Farah Palmer Cup Finals

It all comes down to this

I am feeling a little smug after picking all the winners last week. I was only off by a couple of points in the Kauri match as the Spirit scored in the last five minutes to close the gap to 10.

So can I pick this weekend? Who knows. But I’m fizzing for all this action. Let’s crack in!

The two winning-ist teams in the Farah Palmer Cup meet again. This is Canterbury’s 7th Premiership final in a row and the Auckland Storm’s 20th since the year 2000. They have met each other in the final eight times before. First in 2004 and most recently last year.

Of those eight meetings, the Storm have won six times. However, the last of those wins was back in 2014. So Canterbury have the better of recent history, winning in 2019 and 2022.

Those are the records but what about this year?

The match between these two was an edge of the seat clash at Eden Park, played in the final round. The Storm had a perfect start, two tries in the opening 20 got their tails up. The Martha Mataele express got Canterbury back in the match with two tries in rapid succession. They couldn’t convert so the Storm held the lead and then extended it with another try before the half.

Canterbury emerged a different team from the sheds and went to work. They did what Canterbury does best, clinical at set piece, they worked themselves into the right parts of the paddock to score. They finally took the lead in the 68th minute with a penalty off the boot of Hannah King. Final score: Canterbury 27, Auckland 24.

That does this match tell us? Only that Saturday could be anyone’s game. So do the semi finals offer us any clues?

Canterbury were much too strong for the valiant Hawke’s Bay Tui. They dismantled them at set piece and stretched them thin on defence as they confidently attacked with width. Tui looked better running phases than kicking to the hungry counter attack of Canterbury. Auckland will take note of this as they have plenty of confident ball carriers to call on.

Meanwhile the Storm had a much tougher assignment in Waikato. They appeared to still be getting off the bus when Carla Hohepa sprinted away to open the account for Waikato in the second minute.

A side bar on Carla Hohepa
This woman is ridiculous. She was the Portia Woodman before Portia Woodman, setting the World Cup alight in 2010. She scored 7 spectacular tries, including a hat trick against the Wallaroos. Her second act as a midfielder has been a joy to watch. The way she has held her standards at the top of this game for so long is incredible.

I can’t wait to see her run out for the Barbarians later this year.

The Storm eventually recovered from the jet lag suffered travelling over the Bombay Hills and came alive. Running in three tries to take the lead into halftime. The second half was another arm wrestle. What will be a concern was their wayward lineouts, something the Cantabs will be only too happy to capitalise on. They made up for it at scrum time though, where they held their own against the formidable Waikato pack. Folding them over at one point in a way that was both amazing and terrifying to watch.

It went down to the wire, Storm winning in the last 10, 29-22.

The playoff between these two then is the final we deserve. One that will put some juicy match ups out there, like Sylvia Brunt versus Grace Brooker, Maia Roos versus Chelsea Bremner, Grace Steinmetz versus Katelyn Vaha’akolo and Alana Bremner versus Liana Mikaele Tu’u.

I cannot wait.

Prediction: Auckland brings a slight rain shower to Canterbury’s parade. Auckland by the narrowest of margins. I don’t feel confident in that though!

In 2016, Selica Winiata was named New Zealand Rugby women’s player of the year. I then pissed off all my mates that summer by consistently putting her name in the hat when we played Celebrity.

Well, if you had been in a coma since then and have just awoken to watch the Cyclones season this year, it wouldn’t surprise you to see the fullback is still running in red hot form. And she’s not the only one. The Cyclones have been ripping through the year’s competition. Case in point their massive win over Tasman in the semi final last week.

It has been choice to see Rangimarie Sturmey return from injury. And their back row of Layla Sae, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Rhiarna Ferris is what my dreams are made of. Their scrum has been one of the best in the Championship.

The only two teams that have come close to weathering the Cyclone this season are the Otago Spirit and Northland Kauri. Those two battled it out last week and Kauri have won the privilege of a trip down to the Palmerston North final this Sunday.

Kauri travel having already won the vibes of the season. And by that I mean, the few times I’ve been lucky enough to play in a championship team, I could tell you during pre-season we were going all the way. The vibe was just right. Every bounce of the ball just seems to go your way.

I have felt that every time I’ve seen the Kauri pop up on my timeline this year. It just feels right with them.

These vibes of course have been back up by on field performance. Krystal Murray and Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate having a ball together in the front row. Charmaine Smith as reliable as ever. Justice Karena has benefitted from a season in Spain and Hikitia Wikaira leads by example. Aroha Savage second act as a back is giving me life! As is young gun Tara Turner.

They play their rugby full of heart and it’s a joy to watch.

Like the Premiership playoff, this is the final rugby fans deserve. I just wish they could both head up to the Premiership next year.

Prediction: I will get emotional, no matter the outcome. If Cyclones win, it’ll be by a Selica Winiata try. If Kauri win, it’ll be by a Krystal Murray kick.

With you,
Alice