Game Preview | Matatū v Poua
Matatū have named their squad to take the field against the Hurricanes Poua in Christchurch on Saturday 4 March in Round 2 of Super Rugby Aupiki 2023.
Coming off their first-ever Aupiki win against the Blues in Dunedin last week, the team is ready to do it all again at Ngā Puna Wai, a new venue for 2023.
Tickets are still available to get down to watch the match – kick off 4.35pm. Don’t miss this chance to see the last Aupiki match in the South Island for the 2023 season. It’s set to be a showdown.
These two have crossed paths before. In their epic final match of the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki Season in 2022, Poua recorded their first Aupiki win, and in pre-season 2023 Poua got the best of us again.
Blair Baxter, Matatū Head Coach, said the team was on their third assembly of the season and “what we’ve learnt across those two weeks, we’ll implement this week”.
“Hurricane Poua, they’ve got threats across the park,” Baxter said.
“They’ve got Ayesha Leti-L'iga, she’s a powerful human on that left edge. They’ve got some Black Ferns sprinkled throughout the squad. You can’t take them lightly. Power athletes, they’ll want to be real confrontational.
“We’ve got to be on our game to stop that.”
In a short sharp competiton, it was important to keep the foot down and push for points.
Key match-ups to keep an eye on: Martha Ma’aetele on the outside back facing Ayesha Leti-L'iga. Captain Alana Bremner is powering the defence, eyeing up No 8 Kaipo Oslen-Baker charging forward.
Cheyelle Robins-Reti, of Black Ferns Sevens fame, made the shift from Hurricanes Poua to play for Matatū in 2023. Baxter described her as, “an asset to any team”.
Coming off the back of a win in Round 1 of a “short and sharp” competiton, Baxter said the team “learnt a lot last week”.
Hurricanes Poua lost in Round 1 to the Chiefs Manawa 53-21, and Baxter said this would be feeding them in Round 2.
“They’ll be hurting, no one goes out to play and likes having a score run-up like that.
“Often, when you lose, you look a little bit deeper. So, I know they’ll come out hot and be looking to right the wrong.”
Tickets are still available to get down and see the girls take on Hurricanes Poua at Ngā Puna Wai on Saturday 4 March – kick off 4.35pm.
Team List
Pip Love
Georgia Ponsonby
Amy Rule
Alana Bremner
Cindy Nelles
Lucy Jenkins
Kendra Reynolds
Marcelle Parkes
Di Hiini
Rosie Kelly
Martha Mataele
Grace Brooker
Amy du Plessis
Chey Robins-Reti
Renee Holmes
Nat Delamere
Ona Palu
Steph Te-Ohaere Fox
Sera Naiqama
Emma Dermody*
Georgia Cormick
Terauoriwa Gapper
Grace Steinmetz
Matatū Debut*