The 50th year of the competition has been one to remember and will culminate with the top two teams from the regular season facing off at One NZ Stadium in the big dance.
The sides last met in round four in August, where the Taniwha produced the performance of the season to defeat the red and blacks 12-36 on their home turf to snatch away the Ranfurly Shield. It was Northland’s first stint with the Log o’ Wood since 1978.
Canterbury’s 15 titles in the 49 years of the competition is topped only by Auckland’s 17, and no team has won more titles since the turn of the century than Canterbury.
The red and blacks have also finished runners-up three times, and lost 11 semifinals, so they are well versed in the pointy end of the competition.
Northland, in contrast, are currently playing their best-ever season. Prior to this year, the Taniwha recorded a best finish of fourth in 1979, and back-to-back fifth place finishes in 1977 and 1978.
This year feels different, though. A first-ever home quarter final and semifinal cemented Semenoff Stadium as the Taniwha fortress. If any team can beat Canterbury on their home turf this season, it is this Taniwha side.
Grand final details:
Canterbury v Northland
Monday 26 October, 2:10pm
One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Semifinal results:
Northland 38 Otago 19
The game got off to a roaring start even before the ball was kicked, when Northland’s haka was met with Otago walking as a team to the halfway line, nose to nose with their opposition.
The first points of the game were Northland’s when a lineout maul almost reached the line, but was brought down a metre out. Marcel Renata picked up and drove over to score, with Rivez Reihana adding the extras.
A quarter of the way into the game, Otago struck back with a lineout maul of their own. Captain Christian Lio-Willie went close but was hauled down and the ball was spun wide to Jona Nareki who got within a metre, before Kieran McClea sniped from the base of the ruck and tumbled over to open the scoring for the southerners.
Another penalty in the midfield for Northland saw Reihana point to the posts and all three to the scoreboard 10 minutes from the siren.
Otago were in again on the stroke of half time though, when phases piled up inside the 22 and Lio-Willie stretched out after bumping off a couple of would-be tacklers to put the visitors in front.
Three minutes after the hooter had sounded, Northland were back on the attack, camped on the visitors’ line. Renata went low again, and again was rewarded for his effort, scoring beside the posts to put Northland ahead at the break, 17-14.
After the break, a huge Northland scrum on Otago’s 5 metre line saw the ball flicked down the short side to Heremaia Murray who dove over under pressure, to extend the Taniwha lead. Reihana converted from the sideline to see his side go 10 points clear.
Reihana added another three when a chaser for a midfield kick was adjudged to be obstructed by an Otago defender and the Northland 10 pointed to the posts from 40m out.
It was Northland’s night and that was exemplified when Brady Rush toed ahead a kick and recollected magnificently, setting up the Taniwha 10 metres out from Otago’s line. That passage of play ended with another three points under the home side’s belt, and the scoreboard reading 30-14 with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Reihana added yet another penalty, before Nathan Salmon rounded out a perfect night for the home side when he intercepted a deadly-looking Otago attack to burst away and score in the corner with three minutes left.
Nareki scored a consolation try for Otago in the final minute, but it was all over and the Taniwha progressed to their maiden grand final.
Canterbury 38 Taranaki 28
Returning All Blacks Jamie Hannah and Josh Jacomb ensured their presence was felt during a huge fightback from Taranaki which ultimately fell agonisingly short in Christchurch.
Canterbury got the scoring underway in traditional style this season, with a lineout drive from short range. It almost went all the way but fell a metre short. Louie Chapman flicked it wide for Corey Kellow to push through Kini Naholo and score in the corner.
The Bulls hit back on the quarter-hour mark though Seta Tamanivalu, who bruised his way through three tackles and stretched out to score the black and gold’s first points.
Canterbury responded with a beautiful set piece move just minutes later, when Kurtis MacDonald went over. It looked for all money to be another lineout drive, when Kellow peeled off the back and dummy runners darted left and right before he handed off to MacDonald, who ran straight through to score.
Isaac Hutchinson was then first to the ball after Johnny McNicholl stabbed a grubber into Taranaki’s 22. He straightened and was brought down on the 5 metre line. Under penalty advantage, Chapman dug it out and MacDonald almost grabbed a second but was brought down too. Xavier Treacy picked up from the base of the ruck and dove over under the posts for Canterbury’s third of the first half.
Then a midfield bomb was recollected by MacDonald and he snuck into the 22. After a few phases creeping up towards the line, Sam Darry took it upon himself and under a pile of bodies, his hand came out with the ball over the line. That saw the scoreline at the break 26-7 in favour of the home side.
Canterbury started the better side in the second stanza too, when Jone Rova grabbed a try from close range. They looked to be getting the forwards prepared for a drive, when the ball was flicked out to Rova, who stepped once and dove over the line.
A sublime cross-field kick from Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens put Naholo into a gap on the left wing which put the visitors into a two-versus-one situation. Naholo drew the defender and passed to Meihana Grindley who sped off to the corner and dotted down for their second try of the afternoon.
Taranaki weren’t done, either. A midfield bomb was dropped by the Canterbury defenders and seized upon by substitute Haki Wiseman, who dragged the Bulls into the home side’s 22. Vereniki Tikoisolomone broke three tackles and went close, before quick ball saw Kaylum Boshier crash over, closing the gap to 12.
With 20 minutes left, Canterbury regained composure and right winger Isaac Hutchinson crossed in the corner to put the red and blacks 17 points ahead. A quick dart and flick pass from Chapman drew the defence and allowed Hutchinson to skip over untouched.
Taranaki refused to die though, and benefitted from a scrum on Canterbury’s 5 metre line when a delayed pass from Jacomb found Grindlay in a gap and he crossed under the posts for his second try of the day. That closed the gap back to 10 with 12 minutes left on the clock.
Canterbury did well to wind down the clock in the remaining stanza, and a knock on in the 83rd minute brought the second semifinal to a close, with Canterbury advancing to their first men’s home final under the roof of the new stadium.