Mako to take on high-flying Magpies in NPC semifinal

A trip to Napier for a Bunnings NPC premiership rugby semifinal against high-flying Hawke’s Bay will hold no fears for the Tasman Mako.

This is a team that seems to grow another leg come play-off time, their victorious trip to Eden Park last season illustrative of their fondness for the “business end” of the season, whether home or away.

Their form has been patchy in recent weeks, losses to Waikato, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury prompting many to suggest their bid for a third consecutive NPC crown was on shaky ground.

However, adversity and doubters bring out the best in champion sides, as illustrated by Tasman’s gutsy 34-22 victory on Saturday over a Wellington side packed with Super Rugby talent.

Mind you, the Mako were forced to dig very deep at Lansdowne Park.

A first half where they showcased their attacking prowess was followed by a second spell where their defence and discipline were put under severe scrutiny.

The conclusive scoreline did not reflect the effort Tasman were forced to produce over the final frantic minutes to ensure their “three-peat” dream remained alive.

The Wellington Lions, with their tails up, are a formidable attacking force. When they closed the gap to five points with eight minutes remaining, the momentum was all with the visitors.

However, the home side hung in there, having looked for most of the match more like a side playing with the desperation required to continue their season than their opponents, who faced the same fate.

Head coach Andrew Goodman was not surprised that Wellington were able to produce such a strong second half effort.

“I always knew, coming out after halftime, that they were going to throw everything at it.

“They are a dangerous team, a lot of talented ball-runners right across the field … but the grit the boys showed in the last 20 to make some big defensive plays was awesome. I was very proud of their effort.”

Goodman said that the speed and physicality of the game necessitated early substitutions, with most of the Mako bench getting plenty of game time and making a difference.

He mentioned the efforts of replacement forwards Max Hicks, Isaac Salmon and Luca Inch who “brought a real edge to the later stages”.

He also sang the praises of young loosie Anton Segner, who took a series of heavy knocks but kept bouncing back into the defensive line.

“He has come of age in the last few weeks … turning in 80-minute performances which [number] sevens need to be able to do,” said Goodman. “It’s awesome for him to keep building confidence and know he can dominate at this level.”

There were many heroes for the Mako. Experienced campaigners Quentin MacDonald, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jacob Norris and Alex Nankivell, blockbusting No8 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, slick-passing halfback Louie Chapman, replacement winger Timoci Tavatavanawai and the ever-dangerous Leicester Fainga’anuku all stood up when required.

However, one player shone brightest on an overcast afternoon.

Tasman skipper Mitch Hunt underlined his maturity as a top-level first five, guiding his side around the paddock astutely, mixing up his attacking options and providing the stability and composure that wins big games. His desperate lunge to dislodge the ball from Peter Umaga-Jensen's grasp late in the first half was a potential turning point.

He said immediately after the final whistle that he was “stoked” to add at least another week to their season and delighted to reach the semifinal stage again.

“Regardless of what has happened in the regular season, it is any team on the night from now on,” he warned.

There will be some beaten-up and battered bodies to repair before next weekend’s play-off, but one thing is for certain, no-one will be taking the Tasman Mako lightly at this stage of the season, least of all the Magpies, who prevailed 34-22 the last time the sides met.

Saturday’s semi-final begins at 4.35pm.