Northland vs Waikato NPC preview: Confirmed lineups, predictions and matchups

Northland vs Waikato NPC preview as the sides meet in round seven of the competition. Northland will be defending the Ranfurly Shield, having defended it on the first occasion against Tasman.

The sides are currently separated by three points with Northland having pulled off an extra win. Four wins have Northland on 22 points, while Waikato have won three and are on 19 points. 

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Northland vs Waikato confirmed lineups

Lineup changes:

N: Goodhue and Peita are the only surviving members of the pack, Nock comes in to start for his 100th. Murray comes in at 13.

W:Finau comes in at six and the Jacobson and Mathis shuffle to seven and eight. Lewai comes in at 11 and Leuila in at 12 with Anderson moving to 13. Sinkinson moves to the wing and Cook-Savage comes in at full-back.

Key matchups

Hooper vs Jacobson

The breakdown battle will be decisive for victory and these two will be in the middle of it while in the seven shirt. An even contest that will be difficult to separate. 

Reihana vs Kemara

This will be a game of territory and tempo. Both of these guys can dictate the game and will look to. Reihana will have the home advantage, while Kemara will have the motivation to chase the Ranfurly Shield. 

Recent Form:

Northland (Home team): 

The Ranfurly Shield holders ended their three-game winning streak with a heavy defeat to their neighbours, North Harbour. The game included 14 tries, eight of which were scored by North Harbour. Seven of those North Harbour tries came in the first half, leaving them 47-14 behind. After conceding early, Northland bounced back to bring it to 7-7, moving it wide off the back of a strong scrum. They would concede three tries in seven minutes before picking up another try, leaving them 28-14 behind with 10 minutes left in the half. Brady Rush got put in the sin bin for a late tip tackle on Bryn Hall, and this is where North Harbour took advantage, scoring another three in seven minutes, taking advantage of a few Northland mistakes to counterattack. They went into the break 47-14 behind. 

Harbour kicked a penalty to make the gap 36 points, but Northland started to hit back. A box kick from their own five metres by North Harbour was returned by the Northland backs, and they scored in the opposite corner. After a quick tap from the base of a scrum penalty, Northland scored to get the scores back to 50-28 and give the visitors the tiniest bit of hope, but a mistake in the backfield allowed North Harbour to score an eighth and make the gap 29 points again. Northland would score two more tries in the final 10, including a brilliant offloading try finished by Sam Nock that ended the thriller, 57-42. 

Waikato (Away team): 

Waikato lost out for a second game in a row to Canterbury, conceding five in the heavy loss. They conceded early on in the corner in the opening few minutes. 

Waikato would score one of the outstanding tries of the year as a brilliant offload after a break from Rui Farrant sent Boyle-Tiatia over for a score. They would hold a 7-5 lead for well over 20 minutes, but Canterbury would eventually work their way over the line with their forwards. Waikato were unable to take advantage of a 50-22 in the closing minutes of the half. 

The second half started in Canterbury’s favour and early on they got the ball out wide and were able to chip the ball through and score. Waikato hit straight back, and Austin Anderson put the finishing touch on some brilliant backline play. Waikato were so close to taking the lead, but the ball was knocked on over the line after a kick through. They would go on to concede two more tries and a penalty in the last 13 minutes. Canterbury exploited some extra space in the tired Waikato backline. 

Northland vs Waikato head-to-head record (last five matches):

Waikato have won the last three meetings between these teams, with the margin of victory in two of these matches being by six points or less.

Predictions

• Northland to win and retain the Ranfurly Shield.
• Margin of victory of 10 points or less.
• More than 60 points in the game.