Taranaki bolstered by Beauden Barrett in NPC
Fourteen All Blacks - including veteran Beauden Barrett – will turn out for their provinces for the final round of the National Provincial Championship next weekend.
Barrett hasn’t played for Taranaki since 2020, but will join first-five Josh Jacomb and hooker Brad Slater, all of whom have just completed the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour of South Africa.
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Jacomb and Slater as well as Scott Barrett back from injury turned out for the team’s 50-14 win over Hawke’s Bay that propelled them back into playoff contention last week.
Taranaki host Wellington on Sunday, with prop Siale Lauaki turning out for the Lions.
Otago prop Saula Ma’u will line up against Auckland in Dunedin on Thursday, while loose forwards Semisi Ta’eiloa and Simon Parker will turn out for Southland and Northland in their Friday encounter at Invercargill.
Canterbury will have hooker George Bell and Sam Darry against Manawatu on Saturday afternoon. Halfbacks Cortez Ratima and Noah Hotham will square off, when Waikato host Tasman, who will also have centre Timoci Tavatavanawai available.
Bay of Plenty can call on wings Emoni Narawa and Fehi Fineanganofo for their home game against top-of-the-table North Harbour – the final fixture of the NPC regular season on Sunday.
At the completion of the round, the top eight teams will contest quarterfinals.
Those positions are currently filled by Harbour, Canterbury, Northland, Hawke’s Bay, Otago, Waikato, Taranaki and Tasman, but Manawatu and Bay of Plenty can still force their way into the postseason.
