Waikato vs Manawatu Predictions - Manawatu to secure fourth straight win

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 51 minutes ago

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Brad Newcomb 51 minutes ago

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Manawatu have won 3 games in a row.
Waikato have lost 3 consecutive matches, slipping to 8th in the NPC.
Manawatu are tipped to cover +11.5 handicap in the upcoming clash.

Manawatu have been playing well in the NPC lately (Getty Images)

Waikato must win to keep their chances of making the play-offs alive, but they are in a slump. Manawatu are in contention to advance to the season-ending quarter-finals after a solid run of results and have had success against Waikato lately.

Manawatu have won 3 consecutive fixtures.
Manawatu have won 3 of their last 4 matches against Waikato.
Waikato have lost 3 consecutive games.

Head to Head

Manawatu have a slight edge over Waikato, with five victories to three in eight meetings in the National Provincial Championship.

Waikato Form

Waikato scored a solitary try in the first half against Northland last weekend, going into half-time trailing.

The away team added two tries and a conversion in the second stanza, but had no answer, losing 34-17 to Northland.

Before that result, the Mooloos defeated Bay of Plenty 38-26 at home and Taranaki 38-32 away, lost 32-31 away to Southland, thumped Counties Manukau 45-12 before losing 43-38 to Otago away and 36-14 to Canterbury at home.

Waikato are eighth in the National Provincial Championship table with 19 points from seven matches.

Waikato have slipped in the standings after suffering three consecutive defeats in the league, and face a tricky test against Manawatu, as their opponents have been playing well lately.

Manawatu Form

The Manawatu Turbos scored two converted tries and a penalty in the first half against Taranaki last weekend, going into the break with the score level at 17-17.

Manawatu scored a converted try and two penalties in the second half to see off Taranaki, winning 27-25 at home.

Earlier in their campaign, the Turbos lost 40-14 to Northland away from home, edged Southland 36-35 at home and lost 29-27 to Otago at home and 59-77 to Hawke's Bay away, respectively, before beating North Harbour 43-40 at home and Bay of Plenty 29-12 away.

Manawatu are seventh in the National Provincial Championship standings with 21 points after seven games.

Manawatu secured their third win on the trot in their previous fixture, and will have the belief they can secure another victory when they take on Waikato, having won three of their four encounters against their hosts.

Team News

Waikato

Daniel Sinkinson, Tepaea Cook-Savage, and Sean Ralph each scored a try against Northland last weekend.

Taha Kemara kicked over one conversion.

Starting XV: Mason Tupaea, Sean Ralph, George Dyer, Hamilton Burr, Dylan Eti, Mitch Jacobson, Oli Mathis, Senita Lauaki, Rui Farrant, Taha Kemara, Nathan Stephens, Austin Anderson, David Lewai, Waisake Salabiau, Dallas Rata Makene

Replacements: Pita Anae-Ah Sue, Taipari Quinn, Sefo Kautai, Andrew Smith, Jahrome Brown, Daiki Nakajima, D’Angelo Leuila, Aki Tuivailala

Manawatu Turbos

Brayden Iose scored a brace against Taranaki last weekend.

Doug Philipson contributed one try.

Reece MacDonald landed three conversions and two penalties in the match.

Starting XV: Joseph Gavigan, Raymond Tuputupu, Logan Wallace, Robert Harley, Te Kamaka Howden, Rory Woods, Mosese Bason, Brayden Iose, Doug Philipson, Reece MacDonald, John Tapueluelu, James Tofa, Kyle Brown, Taniela Filimone, Drew Wild

Replacements: Mesulame Dolokoto, Malakai Hala-Ngatai, Feletisae Ta’ufo’ou, Reuben Allen, Taine Roiri, Bryn Wilson, George Worboys, Ngani Laumape

Verdict

Waikato v Manawatu

Manawatu have found form lately and are tipped to cover the +11.5 handicap in their clash against Waikato in the NPC.

Manawatu +11.5

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Manawatu Win

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Brad graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bcom-Management Accounting degree and has a financial background.

His love of sport has seen him venture down the road of researching sporting history for the past several years, specifically boxing, cricket and football.

Other sports of particular interest are golf, tennis, horse racing and motorsports.

Additionally, he spends his time researching the military history of his home country of South Africa.

He is an ardent Liverpool supporter and is known to DJ and release music on occasion.