THE 2021 SEASONS PREVIEW

RICHIE MO’UNGA in action against the Wallabies. TASMAN celebrate winning the Premiership last season.

FROM GRASSROOTS TO A FULL-ON INTERNATIONAL SEASON —

2021 RUGBY HAS IT ALL by PETER WHITE

There is something to excite all rugby fans in the months ahead, with a bumper All Blacks programme, the Bunnings Warehouse NPC, Heartland Championship and Farah Palmer Cup to enjoy.

For the All Blacks, home advantage will certainly play into their favour. Nine of the 10 tests to be played before the end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour are at home. The only away match is the second Bledisloe Cup test, which is in Perth on August 21. To host nine home tests is a major advantage for All Blacks head coach Ian Foster. He did not have an easy first year in charge in 2020 with the six tests played producing three wins, two losses and a rare draw. The Steinlager Series in July gave the All Blacks the opportunity to blood in some new players and trial different combinations. While the results against a severely depleted Tongan side (102–0) and far more competitive Fiji (won 57–23 and 60–13) went to plan, there were plenty of areas for the coaches to fine tune. Three tests in quick succession against the Wallabies in Auckland, Wellington and Perth in August should get rugby fans on both sides of the Tasman revved up. The Wallabies, under former Chiefs boss Dave Rennie, defeated France in a three-test series, 2–1, at home in July. The Rugby Championship takes centre stage in September and the first week of October. The All Blacks have back-to-back tests against Argentina at Eden Park on September 11 and in Wellington on September 18, before two clashes against the Springboks – Dunedin on September 25 and Eden Park on October 2. The match against the Springboks in Dunedin will be the one-hundredth played between the great rugby foes. It also commemorates the 100-year anniversary since the first test played between the All Blacks and Springboks in Dunedin on August 13, 1921. On that afternoon at the famous old Carisbrook ground the All Blacks won 13–5. The Springboks will be well and truly match-hardened after playing three tests against the British and Irish Lions. The much-anticipated Northern Hemisphere tour sees the All Blacks playing another four internationals to finish off a busy year. First stop is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on October 30 to take on Wales, who are coached by Kiwi Wayne Pivac. Then it is a game against Italy in Rome on November 6 before taking on Ireland in Dublin on November 13 and France in Paris on November 20. While all this international rugby is being played, the three major domestic competitions will showcase the very best talent in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Bunnings Warehouse NPC features the top 14 men’s provincial teams, split into Premiership and Championship divisions. Last year, Tasman won their second consecutive Premiership title after beating favourites Auckland 13–12 in a thrilling final at Eden Park. Hawke’s Bay were promoted to the Premiership after beating a gallant Northland in the Championship final. North Harbour were the unlucky team to be relegated from the Premiership. It will be a special season for women’s rugby with all 44 matches in the Farah Palmer Cup to be broadcast live on Sky Television. The competition is based on similar lines to the NPC with the top 14 women’s teams split between the Premiership and Championship. The Heartland Championship returns to a town near you after COVID-19 wiped out the competition last year. Twelve teams will contest the initial round-robin of eight matches each, before the top four teams compete for the Meads Cup and the next four teams will compete for the Lochore Cup. If you get a chance, go out and support grassroots rugby – you won’t be disappointed.

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