Hitting their straps
It has been a fine season for the Spirit, the team recording four wins from their six games so far. But last week’s semifinal win over Wellington was something different. After being beaten 51-13 by Wellington the week before, the Spirit turned that result into fuel for their remarkable 51-38 win over Wellington last Sunday.
That was a clear sign the Spirit are peaking at the right time for the final. Blindside Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, who leads the Spirit with 92 tackles, had her best game of the season, and everyone clicked into another gear.
Manawatu are always a challenge - but the Spirit have shown why no-one should doubt them.
Keep it alive
When the ball is in play and spun wide, the Spirit are at their dangerous best - and that will be needed to break through Manawatu’s line.
Young Charlotte Va’afusuaga has been a gun in the backline and was sensational at centre last week. She has beaten 40 defenders, made 70 carries, and had 16 offloads in a big workload.
Quick winger Jamie Church is another who is dangerous with the ball, having made 11 clean breaks, and first five Sheree Hume has made 68 carries.
But it is not just their superstar backs who keep the ball alive - everyone from jersey No 1 to 23 is playing their role. That has been a big part of the team’s success so far, and their ability to back each other up is second to none.
Set piece
While the plaudits often go to the backline, there is nothing like a good ol’ forward who rolls up their sleeves and gets the job done.
The Spirit are inundated with wealth in the front row and have won 89% of their scrums this season, the second-highest success rate in the competition, across both the premiership and championship.
Young Hannah Lithgow has slotted in seamlessly at hooker, while usual front-rower Tegan Hollows covers No 8, and Rebekah Wairau and Eilis Doyle have been strong. Props Isla Pringle and Paige Church add plenty of experience as well. Their punch off the bench in the last 20 minutes has helped steer the Spirit home.
Eliminate the threats
Manawatu back Holly-Rae Mete is a weapon and leads the Farah Palmer Cup - both championship and premiership - in most areas across the park. She is dangerous with the ball and sits first for clean breaks (18), defenders beaten (54), metres gained (770) and offloads (28), and is third for carries (100).
Mete is a big reason why the Cyclones are unbeaten and lead the competition in tries, clean breaks, carries, metres gained and defenders beaten.
Other threats include Kaia Walker-Waitoa, who has scored seven tries, and the lethal Elinor-Plum King.
They will be without their most experienced player, former Black Fern Selica Winiata, who broke her ankle in the opening minutes of the semifinal. She led the Cyclones with 48 points.
