After being on the wrong side of the scoreboard in last week’s opening fixtures both Auckland and Counties Manukau’s men’s teams will be hoping to open their Bunnings Warehouse NPC accounts this week.
A flat-looking Auckland failed to capitalise on Eden Park advantage and a wealth of early possession going down 29-21 to a composed Wellington side steered by super rugby stars Xavier Numia, Peter Lakai and Peter Umuga-Jensen.
Led by Canterbury import Alex Harford at first five, the Gull’s backline was brimming with top-notch talent but looked rustier than a fisherman’s bucket.
The loss also came with an extended injury list, including transplanted Melbourne Rebels lock Tuaina Tualiama and, more importantly, both Harford and Zarn Sullivan who pulled up lame.
Those injuries have sparked a flyhalf crisis for coach Craig McGrath who is already short of pivots after Harry Plummer was called into the All Blacks as cover.
Round two sees Auckland will make the trek to face Otago at Forsyth Barr stadium who tasted defeat at the hands of their local rival Southland.
The Farrah Palmer Cup is also underway and Friday featured sisters Daynah Nankivell and Tyler Nankivell plying their trade for opposite sides. The Auckland Storm were far too strong for their visitors from the winterless north, felling the Kauri 48-17 in front of boisterous local support at the garden.
Further south, Counties Manukau will also be seeking redemption after slumping to a loss away to last season’s champions Taranaki.
Counties achieved parity for the game’s first 20 minutes until Taranaki winger Kini Nahalo’s speed proved too much for the cover defence. A yellow card awarded against halfback Liam Daniela left the door ajar for impressive first-five Josh Jacomb to press home Taranaki’s advantage with a neatly taken meat pie.
Super Rugby MVP Hoskins Sotutu, unwanted by Scott Robertson’s All Black regime sent a reminder of his abilities displaying footwork Australian Breaker “Raygun” would have been proud of as he eluded three tacklers to crash over.
However, it was all in vain as Taranaki held on 31-15.
Hazel Tubic contributed 17 points as the Counties Energy Heat scored their first win of the Farah Palmer Cup on Saturday with a 47-24 thumping of Canterbury at Navigation Homes Stadium- their first win over the Southerners for five years.
The Heat next face Hawke’s Bay away in Napier on Saturday, while the Steelers are back in action tonight at 7.05 pm from Rotorua International Stadium where they hope to steamroll Bay of Plenty who last week claimed bragging rights over Chiefs stablemates Waikato.
