What to watch this weekend
Championship kicks off and now I have even less time for chores
We are about to kick off of round 2 for the Premiership and soon after, the opening round of the Championship! I have been continuing to whip up graphics for my instagram, to give you an idea of who to watch out for and a massive thank you to all the players who have given me their time to have a chat about their region.
Which brings me to Vic.
Victoria Subritsky-Nafatali is bloody crack up. I was supposed to run through the same handful of questions I have with all the players but instead just rolled about in my chair. If the Black Ferns don’t pick her up for the World Cup, I will. I would love to do some work with her.
Anyway, to give you a preview of this weekend’s matches, I thought I’d run you through Vic and my predictions for this round.
GAME ONE: CANTERBURY v AUCKLAND STORM
Kick off Saturday 12.05pm, Sky Sport 1
This is going to be a game to watch. If you pick only one from the Premiership round this weekend, this is it.
Storm won messy last week and Canterbury won clean. Both look lethal though so the outcome of this match will tell you a lot about how the competition is shaping up.
VIC: Storm 12 and under
ALICE: Storm 12 and under
Note: we would both have a hard time picking Canterbury so this isn’t necessarily reflective of the odds. I just think the fact that Auckland had to fight more for a win last week, sets them up better for today.
GAME TWO: TARANAKI WHIO v NORTH HARBOUR HIBISCUS
Kick off Saturday 12.35pm, Sky Sport 2
To be honest with you, I know the least about these teams having not yet been able to find a player from either side to have a yarn. So there’s not much insight I can give you beyond the fact that North Harbour sides, like Counties, end up playing in the Auckland club comp. It’s basically for that reason alone that I would tip them today.
VIC: North Harbour Hibiscus 13+
ALICE: North Harbour Hibiscus 12 and under
Vic has named flanker Leah Miles, halfback Georgia Cormick and centre Cheyenne Cunningham as players to watch
GAME THREE: HAWKE’S BAY TUI v OTAGO SPIRIT
Kick off Saturday 12.05pm, Sky Sport 1
This will be an interesting match up with the two sides fairly evenly matched and who will be on the hunt for promotion this year. Both have international players feature, Otago Spirit have Melbourne Rebels halfback, Georgia Cormick and Hawke’s Bay have Spanish prop Laura Delgado Duenas. They both also have young talent coming through which excites me. Kahlia Awa at halfback for Hawke’s Bay is a proud local talent that has come through the age grades to pull on the black and white.
Both these teams will play good honest rugby. Nothing too flashy, will be looking to build phases to get them in position to strike.
VIC: Otago Spirit 12 under
Alice: Hawke’s Bay 13+
Manu Sina and Tasman Mako winger, Michelle Curry, named former Pride player, Precious Auimatagi, recent MVP for Manu Sina, Cassie Siataga and local talent, Neve Anglesey as players to watch this season.
GAME FOUR: NORTHLAND KAURI v TASMAN MAKO
Kick off Saturday 4.35pm, Sky Sport 1
Oooooooweeeee is this going to be a juicy match. Northland have been a force and a fan favourite since entering the competition in 2019. They were edged out of playoffs by Hawke’s Bay last year and will be out to prove a point. Meanwhile, Tasman have bucked their recent trend of late and have had talent relocate into the region which will give their side a real boost. Precious (Fai) Auimatagi is one of those players of the younger generation that is coming through and can comfortably play anywhere on the paddock. A product of Wainuiomata High, she played 10 for them and can comfortably kick conversions. Most recently, she has run out for the Wellington Pride at hooker. She will add some steal to the Mako pack.
VIC: Northland Kauri by 12 and under
ALICE: Tasman Mako by 12 and under
Phoenix Paniora’s Mum, Sheralee Mills and Aunty, Tracey Mills, in the first Bay of Plenty women’s side in 1992.
GAME FIVE: MANAWATŪ CYCLONES v BAY OF PLENTY VOLCANIX
Kick off Sunday 12.05pm, Sky Sport 1
These teams are not dissimilar in playing styles. Both are from smaller regions, both have smaller packs and both have a strong 7s influence. The Black Ferns back row of Les Elder, Pia Tapsell and Kendra Reynolds will be electric but I am most excited to see Poroporo’s own Phoenix Paniora jump on the field from the bench, 20 years after her Mum and Aunty played for the first Bay of Plenty women’s side.
Cyclones meanwhile, well, if they are serious about being contenders this season, this is a win they’ll need to take. I think the team we saw against the reigning Premiership champions, Waikato, last week, are the ones to do it.
VIC: Cyclones 13+
ALICE: Cyclones 12 and under
Shyanne Thompson describes the Heat and also the Pride’s style of play.
GAME SIX: COUNTIES MANUKAU HEAT v WELLINGTON PRIDE
Kick off Sunday 2.05pm, Sky Sport 1
When I played for Wellington, the Counties Manukau Heat were my favourite team to go to battle with. We play a very similar style of rugby and you can guarantee this game will be PHYSICAL. Both teams will be wanting to bounce back after first round loses and you can expect this to go right down to the wire.
Can my beloved Wellington get their shit together? Can Counties overcome their traditionally slow starts? Time will tell.
VIC: Counties Manukau Heat by 12 and under
ALICE: Wellington Pride by 12 and under
Note: both of us used to play for these teams so are entirely bias in our predictions.
Anyway, these are just our picks for the weekend. What do you reckon?
With you,
Alice