ITM Cup: Auckland shut out Tasman to reach final

Akira Ioane of Auckland celebrates after scoring a try. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland 44
Tasman 24

Auckland will be hard to contain in the ITM Cup Premiership final should they play in this effervescent fashion.

They shut the Makos out of this Eden Park Premiership semifinal, despite a late flourish from the visitors. Staunch defence, melded with some clever and highly effective attacking play, cancelled out the fact they were hammered in the scrums. But there were only 13 in the whole game, so it didn't matter in the final analysis.

The Tasman props Kane Hames and Siua Halanukonuka targeted the set-piece, and lock Joe Wheeler hurled himself around and pulled down ball, but the Makos were largely toothless in the face of an Auckland onslaught, led by the remarkable Akira Ioane. Centre Kieron Fonotia made a couple of beefy charges, and Tasman did ultimately tally three tries, but it was too little and much too late.

This was, funnily enough, Auckland's first home playoff victory since they clinched the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup under Pat Lam. They had dropped their 2010 semifinal 38-37 to Waikato, courtesy of an 83rd minute try to the Mooloos, converted by none other than Trent Renata, who was at fullback for Tasman here.

Auckland's first try was a lesson in how to punish opposition off turnover ball. Lock Scott Scrafton won the ball at the ruck, and there were assists by hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate and Bryce Heem before Akira Ioane received the ball some 40m out.

The No 8 has posted some impressive numbers this season, none more so than on the defensive end - where he started the clash with, can you believe, just one missed tackle, against his name. But he showed his pace and power on an irrepressible charge to the line, swatting away Marty Banks as if he were a troublesome fly.

Pleasants-Tate, who continued his strong recent form, also had a hand in the second, as did zippy halfback Kaito Shigeno, to wing Ben Lam. The killer blow, however, was administered by centre Charles Piutau, who retired hurt at the break. His grubber sat up for a rampaging Lam.

Auckland were beaten badly in the scrums, and even lost ball on their own put-in, but they defended stoutly to deny the Makos late in the first spell. Their tackling in general was sounder than Tasman's, who fell off 12 in the first half alone, while the home team missed just three in that period.

The pressure now goes on Canterbury to win in Christchurch to keep the Premiership final in the South Island. Should Taranaki triumph, as they did just a few weeks ago in the Garden City, then we return to Eden Park for the first decider since 2007. A Canterbury-Auckland final would be a reprise of the 2012 climax.

Auckland 44 (Akira Ioane, Ben Lam, Bryce Heem, Melani Nanai, George Moala tries; Simon Hickey 4 con, 2 pen, Jono Hickey con, pen) Tasman 24 (Kieron Fonotia, Trent Renata, Alex Ainley tries; Marty Banks 3 con, David Havili pen) Halftime: 20-3