U85kg final to open for All Blacks test

Get to the All Blacks test early if you do not want to be too disappointed.

The curtain-raiser for the Rugby Championship test against Argentina in Hamilton tonight will feature a bantamweight clash between the Bush Pigs and Debt Collectors.

They are fun names, but it is a serious contest.

The Southern Bush Pigs breezed into the final of the New Zealand Under-85kg Club Cup with an impressive 48-5 win against the Karaka Razzlers at Bathgate Park on the weekend.

The defending champions will play the Auckland University Debt Collectors, who edged College Rifles Bombers 16-11 in the semifinal.

The Bush Pigs will lean heavily on their talented back three.

Winger Tom Rance scored a couple of first half tries to help slam the door on the Razzlers.

Fullback Mackenzie Haugh is always on the cusp of doing something special, and Jordan McEntee is the intercept king.

Centre Josh Buchan is another dangerous player to watch.

The Bush Pigs will be without their openside flanker and captain Wilson Driver, who will be joining team-mate Mika Vaitupu at a stag do in Australia.

Driver will be a huge loss. He has led the defensive effort with a couple of million tackles each game.

The Debt Collectors have been billed as the team to beat and have produced some very tidy performances. Their defence effort against the Bombers was admirable.

NZ U85kg Club Cup

Hamilton, today, 4.15pm

Southern Bush Pigs: Mackenzie Haugh, Tom Rance, Josh Buchan, Oscar Anderson, Jordan McEntee, Taine Craig-Ranga, Devon Olliver-Bell, Lucas Govaerts, Reuben Kerr, Mat McCutcheon, Jacob Bolwell, Sam Masterton, Jacob Sutherland, Morgan Jones, Waiora Morris. Reserves: Michael Hayes, Jayden Willcock, Gus Mackinnon, Jack Shaw, Charlie Marsh, Coby Osborne, Toby Kennett.

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