We’ve got an exciting weekend coming up for both the Mitre 10 Cup and Farah Palmer Cup. The Ranfurly Shield goes on the line again, this time Hawke’s Bay host Northland on Friday night, who haven’t held the Log ‘O’ Wood since 1978. It’s also the Championship top of the table clash. Auckland hosts Tasman in the Premiership top of the table battle at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon.
Tasman overpowered Bay of Plenty to retain a one-point lead at the head of the Mitre 10 Premiership but Auckland and Waikato are hot on its tail with a more convincing Canterbury sitting in fourth place.
Whilst the Auckland Storm and entire South Pool have a week off this weekend, the remaining six North teams will be battling it out in front of full crowds as Auckland joined the rest of the country at Level 1. It’s the penultimate round before the playoffs, so there is plenty to play for. Particularly for Waikato, Counties, Bay of Plenty and Northland who are all vying for a finals spot out of the North Pool.
Throughout the Farah Palmer Cup, allblacks.com have a chat with the Black Ferns coaches about their thoughts on the competition as they build towards Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.
Manawatu will be searching for their first win of the season with a tough challenge against Canterbury on Friday night, while Northland and Southland who sit second and third respectively in the Championship, will battle it out in Whangarei on Sunday afternoon. Note the earlier kick off time of 1.15pm for the Sunday game’s ahead of the much-anticipated Bledisloe Cup Test in Wellington at 4pm.