A comfort for Taranaki was ending Tasman's reign as Ranfurly Shield holder with a 42-29 win in Nelson. Tasman ended in third place, sharing 38 points with Bay of Plenty, but like Wellington, its earlier win over BOP gave Tasman a home quarterfinal.
Wellington will play Counties Manukau, Taranaki will play Waikato, Tasman will play Canterbury and Bay of Plenty will host Hawke's Bay.
All Blacks made their presence felt in the round, Ethan de Groot provided oomph for Southland's scrum in its stunning win over North Harbour.
At Massey University, Counties Manukau welcomed back halfback Cameron Roigard with instant effect, scoring two tries and assisting in two others. He also saw flanker and All Blacks teammate Dalton Papali'i run in a long-distance try, although he limped from the field late in the second half.
Tasman 31 Auckland 17
Auckland's dreadful season was momentarily forgotten seven minutes into their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Tasman in Nelson. That was when fullback Zarn Sullivan, standing at first receiver, took the ball on halfway, bumped off two tackle attempts and then sped towards the goal line to score the opening try. But, three minutes later, he had a kick charged down five metres from his line. Tasman stormed back, and wing Timoci Tavatavanawai, playing halfback, pushed through for a try. In the 25th minute, a dangerous clean out saw Sullivan sin-binned, and Tasman took their chance with wing Jack Gray scoring after a kick into the space vacated by Sullivan to score.
Two scrum penalties, and two infringements against Tasman halfback Finlay Christie saw Auckland pay a heavy price in wet conditions as first five-eighths Willie Havili landed four penalty goals. Then prop Ryan Coxon took advantage of two good lead-up shots at the line by Tavatavanawai to go low in his drive at the line to score 12 minutes from time. They conceded an intercept try to wing Caleb Tangitau in injury time that reduced the margin, but not the extent, of Auckland's loss.
Tasman 31 (Timoci Tavatavanawai, Jack Gray, Ryan Coxon tries; Willie Havili 2 con, 4 pen) Auckland 17 (Sean Sullivan, Caleb Tangitau tries; Harry Plummer 2 con, pen). HT: 12-10
Northland 28 Otago 31
Showing their ability to maximise chances, Northland scored the first try 13 minutes into the game on the end of nine phases when flanker Rob Rush barged through the defence to score. More forward muscle from lock Allan Craig poised on the sideline for a blindside pass produced their second five minutes later. But in the 28th minute, No8 Christian Lio-Willie showed what he could do when taking a tap penalty 20 m out and running around and through defenders to score. Northland fired back immediately when first five-eighths Rivez Reihana struck after Rush tidied the ball on the ground to step his way through and fed wing Heremaia Murray inside him for the try.
Two minutes into the second half, Otago's first five-eighths, Cameron Millar, picked off an intercept out wide and raced 70m to score. Millar, in the 57th minute, threw a long pass in the clustered midfield for fullback Finn Hurley to take the ball as speed to split the defence and run 40m for the try to give Otago the lead. Five minutes later, Otago's lineout maul resulted in a try for lock Fabian Holland. Northland gave themselves a chance five minutes from the end when replacement prop Remsy Lemisio barged over. But Otago camped on Northland's line, having a try ruled out to a non-grounding.
Northland 28 (Rob Rush, Allan Craig, Heremaia Murray, Remsy Lemisio tries; Rivez Reihana 4 con) Otago 31 (Christian Lio-Willie, Cameron Millar, Finn Hurley, Fraser Holland tries; Millar 4 con, pen). HT: 21-10
Manawatū 26 Counties Manukau 45
Sixty-five seconds after the start, Counties Manukau spun the ball through the line with two variations that put wing Blake Makiri into space he used well to score his first try. From the restart, they lost wing Josh Gray to a cynical play, and in the following play, Manawatū flanker TK Howden got the ball down in the tackle to score. Into the second quarter, halfback Jordie Viljoen was on hand after first five-eighths Isaac Armstrong-Ravula's kick ahead was taken by centre Kyle Brown, in-passed to second five-eighths Caleb Leef, who gave Viljoen the ball to score.
Five minutes into the second half, replacement Cam Roigard marked his return to play after injury by selling a dummy at a goalmouth ruck to run over for the try. Howden scored a second try for the hosts to reclaim the lead. All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali'i came on as a replacement to pull in a blindside pass 45m out and run in a try. The Roigard ran in a second from 40m out with two swerves on the way. Makiri scored a second from a delayed pump by Roigard and followed with a third after chasing a kick-through. Wing Taniela Filimpone got one back for the home team, but replacement hooker Ioane Moananu completed the scoring with a try.
Manawatū 26 (TK Howden 2, Jordi Viljoen, Taniela Filimone tries; Isaac Armstrong-Ravula 2 con; Rihari Jobe con) Counties Manukau 45 (Blake Makiri 3, Cameron Roigard 2, Dalton Papali'i, Ioane Moananu tries; AJ Alatimu 2 con; Tevita Ofa 3 con). HT: 12-7
Southland 59 North Harbour 35
Josh Bekhuis broke the Southland appearances record and his team mates gave him an outstanding present with one of the best performances in recent years. Scoring nine tries, they led 47-7 at halftime as North Harbour were shut out of the game. No8 Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa set the scoring in motion two minutes into the first half and after wing Michael Manson unleashed his pace in a stunning run, halfback Lachie Albert streaked in for the second. Hooker Jack Taylor scored the first of three after 15 minutes and three minutes later he had his second off a maul and his third came 10 minutes after his first. North Harbour finally responded three minutes short of the break when halfback Bryn Hall scored. But a ruck turnover by Tupou Ta'eiloa in North Harbour's 22m area to score his second.
Tele'a scored the first try of the second half but an intercept soon after by second five-eighths Faletoi Peni brought up Southland's half-century. Replacement James Little scored for the visitors but fullback Jake Strachan responded for the hosts and any hopes of North Harbour catching up were stymied, although replacement hooker Bryn Gordon and lock Samuel Slade scored tries to reduce the deficit.
Southland 59 (Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa 2, Lachie Albert, Jack Taylor 3, Rory van Vugt, Faletoi Peni, Jake Strachan tries; Byron Smith 7 con) North Harbour 35 (Bryn Hall, Mark Tele'a, James Little, Bryn Gordon, Samuel Slade tries; Tane Edmed 5 con). HT: 47-7
Wellington 46 Hawke's Bay 28
Three tries in the first 15 minutes, and home halfback Kyle Preston in the sin-bin, gave Hawke's Bay a strong start at SKY Stadium. Fullback Harry Godfrey scored twice with hooker Tyrone Thompson also touching down. But, into the second quarter, an attempted chip kick to clear the 22m area by the Bay saw the ball fall to home fullback Tjay Clarke and he ran straight down the sideline to score and start Wellington's response. That boosted the home team and after All Black Billy Proctor initiated a breakout, wing Julian Savea set up a redemptive try for Preston. Proctor was rewarded with the next try and just before halftime a Preston chargedown and recovery took play to five metres out from the Bay line before wing Losilosi Filipo scored to give Wellington a 22-21 lead at halftime.
Second five-eighths Riley Higgins crossed early in the second half but into the final quarter the home team took charge with prop Siali Lauaki scoring from a ruck close to the line. The Bay got a try back with a long lineout maul as Thompson scored his second. Savea gave the Bay a reminder of his power when stationed off his wing in midfield to receive the ball and hold off three attempted tackles to score. First five-eighths Jackson Garden-Bachop delivered the coup de grace when landing a penalty goal to finish the game.
Wellington 46 (Tjay Clarke, Kyle Preston, Billy Proctor, Losilosivale Filipo, Riley Higgins, Siale Lauaki, Julian Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con, pen) Hawke's Bay 28 (Harry Godfrey 2, Tyrone Thompson 2; Godfrey 4 con). HT: 22-21
Canterbury 36 Waikato 19
Canterbury got its bid to ensure a top-eight place underway with a trademark lineout maul try for hooker George Bell six minutes into the game. Waikato defenders at a midfield ruck stopped when Canterbury halfback Nic Shearer looked to have knocked on, but play was waved on, and he ran before passing to No8 Corey Kellow who scored. Bell was given a yellow card for a cynical foul. Flanker Samipeni Finau's blindside break gave replacement wing Oli Mathis space on the flank which he used to score in the 24th minute. Waikato's second five-eighths, Austin Anderson, copped a yellow card in a collision with wing Chay Fihaki, and then Fihaki's run soon after created momentum for a try on the opposite wing to Ngatungane Punivai.
Six minutes into the second half, fullback Issac Hutchinson scored out wide to give Canterbury the bonus point they needed. Into the final quarter, Hutchinson fielded a poorly-placed tactical kick from the in-goal and weaved his way through defenders to score his second try. Finau put a kick down the blindside for Mathis to chase for his second try. With seven minutes left, replacement hooker Pita Anae-Ah Su scored, but Canterbury had the final say when Hutchinson was perfectly placed to accept a cross-kick to complete the win.
Canterbury 36 (George Bell, Corey Kellow, Ngatungane Punivai, Issac Hutchinson 3 tries; Hutchinson 3 con) Waikato 19 (Oli Mathis 2, Pita Anae-Ah Su tries; Tepaea Cook-Savage 2 con). HT: 17-7
Tasman 29 Taranaki 42
Taranaki has a rich Ranfurly Shield history and showed its awareness of what it takes to win by scoring the first try five minutes into their challenge with Tasman in Nelson. After the forwards hammered the home line, the ball was released to the backs, where centre Daniel Rona slid through a big gap to score. A passing mix-up between halfback Finlay Christie and first five-eighths William Havili went awry and Taranaki flanker Michael Loft pounced on the loose ball to score. Three minutes from halftime, wing Jack Gray took a cross-kick from William Havili to score, but after a penalty goal to first five-eighths Josh Jacomb Taranaki had 23-8 lead.
Tasman lock Tim Sail went over for a try early into the second half but Taranaki launched its maul in the 48th minute, and when the ball was released, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepken scored. From the restart, Taranaki got the ball to wing Kini Naholo. He charged down the sideline and found inside support from Rona, who scored his second. Prop Ryan Coxon scored to keep home team hopes alive. That was helped when second five-eighths David Havili pulled off an intercept 22m out to score. But almost from the restart, Taranaki sealed the issue when a Tasman lineout throw went wrong, resulting in quick ball, seeing replacement back Adam Lennox score in the corner.
Tasman 29 (Jack Gray, Tim Sail, Ryan Coxon, David Havili tries; William Havili 3 con, pen) Taranaki 42 (Daniel Rona, Michael Loft, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Adam Lennox tries; Josh Jacomb 4 con, 3 pen). HT: 8-23
Auckland 24 Bay of Plenty 26
Having missed out on the top eight, Auckland played for pride when hosting Bay of Plenty at Auckland Grammar School and scored first through lock Josh Beehre on the five-minute mark from a goal line ruck. But a charge down of a clearing kick by fullback Zarn Sullivan on his line led to a Bay response by flanker Jacob Norris a minute later. However, when first five-eighths Harry Plummer ran back a Bay kick, the ball was thrown wide by second five-eighths AJ Lam to flanker Che Clark. He passed to wing Caleb Tangitau before in-passing to Lam, who scored. Bay drew level after an eight-phase play saw centre Emoni Narawa burrow through to score. Soon after, a long lineout throw found No8 Nikora Broughton 20m out and he charged through to score a stunning try.
Nine minutes into the second half, Tangitau was rewarded with a try in the corner, but a chance was botched when prop Angus Ta'avao lost the ball just short of the line. BOP didn't make the same mistake in the 69th minute when wing Leroy Carter, at dummy half on the goal line, got under the defenders to score. Lock Patrick Tuipulotu lost the ball at the line soon after, but Clark did get over in injury time to leave Auckland two points short.
Auckland 24 (Josh Beehre, AJ Lam, Caleb Tangitau, Che Clark tries; Harry Plummer 2 con) Bay of Plenty 26 (Jacob Norris, Emoni Narawa, Nikora Broughton, Leroy Carter tries; Lucas Cashmore 3 con). HT: 12-19