The Auckland Storm will be hoping to repeat the title they won last year. Photo / Getty
The Auckland Storm will be the hottest of favourites to win their 15th Women's Provincial Championship final (out of 16) tomorrow at Napier's McLean Park.
Their foes will be the Wellington Pride, 2006 champions, when they became the sole team to break Auckland's hegemony at this level.
That was at Eden Park, but tomorrow the match will be played at a neutral venue. It would have made sense for New Zealand Rugby to schedule the Auckland-Tasman ITM Cup semifinal for Saturday afternoon, thus cleaning the way for the Storm-Pride clash as curtainraiser. But it was not to be. Such a scenario is, however, not uncommon. Last year, for example, Auckland beat Waikato 28-14 in the decider at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium. It will not unduly concern the Storm, who are more than used to winning championships away from home.
Openside flanker Lydia Crossman, who played in all three loose positions in 2014, has thrived on her continuity in the No 7 jersey as she runs out for her 50th match for the union. She brings a hard, physical edge to her work. Seasoned fellow loosie and Black Fern Linda Itunu is out with a foot injury suffered in the semifinal, but Charmain McMenamin should pick up the slack. She, like lock Shannon Leota, has a made a successful transition into the pack. The latter is strong aerially and gives punch to the Storm second-row, along with Black Fern Eloise Blackwell.
The elder stateswomen of the side are the competition's most experienced players, captain and hooker Fiao'o Fa'amausili, who has again led from the front, while halfback Emma Jensen controls play around the base of the ruck and scrum. They have appeared since the NPC inception in 1999 and Fa'amausili, the Black Ferns skipper, suits up for her 89th game. Prop Aldora Itunu will add impact from the bench.
In the backline, centre Theresa Fitzpatrick is, according to coach Dean Bickerton, the best in the country in the No 13 jersey, while wing Mele Hufanga has racked up 14 tries, including a hat-trick versus Waikato in the 38-12 semi victory, to go with 12 in 2014.
Auckland has built nicely during the season, winning seven on the bounce. Canterbury was pummelled 70-8 in a surprise scoreline. They have yet to face Wellington.
"I was very happy with that semifinal performance and so were they. Hopefully we can take that into this weekend as well," said Bickerton.
"We've spoken about winning it, not defending it. They are in the right head space," said Bickerton.
Wellington have risen from sixth last season, and though they are not as experienced or laden with Ferns like Auckland, they are to be respected, having twice beaten a very competitive Counties Manukau Heat, including a 29-23 win in the semifinal.
"I've been watching them on video. They are a well-balanced side, with a big pack and pace on the wings. Coaching a team full of experience like we have, that word 'complacency' rings in my ears. If the girls don't go out tomorrow ready for a helluva fight, they'll get into trouble," Bickerton added.
Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore, who will take the national team to RWC 2017, will be an interested spectator before he gets back into his planning with the Blues.
The final will be refereed by 2004-11 Black Ferns No 10 Rebecca Mahoney (nee Hull).
Auckland Storm: Kiritapu Demant, Natahlia Debnorah-Moors, Theresa Fitzpatrick, Onjeurlina Leiataua, Mele Hufanga, Ruahei Demant, Emma Jensen, Shannon Willoughby, Lydia Crossman, Charmaine McMenamin, Shannon Leota, Eloise Blackwell, Aleisha Nelson, Fiao'o Fa'amausili (c), Aimee Lenssen; Reserves: Rebecca Todd, Doris Taufateau, Aldora Itunu, Alaiumu Sao-Taliu, Tuila Fotu-Moala, Tiana Ngawati, Dayna Harris
Wellington Pride: Vaine Marsters, Mena Tumaai, Georgia Daals, Sauimoana Solia, Ayesha Leti-Iiga, Lizzie Goulden, Acacia Claridge, Jackie Patea, Aimee Sutorius, Caroline Sio, Joanah Ngan-Woo, Sanita Levave, Noeleen Nonu, Alice Soper, Muteremoana Aiatu; Reserves: Alicia Print, Sunema Tupuola, Kirstin Stewart, Tatiana Tafatu, Fa'asua Makisi, Helena Lawrence, Hinerangi Temara