Aupiki: Finals Preview
Can Matatū climb all the way to the top?
I am really sorry but I am going to start this piece like it’s a high school debate and give you some dictionary definitions.
As someone who likes words, it was very useful that they named our Super Rugby competition Aupiki. This one kupu (word) contains all my feelings about the tournament. Their intention, I’m sure, was to use the verb, which means to ascend. Or perhaps one of the noun definitions, success. The inference being that this was the levelling up of the women’s game here in Aotearoa.
The poetic justice is that another definition of the noun Aupiki, is a short sharp ascent. Apt given that we currently sprint through this month long competition. It can also be used as a modifier, meaning steep or uphill. It is definitely an aupiki battle to get women’s rugby taken seriously with this tournament as our centrepiece.
This week, team lists out of Australia’s Super W saw no less than 10 players from New Zealand heading across the ditch. They include Matatū’s Amy Rule, Di Hiini, Atlanta Lolohea and her sister, Martha Mataele. They are joined by Poua players Cristo Tofa, Carys Dallinger and fill in skipper, Rachel Rakatau. Rounding them out are Farah Palmer Cup players including Harmony Ioane, Sam Curtis and Angel Schwencke (formerly Uila). I will include as a bonus, Chanelle Kohika-Skipper, who is a good Wainuiomata girl who relocated to Aus a couple of years back.
Amy Rule is the most interesting departure given she has been our starting tighthead. This opens a door early in the international season that I’m sure Tanya Kalounivale’s current form will bust through.
These players are extending their tournament and given Black Ferns contracts are up at the end of this month, this create an interesting conundrum for New Zealand Rugby. We have a PAC 4 tournament and Laurie O’Reilly series to prep for but without a clear set of dates, it’s hard to lock folks in. While they are not in charge of the tournament, they are also not in charge of these player’s schedule. Mark this up as reason 1,529,232 as to why Aupiki needs to extend next season.
Anyway! To the preview.
Bronze Final: Blues v Poua
These two teams will be out to prove a point in this bronze match. Both had moments where a finals spot was in reach. With a return to club rugby on the horizon, this is the last chance to impress a new coaching set up. So strap in for one heck of a show.
I really liked the Blues backline last week. I know Ruahei Demant made the 10 jersey her own at last year’s World Cup but the 10/12 pairing of Krysten Cottrell and her was electric. Their forward pack too has just grown week on week. I can’t say enough about this young front row, while Liana Mikaele-Tu’u and Charmaine McMenamin have been everywhere. They have the highest running metres in the comp, opting to keep the ball in hand and with that talent running it, you can’t blame them.
And then there are the Poua, oh my Poua. The determination of this motley crew is unreal. They have had flashes of absolute brilliance but just haven’t been able to string it all together to make them a real contender.
It was fantastic to see Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali steering the ship last week from 10, hers is the best boot in play. The skill and work rate of Krystal Murray and Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate is unreal for the front row and it’s been a break through season for Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono. Rhiarna Ferris is doing the absolute most every week and Joanah Ngan-Woo has only underlined her cult hero status. I am always excited when Ayesha Leti-I’iga has the ball in her hands.
The real difference between these two sides is the bench. While some might argue it’s the depth on it, I would argue it’s had more to do with the timing of interchanges. Melanie Puckett generally enters the game by the 60th minute, leaving her plenty of time to rev up the tempo. They make other changes to their forward pack, bringing in fresh legs to keep pace with the way they like to play the game.
In contrast, the Poua hesitate to make changes. Leaving players to show signs of fatigue before they are brought to the bench. We are not getting the most out of the talent on the sidelines which is in turn being exposed when it’s suddenly thrust into starting line ups due to injury. Milly Mackey had barely featured before she was asked to steer a playoff match at nine. That’s a big ask of a young player and is the type of thing that can take seasons to undo if it doesn’t go right.
Final: Manawa vs Matatū
This match up is the aupiki of our Farah Palmer Cup Premiership finals, which has seen Canterbury and Waikato face off for the last three years. Canterbury have got the best of that provincial rivalry, winning two out of three. When I wrote up the preview of the Farah Palmer Cup semis last year, I billed it as a battle between consistency and potential. The same is true for this Aupiki final.
Matatū have the potential to go all the way. They have found their confidence to move beyond prescribed phases to play into the opportunities as they present themselves. They are gelling as a unit. Renee Holmes and Chey Robins-Reti linking well now with locals Grace Brooker and Rosie Kelly. Kendra Reynolds, a positive influence on the performance we’ve seen from Lucy Jenkins.
Most importantly as we head into a final, they are starting to believe in themselves. You saw this in the way they backed their scrum on their own try line last week. With the game in the balance, they packed down to give them the opportunity for a cleaner clearance kick. They trusted everyone to do their job to get them there. They just need to do the same tomorrow.
They are up against the consistency of Manawa. Manawa who have had an answer to every searching question their opposition has asked of them this season. Simply unflappable, they can shift through multiple gears of attacking options to suit the occasion.
Like Canada at the World Cup, their rolling maul has gifted their hooker, Luka Connor, the top try scorer position. The second spot on this leaderboard is jointly held by their wingers; Georgia Daals and Mererangi Paul. Their team tops the overall stats for line out and scrums completion.
This dominance may have some thinking that this Manawa side hasn’t yet been tested. Their lopsided scorelines fooling folks into thinking it’s all been smooth sailing. It hasn’t been an easy graft for Manawa though. Everyone this season has put the target on their back and played their best rugby against them. As a result, they have at times had to dig themselves out of holes or stave off a late rally from their opposition. Each time, they have found their way through. They will be confident in their ability to do the same tomorrow, in front of their home crowd.
It’s a Cinderella story for Matatū. The team that was winless last season, clawing their way into the final. Will it be a fairytale finish? Or will the mighty Manawa remain unstoppable?
With you,
Alice