Northland, by kicking a penalty after the final hooter, almost by accident, denied the Aucklanders a bonus point in the match, and a spot in the finals.  'Almost by accident' as after Northland captain Gus Collins had signalled for the shot at goal, he rethought himself and decided to kick the ball out.  But as he had asked for the shot, he could not renege, and once the goal was slotted, Auckland were gone, the Taranaki got the slot!!

Wellington will be smarting after their loss, 21-36 to the lowly Otago side, and with their last home game, against Tasman also a closely run affair, will really be wanting to stamp their mark back on the Air New Zealand Cup.  They could be ripe, or as ripe as you can get, with the form and the personal they have, for the picking for the tough Taranaki lads - who hate the city slickers on a good day.

Then their is another local derby, with Canterbury hosting their neighbours Tasman, in what could be Tasman's last game in existence.  Unlike the Wellington game, where Taranaki probably have a 1 chance in 10 of an upset, Tasman don't!  The Red and Blacks will stampede past their neighbours, giving them a home semi final against the winner of the Hawke's Bay v Waikato game. 

Now that game is not as a foregone conclusion as many might think.  Waikato with their All Blacks back look a different kettle of fish compared to the mob sans All Blacks.  But, the All Black they probably needed the most, Stephen Donald at first five is broken down with a rib cartilage injury.  Even though, the return of Lazyaki, Sivivatu, Kahui, and maybe Muliaina, will see a much sterner challenge to the big guy of the little guys in the Air New Zealand Cup, the Hawkeye Guys, Hawke's Bay.

Where it counts though, up front, Waikato will still be found wanting by the quality pack that the Bay roll out.  So the Bay should take this one out if they can starve the Waikato backline of the ball.  They should be able to.  This wins the Bay, like Taranaki, a booby-prize too, a re match of their hiding from round 9 at the hands of Canterbury, a 31-7 demolition.  But better to be in the top four in the country than where Auckland or Otago are...

The other 'minor quarter final' sees Bay of Plenty take on Southland, in a repeat of a round 9 game which saw the Steamers win by 24-22, after leading 21-3 just before the half.  The venue is the same, Mount Maunganui, the teams are the same, but will the result be the same?  The Bay forward pack is looking decidedly tired.  The same eight, barring a couple of injury forced changes for a couple of games, have started every match - this could be the bridge too far for the boys from the sunshine coast.

On the other side of the same token, they know they have nothing to keep their powder dry for this match out.  Lose, and you're gooooooone, so you may as well give it all you've got, and worry about next week next week - something that the All Blacks could have done at the latest RWC that never happened in another game against the Frogs that also never happened...  So this match will be the tightest of the four quarter finals, coin toss time.

The winner of this game books a semi final against, most probably, the might of the Wellington Lions.  The Steamers have already headed down their once this season for no reward, despite dominating possession and position.  The same results would be expected.

Which, once this week and next week have panned out (next week Canterbury beating Hawke's Bay and Wellington also winning their semi), see a mouth watering Air New Zealand Cup final - Wellingtonversus Canterbury at the Cake Tin.  Giving Wellington their what, fifth or sixth finals appearance over the last five or six years, and hopefully their second title.

They already have their first trophy in the cabinet, the Ranfurly Shield, the double would be sweet, and would let them hand away their other title, that of 'always the bridesmaid, never the bride'...