Auckland had already once been reduced in numbers, with Blake Gibson perhaps fortunate to avoid being sent off for dropping his knee on the head of Tom Christie, who was holding onto him at a ruck.

But as had been the case all game, there was another twist in the story, and Gibson powered over from close range to see Auckland take the win. Earlier in the day, Canterbury survived a strong ...

scoring the crucial try and putting some heat on their ruck," said Auckland coach Paul Feeney. Fox-Matamua thrived in combination with Blake Gibson and Steven Luatua in the loose, especially up ...