It’s been a crazy time at New Zealand Sport Radio HQ, you can find out everything that’s going on in my Pulling Back The Curtains post. Yup that’s why this is later than usual and sorry for that folks.
We will be getting around the grounds again going to 2 Mitre 10 Cup games and 3 Farah Palmer Cup games. We’ll be bringing you our post match interviews as usual over on our Facebook page.
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You’re here for my Mitre 10 Cup predictions so let’s get straight into them.
Wellington v Bay of Plenty – Wellington by 3
The big thing this weekend is that the All Blacks aren’t available as they are away preparing for the Bledisloe Cup. We discussed the impact of that in the DrivingMaul show on Monday (podcast below).
With players like TJ and Adrie not available for Wellington they will definitely be weaker. The Bay will be missing Sam Cane (interview with him after last weekend’s game below) but they’ll be impacted less.
Still I think at home Wellington should win this one even if this is probably the weakest they’ll be all season. The reason I say that is the disruption of losing players will fade.
Tasman v Waikato – Tasman by 5
This is a top of the table clash and Waikato have been tracking really well. Add to that Tasman losing so many All Blacks for this game. However I think the loss of ALB and DMac is worse for Waikato than all those All Blacks for the reigning Champions Tasman.
Southland v North Harbour – Southland by 3
I don’t know is this a head over heart thing? Southland are one of the provinces that have been really good with us in terms of access and interviews. It really feels like they are building something down there and maybe I’ve been swept up on the bandwagon.
Harbour are a side that are struggling this season. This would have been a automatic win but off the back of 2 losses the pressure really is on. To be fair those losses have been to Canterbury and high flying Waikato. Sam Ward wasn’t happy after last weekend’s performance and will be expecting a reaction from the players. How will they deal with that pressure?
Hawke’s Bay v Canterbury – Canterbury by 5
Hawke’s Bay got the win last weekend at home and are wearing special bushman jerseys to support farmers. Also Canterbury will be missing all their All Blacks. Still this is Canterbury who are at the pointy end of the Premiership every season. I still think they’ll have to much for the Championship side.
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Auckland v Manawatu – Auckland by 10
This should be a comfortable win for Auckland who have been up and down in the opening couple of rounds. However again the impact of losing so many All Blacks is going to impact the squad.
Manawatu there are really struggling with 2 losses so far and a trip up to the big smoke isn’t what they need right now.
New Zealand Sport Radio will be at this game bringing you match updates and post match interviews over on our Facebook Page.
Taranaki v Otago – Otago by 3
The Ranfurly shield is in the Naki after a narrow win last weekend over Canterbury. That was with the long kicking of Jordie. They might only be missing 3 players to the All Blacks but they are key players.
I think Otago will have a real shot to taking the Shield back down to the south island. That win last weekend will have given them some much needed confidence.
Counties Manukau v Northland – Northland by 3
This is starting to look like a must win game for Counties in what’s looking like a highly competitive Championship season. Northland have looked good at times and as long as they start well will make this a real battle.
Cards on the table thought this might be another heart over head one as Northland is a favourite here at New Zealand Sport Radio. Steven supports them and they have been really good to us.
New Zealand Sport Radio will be at this game bringing you match updates and post match interviews over on our Facebook Page.
Farah Palmer Cup
The Farah Palmer Cup is the women’s provincial competition here in New Zealand. Here are the round 4 fixtures and we’ll be covering the bold games on our Facebook Page:
- Wellington v Manawatu – Wellington by 5
- Tasman v Otago – Otago by 10
- North Harbour v Auckland – Auckland by 60
- Bay of Plenty v Taranaki – Bay of Plenty by 50
- Hawke’s Bay v Canterbury – Canterbury by 60
- Counties Manukau v Northland – Counties Manukau by 15
Alice Soper’s 90 second round up of last weekend’s games:
Farah Palmer Cup tables:
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