This weekend brings plenty of mouth-watering matchups starting with Canterbury against Manawatu on Friday night and ending with Southland vs Northland on Sunday afternoon.
Find your key match information and team lists below. Note: teams are added as they are named.
Manawatu v Canterbury
Friday 9 October, 7.05pm, Central Energy Trust, Palmerston North
Played: 42
Won: Canterbury 29, Manawatu 11, Drawn 2
Last match: Manawatu 32, Canterbury 29 (19 September 2019)
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): Manawatu have won two of their last three Mitre 10 Cup games against Canterbury and are looking for back-to-back wins against them for the first time since 1982.
TEAMS
Manawatu:
1: Chris Eves 2: Sam Stewart 3: Michael Alaalatoa 4: Liam Mitchell 5: Micaiah Torrance-Read 6: Te Kamaka Howden 7: Shamus Hurley-Langton 8: Tyler Laubscher 9: Jamie Booth 10: Ben Wyness 11: Adam Boult 12: James Tofa 13: Josiah Maraku 14: Nigek Ah Wong 15: Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: Siua Maile, Tietie Tuimauga, Paulo Leleisiuao, Teofilo Paulo, Tom Hughes, Johnny Galloway, Bryn Wilson, Stewart Cruden, Drew Wild
Canterbury:
1: Finlay Brewis 2: Scott Mellow 3: Tamaiti Williams 4: Luke Romano 5: Sam Darry 6: Reed Prinsep © 7: Billy Harmon 8: Whetukamokamo Douglas 9: Enari Ereatara 10: Fergus Burke 11: Isaiah Punivai 12: Rameka Poihipi 13: Ngatungane Punivai 14: Chay Fihaki 15: Andrew Knewstubb
Reserves: Shilo Klein, Lewis Ponini, Fletcher Newell, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Josh McKay
Taranaki v Auckland
Saturday 10 October, 2.05pm, TET Stadium, Inglewood
Played: 128
Won: Auckland 89, Taranaki 30, Drawn 9
Last match: Auckland 35, Taranaki 11 (11 October 2019)
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): Taranaki have conceded just 9.3 turnovers per game this Mitre 10 Cup season, the fewest of any team in the competition.
Taranaki
1-Reuben O’Neill, 2- Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Ben May, 4-Kaylum Boshier, 5-Findlamor Hoeata, 6-Mitchell Crosswell 7-Lachlan Boshier ©, 8- Pita Gus Sowakula, 9- Warwick Lahmert, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Lewis Ormand, 12-Daniel Waite, 13-Sean Wainui ©, 14-Jacob Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens, 15-Jayson Potroz
Reserves: 16- Bradley Slater, 17-Chris Gawler, 18-Donald Brighouse, 19-Josh Lord, 20-Mitchell Brown, 21- Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Codey Rei, 23-Lukas Halls.
Auckland
1. James Lay 2. Leni Apisai 3. Marcel Renata 4. Scott Scrafton 5. Jack Whetton 6. Adrian Choat 7. Blake Gibson 8. Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa 9. Taufa Funaki 10. Harry Plummer 11. Salesi Rayasi 12. TJ Faiane © 13. Tumua Manu 14. AJ Lam 15. Jordan Trainor
Reserves: Soane Vikena, Jarred Adams, Marco Fepulea’i, Hamish Dalzell, Niko Jones, Jonathan Ruru, Simon Hickey, Tanielu Tele’a
North Harbour v Hawke’s Bay
Saturday 10 October, 2.05pm, North Harbour Stadium
Played: 17
Won: North Harbour 11, Hawke’s Bay 5, Drawn 1
Last match: North Harbour 51, Hawke’s Bay 34
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): Tom Parsons (Hawke’s Bay) has won a total of 30 lineouts this Mitre 10 Cup season (including two steals), more than any other player in the competition.
North Harbour:
1-Nic Mayhew, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Jacob Pierce, 6-Ethan Roots, 7-Dillon Hunt, 8- Murphy Taramai, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Tomas Aoake, 12-Antonio Mikaele-Tu’u, 13-James Little, 14-Jared Page, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Zane Turner, 17-Teague McElroy, 18-Jimmy Roots, 19-Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 20-Tim Sail, 21-Lewis Gjaletma, 22-Jack Heighton, 23- Asaeli Tikoirotuma
Hawke’s Bay:
1: Jason Long 2: Kianu Kereru-Symes 3: Joel Hintz 4: Isaia Walker-Leaware 5: Bryn Evans 6: Marino Mikaele-Tu’u 7: Brendon O’Connor 8: Gareth Evans 9: Connor McLeod 10: Caleb Makene 11: Mason Emerson 12: Ollie Sapsford 13: Sam McNicol 14: Neria Fomai 15: Kurt Baker
Reserves: Jacob Devery, Sona Taumalolo, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Geoff Cridge, Solomone Funaki, Lincoln McClutchie, Anzelo Tuitavuki
Wellington v Otago
Saturday 10 October, 4.35pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Played: 118
Won: Wellington 68, Otago 41, Drawn 9
Last match: Wellington 54, Otago 24 (15 September 2019)
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): No player has made more tackles (56) or won more turnovers (9) this Mitre 10 Cup campaign than Du’Plessis Kirifi has for the Lions.
Wellington
1-Xavier Numia, 2-James O’Reilly, 3-Alex FIdow, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Taine Plumtree, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du'Plessi Kirifi (C), 8-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Julian Savea, 12-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13- Billy Proctor 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Trent Renata
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ben Aumua-Peseta, 18- Kaliopasi Uluilakepa 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Mateaki Kafatolu, 21-Connor Collins, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Pepesana Patafilo
Otago
1-Jamie Mackintosh, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Charles Eaton, 7-Dylan Nel, 8- Sione Misiloi, 9-Kayne Hammngton, 10-Josh Ioane, 11- Jona Narkei, 12-Aleki Morris-Lome, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Vilimoni Koroi, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-George Bower, 18-Yoshihisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Samuel Fischli, 21-Jono Hickey, 22- Freedom Vahaakolo, 23-Sean Withy
Waikato v Counties Manukau
Saturday 10 October, 7.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato
Played: 64
Won: Waikato 41, Counties Manukau 22, Drawn 1
Last match:
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): Counties snapped an 11-game losing streak with last week’s 36-30 win over Manawatu.
Waikato
1: Robb Cobb 2: Samisoni Taukei’aho 3: Josh Iosefa-Scott 4: Hamilton Burr 5: Samipeni Finau 6: Adam Thomson 7: Mitch Jacobsen 8: Luke Jacobsen 9: Xavier Roe 10: Fletcher Smith 11: Patrick Osborne 12: Matty Landsdown 13: Quinn Tupaea 14: Liam Coombes-Fabling 15: Beaudein Waaka
Reserves: Steven Misa, Tolu Fahamokioa, George Dyer, James Thompson, Liam Messam, Cortez Ratima, Rivez Reihana, Gideon Wrampling
Counties Manukau
1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2. Zuriel Toniatama, 3. Conan O’Donnell, 4. Potu Leavasa 5: Mickey Woolliams/Matiaha Martin, 6. Jonathan Kawau, 7. Alamanda Motuga, 8. Sam Slade, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Jason Robertson, 11. Sione Fifita, 12. Orbyn Leger (capt), 13: Sione Molia 14. Kirisi Kuridrani, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves: Donald Maka, Clinton Malolua, Suetena Asomua, Viliame Rarasea, Viliame Taulani, Cameron Roigard, Latiume Fosita, Tevita Nabura
Tasman v Bay of Plenty
Sunday 11 October, 1.15pm, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Played: 8
Won: Tasman 4, Bay of Plenty 4
Last match: Tasman 34, Bay of Plenty 13 (21 August 2015)
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): David Havili has scored five tries in his last four Mitre 10 Cup games but has not played against Bay of Plenty since 2015.
Tasman
1: Isileli Tuungafasi 2: Andrew Makalio 3: Tyrell Lomax 4: Alex Ainley 5: Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta 6: Jacob Norris 7: Sione Talitu Havili 8: Hugh Renton 9: Finlay Christie 10: Mitchell Hunt 11: Leicester Faingaanuku 12: Alex Nankivell 13: Fetuli Paea 14: Mark Telea 15: David Havili
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Ryan Coxon, Samuel Matenga, Isaac Ross, Braden Stewart, Louie Chapman, Kieron Fonotia, Lotima Faingaanuku
Bay of Plenty
TBC
Northland v Southland
Sunday 11 October, 1.15pm, Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei
Played: 41
Won: Northland 21, Southland 19, Drawn 1
Last match: Southland 17, Northland 27 (8 August 2019)
Referee:
Statchat (Opta): Southland have not won away from home in the Mitre 10 Cup since a 27-18 win over Northland in Round 2, 2015.
Northland:
1-Ross Wright, 2-Jordan Olsen, 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Sam Caird, 5-Temo Mayanavanua, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Matt Matich, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Dan Hawkins, 11-Pisi Leilua, 12-Blake Hohaia, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jone Macilai, 15- Scott Gregory
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Luatangi Li, 18-Kalolo Tuiloma, 19-Fano Funaki, 20-Rob Rush, 21-Will Grant, 22-Johnny Cooper, 23-Kalani Going
Southland:
1: Joseph Walsh 2: Greg Pleasants-Tate 3: Christopher Apoua 4: Michael McKee 5: Manaaki Selby-Rickit 6: Charles Alaimalo 7: Mathew James 8: Tony Lamborn 9: Logan Crowley 10: Scott Eade 11: Penikolo Latu 12: Raymond Nu’u 13: Isaac Te Tamaki 14: Amanaki Nicole 15: Joshua Moorby
Reserves: Sabastian Siataga, Ethan De Groot, Siate Tokolahi, Raymond Tatafu, Glenn Preston, Raniera Takarangi, Gregory Dyer, Rory van Vugt