Mitre 10 Cup Regular Season review

The 2020 Mitre 10 Cup regular season has come to a close and the Semi Finals are up this coming weekend. Overall it was a unique campaign with a number of test All Blacks taking part during the early stages of the competition and New Zealand Sevens reps appearing throughout.

Most notable from an Americas perspective was the presence of 25 players currently or previously signed to Major League Rugby clubs. Below we take a look at how the season went and what impact each of those MLR representatives had on their team’s success.

PREMIERSHIP

Auckland finished top of a tremendously competitive table, tied with defending champions Tasman in the win column but with three extra bonus points. In fact there was a three-way tie for the fourth Semi Final spot with scoring differential ultimately the deciding factor.

New Dallas Jackals signing Marco Fepulea’i joined Auckland in Round 4 and was a reserve tighthead in every game thereafter. Often found beside him in the front row was Old Glory DC hooker Mike Sosene-Feagai, who was a replacement on six occasions before earning a start this past weekend against Canterbury. His DC teammate Danny Tusitala made five appearances as a replacement scrumhalf.

Second-place Tasman featured a pair of Utah-connected halfbacks. Current Warriors captain Dwayne Polataivao played seven games including two starts in the No9 shirt, while former captain Tim O’Malley was the reserve flyhalf on seven occasions before getting a start at inside center against Otago on Saturday.

Two newcomers to MLR featured for Bay of Plenty. Fa’asiu Fuatai will join Rugby United New York in the new year. The left wing got off to a flying start before being sent off in Round 3 for a dangerous tackle, appearing only once more as a replacement. New England Free Jacks flanker Joe Johnston had an opposite trajectory, starting the season as a replacement before forcing his way into the run-on side for the second half of the season.

Sosene-Feagai and Tusitala have been named on the Auckland bench for their Semi Final against Wellington. O’Malley will start for the Mako in the No12 shirt with Polataivao on the bench, while Johnston will likely be on the flank for the Steamers when they unveil their lineup.

It’s already season done for two more Free Jacks. Tongan prop Tolu Fahamokioa made two appearances as a reserve for Waikato, with Beaudein Waaka impressing in six starts that included time at fullback, wing, and finally flyhalf. Murphy Taramai, Glendale’s starting No8 in the 2019 season, filled the same role for last place North Harbour who were just two points out of a playoff spot with a 5-5 record.

CHAMPIONSHIP

The second division had four clear-cut qualifiers for the knock-out stage. It should be noted that each team plays four crossover matches against Premiership teams which adds to the difficulty for lesser lights in the Championship.

At the top of the pile and slight favorites heading into the finals is Hawke’s Bay. Ex-Raptors fullback Mason Emerson started two games on the wing but found his chances limited with Sevens stars Lolagi Visinia and Kurt Baker preferred along with Hurricanes select Jonah Lowe.

Austin player-coach Jamie Mackintosh was in good form for second-place Otago, starting five games at loosehead prop beginning in Round 5. A third Free Jacks rep was incoming center Aleki Morris-Lome, who was the preferred No12 before Hurricanes starter Sio Tomkinson returned from suspension.

New England also had prop Donald Brighouse at third-place Taranaki. The big Samoa international appeared in every game for the Bulls, almost exclusively as a reserve tighthead prop. He started in the No3 shirt against Manawatu before acting as reserve loosehead against the Magpies.

Northland, captained by Canada XV hooker Jordan Olsen, finished in fourth place. The 28-year-old was in excellent form with four tries scored in his nine starts. He was joined in the front row by San Diego Legion loosehead Luatangi Li and Utah tighthead Kalolo Tuiloma. Both featured regularly and rotated in and out of the starting role.

A second RUNY recruit, Kara Pryor, was the first choice openside flanker for the Taniwha. Partnering on four occasions in the midfield were Utah’s Blake Hohaia and ex-Raptor Rene Ranger. The latter featured in every match for Northland either as a starter or reserve.

Hawke’s Bay will take on the Taniwha in one Semi Final, the other between Otago and Taranaki. Olsen is joined by Li, Pryor, and Ranger in the Northland starting lineup with Tuiloma on the bench. Mackintosh continues in the No1 shirt for Otago. Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki are yet to name their sides.

Former San Diego and NOLA Gold back row Tony Lamborn captained Southland admirably this season, usually at No8 though he started two games at openside flanker. Rugby ATL fullback Rory van Vugt played mostly as a winger to start the season before switching to his preferred No15 shirt.

Sixth-place Counties Manukau had four players of interest to MLR fans. Colorado departure Sam Slade started every game and switched between lock, blindside flanker, and No8. Ex-Austin vice-captain Potu Leavasa started six games for the Steelers at lock.

Fellow Lone Star State signing Pele Cowley made three appearances as a replacement scrumhalf but was not seen in the second half of the season. Old Glory flyhalf Jason Robertson meanwhile played seven games including five starts while scoring 57 points.