Auckland battle with Waikato for a spot in the Premiership Final

Auckland face old rivals Waikato on Saturday afternoon in the first Premiership Semi-Final of the 2020 season.

Both teams have fought their way through to the top four in arguably one of the most highly contested Mitre 10 Cups in recent years.

Head Coach, Alama Ieremia has welcomed back some experience into the team that played Canterbury in the last round-robin game of the season.

Leni Apisai, Adrian Choat, AJ Lam, Jack Whetton, Jordan Trainor and Sione Tuipulotu have all return from injuries to be included in the game day 23 for the Semi-Final.

University Prop, Marcel Renata will also return from injury for his 50th appearance in the Blue and White Hoops.

Pakuranga Prop, Fatongia Paea will be in line to be Auckland’s 13th debutant of the season when he runs on in the 17 jersey.

Both teams met back in Round 8 of the competition where Auckland emerged victorious 31-10 at Eden Park.

The victor of the Semi-Final will need to wait for the winner out of Tasman and Bay of Plenty to see who they will play in the Premiership Final of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Although Auckland have a Waikato victory under the belt this season, Ieremia knows that it should not be taken for granted.

“Although we beat them (Waikato) a couple of weeks ago, finals rugby is a different ball game. These are one off games, whoever turns up and wants it the most, will get to live another week.”

Ieremia says the focus for the team this week is very simple.

“There is no next week as far as our mindset goes right now. We have some momentum from last week, It’s a matter of channeling that for Saturday afternoon.”

Kick-off is at 2:05pm on Saturday from Eden Park. Tickets for the Semi-Final are $10 with Under 18s Free.

Mitre 10 Cup Semi-Final: Auckland v Waikato

  1. Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
  2. Leni Apisai (Ponsonby)
  3. Angus Ta’avao © (Eden)
  4. Scott Scrafton (Grammar TEC)
  5. Hamish Dalzell (College Rifles)
  6. Presley Tufuga (Ponsonby)
  7. Adrian Choat (Waitemata)
  8. Sione Tuipulotu (Eden)
  9. Jonathan Ruru (University)
  10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
  11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
  12. Tanielu Tele’a (Marist)
  13. Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
  14. AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
  15. Zarn Sullivan (College Rifles)
  16. Mike Sosene-Feagai (Marist)
  17. Fatongia Paea (Pakuranga)(DEBUT)
  18. Marcel Renata (University)(50 GAMES)
  19. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
  20. Niko Jones (Waitemata)
  21. Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby)
  22. Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC)
  23. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

 

 

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