2017 Mitre 10 Cup

[rowan]

Is Wellington playing this weekend?

12-61 smashing of Southland

[Spy]

Auckland somehow stay in the Premiership, as Waikato are relegated after losing to BOP. The downside is that this result means we've lost our best prospect of seeing playoff rugby at Eden Park.

[zer0]

Nic White is also gone. That alone would make it a successful season for mine. Removing him while avoiding relegation is a nice bonus, mind.

[rowan]

Yes, Wellington could well screw it up, given their history. They were lucky to scrape by Otago in the regular season, weren't they? That could be a potential banana skin on a wet day in the final...

[J Dory]

Can't see anything other than a Northland promotion this time around. Wellington were lucky to get away with the last one, shouldn't happen again. From there only BOP or Otago to beat, easy frickin peasy.

[rowan]

Wellington will give Northland an almighty spanking, as per usual, then get a little complacent for (probably) Otago in the final and somehow manage to screw it up. They don't call us the 'England' of New Zealand provincial rugby for nothing...

[morepork]

Who is the "England of NZ rugby"?

[rowan]

Wellington, obviously. Who else flatters to deceive for decades on end before finally getting the formula right and winning something about once in the average human being's lifetime?

[rowan]

Anyhow, enjoy it while it last. . .

[J Dory]

Well that's it for Northland for the year, for some reason I woke up at 3am so pulled the game up on Mobdro (if you don't have the app I highly recommend it) with the Taniwha with their nose in front only to see Wellington roll over them. Ah well, was a far better season as a Northland supporter than it's been in quite sometime. Can't see anyone stopping Wellington now.

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[rowan]

Wellington will give Northland an almighty spanking, as per usual, then get a little complacent for (probably) Otago in the final and somehow manage to screw it up. They don't call us the 'England' of New Zealand provincial rugby for nothing...

First part of the prophecy has been fulfilled

[rowan]

Looks like the bus is back in service . . .

[rowan]

Ha! ha! That's an easy one for the Lions. Premiership here we come!

[rowan]

Tasman? Wow, that wasn't even a team back in my day - just a couple of run-of-the-mill second divison provinces. I do seem to recall Marlborough had a brief tenure with the Log back in the mid-70s, however, with the rampaging Sutherland brothers in the ranks - at least one of whom made the All Blacks...

[rowan]

Can't see anything other than a Northland promotion this time around. Wellington were lucky to get away with the last one, shouldn't happen again. From there only BOP or Otago to beat, easy frickin peasy.

Good call

[rowan]

So rather than tipping this weekend's winners, shouldn't we just have a crack at predicting how much Canterbury and Wellington are going to win by?

I'll give it 25 and 20 points respectively...

[J Dory]

Has anyone been watching Tasman this season? I'd be interested to hear how Will Jordan is playing, he caught my eye for the U20s. Does he have a super rugby contract?

[rowan]

No, I don't think he has a Super contract yet but is bound to pop up in the Saders next year.

[rowan]

Well, we did our best to choke again, but not quite this time. Nation's second biggest metro area and traditional All Blacks production line returns to the top division at last . . .

Wellington gained promotion to the Mitre 10 Cup Premiership after beating Bay of Plenty 59-45 in the Championship final in Wellington on Friday.

In a highly entertaining match, played at a frenetic pace, the teams could not be separated after 80 minutes – with the score level at 40-40 – but Wellington upped the ante during extra-time and eventually outscored their visitors nine tries to seven.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/pro ... ship-final

[rowan]

Wellington's front rowers looking quicker than some of their backs these days...

[rowan]

So rather than tipping this weekend's winners, shouldn't we just have a crack at predicting how much Canterbury and Wellington are going to win by?

I'll give it 25 and 20 points respectively...

22 & 14 points, respectively. Not too shabby - for somewhat who never saw any of the games!

So Canterbury have the national provincial title as well as the Super Rugby title. How many times have they done the double, I wonder. Canterbury - the Real Madrid of Rugby

[rowan]

The Richie Mo'unga Show!

[rowan]

No, I don't think he has a Super contract yet but is bound to pop up in the Saders next year.

Indeed.

[rowan]

So 2018 is underway and Tasman has avenge last years loss in the final to Canterbury with a 25-17 win in the Blenheim. Wellington, back in the premiership at last, are set to play Otago this weekend. http://www.mitre10cup.co.nz/

[rowan]

Wellington 36 Otago 16

Southland 10 Hawkes Bay 31