Game-breakers across the field in NPC final

Taranaki outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens runs back in defence during the quarterfinal match against Tasman in New Plymouth earlier this month. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Yep. The NPC is still going. Otago was knocked out yonks ago and the World Cup has attracted all the headlines. But Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay have made it through to this afternoon’s final. Sports writer Adrian Seconi offers these thoughts ahead of the game.

Form

Both carry an identical record into the final.

Taranaki finished the round robin with seven wins from 10 games before eliminating Tasman 34-18 in the quarterfinal and edging Canterbury 23-16 in the semifinal.

Hawke’s Bay also posted seven wins in the regular season. They beat rivals Bay of Plenty 38-28 in the quarters and knocked out defending champions Wellington 25-24 in the semis. But their big claim to fame was accidentally destroying the Ranfurly Shield and then posting about it on social media — they won’t be the favourites.

The teams have not played each other since August, 2021. Taranaki won that match 33-19.

Why we should support Taranaki

They didn’t break the Shield.

Why we should support Hawke’s Bay

Look, it was accident, OK. Accidents happen. Someone dropped the Shield on a concrete floor. That white powder — it was plaster. Definitely plaster. It just happened to be arranged neatly into two nice straight lines. Nothing to see here. Time to move on.

Game breakers

- Hawke’s Bay midfielder Chase Tiatia scored a hat-trick against Wellington to help power his side into the final. The barnstorming 28-year-old is among the competition’s leading try-scorers with seven this season. Hooker Tyrone Thompson has beaten plenty of defenders as well and he gets some sneaky offloads away.

- Taranaki outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has netted six tries, beaten 43 defenders and made 12 clean breaks. But he would not be nearly as effective without the hard work done by loosie Pita Gus Sowakula. His offloads and ability to get across the advantage line has been huge for the Naki.

Otago connections

- Taranaki has the most runs on the board here. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will join the Highlanders this season. Lock Tom Franklin played 85 games for the Landers and 50-odd for Otago. Sowakula made his way out to New Zealand to play basketball for the Otago Nuggets. Prop Donald Brighouse played nearly 50 games for Otago. Hooker Ricky Riccitelli had a stint with Southern. Midfielder Teihorangi Walden played for both Otago and the Highlanders. Jesse Parete clocked nine games for the Landers and Vereniki Tikoisolomone was contracted, but never played.

- Hawke’s Bay halfback Brad Weber had a stint in Dunedin and collected nine caps for Otago. Folau Fakatava is the Highlanders starting halfback in the post-Aaron Smith era. Wing Jonah Lowe has two years running on his Highlanders contract, and powerhouse Marino Mikaele-Tu'u played 48 games for the Landers, but is heading to Japan at the end of the season. Lock Geoff Cridge got called in as cover, but never got on the park for the Highlanders.

Quirky fact

- Hawke’s Bay is home to Opossum World. The Napier museum pays homage to our national pest. Says it all, really.

- Taranaki township Whangamomona declared independence from New Zealand in 1989 and have so far elected a goat, a poodle and Murtle the Turtle as president. Further research reveals Murtle the Turtle was actually the local garage owner.

Prediction

Taranaki by 10. They had a hiccup mid-season, losing three in a row, but they have been more convincing than the Bay, who have inched their way into the final.