---
title: "Northland vs Otago NPC semi-final preview: Lineups and predictions"
canonical: "https://readrugbyunion.com/2026/10/15/northland-otago-npc-semi-2026/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jonny Black"
section: "News"
published: "2026-10-15T05:04:16Z"
modified: "2026-10-15T05:04:20Z"
---

# Northland vs Otago NPC semi-final preview: Lineups and predictions

| Home team | Northland |
| --- | --- |
| Away team | Otago |
| Venue | Semenoff Stadium |
| Competition | NPC Semi-final |
| Kick-off time | 7:10 am (UK) 7:10 pm (NZ) |
| Watch Live in the UK | NPC YouTube Channel |

Northland vs Otago NPC semi-final preview as the sides meet at the Semenoff Stadium. Northland finished second in the regular season and Otago finished third meaning that the final venue is not in their hands as it will be at the One NZ Stadium if Canterbury win their semi-final.

Read more match previews [here](https://readrugbyunion.com/matchpreviews/)

## Northland vs Otago confirmed lineups

- **Northland** · **Otago**
- **Forwards**
- Fono · **1** · Lopas
- Mullan · **2** · Bell
- Renata · **3** · Ma’u
- Goodhue · **4** · Stodart
- Craig · **5** · Tamani
- Forbes · **6** · Haig
- Hooper · **7** · Casey
- Peita · **8** · Lio-Willie
- **Backs**
- Nock · **9** · McClea
- Reihana · **10** · Millar
- Rush · **11** · Nemec-Vial
- Pasitoa · **12** · Te Hiwi
- Evans · **13** · Nareki
- Murray · **14** · Broomfield
- Trainor · **15** · Hurley
- **Replacements**
- Hutchings · **16** · Coltman
- Ryan · **17** · Wingham
- Botha · **18** · Takataka
- Holwell · **19** · Irving
- MacEwan · **20** · Elton
- Renton · **21** · Lam
- Creighton · **22** · Pellegrini
- Salmon · **23** · Whaanga

## Recent Form:

**Northland (Home team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Won | 9th October 2026 | NPC Playoffs | Tasman | 26-21 |
| Won | 2nd October 2026 | NPC | Southland | 14-28 |
| Loss | 26th September 2026 | NPC | Counties Manukau | 19-22 |
| Won | 19th September 2026 | NPC | Wellington | 28-52 |
| Won | 12th September 2026 | NPC | Waikato | 34-17 |

Northland booked their place in the NPC semi-final after a win over Tasman, which saw the game come down to an exciting conclusion in the final play. They got off to a poor start and found themselves 14-0 behind after 21 minutes. The five minutes before halftime were massive, and two tries in the five minutes saw Northland go into the break 14-12 behind. The second half was tightly contested, and Northland took the lead just after 50 minutes through Terrell Peita. Ricki Heremaia added another try with just under 10 minutes to go to make the score 26-14 and leave the Taniwha a few defensive sets away from a place in the next round. Tasman would score with a few minutes to go, but the five-point gap was enough to keep the gap between the sides.

**Otago (Away team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Won | 10th October 2026 | NPC Playoffs | Hawke’s Bay | 50-14 |
| Won | 1st October 2026 | NPC | Auckland | 45-42 |
| Loss | 26th September 2026 | NPC | North Harbour | 32-21 |
| Won | 17th September 2026 | NPC | Counties Manukau | 21-50 |
| Won | 11th September 2026 | NPC | Tasman | 57-33 |

Otago booked their place in the semi-final of the NPC with a huge win over Hawke’s Bay. In total, they scored seven tries while conceding two. Three of these tries came in the first half, with a kicked penalty on the stroke of half-time to take them into the break at 24-7.

Another try would come shortly after the break, and Hawke’s Bay would score a penalty try while Tamani would end up in the sin bin. With the deficit now at 15 points, the next score was crucial for Otago with 14 players. Otago would score while down to 14 and would score two more goals to seal the game 50-14.

## Northland vs Otago head-to-head record (last five matches):

| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5th September 2025 | NPC | Otago | 29-10 |
| 4th October 2024 | NPC | Otago | 28-31 |
| 10th September 2023 | NPC | Otago | 30-15 |
| 15th October 2021 | NPC | Otago | 13-24 |
| 20th November 2020 | NPC Playoffs | Northland | 12-32 |

Otago have won the last four meetings between the sides, stretching back to the 2020 playoffs where Northland picked up victory. The last two matches in Northland have finished with a margin of victory of 11 points or less for Otago.

## Predictions

- Northland victory by less than 14 points.
- 10 tries or more in the game.