Southland Stags vs Bay of Plenty Predictions - Bay of Plenty to bounce back with a win over Southland in NPC clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 12 Sep 2026

Nigel Williams 12 Sep 2026

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Bay of Plenty have won 4 of the last 5 vs Southland.
Southland lost 5 of their last 6 games, currently 13th.
Bay of Plenty are favourites to cover -10.5 handicap.

Expired

Bay of Plenty to bounce back with a win over Southland in NPC clash (Getty Images)

Southland Stags vs Bay of Plenty Predictions

Bay of Plenty enters the match as clear favourites to defeat the Southland Stags. Bay of Plenty boasts strong recent form and head-to-head record, a higher standing in the competition table, despite playing away in Invercargill. Southland is struggling near the bottom of the NPC standings with a challenging points differential, and difficult run of form. My best bet is Bay of Plenty to cover the -10.5 handicap.

Southland Stags vs Bay of Plenty Predictions
Head-to-Head
Southland Stags Form
Southland Injuries & Team News
Bay of Plenty Form
Bay of Plenty Injuries & Team News

Southland has lost 5 of their last 6 matches.
Southland lost 47–24 to Counties Manukau in their previous match.
Bay of Plenty have won 4 of the last 5 matches against Southland.
Bay of Plenty have won 3 of their last 6 matches.
Bay of Plenty lost 29-12 to Manawatu in their previous match.

Head-to-Head

Bay of Plenty has won four of the last five meetings with Southland Stags.

Southland Stags Form

Southland lost 47–24 to Counties Manukau in Round 6 of the 2026 NPC at the Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe, after trailing 19–5 at halftime.

Southland struck first through an early try by Hayata Taniyama, heavily aided by a dominant scrum. However, Counties Manukau turned the momentum late in the first half with a quick flurry of three tries in six minutes, shifting the score to 19-5 at the break. The Counties pulled away in the second half, sealing an emphatic 47-24 victory.

Southland have struggled for form this season, losing five of their last six matches. Southland lost to Otago (41-14) and Manawatu (36-35), before beating Waikato (32-31), and losing to Tasman (46-17), Hawke's Bay (36-21), and Counties Manukau (47-24).

Southland are 13th in the NPC table with eight points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

Southland Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Jack Barrett, 2 Jayden Henderson, 3 Paula Latu, 4 Mitch Dunshea, 5 Woody Kirkwood, 6 Sam Fischli, 7 Gregor Rutledge, 8 Sean Withy, 9 Nic Shearer, 10 Mika Muliaina, 11 Glen Vaihu, 12 Tayne Harvey, 13 Scott Gregory, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Jimmy Taylor.

Replacements: 16 Shaun Kempton, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Darius Fidow, 19 Ale Aho, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Charlie Marsh, 22 Fletcher Morgan, 23 Willi Gualter.

Bay of Plenty Form

Bay of Plenty lost 29-12 to Manawatu in their NPC Round 6 clash at Tauranga Domain in Tauranga, after leading 12-0 at halftime.

Bay of Plenty controlled the opening stanza, heading into the break with a comfortable 12-0 lead, however Manawatu completely turned the match around after halftime, scoring four unanswered tries.

Bay of Plenty have had a mixed run of form in their 2026 campaign, winning three of their last six matches. Bay of Plenty lost to Waikato (38-26), beat Northland (34-31), lost to Canterbury (33-28), before beating Taranaki (28-24), and Auckland (22-19) and losing to Manawatu (29-12).

Bay of Plenty are 10th in the NPC table with 17 points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

Bay of Plenty Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Harold Rounds, 2 Sione Tupou, 3 Filipe Vakasiuola, 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5 Kalin Felise, 6 Joe Johnston, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 8 Nikora Broughton, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Riley Hohepa, 11 Rory van Vugt, 12 Joe Webber, 13 Tamiro Armstrong, 14 Regan Ware, 15 Cole Forbes.

Replacements: 16 Taine Kolose, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Aisake Vakasiuola, 20 Aidan Spratley, 21 Charlie Sinton, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Viliami Lea.

Verdict

Southland Stags v Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty enters the match as clear favourites with a strong head-to head record.

Bay of Plenty -10.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 1 Unit

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Nigel combines a love of business and sport as one of the leading experts on South African sport.

Since a young age, he played football, cricket, golf, tennis and squash, and is an avid Arsenal supporter.

His initial foray into the business world was in the financial industry, completing various diploma’s including financial and investment management and credit management, and held various positions in banking.

He subsequently worked on the Leadership media publication and the Global Africa Network Media Trade and Investment platforms, before switching to sport.