Mako head north with high hopes

It’s time for the “Big Dance” and the Tasman Mako will head for Eden Park well versed in the steps to possible success.

On Saturday evening Auckland will host Tasman in the Mitre 10 Cup premiership final, a meeting of the two previous champion unions.

Both sides have had their ups and downs on their way to the 2020 decider, boasting similar records. Auckland lost to Wellington, North Harbour and Canterbury while Tasman went down to Auckland, plus North Harbour and Canterbury as well.

The previous Tasman v Auckland clash went the way of the northerners 31-10, with not much going right for the Mako on that occasion.

In their respective semifinals both sides did just enough to win, Tasman easing past Bay of Plenty 19-10 while Auckland eventually got the better of Waikato 23-18.

Neither finalist looked the complete package last weekend, setting up an intriguing showdown on Saturday.

Auckland will hold a couple of key cards, the psychological advantage of a hefty win in their previous meeting, plus the home ground edge, boosted by their gesture of making the game free for fans.

Tasman have proved in recent times that they are a “big occasion” team.

Earlier in the season there was a question mark over the ability of their forward pack, drastically reshaped from 2019, to foot it with some of the more rugged and hefty eights around.

However, work has been done and, in their most recent games (against Otago and Bay of Plenty) the Mako pack has stepped up to the mark. Set pieces have become more reliable sources of quality ball, the breakdown area has been more evenly contested and improved cohesion has resulted.

The loose forward trio of Hugh Renton, Mako player of the year Sione Havili and No 8 Taina Fox-Matamua is beginning to gel as a unit while the versatile Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta continues to improve week-by-week.

The key to success or failure on Saturday may well lie with the inside back combination of Finlay Christie and Mitch Hunt. They will be up against two handy operators in Jonathon Ruru and Harry Plummer. Whichever duo produces the best kicking game may well decide the outcome.

Last weekend Christie sent a succession of box kicks skyward, which his wingers and inspirational fullback David Havili were able to contest successfully. In Selisi Rayasi and AJ Lam Auckland have proven tryscorers on the wings. How they fare under an aerial bombardment is another matter though.

The Tasman selectors have made just one change from their semifinal line-up. Isi Tu’ungafasi comes into the loosehead prop role in place of Ryan Coxon, who replaces Tu’ungafasi on the bench. Apart from that Andrew Goodman, Clarke Dermody and co have shown faith in the 23 that did the job against the Steamers.

Their ability to play to a set game plan and defuse a potentially-explosive opponent was key to that success – more of the same will be needed on Saturday if the Mako are to go back-to-back.

Tasman team for Saturday’s final at Eden Park (kick off 7.05pm):

Forwards – Isi Tu’ungafasi, Quentin MacDonald, Sam Matenga, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Quinten Strange (vice-captain), Hugh Renton, Sione Havili, Taina Fox-Matamua.

Backs – Finlay Christie, Mitch Hunt (vice-captain), Leicester Fainga’anuku, Tim O’Malley, Fetuli Paea, Mark Telea, David Havili (captain).

Bench (Sparkies): Sam Moli, Ryan Coxon, Isaac Salmon, Isaac Ross, Anton Segner, Dwayne Polataivao, Kieron Fonotia, Tima Fainga’anuku.

Injured: Jacob Norris, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Makalio, and Louie Chapman.