Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live updates of tonight's Mitre 10 Cup clash between Auckland and Tasman at Eden Park in Auckland.
FT: AKL 36-10 TAS
Auckland send a message to the rest of the competition with a strong performance at Eden Park tonight. Tasman had plent of opportunities but couldn't break the defence down and when Auckland needed it, their big names in Nanai, Ioane and especially Tuipulotu delivered. That does it for us tonight folks. Pō mārie!
77min: AKL 36-10 TAS
AKL TRY! Tasman are trying to run the ball out of their 22m but they're well and truly trapped. They go to the right wing but the ball goes to ground and Akira Ioane scoops it up! He bowls through one and goes in to score. That's the nail in the coffin folks.
73min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland turn the ball over and get on a promising attack but they can't make the final pass to the right wing stick and it's a knock on. Tasman scrum just inside their 22m but with time ticking down, Auckland will happily play in this part of the field.
70min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland chew up some clock with a few scrum resets before a good clearance gives Tasman a lineout 10m from halfway. Fun fact, Tasman have spent five minutes inside Auckland's 22m in the second half. They have yet to score a point though.
68min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Again, Tasman faulter! It's another knock on, this time by Hunt, and Auckland get out of jail free once more. It's their 5m scrum coming up.
66min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Tasman have managed to stay inside Auckland's 22m but still have nothing to show for it thanks to a solid Auckland defence. There's another penalty for hands in the ruck but Auckland won't be worried until the ref has a word. Tasman change tack this time and kick for a 5m lineout.
63min: AKL 29-10 TAS
To the Mako's disdain, it's them who finally give. Christie looks to clear to the backline from a ruck 2m shy of Auckland's line but he's taken his eye off the ball and dropped it cold at the base. Auckland 5m scrum and they clear to relieve pressure. Tasman lineout outside Auckland's 22m coming up.
61min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland's defence is holding but their discipline isn't. Fourth penalty in the last five minutes and Tasman are sticking with the 5m scrum. Something has to give.
57min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland are penalised again for being offside shortly after the lineout. That gives Tasman great positioning as they kick for touch and get a 5m lineout.
56min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Crockett's class shines through as he burrows the Auckland scrum and earns Tasman a penalty! Mako kick for touch and get a lineout 10m inside Auckland's half. Tuipulotu's night is over and a great first outing for him in 2018.
54min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland look to the run the ball back but Tasman's defence won't let them. They try to go to the right but there's a knock on so it's a Tasman scrum just outside their 22m.
51min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Plummer's shot had the legs but missed the aim. Skews it to the right and it'll be a 22m restart from Tasman.
49min: AKL 29-10 TAS
And the Mako throw it away with a knock on at the lineout. To make matters worse, they're penalised shortly after and Plummer reckons it's within his range so he grabs the tee for a shot just inside Tasman's half.
47min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Tasman get some footing after Auckland are penalised for hands in the ruck. Tasman clear and get a lineout 35m from Auckland's line.
44min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland continue with their impressive kicking game and find space behind the Tasman line. It bounces into touch and Tasman are pinned down 15m from their line with a lineout.
41min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Not the start Tasman wanted. They get the ball back after Auckland clear from the kick off but there's a knock on shortly after. Auckland scrum 30m from their own line.
40min: AKL 29-10 TAS
Tasman get things going again.
HT: AKL 29-10 TAS
Auckland have stunned the Mako in the last five minutes of this half. Tuipuluto is having a blinder and turning up at the right place at the right time for sure. The bigger concern for Tasman besides the barnstorming lock they can't shut down is their inability to deal with Auckland's kicking game. Short kicks and grubbers have caught Tasman offguard far too many times here and they've got a big mountain to climb as a result. We'll be back soon with the second 40.
40+1min: AKL 29-10 TAS
AKL TRY! TUIPULOTU HAS A HAT TRICK! Auckland go to pick and gos and the lock comes up with the impactful run.
39min: AKL 22-10 TAS
Auckland will have one last attacking chance here after Tasman are penalised for holding on to the ball too long again. They kick for touch and while Jordan makes a genuine attempt to smack the ball back in play, it's forward so Auckland get a scrum 20m from Tasman's line.
37min: AKL 22-10 TAS
AKL TRY! WHAT A SHOCKER! Auckland again go to the kick and grubber one through. Hunt is back to recover metres from his line but he's fumbled the ball. Nanai is there to take the free ball sitting inside Tasman's goal and that's a free five points. Yikes!
34min: AKL 17-10 TAS
AKL TRY! Tuipulotu has a double! Gets the ball on Tasman's 22m and decides to go himself off the back of the ruck. Bumps one off and runs the rest of the way to score. What a start for the former All Black!
31min: AKL 10-10 TAS
You'll never see that again! Plummer steps up for the free three points. 15m, right in front but as he goes to kick, the ball falls off the tee! He hacks the ball and shoots it under the bar. What a crazy moment!
30min: AKL 10-10 TAS
Auckland catch Tasman napping again with another chip kick and Faiane is the successful chaser. Faiane kicks ahead into Tasman's 22m and the Mako recover but they're penalised for not releasing as Faiane's all over it.
29min: AKL 10-10 TAS
AKL TRY! Auckland strike back! Cheeky grubber by Ruru off the scrum allows Faiane to get in behind the Tasman line and he recovers it. Gets taken down 2m short and Tuipulotu is there for the pick and go and powers over to score under the posts. All tied up again.
27min: AKL 3-10 TAS
Bit of a brainfart from Christie after the kickoff puts Tasman on the back foot. He's kept the ball in the ruck too long, even after the ref told him to use it, and gets whistled for doing so. Auckland scrum just inside Tasman's 22m.
26min: AKL 3-10 TAS
TAS TRY! Ethan Blackadder puts up the fin but he'll credit his halfback for this. Christie sells a dummy at the ruck on halfway after scrum and sprints into space. He's one on one with Trainor but can't beat him and finds Blackadder in support. Blackadder has 15m to go and powers his way over to score. Superb Mako try.
24min: AKL 3-3 TAS
Auckland look set to score after Manu races away into the backfield with no one near him but the ref blows his whistle saying the pass that put him in space was forward. It's a close call but benefit of the doubt. Tasman scrum on halfway.
22min: AKL 3-3 TAS
TAS THREE! Tasman respond straight away after Auckland are penalised at the ruck. Bit of luck for Hunt as it hits the uprights and bounces in to score. He was 40m out but right in front.
19min: AKL 3-0 TAS
AKL THREE! Sure enough, Auckland take the free three on offer and give themselves a small lead. It was about 30m out to the left for Plummer but he struck it fairly cleanly.
17min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Auckland get a penalty after Tuipulotu is smoked without the ball by Lomax. There's no card but it'll likely be the first points of the night.
14min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Tasman work the ball for 12 phases, getting to within 30m of Auckland's try line before there's a knock on. Auckland take the ball and see space in the back so they hoof it downfield. Tasman retreat and recover the ball but not before they get tackled into touch. Auckland lineout just inside Tasman's half.
11min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Auckland look to use the forwards after the lineout but it backfires as Tasman hold the ball up and force a maul. It goes nowhere and the ball is locked down so that leads to a Mako scrum inside their 22m.
9min: AKL 0-0 TAS
And the whistle continues to control this match. Tasman lose the ball shortly after their lineout and make matters worse with a penalty for playing at the ball off their feet. Auckland respond with a kick for touch and get a lineout just inside Tasman's 22m.
6min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Auckland waste their early chance as they are penalised for being offside in their own ruck. Tasman clear with a massive boot from Hunt and it's a Mako lineout 30m from Auckland's line now.
4min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Auckland get the first attacking chance of the game after Tasman are penalised for being offside. Auckland kick for touch and get a lineout 30m from Tasman's line.
3min: AKL 0-0 TAS
Tasman get some good attacking ball down the left wing after the kickoff but it's wrapped up with a big tackle into touch from Nanai. Auckland lineout 10m inside their half.
KICKOFF
Auckland gets things underway!
PREVIEW
It's a top-of-the-table clash with some big names to match as Auckland host the Mako tonight.
The two unbeaten sides square off after starting 2018 in the best form possible but Auckland are pulling out all the stops to take sole possession of first place in Premiership.
Along with the usual stars of Blake Gibson, Melani Nanai and Akira Ioane, former All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has also been named for tonight's contest in his first start for Auckland in 2018.
But Tasman have been blessed with the same experience at their disposal.
Former All Blacks front rower Wyatt Crockett has been named to start in the front row with Tim Perry called into national duty.
Crockett joins an impressive Tasman outfit that includes the likes of Solomon Alaimalo and David Havili in the backline.
Auckland coach Alama Ieremia says the game will be a good test for both sides.
"Tasman are at the top of the table for a reason and have shown some good variation in what they're doing, and they're a squad that's been together for a long time," he said.
TEAMS
Auckland: 1.Sam Prattley, 2.Robbie Abel, 3.Marcel Renata, 4.Patrick Tuipulotu, 5.Jack Whetton, 6.Evan Olmstead, 7.Blake Gibson (captain), 8.Akira Ioane, 9.Jonathan Ruru, 10.Harry Plummer, 11.Salesi Rayasi, 12.TJ Faiane, 13.Tumua Manu, 14.Melani Nanai, 15.Jordan Trainor.
Substitutes: 16.Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17.Jarred Adams, 18.Marco Fepulea'i, 19. Fa'atiga Lemalu, 20.Dalton Palaplii, 21.Leon Fukofuka, 22.Jacob Umaga, 23.Tanielu Tele'a.
Tasman: 1.Wyatt Crockett, 2.Ray Niuia, 3.Tyrel Lomax, 4.Quinten Strange, 5.Pari Pari Parkinson, 6.Sione Havili, 7.Jed Brown, 8.Ethan Blackadder, 9.Finlay Christie, 10.Mitchell Hunt, 11.Solomon Alaimalo, 12.David Havili, 13.Alex Nankivell, 14.Tima Faingaanuku, 15.Will Jordan.
Substitutes: 16.Andrew Makalio, 17.Ryan Coxon, 18.Isaac Salmon, 19.Mike Curry, 20.Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 21.Jack Grooby, 22.Timothy O'Malley, 23.Levi Aumua.
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