Mitre 10 Cup talking points: Brad Weber out to repay Hawke's Bay fans after Shield raid with Waikato
Brad Weber wants to repay Hawke's Bay fans after Shield raid with Waikato.
Mitre 10 Cup talking points: Brad Weber out to repay Hawke's Bay fans after Shield raid with Waikato, should the old bonus point system be scratched, and what's wrong with Taranaki.
Hawke's Bay are playing for the Ranfurly Shield against Waikato on Thursday night. Halfback Brad Weber helped Hawke’s Bay win the Shield in 2015. Weber and his team lead the championship section of the Mitre 10 Cup.
Hawke's Bay beat Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup. Waikato beat premiership side Taransaki. Jono Gibbes also beat Chris Gibbe's Wellington team last week.
Taranaki are second from the bottom in the premiership. They lost to Waikato last week. Tasman and Mako are in similar situation. They play each other in Nelson on Friday night. The match is a rematch of last year's semifinal.
The new bonus point system for Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship was introduced in 2016. It gives teams a bonus for scoring at least three more tries than the opposition.
Auckland haven't won in Christchurch since 2007. They beat Tasman last week. Patrick Tuipulotu scored a hat-trick, but he won't play due to his call-up to the All Blacks. Canterbury could be without Luke Romano due of a calf injury.
The Stags are chasing their first scalp under new coach Dave Hewett. They are currently bottom of the championship section. Southland are on a 15-match losing streak.
