Miter 10 Cup Talking Points: Savor the Return of the All Blacks, Veteran Shine, and Joe Webber’s New Haircut

OPINION: The first round of the Miter 10 Cup was loaded with All Blacks, but it wasn’t a smooth return to the provincial colors for all those selected in coach Ian Foster’s first squad.

However, his influence on the competition was overwhelmingly positive and fans with a glint of nostalgia in their eyes, yearning for his continued participation, should savor him while it lasts.

While officials are discussing the final details of a testing schedule, scheduled to begin in October, the All Blacks should still be available to their provinces for at least another week or two.

Meanwhile, with All Black Jack Goodhue’s mullet lost on the barbershop broom, Bay of Plenty winger and New Zealand Seven Joe Webber can rightfully claim the crown for the best or worst rugby haircut.

READ MORE:
* Miter Cup 10: All Black Jack Goodhue celebrates victory with Northland
* The Barrett brothers triumph as All Blacks captain Sam Cane’s losing streak continues
* Hard to believe Sio Tomkinson has been working on his tackle technique

Are here Stuff seven talking points from the 2020 Miter 10 Cup first round.

All niggas dazzle and waver

Only Otago and Southland were missing a member of the All Blacks team announced on September 6. Most were influential, with Canterbury and Auckland benefiting from having the most, the All Blacks’ new block Tupou Vaa’i was excellent for Taranaki alongside Beauden and Jordie Barrett in beating Bay of Plenty, and Damian McKenzie scored 33 points in Waikato’s flashy 53-28 win over Wellington.

Wellington had the luxury of one side of Hurricanes and All Blacks regulars Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara and Asafo Aumua, but rookie Waikato running back Xavier Roe shone against Perenara, whose loose passing led to McKenzie’s interception attempt. to win the match.

Another All Blacks running back, Brad Weber, also struggled after coming off the bench for Hawke’s Bay in their 16-10 loss to Southland at wet Invercargill. Crucially, a Weber box kick was loaded for one of two attempts by Southland hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate.

Additionally, while All Blacks captain Sam Cane successfully made it through 80 minutes with the Bay of Plenty after returning from a concussion, his 36-29 loss at Taranaki extended his losing streak. The Chiefs’ loose forward tasted the last victory in a game on March 6.

Old is gold

Miter Cup 10 is a game for young men, but veterans are still making an impact in the twilight of their careers.

Southland’s great Jason Rutledge broke a 112-year-old provincial record when he came off the bench in the final minutes to help the Stags close out a precious victory over Hawke’s Bay. The 42-year-old hooker packed for his game-winning defensive scrum on his try line.

Former lazy All Blacks forward Adam Thomson, 38, who notably recovered from a spinal injury, expertly completed a major try on his Waikato debut, mustered an awkward bouncing ball and led his impressive young forwards against Wellington’s supremely talented group.

Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read, 34, made his Counties Manukau debut in their 41-24 loss to defending champion Tasman and played the first 40 minutes with the same enthusiasm as a teenager in his debut.

Tomkinson in trouble

The first round was marred by Otago midfielder Sio Tomkinson’s terrible tackle on Auckland’s Simon Hickey.

Tomkinson recklessly slammed his shoulder into Hickey’s head and was sent off in injury time in Otago’s 38-6 loss to Auckland in Dunedin.

Auckland All Blacks midfielder Rieko Ioane called it a “low shot” and Tomkinson’s history of indiscretions means the Highlander faces a lengthy suspension.

Attack, attack, attack

Are you not entertained? Defense coaches won’t be. In seven games, there were 422 points and 48 attempts. That’s more than 60 points and almost seven attempts per game.

A quarter of those attempts were made by hookers (12), that is, from rolling mauls, and the game with the most points (81) was Waikato’s frenzied victory over Wellington.

As summer approaches, with competition staged in late 2020 due to Covid-19, surfaces will harden earlier and more rugby in the afternoon on sunny days could open the floodgates.

Southland defeats the magpies

One of the burning questions of last season was whether Southland would win a game. The Stags did, hitting counties 42-14 last September to end a 27-game losing streak that lasted nearly three years.

The same question lasted only one round in 2020. Southland’s valiant 16-10 win over championship rivals Hawke’s Bay in the Deep South was only the second in four years.

Tougher tests await, their next three matches are against Premiership teams Bay of Plenty, North Harbor and Waikato, but the monkey is out of place.

Are smaller places the way to go?

The crowds have continued to decline in provincial rugby and the large, empty stadiums are an eyesore, although it is normal in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Assuming the restrictions on crowds are eased this season and beyond, wouldn’t it be better to host matches in smaller, more picturesque venues? The domain of Taraunga, which hosts Bay of Plenty matches, comes to mind.

Inglewood’s TET Stadium hosted Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty on Sunday and was appropriate for the occasion, albeit with limitations due to Covid-19 protocols.

And finally…

Did anyone in Inglewood get a glimpse of the new Joe Webber cover? I’m not a barber, and maybe neither is he, but the Bay of Plenty sprinter has opted for a mullet with dreadlocks, a shaved top, and a full beard.

The best or worst haircut in world rugby?

It’s up to you.

TAKE A LOOK

Round one of Miter 10 cup

Canterbury 43 (Codie Taylor 2, Rameka Poihipi, Cullen Grace, Isaiah Punivai, George Bridge tries; Brett Cameron 3 with, pen, Richie Mo’unga 2 with) North port 29 (Miss McGarvey-Black, Walter Fifita tries; Bryn Gatland 5 pens, 2 with). HT: 21-22

Waikato 53 (Xavier Roe, Fletcher Smith, Adam Thomson, Damian McKenzie, Luke Jacobson tries; McKenzie 5 scam, 6 pens) Wellington 28 (Julian Savea, Vaea Fifita, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 scam). HT: 23-21

Auckland 38 (Leni Apisai 2, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane attempts, penalty attempt; Harry Plummer 4 scam, pen) Otago 6 (Josh Ioane 2 pen). HT: 24-6

Tasmania 41 (Andrew Makalio 2, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Leicester Paginga’anuku tries; Mitch Hunt 4 cons, 2 pens) Manukau Counties 24 (Potu Leavasa, Dalton Papalii, Viliame Taulani tries; Baden Kerr pen, 3 cons). HT: 21-17

Taranaki 36 (Tupou Vaa’i 2, Ricky Riccitelli, Jordie Barrett tries; Jordie Barrett 3 penalty attempt scam, pen) Bay of Plenty 29 (Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Keepa Mewett, Emoni Narawa, Fa’asiu Fuatai tries; Dan Hollinshead 2 with, Otere Black pen, with). HT: 24-19

Northland 43 (Sam Caird, Sam Nock, Sam McNamara, Jordan Olsen, Wiseguy Fiane, Rene Ranger tries; Dan Hawkins, Wiseguy Fiane 2 cons; Hawkins pen) Manawatū 26 (Sam Stewart, James Tofa, try; Ben Wyness 2 scam, 4 pens) HT: 22-20

Southland 16 (Greg Pleasants-Tate 2 attempts; Scott Eade 2 pen) Hawke’s Bay 10 (Ash Dixon 2 attempts). HT: 6-10 Hawke’s Bay.

Positions

Premiership: Auckland 5 points, Waikato 5, Tasman 5, Canterbury 5, Bay of Plenty 2, Wellington 1, North Harbor 0.

Championship: Northland 5, Taranaki 5, Southland 4, Hawke’s Bay 1, Manawatū 0, Manukau Counties 0, Otago 0.