Home semi uncertain but limited changes for Taranaki against Auckland

Photo above: Berny Hall has suffered another injury and will miss Taranaki's final regular season match against Auckland on Thursday night. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography

Taranaki’s chances of playing in a home semi-final, for the second time in two seasons, are slim when they face Auckland at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth on Thursday night, but a play-off spot is extremely likely.    

Should Taranaki win, which they are favourites to do so, the amber and blacks must rely on Tasman to slip up in their next two matches against North Harbour tonight and Southland on Sunday.  

If Taranaki miss out on a home semi-final their loss against Tasman and draw with Waikato earlier this season could haunt them.  

But given Taranaki has 32 points a play-off spot is likely even with a loss on Thursday.    

But the side must get through the Auckland clash with coach Colin Cooper only reverting to two changes to the starting XV.  

Those changes include the promotion of Mitchell Brown, who came off the bench in Sunday’s win over Wellington 54-31. Brown replaces Iopu Iopu-Aso who has been ruled out thanks to injury.  

Wing Beaudein Waaka returns to the starting line-up after being injured in the Waikato clash four weeks ago. Waaka replaces Latu Vaeno who drops to the bench at the expense of one of last week’s try scorers Jackson Ormond.  

The rest of the starting XV is unchanged and it is clear Cooper and the rest of the coaching staff are happy with some key combinations including the locking couple Australian Ben Matwijow and Leighton Price who line up in their fifth consecutive match with Leon Power still missing.  

Another combination is putting Sean Wainui on the bench and relying on hard hitting Johnny Fa’auli and Seta Tamanivalu to run the midfield.  

In form halfback Kylem O’Donnell will start for the sixth week in a row.  

Lachlan Boshier returns to the bench as Berny Hall has suffered an injury, Sione Lea has recovered from injury to also sit on the pine and if required, halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi will earn his blazer game (20 matches) for Taranaki.  

In last weekend’s win in the capital, Taranaki struggled to hold onto the ball with poor ball security something they would have worked on in the build up to the Auckland clash. However, the second half was improved in that department but the amber and blacks did let in some soft tries during the tail end of the match.  

Meanwhile, Auckland, who are coming off a thrashing over Tasman 49-31 last Thursday, are in fourth place with 28 points and need to win the game to make the top four.  

Coach Nick White has been forced to reshuffle the loose forwards thanks to an injury to Liaki Moli, while Leon Fukoufuka starts at halfback.  

Moli joins fellow loose forwards Blake Gibson, Taleni Seu and Joe Edwards in the injury ward which presents Josh Kaifa to claim his second start of the season at openside flanker.  

The rest of the side is unchanged and a loss to Taranaki would see Auckland rely on other competition results to make the play offs.     

Auckland’s threats come in the form of Arkia and Rieko Ioane at number 8 and on the wing respectively.  

Comparing the two sides they have both scored a total of 36 tries but Auckland are ahead of Taranaki in terms of metres gained – 4517 compared to 4108 – and defenders beaten 251 compared to 158 – with their defensive statistics very similar.  

It doesn’t come at a surprise that Taranaki’s set piece is working better as they are second in the competition for their lineout work and close to the top five with their scrum success.

Match details:
Taranaki v Auckland
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Thursday 13 October, 7:35pm  
Referee: Shane McDermott (BoP)  

TAB: Taranaki $1.55 Auckland $2.45  

Taranaki: Stephen Perofeta, Declan O’Donnell, Seta Tamanivalu, Johnny Fa’auli, Beaudein Waaka, Marty McKenzie, Kylem O’Donnell, Toa Halafihi, Mitchell Crosswell ©, Mitchell Brown, Leighton Price, Ben Matwijow, Ryan Cocker, Rhys Marshall, Mitchell Graham. Reserves: Sione Lea, Jared Profit, Reuben O’Neill, Lachlan Boshier, Adrian Wyrill, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sean Wainui, Latu Vaeno.      

Auckland: Melani Nanai, Lolagi Visinia, Rieko Ioane, Vince Aso, Pryor Collier, Simon Hickey, Leon Fukofuka, Akira Ioane, Josh Kaifa, Steven Luatua, Michael Fatialofa, Scott Scrafton, Marcel Renata, Kurt Eklund, Sam Prattley. Reserves: Blake Hill, Tom McHugh, Isi Tu’ungafasi, Ben Nee Nee, Sinclair, Dominikovich-Murray, Jono Hickey, Liam Steel, Latiume Fosita.

Head to head:  

Played: 122, 1887-2015 | Taranaki wins: 29 | Auckland wins: 84 | Draws: 7
Last match: Auckland 30 Taranaki 24, 23.08.15 in Auckland (ITMC)
Last Taranaki win: Taranaki 49 Auckland 30, 18.10.14 in New Plymouth (ITMC SF)
Biggest Auckland score: 55 (55-9), 31.08.91 in Auckland (NPC, RS)
Biggest Taranaki score: 49 (49-30), 18.10.14 in New Plymouth (ITMC SF)
Biggest differential: Auckland by 46 (55-9), 31.08.91 in Auckland (NPC, RS)