Waikato vs Manawatu NPC preview: Lineups, predictions and matchups

Waikato vs Manawatu preview as the sides meet at FMG Stadium Waikato in the eighth round of the NPC. Both sides are separated by one point in the table with Manawatu leading their opponents on 20 points to Waikato’s 19. This is despite Manawatu having an extra win, picking up four victories from seven games to Waikato’s three wins. They currently sit in and around the important eighth place which would get them into the playoffs.

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Waikato vs Manawatu confirmed lineups

Lineup changes:

W: Ralph and Laukaki come into the pack with the latter leading to a shuffle in the back row. The backline sees major changes. Leuila comes out at 12, Anderson moves into the 12 shirt from 13 last week and Lewai moves into 13 from the wing. The back three is completely changed with Stephens, Salabiau and Rata-Makene coming into the back three.

M: Hala-Ngatai comes into the front row and Woods comes in at six to shift Howden into lock.  Worboys comes in at 10, shifting MacDonald back to 15. Wild moves to 14 and Filimone moves into 13. 

Key matchups

Lauaki vs Iose

Lauaki is one of the exciting young backrowers in the country and has impressed over the last few seasons to earn a place in the Highlanders squad. Iose has been brilliant for the Hurricanes and carried that form into the NPC season.

Recent Form:

Waikato (Home team): 

Waikato lost out in their Ranfurly Shield attempt to make it three losses in a row. After conceding on 15 minutes, the visitors got on the board with an athletic finish from Dan Sinkinson to get his side on the board. Northland scored off the back of a rolling maul to bring the score to 12-5. Sinkinson thought he had a second try after an intercept in midfield, but an earlier penalty infringement allowed Northland to kick and bring in the halftime score at 15-5. Northland started the second half well with a try in the corner, but Cook-Savage pulled out one of the finishes of the season under pressure from three defenders trying to knock him into touch, but he managed to get the ball down. 

After two Northland tries had basically sealed the game for Northland, Waikato were able to score one more try to leave the score at 34-17 at full-time. 

Manawatu (Away team): 

Manawatu pulled off a narrow win to make it three wins in a row. By the 12th minute they were 10-0 down following a long range penalty and a maul try for the Bulls. Manawatu had struck back within three minutes scoring from several phases after receiving a free kick at the line out for incorrect numbers. A penalty would leave the sides level at 10-10. In wet conditions a poor clearance kick from the Bulls allowed Manawatu to get over just before halftime. They couldn’t hold the lead into the break though and conceded with the clock in the red. 

Manawatu took the lead first in the second half after a few scrappy situations allowed them to slip through the line and send Doug Philipson over for the try. 

James Tofa got a yellow card for slapping the ball out of the nines hand and Taranaki scored from the maul. They conceded another penalty that the Bulls kicked leaving Manawatu behind. 

In the final few minutes it looked like Manawatu were going to be held up in open play, which would have given Taranaki the win. Taranaki prop James Profitt jumped around the back the maul in an offside position and MacDonald kicked the winning points.  

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

The last three meetings in this fixtures have been won by the home team, but these meetings have been sporadic with only three taking place since 2018. Manawatu won the crucial meeting by 10 last year. 

Predictions

• Manawatu to win by less than one score.
• Fewer than 50 points in the game.