Bay of Plenty vs Hawke’s Bay NPC preview: Lineups, predictions and matchups

Bay of Plenty vs Hawke’s Bay preview in round eight of the competition. Hawke’s Bay currently sit top of the table with six wins from their seven games, only losing one game in their seven games, coming in the last game. Bay of Plenty have won three of their seven games, losing four of their seven games. 

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Bay of Plenty vs Hawke’s Bay confirmed lineups

Lineup changes:

BOP: A change to both props was the only move in the pack. Cashmore the only introduction into the backline.

HB: Change to both props the only changes in the pack. Lancaster and Paenga-Morgan come into the team in the backs. 

Key matchups

Judd vs Fakatawa

Fakatava is one of the in-form players in the league  this season and is dangerous with his distribution, but also his ability to snipe around the edges of the ruck.

Ah Kuoi vs Cridge]

These locks will bring the physical battle to the forefront of the contest and will also have a strong battle at lineout time. 

Recent Form:

Bay of Plenty (Home team): 

Bay of Plenty thought they had broken the deadlock against Southland early with a charge down that was kicked through but the Southland hooker was able to win the race back. Ah Kuoi openeed the scoring shortly after following a series of pick and go’s from the forwards. Southland would score from a maul almost straight away, but before the clock would get to 15 minutes, the Bay of Plenty had scored again through a wonderful crossfield kick to exploit space in the wide channels. This would be the last points that the Bay of Plenty would score for the game.

Southland scored one in the corner to make it 12-12 and after a series of goalline offences led to a yellow card. Southland would continue to pile pressure on and a chip over the top saw the Stags take a 17-12 lead into the break.

In the second half the Bay of Plenty received another yellow card as Southland picked up a penalty try from a rolling maul. 

They went down to 13 men after a high tackle from Armstrong in the midfield. This created the space for Southland to counter from deep and a series of offloads created the space to score again. 

Bay of Plenty would concede two more tries to lose 43-12. 

Hawke’s Bay (Away team): 

The Magpies suffered their first loss of the season in round seven against North Harbour. Despite an early Bailyn Sullivan yellow card, Hawke’s Bay were able to score first, shifting it wide after some solid play through the forwards. North Harbour got one back while Sullivan was still in the sinbin. 

After a brilliant scrum on the 22 metre line, Zarn Sullivan was able to power through the North Harbour defence to score. 

Hawke’s Bay gave up the halftime lead, conceding in the final minutes before the break to leave it at 12-10. North Harbour followed up their players well to offer offloads and support. They drew in the defence and created space out wide. 

Hawke’s Bay would pick up a second yellow card of the game for repeat defensive infringement, but would still go on to score the next two tries. The first saw scrum-half, Fakatava to get a soft shoulder and off for Geoff Cridge to score on his 100th NPC game unopposed. Hawke’s Bay would then take a 24-12 lead after Fakatava peeled off the back of the maul with his forwards and was sent over the line.

The Magpies would once again concede in the final moments of the yellow card to shift momentum back in the favour of the visitors. 

Hawke’s Bay would concede twice through the back play of North Harbour to lose out in the game. 

Bay of Plenty vs Hawke’s Bay head-to-head record (last five matches):

Hawke’s Bay have won two of the last three meetings, but the Bya of Plenty have won three of the last five. 

The margin of victory has been 10 points or less in each of the last eight meetings.

Predictions

• Hawke’s Bay to win.
• Less than 40 points.
• Winning margin of less than seven points.