NPC Number Crunching: Wellington v Auckland

Captain Caleb Delany trucks it up against Hawke’s Bay in their first match.

The Stat Attack by compiled by Peter Marriot continues for this year’s 50^th National Provincial Championship competition. The second one from the match against Auckland is below.

The Lions meet North Harbour in their third round fixture and 526th NPC battle overall at Wellington on Thursday night. Teamlists released on Wednesday afternoon.

Round 2 v Auckland: Lost 31-34

The Wellington Lions played their first-ever NPC match at Western Springs Stadium. Every one of their previous matches against Auckland, in Auckland, had been played at Eden Park.

Wellington and Auckland have now played 52 NPC matches together: Auckland is leading with 32 wins to Wellington’s 20.

Auckland’s win brought an end to the Lions record run of five wins in a row against them including the last three in succession in Auckland.

Auckland has hosted Wellington 28 times for 19 wins and nine losses.

Having lost the final two matches in 2025 and the first two this year, the Lions have lost their last four matches, something they have not done since 2021 and before then in 2016.

The Lions do not make a habit of losing their first two matches of a new season. It has only happened twice before: in 1984 and in 2014 when they had their worst-ever season in losing the first nine of the 10 matches they played that year.

There were five changes to the Lions starting XV from that which appeared in the previous round. There were three changes in the backs and two in the forwards.

Isi Saumaki returned to the Lions after having not played since 2023. He scored the Lions first try of the match to take his total to six, in six appearances. However, just two of his tries have been scored at NPC level. On debut in the Lions first Ranfurly Shield Challenge match of 2023 against Horowhenua-Kapiti he scored twice and in the next defence match against South Canterbury he scored another two tries.

Reo Matsushita scored his second try in his second appearance for the Lions.

Penieli Poasa’s try was his fourth in 29 appearances.

Dominic Ropeti scored his eighth try in his 32nd match.

James O’Reilly’s try was his 13th in 80 matches for the Lions. In 17 matches for Bay of Plenty in 2016 and 2017 he scored one try.

Dominic Ropeti, Logan Henry (on ground), James O’Reilly and Hugo Plummer ask questions of the referee in their season opener. 

Callum Harkin kicked six points (three conversions) and now has a total of 74 in 21 outings for the Lions.

Harkin kicked a 50/22 in the 70th minute.

He was issued with a yellow card in the 77th minute, the first for the Lions this season.

Piri Paraone was listed on the bench but did not take part in the match.

Du’Plessis Kirifi started the match in the #12 jersey having worn the #7 jersey in all of his previous 64 starts for the Lions. Apparently he had played at second five-eighth in the Under-15s at his former school, Francis Douglas Memorial College in New Plymouth.

Sekope Lopeti-Moli made his debut for the Lions. He had previously played 16 matches for Waikato between 2017 and 2021 and twice for Counties Manukau in 2025.

Jordan Soli also made his NPC debut for Wellington.

Sione Halalilo (who was listed on the bench for the previous match against Hawke’s Bay and did not take the field) appeared for the first time this season, as did Johnny Falloon.

A total of 27 players have now made at least one appearance for the Lions in 2026 including 12 debutants.

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Josh Beehre and Ben Ake all scored their first try for Auckland against Wellington.

It was also Pita Ahki’s first try for Auckland against Wellington but he had previously scored a try for North Harbour against them at Wellington in 2014.

Rico Simpson crossed for a double: his first tries against Wellington. He has become the first Auckland player to score a pair against Wellington since Akira Ioane scored two at Auckland in the Semi-final match in 2018.

Simpson kicked a conversion in last year’s match at Porirua.

Stephen Perofeta kicked four points, which when added to the 45 points he scored when playing for Taranaki between 2016 and 2021, took his total in all matches against the Lions to 49.

Auckland would have scored seven tries if Soane Vikena’s try in the fourth minute had been allowed.

It was awarded on-field but a review by the TMO determined there was an accidental off-side just before the try was scored.

Todd Petrie had the whistle for the match. It was his third in charge which involved the Lions.

The Wellington Lions have played 525 NPC matches for 330 wins (62.9%), 183 losses and 12 draws.