Waikato’s build-up to Saturday’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) premiership final has been chaotic since Covid-19 cases were first reported in the region last Sunday.
While Waikato coach James Semple says it’s been “business as usual” for their preparations this week, it has been anything but for their second consecutive FPC decider against Canterbury in Christchurch.
Waikato return to Rugby Park in a repeat of last year’s final, which they lost 8-7 in gut-wrenching circumstances when Cindy Nelles scored the title-winning try after the hooter.
The Canadian lock ensured Canterbury were champions for a fourth successive season, denying Waikato their first women’s provincial title.
“I don’t think I’ve cried so much in a week after that one,” Semple joked.
“We went into it unbeaten and to lose like that in the 82nd minute was tough, but it was still a successful season.
“But it’s definitely not a grudge match or revenge for us.”
As well as losing their nine Black Ferns, who all started last year’s final, Waikato’s road to another decider comes after Covid-19’s disruptive impact on the FPC.
With Auckland’s three teams – Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour – withdrawing last month because of the city’s extended lockdown, Waikato’s place in the final has been threatened by Covid-19 entering the region’s community.
Most of the team’s players and staff swiftly relocated to Cambridge’s Podium Lodge before other parts of Waikato, including Hamilton city, went into lockdown at alert level 3 on Sunday at 11:59pm.
The boundaries for Waikato’s level 3 border were then extended on Thursday night to include Cambridge and the Hamilton Airport the team were scheduled to fly from on Friday.
However, as the border extension was announced at Thursday’s 1pm update, Waikato were at the airport, a day earlier than planned, and bound for Christchurch.
They didn’t know about Thursday’s border announcement before changing their schedule, a New Zealand Rugby spokesman told Stuff.
Thursday’s travel was the second time in five days they had fled before being locked down in level 3, to ensure the decider with Canterbury could proceed under level 2 restrictions.
The team’s players and staff all returned negative tests after being under strict Covid-19 protocols at the Podium Lodge, meaning they could train, Waikato Rugby chief executive Carl Moon told Stuff on Tuesday.
Their trip south was questioned by epidemiologist Michael Baker, a professor of public health from the University of Otago, who said he wasn’t comfortable discussing potential health risks associated with the team’s flight to Christchurch.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson told Stuff this week it was acceptable for the team to travel, providing they stuck to precautionary measures.
Waikato beat Wellington 26-10 in last Saturday’s preliminary final in Hamilton and will again be without their Black Ferns, who are in camp before flying to Europe for two tests each against England and France.
Semple has said it’s fair to not have their Black Ferns because it’s the same rule for everyone, with Canterbury not having their six, and more players get an opportunity to feature in the country’s biggest matches in the women’s game this year.
“We were confident with our players [who came in against Wellington] and what stood out most was how they played without fear,” he said.
“They really backed themselves and had confidence in their ability in such a high pressure match.”
Gisborne outside back Kelsey Teneti, 18, who trained with the champion Black Ferns sevens this season, is one of Waikato’s most promising youngsters in a team, led by lock Chyna Hopeha, that has only four starters from last year’s final.
FARAH PALMER CUP FINAL
Canterbury v Waikato
Venue: Rugby Park Christchurch
