New Zealand Heartland XV match reports

By Adam Julian

The New Zealand Heartland XV, formerly known as the New Zealand Divisional XV, was established to expose players from the Heartland divisions of New Zealand rugby to a higher level. Since their inception in 1988, the Heartland XV has played 84 games and won on 49 occasions. Tours have been embarked upon to the Pacific and Argentina, and All Blacks include Matt Cooper and Simon Culhane. 

This week, at a rain-sodden Cooks Gardens in Whanganui, the New Zealand Heartland XV was beaten twice by a New Zealand Māori XV, 47-14, and a New Zealand Barbarians XV, 40-21.

It was a tight first-half tussle with the Māori on Tuesday, Heartland only trailing 7-14 at the interval.

The Heartland scored the first try in the 18th minute following a powerful charge by prolific South Canterbury No.8 Siu Kakala (52 games, 43 tries, 46 wins).

Gradually the Māori side took control with intelligent tactical kicking, staunch defence and robust tackling.

Sam Smith scored the first Māori try following an expansive attack that switched back towards the middle of the field and saw the Hawke’s Bay openside arrow through a narrow gap close to a ruck.

Hone Mathieson was the head prefect of Te Kuiti High School (Sir Colin Meads’ alma mater) in 2023. The Māori fullback was hungry for work and illusive with his swift, balanced feet. A searing break he made saw halfback Kade Manuel scamper clear. Manuel played one game for Hawke’s Bay in 2024.

The Māori were swift to impose their will in the second half. Captain and No.8 Terrell Peita, who has played for Auckland, Northland and Manawatū, was rampant. He scored a try with a short dash to the paint and had a hand in a try for second five-eighth Tayne Harvey. The Palmerston North Boys’ High School product played three games for Southland in 2024.

Anaru Paenga-Morgan is a leading waka ama paddler and that background in the conditions was useful. The centre, based in Canterbury, showed strength to stay on his feet and then slide over the line. A lineout drive was another weapon used effectively by both teams. Māori reserve hooker Te Ariki Te Puni profited from a rolling maul.

29/10/24 - New Zealand Māori XV: 47 (Sam Smith, Kade Manuel, Tayne Harvey, Terrell Peita, Te Ariki Te Puni, Anaru Paenga-Morgan tries; Cooper Grant 6 con) New Zealand Heartland XV: 14 (Siu Kakala, Raitube Vasurakuta tries; Quinn Collard 2 con) HT: 14-7

The New Zealand Barbarians repeated their 2023 success against the Heartland on Saturday with a 40-21 victory.

Stacked with top-flight NPC players, the Barbarians jumped from the gates quickly with two tries in the opening ten minutes. 

Taranaki wingers Josh Setu and Vereneki Tikoisolomone combined in a 30m bust before standout second five-eighth Gibson Popoali'i slid through with an assertive charge. Popoali’i has played ten matches for Counties Manukau and consistently troubled the defence. 

In the sloppy conditions, the lineout drive was again an effective weapon and the Barbarians' third try was an automatic seven points after the Heartland illegally collapsed the maul. 

Michael Loft was exceptional for Ranfurly Shield holders Taranaki and continued his buoyant form with a 20m try and persistent hassle at the breakdown. First five-eighth Callum Harkin kicked the winning penalty goal for the Wellington Lions in the NPC final against Bay of Plenty and carried himself with class. His creation of a second try for Popoali'i was smooth and clinical. 

The Heartland didn't concede points for the last 25 minutes and battled manfully to score the last two tries. There was much to like about the performance of lock Anthony Amato and flankers Matt Axtens and Kaleb Foote. 

South Canterbury (winners of 39 consecutive Heartland Championship games from 2019 to 2024) was the most heavily represented province in the Heartland XV with Amato,  Kakala, Tokoma’ata Fakatava, Declan McCormack, Willie Wright, Paula Fifita, Clarence Moli and Finlay Joyce all summoned for national duty. Nigel Walsh, who has led South Canterbury to 48 wins in 56 matches since 2019, was head coach. 

Meads Cup champions Thames Valley contributed Matt Axtens, Toddy Doolan, Sione Etoni, and Quinn Collard, who enjoyed a 93% goal-kicking success rate in the Heartland Championship and slotted four from four in this campaign. 

2/11/24 - New Zealand Barbarians: 40 (Vereneki Tikoisolomone, Gibson Popoali'i 2, Penalty Try, Michael Loft, Logan Love tries; Callum Harkin 5 cons) New Zealand Heartland XV: 21 (Quinn Collard, Kristian Gent-Standen, Paula Fifita tries; Quinn Collard 2, Fifita cons) HT: 26-7