Auckland topple Tasman to reach NPC premiership final
Forget the late flurry from Tasman, this was an impressive and decisive NPC premiership semifinal victory from a young Auckland rugby team positively oozing talent and promise.
Sure, the Makos ran in two tries in the final quarter of an hour to close to within 13 points late, but the Aucks are back in provincial rugby's showpiece game because they did the hard work through the first three-quarters to set up a telling 44-24 victory.
In front of just over 5000 fans who spread out in the North Stand to enjoy their team's handiwork, this outstanding young Auckland team unleashed some explosive rugby to put the southern side away with more ease than the final score suggests.
The Aucks back-pedalled at scrum time throughout but went forward when and where it mattered to score five tries to two and win through to their first premiership final since 2012's defeat to Canterbury in Christchurch.
This young squad, whose oldest starter is 26, and which features five members of the world champion New Zealand Colts side, beat Tasman to the punch in almost every facet bar the scrum as they won their seventh match in the last eight to ride some very favourable momentum into next Saturday's final.
All five of their tries came from moves launched outside the attacking 22 and with this sort of firepower, and a pack that works hard to secure turnover possession, they are going to take some toppling.
Bryce Heem of Auckland makes a break against the Makos on Thursday night.
They were led, as usual, by Akira Ioane who played 55 minutes and, as he's done all year, imprinted himself all over this match. The competition's top tackle-buster and ball-carrier provided much of the cut and thrust to put his team out by 37-10, before Tasman finally unleashed some magic as the home effort dropped off.
Mitch Karpik and Greg Pleasants-Tate were other standouts in the home pack, while George Moala, Ben Lam, Bryce Heem and Melani Nani all unleashed their share of damaging runs.
Auckland opened the scoring in the eighth minute when they struck off turnover ball, Heem and hooker Pleasants-Tate (still apparently without a Super Rugby deal) combining to put the ball in Ioane's hands from 35 metres out near the right touchline.
In a flash, the talented No 8 had left two tacklers for dead and was galloping in for his fifth try of the season and one of those individual pieces of brilliance that has All Black written all over it.
Almost a quarter of an hour later Auckland doubled their try tally, and pushed the lead out to 17-0, when they reinforced their ability to strike from range. Pleasants-Tate was involved again and when quick phase ball moved left, Charles Piutau's grubber sat up beautifully for an unmarked Lam to take on the cutback for the easiest of scores.
When Auckland stood firm in the shadow of the break to quell twin Tasman raids via the lineout and short scrum it was hard not to think a defining moment had just passed. At 20-3 down, it was a long way back for the visitors from the south.
When Heem struck, against his old team, for a third cracking score seven minutes into the second half, Auckland's lead had stretched to 27-3, and the contest was for all intents and purposes over.
Melani Nani's 85-metre run off turnover pill made it 34-3 a quarter of an hour into the second spell and though Tasman managed three tries over the run home – to Kieron Fonotia, Trent Renata and Alex Ainley – it was fitting that George Moala put the cap on a cracking home performance when he danced clear from 25 metres out.
Auckland 44 (Akira Ioane, Ben Lam, Bryce Heem, Melani Nani, George Moala tries; Simon Hickey 2 pens, 4 cons; Jono Hickey pen, con), Tasman 24 (Kieron Fonotia, Trent Renata, Alex Ainley tries; David Havili pen; Marty Banks 3 cons). HT: 20-3.
