Manawatu have struggled this season while North Harbour are showing they are a team that should be reckoned with. A solid home win is forecast.
Key Stats - North Harbour in Superb Form
- North Harbour have won 4 of their last 5 fixtures.
- North Harbour have won 5 of their last 6 matches against Manawatu.
- Manawatu have lost 7 of their last 8 fixtures.
- Manawatu have lost 3 of their last 4 home games.
Slight Lead for NH
North Harbour hold a 6-5 lead over Manawatu in their last 11 encounters.
Manawatu One Win in Four
Manawatu scored two tries and a conversion in the first half against Hawke's Bay last weekend but went into the break trailing 17-12.
The second half turned into a disaster for Manawatu, as they only managed to score a try and conceded too many points, losing 59-77 to Hawke's Bay away from home.
Earlier in their campaign, the Turbos lost 40-14 to Northland away from home and edged Southland 36-35 at home before losing 29-27 to Otago at home.
Manawatu are 12th in the National Provincial Championship table with six points after four games.
Manawatu have yet to find their footing this season, losing three of their four fixtures so far, and they have been defeated in two of their last three home matches against North Harbour in the NPC.
North Harbour Unbeaten this Season
North Harbour scored four tries and two conversions in the first half against Auckland last weekend to lead 24-14 at half-time.
However, both teams struggled to score, but Harbour did enough to come out on top against Auckland, winning 27-19 at home.
Before that result, North Harbour lost 31-29 away to Tasman in their opening match of the season before thrashing Counties Manukau 59-19 at home and Wellington 47-7 away.
Harbour are third in the National Provincial Championship table with 17 points after four rounds.
North Harbour have been in solid form this season, winning three in a row and will fancy their chances against Manawatu, having won five of their last six meetings against their hosts.
Team News & Starting Lineups
Manawatu Turbos
Rory Woods, Taniela Filimone, and Hunter Kennedy each crossed the try line against Hawke's Bay last weekend.
George Worboys landed a conversion in the match.
Starting XV: Malakai Hala-Ngata, Mesulame Dolokoto, Logan Wallace, Taine Roirii, Robert Harley, Te Kamaka Howden (C), Mosese Bason, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, George Worboys, John Tapueluelu, James Tofa, Kyle Brown, Taniela Filimone, Reece Macdonald
Replacements: Alani Fakava, Joseph Gavigan, Feleti Sae Ta’ufo’ou, Rory Woods, Samuel Johnson, Doug Philipson, Drew Wild, Ngani Laumape
North Harbour
Israel Leota scored a brace against Auckland last weekend.
Kade Banks and Rory Taylor each scored a try in the match.
Cameron Howell slotted two conversions and a penalty.
Starting XV: Tony Tafa, Bryn Gordon, Leka Tu'ungafasi, Gus Farnan, Jack Lee, Tristyn Cook, Jed Melvin (C), George Reeves, Te Aonui Wharawhara-Muriwai, Coby Miln, Rory Taylor, Oskar Koller, Thomas Barham, Israel Leota, Kade Banks
Replacements: Moses Hafoka, Oscar Cowley-Andrea, Riley Tofilau, Victor Olaaiga, Sam Tuitupou, Bryn Hall, Iosefo Namoce, Tyler Pulini