 

Try: Charles Alaimalo, Conversion: Greg Dyer, Penalty: Dyer

All Blacks Get Win Over Italy.

The All Blacks have secured a 47-9 win over Italy to continue their unbeaten run on the Northern tour. Both hooker Dane Coles and his replacement Asafo Aumua scored two tries each out of the total seven for the match, but it was again a disjointed effort with many errors. Italy put up spirited defense for much of the match, but only managed three penalties for the match to first five Paolo Garbisi. The All Blacks will face a greater challenge this week against Ireland, and could potentially have halfback Brad Weber unavailable after he left the field with a head knock.

New Zealand All Blacks: 47 

Tries: Finlay Christie, Dane Coles 2, Sevu Reece, Asafo Aumua 2, Hoskins Sotutu, Conversions: Richie Mo'unga 6 

Italy: 9 

Penalties: Paolo Garbisi 3

All Blacks Named To Face Italy

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has named his side to face Italy at Stadium Olimoico in Rome on Sunday 7th November 2.00am NZT. Foster has made wholesale changes to the side that beat Wales, and has bought Sam Cane back at openside flanker to captain the side. New All Black lock Josh Lord starts alongside Tupou Vaa'i, with the front row containing George Bower, Dane Coles and Tyrel Lomax. Brad Weber and Richie Mo'unga start at halfback and first five, with Damian McKenzie at fullback.

New Zealand All Blacks:

1.George Bower, 2. Dane Coles,3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Josh Lord, 6. Luke Jacobson, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Brad Weber, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves: 

16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Ethan de Groot, 18. Ofa Tuungafasi, 19. Samuel Whitelock, 20. Shannon Frizell, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. David Havili, 23. Jordie Barrett