Watch: Wellington to play BOP in Mitre 10 Championship final
Wellington and Bay of Plenty booked themselves places in next Friday night's Mitre 10 Cup Championship final, recording comfortable victories over Northland and Otago respectively.
The men from the capital prevailed after a slow start at Westpac Stadium, which saw Northland shoot out to a 14-3 lead through tries to Jordan Hyland and Solomon Alaimalo. However, long periods of possession in the first half meant they were able to claw back the lead by halftime with a try to impressive youngster Thomas Umaga-Jensen and some accurate goal kicking by Jackson Garden-Bachop.
Unfortunately for Northland, the second half was one way traffic as the home team hit their straps. Trent Renata, Tolu Fahamokioa and Regan Verney all scored as well as a double to birthday boy Wes Goosen to take the game out of reach, all Northland could manage in reply was a try to Sam Nock.
Bay of Plenty didn't disappoint a packed Tauranga Domain, beating Otago 48-31 in windy conditions. Otago looked to have stayed in touch to trail 15-11 just before the break, however a try to Lalakai Foketi pushed the hosts out to a decent lead right on the hooter.
It was Foketi's second of the match, and Joe Webber matched his effort with a brilliant try in the second half. Tries to big Henry Stowers and Terrence Hepetema literally broke the back of the visitors, and a penalty try on the last play of the game pushed the score out even further.
However, Otago did provide a fair share of excitement in the match - All Black Sevens star Vilimoni Koroi's second half try one of the best you'll see this year.
Wellington will go into the final as heavy favourites, not only having home ground advantage but also having scored a bonus point try in the last 18 matches they've played.
Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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