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Taranaki vs Southland Predictions - Taranaki set to extend winning streak over Southland in NPC clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 49 minutes ago

Nigel Williams 49 minutes ago

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Taranaki have won last 5 vs Southland.
Taranaki are favourites to cover the -15.5 handicap.
Southland coming off big win but have struggled this season.

Taranaki set to extend winning streak over Southland in NPC clash (Getty Images)

Taranaki vs Southland Predictions

Taranaki are firm favourites to win against Southland with home-ground advantage and a strong head-to-head record. My best bet is Taranaki to cover the -15.5 handicap.

Taranaki vs Southland Predictions
Head-to-Head
Taranaki Form
Taranaki Injuries & Team News
Southland Form
Southland Injuries & Team News

Taranaki has won the last 5 matches against Southland.
Taranaki have won 3 of their last 7 matches.
Taranaki lost 27-25 to Manawatu in their previous match.
Southland has lost 5 of the last 7 matches.
Southland beat Bay of Plenty 43-12 in their previous match.

Head-to-Head

Taranaki has won the last five meetings with Southland.

Taranaki Form

Taranaki lost 27-25 to Manawatu in an error-riddled Round 7 clash of the NPC at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North, with the halftime score level at 17-17 after an intensely competitive opening half.

With the match tied late in the game, a critical error by Taranaki's replacement prop Jared Proffit gave Manawatu a penalty in the 79th minute, which was calmly slotted to seal the 27-25 win.

Taranaki have had a mixed run of form in their 2026 campaign, winning three of their last seven matches. Taranaki beat Counties Manukau (20-5), before losing to Waikato (38-32), Northland (42-0), and Bay of Plenty (28-24), and beating Canterbury (40-26) and Auckland (28-12), with a narrow loss to Manawatu (27-25).

Taranaki are ninth in the NPC table with 19 points after seven matches of the 2026 campaign.

Taranaki Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Jared Proffit, 2 Bradley Slater, 3 Reuben O'Neill, 4 Jesse Parete, 5 Jayden Sa, 6 Josefa Namosimalua, 7 Scott Jury, 8 Arese Poliko, 9 Quintony Ngatai, 10 Josh Jacomb, 11 Kini Naholo, 12 Daniel Rona, 13 Meihana Grindlay, 14 Willem Ratu, 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

Replacements: 16 JJ Pokai, 17 Perry Lawrence, 18 Keightley Watson, 19 Bradley Tocker, 20 Sage Walters-Hansen, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Sam Clarke, 23 Haki Wiseman.

Southland Form

Southland secured a dominant 43-12 victory over Bay of Plenty at Rugby Park in Invercargill in their last match, after leading 17-12 at the break. The comprehensive win marked Southland's second victory of the 2026 NPC season.

Bay of Plenty struck early through Ah Kuoi and van Vugt, taking a 12-5 lead before Southland fought back. Southland completely shut out Bay of Plenty in the second half, adding 26 unanswered points to seal the 43-12 bonus-point victory.

Southland try-scorers were Glen Vaihu (2), Michael Manson, Shaun Kempton, Mika Muliaina, Gregor Rutledge, and a penalty try.

Southland have struggled for form this season, losing five of their last seven 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), before beating Bay of Plenty (43-12).

Southland are 12th in the NPC table with 13 points after seven 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 Willi Gualter, 14 Michael Manson, 15 Jimmy Taylor.

Replacements: 16 Shaun Kempton, 17 Jack Sexton, 18 Sef Fa'agase, 19 Ale Aho, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Charlie Marsh, 22 Fletcher Morgan, 23 Hayata Taniyama.

Verdict

Taranaki v Southland

Taranaki are firm favourites to win against Southland with home-ground advantage and a strong head-to-head record.

Taranaki -15.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 1 Unit

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