Nice lineout and Sweeney looks to bash it up the middle. Stratton with a slight knock on midfield

Late tackle and its a penalty to Waikato

Waikato are up for this.

What a start

The ball bounces kindly for Reece and ball is shifted nicely through the hands. there is space and numbers out wide and Sweeney steps inside and scores

Waikato get up to the 10 and kick behind the defense

Conditions are perfect, we are all set for a cracking encounter. Waikato will kick us off

Welcome to Yarrow Stadium for a Ranfurly Shield match between Taranaki and Waikato. Taranaki have had a mixed start to their season. Two wins and two loses but have the squad expected to challenge this year. Waikato started horribly, and looked like they would struggle this year after three losses in a row, but a hugely impressive 43-31 win over Wellington on Wednesday may have giving them the confidence they need. Waikato lead the H2H 42-31 with 7 draws. It can go either way, but Taranaki will look to use their potent backline to get the vital victory at home. This will be the 100th time Taranaki has been involved in a Ranfurly Shield fixture since first contesting for the Shield in 1906

Biggest Taranaki score: 46 in Hamilton 27.8.2014 (ITMC)
Biggest Waikato score: 67 in Hamilton 16.90.1989 (NPC)