Wellington Pride to enter the eye of the Storm in tomorrow’s final

The Women’s NPC trophy takes pride of place in Auckland Rugby’s trophy cabinet. Once a year it comes out for a polish and airing on the sideline of the Women’s NPC final, before being popped back behind the glass for another twelve months.

The Auckland Storm is the most successful representative team in New Zealand over the past 20 years and tomorrow they meet the Wellington Pride in the 2015 WNPC final on neutral territory at Napier’s McLean Park kick-off 12.00pm. 

The Auckland WNPC team’s record is impressive. This will be their 16th consecutive finals appearance. They’ve only lost one so far and that was back in 2006 to the Wellington Pride (10-11) when many of their best players were away with the Black Ferns.

Last year, a well-drilled Waikato team challenged Auckland for the spoils in the final, but came up well short (14-28).

Once again, the Storm will go into this year’s season decider as hot favourites, having swatted away Waikato (38-12) in last week’s semi-final, storming to a 26-0 lead at halftime. Prior to that they had wins over Hawke’s Bay (55-7), Canterbury (70-8), Counties Manukau (35-29), Waikato (17-0), Bay of Plenty (101-0) and Otago (39-5).

Unbeaten Auckland has scored 355 points and conceded 61. They’ve scored 61 tries themselves and let in just 10 tries.

The Storm are both strong up front and too hot to handle for most teams out wide, making them a tough prospect to face for all but the most focused opposition.

Led by 88-Women’s NPC match Black Ferns hooker Fiao'o Faamausili, other current New Zealand representative forwards included in their team include, Aleisha Nelson and Eloise Blackwell. Linda Itunu has been ruled out with injury, but has been replaced by another former Black Fern, Charmaine McMenamin. Openside flanker Lydia Crossman plays her 50th game.

Previous injured Black Ferns halfback Emma Jensen has joined their team in recent weeks, and will bring her experience of 89 WNPC caps to the table. Another Black Fern, Kiritapu Demant, drops back to wing/fullback.

Lurking on the Storm’s left wing is the biggest threat of them all for the final, Mele Hufanga, who bagged a hat-trick in the semi-final last week against Waikato, her third of the season.

Hufanga has scored 15 tries already this season for Auckland, a new single season WNPC scoring record – beating the previous mark of 14 set by Manawatu’s Selicia Winiata in 2012. Hufanga has scored 29 tries in 20 WNPC matches.

Up against the Auckland juggernaut, the Wellington Pride have little to lose and much to gain.

After winning the 2006 NPC, the Pride last contested the final in 2011 and were defeated by the Storm at Eden Park (8-34). This will be their sixth finals appearance in total since 1999.

The Pride head into this year’s final having won five from six matches in the round-robin, their only loss being to Waikato in Hamilton. They beat Counties Manukau (29-23) in last week’s semi-final, scoring a runaway try with the last play of the game.

Including the semi-final, Wellington has scored 250 points and 38 tries and has let in 103 points and 16 tries.

The two teams didn’t meet in round-robin play. Last year Hufanga scored four tries in Auckland’s 48-3 win at Eden Park, Auckland won 46-0 in 2013 at home.

In contrast to Auckland, Wellington has no current Black Ferns.

Former internationals include prop Muteremoana Aiatu, Sanita Levave, Aimee Sutorius and co-captain Jackie Patea, all in the forwards. Openside flanker Carol Sio has had a great season, while front rowers Noeleen Nonu, Alice Soper and lock Joanah Ngan-Woo all played well in last week’s semi-final against Counties-Manukau. Ngan-Woo had a great game defensively, making several big tackles that had to be made.

Key players in the backs, include flyhalf Lizzie Goulden, counter-attacking fullback Vaine Marsters and centre Georgia Daals who was well contained in the midfield by Counties Manukau for 79 minutes before bursting clear to score the match winning try.

Daals is Wellington’s leading try-scorer with eight, while Year 11 Porirua College left wing Ayesha Leti-I'iga has scored five.

Wellington’s two most capped players are Aimee Sutorius (debut 2001) and reserve utility Tatiana Tafatu (debut 2003), who have both played 55 WNPC matches.Jackie Patea (debut 2006) has played 40 matches and Prop Aiatu (debut 2011) has played 40 competition matches for Wellington.

Match details

What: 2015 Women’s NPC Final
Who: Auckland Storm v Wellington Pride
Where: McLean Park, Napier
When: Saturday 17 April, 12.00pm
Coverage: Live on Sky Sport, post-match report on this website
Weather forecast: Fine and sunny 

Teams:

Wellington Pride:

1. Muteremoana Aiatu
2. Alice Soper
3. Noeleen Nonu
4. Sanita Levave
5. Joanah Ngan-Woo
6. Caroline Sio
7. Aimee Sutorious
8. Jackie Patea
9. Accaia Claridge
10. Lizzie Goulden
11. Ayesha Leti-I’iga
12. Sauimoana Solia
13. Georgia Daals
14. Timena Tumaai
15. Vaine Marseters
Reserves:
16. Alicia Print
17. Sunema Tupuola
18. Kristin Stewart
19. Tatiana Tafatu
20. Fa’asua Makisi
21. Helena Lawrence
22. Hinerangi Temara

Auckland Storm:

1. Aimee Lenssen
2. Fiao’o Fa’amausili
3. Aleisha Nelson
4. Eloise Blackwell
5. Shannon Leota
6. Charmaine McMenamin
7. Lydia Crossman
8. Shannon Willoughby
9. Emma Jensen
10. Ruahei Demant
11. Mele Hufanga
12. Onjuerlina Leiataua
13. Theresa Fitzpatrick
14. Natahlia Debnorah-Moors
15. Kiritapu Demant
Reserves:
16. Rebecca Todd
17. Doris Taufateau
18. Aldora Itunu
19. Alaiumu Sao-Taliu
20. Teuila Fotu-Moala
21. Tiana Ngawati
22. Dayna Harris