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Wellington Lions playing in 14th NPC final on Saturday

Julian Savea celebrates the match-sealing try in extra time in the Lions’ 100-minute 59-45 Championship final win over Bay of Plenty in 2017. 

  • By Adam Julian & Steven White

The Wellington Lions are hosting the Bay of Plenty Steamers in Saturday’s 2024 National Provincial Championship decider.

The NPC semi-final and final series was introduced in 1992 and the Wellington Lions have been regulars making 13 appearances. It could be said that many of those have been unlucky, but the record shows that the Lions have won just four of these (and two of those in the ‘Championship’ division). A brief look at the finals they have been involved documented below.

1999: Wellington: 18 v Auckland: 24

The first decider Wellington contested was at Eden Park on October 23, 1999.

The first-half was a tough and error-ridden affair and both teams failed to score a try. Auckland took a 9-3 lead to the sheds with the Lions attacking vigorously just before the interval.

In the 48th minute, Orene Ai’i jabbed an attacking kick into the Wellington 22 which was fumbled by Johnsonville’s Ali Koko leading to a Caleb Ralph try. All Black lock Charles Riechelmann extended the hosts advantage to 24-6 after an hour.

Wellington rallied admirably. David Howell scored a converted try to reduce the deficit to 24-13 and No.8 Filo Tiatia powered over with three minutes to go to spark hopes of an improbable revival, but it wasn’t to be.

Adrian Cashmore (Auckland: 73 games, 826 points, 57 wins) kicked four penalties and a conversion for Auckland. Adrian’s son Lucas was part of the Blues Super Rugby winning Pacific team in 2024 and will contest Saturday’s final for Bay of Plenty against Wellington.

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2000: Wellington: 34 v Canterbury: 29

Wellington won the NPC for the first time since 1986 with a thrilling victory at a soldout Lancaster Park.

It what might have been the greatest game of provincial rugby ever player with 36 of the 44 players involved internationals, Wellington’s backs were rampant scoring five unanswered tries to build a 34-15 lead.

Two long-range tries to Jonah Lomu (Wellington: 21 games, 13 tries, 12 wins) were especially memorable. Lomu’s second try saw him fend-off Fijian international Marika Vunibaka three times on his way to the line from halfway. Wellington’s other try scorers were Jason O’Halloran and Inoke Afeaki.

All Black first-five Andrew Mehrtens (Canterbury: 107 games, 1056 points, 80 wins) kicked five penalties to keep the hosts in touch, who soon predictability rallied scoring two converted tries to to set up a grandstand finish.

In the dying minutes Wellington lock Dion Waller (Wellington: 43 games, 24 wins) was yellow carded for slapping the ball down when Canterbury looked certain to score a try, but the Lions hung on grimly.

Captain Norm Hewitt (Wellington: 31 games, 16 heroically played the last quarter with a broken arm, an action criticised by MP and disabilities spokeswoman Ruth Dyson on the Paul Holmes show. Ironically Dyson would resign a short time later when she was caught drunk driving.

Tragically Lomu, Hewitt, Jerry Collins and prop Morne van der Merwe have already passed.

See our story from earlier this year on the 2000 final:

The 2000 NPC Final

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2003: Wellington: 29 v Auckland: 41

Queues extended out Lambton Quay shop doors to purchase tickets to the first NPC final at the Westpac Stadium and Christian Cullen’s last game.

Cullen didn’t disappoint scoring two tries, including one from a quick tap on halftime, but Auckland was always the superior team in an entertaining contest.

Ahead 19-17 at halftime, Auckland scored two tries in the first eight minutes upon the resumption to amass an advantage that was too large for the hosts to overcome.

New Zealand Sevens legend Orene Ai’i scored two of Auckland’s six tries. Ai’i won five NPC titles, represented Samoa,  and remarkably was played professional rugby in the USA as recently as 2022 aged 42.

In 2003, Auckland also held the Ranfurly Shield while the Blues were reigning Super 12 champions.

Cullen ended his first-class career in New Zealand with 164 tries in 233 games.

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2004: Wellington: 27 v Canterbury: 40

Westpac Stadium was packed to the gunnels for this final against the old rival. And why wouldn’t it be? The Lions were top qualifier and had enjoyed some memorable home wins over Taranaki, Northland and Waikato (twice) amongst others. New players such as Piri Weepu and Conrad Smith were making their marks.

Enter Canterbury, with a gnarly side that was led by first-year Canterbury captain Richie McCaw (First Class: 334 games, 265 wins, 69 tries) and Justin Marshall (Canterbury: 61 games, 36 tries, 46 wins).

In typical Canterbury fashion, the red and blacks turned the screws on the Lions. McCaw went down early in the second half in a crashing tackle but got up to play well and Marshall scored two tries in a Player of the Match performance in his last appearance for Canterbury. Another standout was All Blacks pivot Dan Carter (Canterbury: 28 games, 300 points, 21 wins) who kicked four penalties and four conversions in the win. Canterbury led 40-13 at one point early in the second half.

Wellington’s tries were scored by lock Luke Andrews, second five-eighth Tana Umaga and reserve winger Sireli Bobo.

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2006: Wellington: 31 v Waikato: 37

The Lions travelled to Hamilton on a cool, clear night confident of victory having defeated Canterbury and defending champions Auckland (twice) during the regular season.

However, Waikato’s pack proved too tough in front of a rabid home crowd. The Lions set-piece was inaccurate and Waikato was ahead 37-24 with five minutes to play.

Ma’a Nonu did score a second try to close the gap to 37-31 and provide faint late hope, but it wasn’t to be.

It was a great night for the goal-kickers with Jimmy Gopperth slotting four penalties and two conversions and David Hill responding with three penalties and four conversions.

Waikato All Blacks Richard Kahui, Byron Kelleher and Brendon Leonard scored tries for Waikato. Jono Gibbes, brother of future Wellington coach Chris Gibbes was Waikato captain.

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2007: Wellington: 14 v Auckland: 23

On a wet and cold night at Eden Park, Auckland won their last NPC title with a tough victory in a forgettable spectacle.

Jeremy Thrush scored a thrilling try, fending and hurdling over several players on his way to the line, but Auckland used the conditions better and were worthy winners. Fijian international Isa Nacewa scored 18 points, including a try, for Auckland. Jimmy Gopperth kicked three penalties for Wellington in a match that featured plenty of whistle.

Auckland finished the season with a 13-0 record. Nacewa represented Fiji and with Leinster in Ireland won four European Cups, and captained the team to European Champions Cup and Pro14 titles in his final season 2017/18.

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2008: Wellington: 6 v Canterbury: 7

Wellington entered the final with an outstanding record. The Lions won 12 out of 13 games, held the Ranfurly Shield, and scored 62 tries. However, on a miserably wet and cold night, and in front of a slightly disappointing crowd of just over 21,000, the hosts came unstuck against Canterbury.

The solitary try scored in the match was by Canterbury blindside flanker Hayden Hopgood which was converted by first five-eighth Colin Slade. Hopgood busted through at the 22 and skidded over the line on the sloshy surface. Lions first five-eighth Piri Weepu kicked two penalties, but missed four other attempts as the Lions made much of the play and created several clear-cut opportunities but were unable to break down the dogged Canterbury defence.

Hayden Hopgood (Canterbury: 51 games, 6 tries, 40 wins) had a stint with the Hurricanes and later played 10 tests for Japan.

The teams as listed for the 2008 final.

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2009: Wellington: 20 v Canterbury: 28

Wellington’s misery against Canterbury continued. After a nail-biting 16-15 defence of the Ranfurly Shield against Auckland, the Log was lost against Canterbury, 36-14.

Wellington used 48 players in a disruptive season but still managed to battle into the final where they were no match for Canterbury.

Canterbury used the wind to good effect, controlled territory and bustled the Wellington set-piece as they defended their title from 2008.

Canterbury first-five Colin Slade was man of the match and scored two tries while Scottish international Sean Maitland also helped himself to a five-pointer.

Alapati Leiua scored a brilliant solo try in the last ten minutes after openside Scott Fuglistaller had initially helped Wellington into a promising position.

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2013: Wellington: 13 v Canterbury: 29

Wellington qualified top and beat Canterbury 25-19 in the round robin, but was thoroughly outclassed at the Westpac Stadium by a clinical Canterbury. Wellington struggled to adapt to the chilly, soggy conditions and were gradually strangled into submission in front of 15,070 onlookers.

Both sides scored a try apiece in the first half and the Lions led 10-7 at the break, but Canterbury won the game in the third quarter by scoring tries to five-eighths Ryan Crotty and Tyler Bleyendaal. Penalties were exchanged and Canterbury took a 22-13 lead into the final 10 minutes, which proved too great for the Lions to come back from. Canterbury won their sixth straight NPC title and All Blacks Andy Ellis and George Whitelock also scored tries.

Canterbury would win nine titles in a decade from 2008 to 2017. Their record in all matches in this period was 102 wins from 128 fixtures.

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2015: Wellington: 25 v Hawke’s Bay: 26

Wellington was demoted to the championship in 2014 after a disastrous season saw them lose nine out of ten matches.

The following year at McLean Park, Wellington should have won promotion back to the Premiership but blew it in the last two minutes when Magpie wing Mason Emerson scored in the corner and Ihaia West converted from the sideline to secure a 26-25 victory for the hosts.

Wellington led for over an hour and scored three tries to two, but was left to rue ill-discipline.

Wellington enjoyed a healthy 20-9 buffer at halftime but conceded a minute after the break when former North’s centre Robbie Fruean crashed over.

Cory Jane scored his second try for Wellington to make it 25-19 to the visitors, but West kicked 13/13 in a standout finals series.

Halfback Frae Wilson scored the first try after 66 seconds for Wellington.

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2017: Wellington 59 v Bay of Plenty 45

In 2017, Wellington and Bay of Plenty played out the highest-scoring final in the history of New Zealand provincial rugby when 16 tries and a combined 104 points were scored in an extra-time thriller.

Wellington ended up winning nine tries to seven, after leading 20-14 at halftime and then was leading 40-33 when Steamers second five Terence Hepetama raced through to score a converted try in the 78th minute to make it 40-40 and send the match at Wellington Stadium into extra time.

The match was sealed in the 93rd minute when right-wing Julian Savea crossed under the bar. Tawa and Māori All Blacks loosehead prop Tolu Fahamokioa played a blinder by scoring two tries.

The first NPC semifinal went to extra time with Otago beating North Harbour after a Greg Cooper try. In 2012 Canterbury beat Taranaki 51-27 after extra time in a semi-final en route to the title. All Blacks prop Wyatt Crockett scored two tries. In 2014 Taranaki topped Auckland 49-30 in a semi on their way to Premiership glory.

The 2018 Premiership final also went to extra time with Auckland beating Canterbury 40-33. The 2024 Lochore Cup final was won 46-44 by King Country over West Coast.

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2019: Tasman 31 v Wellington 19

Back up to the Premiership, and in the final season before two years of Covid disruptions, the Lions were worthy finalists but couldn’t quite get over the top of Tasman who became the first team since Auckland in 2007 to win every game.

The game was played in Nelson and the home side had that winning feeling and strong crowd support behind them. They led 23-14 at the interval and maintained their edge in a tense second 40 minutes.

Tasman’s defence was outstanding, keeping the Lions out when they attempted to up the ante while scoring an additional try and penalty through first five Mitchell Hunt. Hunt would kick four penalties and scored 16 points in the final, with future All Blacks David Havili and Will Jordan scoring tries. For Wellington, Jackson Garden-Bachop landed three penalties and tighthead prop Alex Fidow scored a try.

Tasman won all 12 games in 2019 and scored a Union-record 62 tries. In 202 they successfully defended their title with a 13-12 upset of Auckland at Eden Park.

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2022: Wellington 26 – Canterbury 18

Finally. A generation on from their last Premiership/first division title, the Lions once more raised the trophy.

They did so playing away from home in the hostile cauldron of Christchurch against a team that had beaten them 43-10 in the round robin and had lost four finals.

The scoreline was close, but this was a dominant win for the Lions, who were Ranfurly Shield holders and a week prior had blown Auckland away in a 54-19 semi-final win.

Scoring-wise, this was a tense fixture, with both sides scoring just two tries each. For Wellington, these were scored by blockbusting hooker Asafo Aumua and livewire fullback Ruben Love. Love scored his sixth try of the season. It was also the fifth match he had scored a try in a row. The last Wellington player to score tries in five successive matches was Hosea Gear in 2008. Jackson Garden-Bachop kicked 13 points.

For Canterbury Ngane Punivai (Petone) and Manasa Mataele scored tries with Fergus Burke kicking two penalties and a conversion.

Wellington won 11 of their 13 matches played in 2022. This equals their record for most victories in a season: in 2008 (11 wins from 13 matches) and in 2017 (11 wins from 12 matches).

Wellington went on to win a Union record 21 games in a row, losing the Ranfurly Shield to Hawke’s Bay (18-20) after seven successful defences on September 20, 2023.

Wellington and Canterbury finished the 2022 season with 26 wins each in 54 NPC games.

The Lions celebrate their win in 2022.

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One thought on “Wellington Lions playing in 14th NPC final on Saturday

  1. A bit generous not to mention that Jackson Garden-Bachop had a kick to win the 2017 final at the death but (on a bad kicking night for him) he missed it sending the match to extra time.

    Also in 2015 the Lions were on attack with time running out but someone (can’t remember who) went for glory and grubber kicked the ball towards the try line when well inside the opposition half hoping for someone to run on to it to score another try, rather than simply trying to retain possession until the final whistle, which enabled the Magpies to run up the pitch to score and win with the conversion.

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