Score summaries:
Counties Manukau 24 (Potu Leavasa, Dalton Papalii, Viliame Taulani tries; Baden Kerr pen, 3 cons). Tasman 41 (2 Andrew Makalio, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Leicester Faingaanuku tries, Mitch Hunt 4 cons, 2 pens) HT: 17-21.
Otago 6 (Josh Ioane 2 pen,). Auckland 38 (Leni Apisai (2), AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane tries, penalty try, Harry Plummer 4 con, pen) HT: 6-24
Waikato 53 (Xavier Roe, Fletcher Smith, Adam Thomson, Damian McKenzie tries; Damian McKenzie 5 con, 6 pen) Wellington 28 (Julian Savea, Vaea Fifita, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con). HT: 23-21.
FULLTIME - The Steelers fought hard but it was a pretty one-sided contest at Pukekohe Stadium, as the defending champions' talent-laden side claimed a convincing win to round out today's Mitre 10 Cup action.
Check out the highlights in the video above.
79 mins - COUNTIES MANUKAU TRY - Viliami Taulani scores a well deserved try, capping off a great period of pressure for the hosts.
72 mins - TRY TASMAN - Shannon Frizell scoops up some ruck ball at close range, pumps his legs and storms over the chalk to score.
68 mins - Hunt adds another penalty to extend the Mako advantage.
52 mins - TRY TASMAN - Will Jordan at his best, carving the defence apart with a kick return and finding Leicester Fainga'anuku with a perfect long ball for a try in the corner.
41 mins - Second half underway, and with it comes the end of Kieran Read's night.
HALFTIME
36 mins - TRY COUNTIES MANUKAU - The hosts strike again! Dalton Papali'i powers a maul into the corner and does well to detach and cross just before it was shoved in touch. Game on.
30 mins - TRY COUNTIES MANUKAU - Potu Leavasa picks up at the back of a close-range ruck and burrows his way over the line, with a little help from Kieran Read in behind. Try converted. (Tasman 21-10)
19 mins - TRY TASMAN - A Telea intercept ends in a try to Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta. Hunt converts.
18 mins - TRY TASMAN - Makalio nabs a double, as the Mako pack continues to stamp its authority, this time with a textbook rolling maul from a close range lineout.
4 mins - TRY TASMAN - Andrew Makalio caps off a long period of territory and possession by barreling over for the first try of the game. Hunt converts. (Tasman 7-0)
7:04pm - Out runs Kieran Read in the red, black and white for his long-awaited Counties Manukau debut.
Join us back here at 7:05pm for the final game on today's schedule, Counties-Manukau v Tasman.
Auckland 38 (Leni Apisai (2), AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane tries, penalty try, Harry Plummer 4 con, pen) Otago 6 (Josh Ioane 2 pen,)
FULLTIME - Auckland have come out and made a clear statement to the rest of the competition in this one, riding a dominant forward pack to a demolition of an out-matched Otago.
Auckland scored five tries to zero in a match where poor discipline cost the hosts. Otago had two players marched with yellow cards, as well as a late red card to Sio Tomkinson for a nasty shoulder charge to the head of Simon Hickey.
Check out the game's best try in the video above.
82 mins - Auckland not ready to mail this one in yet. They want a scrum, 22m out. Sotutu chips off the back of the scrum, ball is knocked on, and that will do us.
80 mins - High tackle on Simon Hickey, who took a huge shoulder to the head. That was nasty and extremely reckless from Sio Tomkinson, no arms involved there. Red card seems imminent. They're taking precautions here with Hickey, who has at least sat up now, which is encouraging. Tomkinson is dealt a red card.
79 mins - Auckland counter-ruck and earn a penalty. They'll go to a 5m lineout and try to add some more salt to Otago wounds. The lineout is sloppy and the ball falls to Otago, but a fumble gives Auckland one final scrum, 22m out.
75 mins - Otago showing some life late, as Ioane cuts open the Auckland defence. Nareki beraks down the left edge, but his grubber is into touch.
72 mins - How about that, Otago wins the defensive scrum penalty. Danger averted.
71 mins - Auckland opt for a 5m scrum against a six-man Otago pack. This could be ugly.
69 mins - Auckland penalty takes them to a lineout about 8m from the Otago tryline. The maul is immediately into 5th gear and promptly dragged down by Otago. Another yellow card is drawn, and Jack Regan gets his marching orders on debut.
67 mins - Penalty Otago, and we'll go to a lineout at halfway.
65 mins - A good five minutes of scrum resets here, before the ball pops clear from Sotutu's feet and Otago pounce and clear to the 22m.
60 mins - Auckland just 5m out now, working their way steadily to the Otago line. Penalty Auckland after a long advantage, and Liam Coltman is sent packing with a yellow card. Auckland will set a 5m scrum in the shadow of the posts.
55 mins - Otago through the phases, 5m out from the line but they concede a penalty for not releasing. Auckland clear to their own 10m.
53 mins - Yet again, thr Otago scrum is pulverised and Auckland swiftly counter. They work their way to their own 10m, before Otago win a penalty at the breakdown. They'll throw a lineout at the Auckland 22m.
51 mins - Otago with some much-needed territory and possession. Auckland get a stray hand to a pass, Otago will feed a scrum at the Auckland 22m.
48 mins - TRY AUCKLAND - The Auckland scrum swiftly sends the Otago pack wheeling backwards almost too quickly for Sotutu to get down and place the ball. Try is awarded but the referee wants a review, Hammington appears to have grounded the ball first. The TMO confirms exactly that, but the referee awards a penalty try anyway. This is getting ugly for the hosts.
46 mins - The scrum dominance continues for Auckland, who win a free kick. Pressure goes right back on Otago, Auckland 5m scrum.
44 mins - Breathless stuff from the restart from Auckland, as they swing right back onto attack courtesy of a Caleb Clarke break. Auckland drive from a lineout, 10m out now... and they've fumbled with the tryline beckoning. Otago scrum.
41 mins - TRY AUCKLAND - Well, that's how you start a second half! Plummer through a gaping hole at his own 10m, dummies to his outside to grab another 15m, then links with Rieko Ioane in support, and the All Black runs it under the crossbar.
HALFTIME
40 mins - Penalty Auckland, just inside halfway. Plummer finds touch at the 22m and Auckland wil have one final crack at the line. But the throw is wayward and Otago survive.
38 mins - Penalty Auckland, and they'll throw the lineout at halfway. Otago win a turnover at the ruck. Coltman surges over halfway, Ioane grubbers but it's easily claimed by Ruru and Auckland are right back on attack.
35 mins - TRY AUCKLAND - Trainor accelerates through a gap at his own 10m, beats two, steps one, then places a delicate over-the-top pass for Apisai, who nabs his second try of the day.
33 mins - TRY AUCKLAND - Ruru hits AJ Lam with a perfect flat pass, and the wing steps past two defenders off a great line to score under the crossbar. (Auckland 17-6)
32 mins - Fast recycle ball for Auckland, as they edge inside the Otago half. Faiane grubbers behind the line, Ioane cleans up but is muscled into touch by his Auckland namesake. Auckland lineout at the Otago 22m.
30 mins - Lineout throw is poor and Auckland win possession. High tackle gives them a chance to relieve the pressure back to halfway.
28 mins - Otago with the attacking lineout and they immediately maul, making great metres here. They release to the backs and they're inside the Auckland 22m, knock on at the ruck but Otago will win yet another offside penalty. Referee close to reaching for a card there. Otago will launch from another 5m lineout.
24 mins - Hammington with a deft chip kick from the ruck for Ioane to run through and regather. Otago edge to the Auckland 22m, but they'll come back for a penalty. Ioane will have another shot at goal here, 35m out on the right-hand angle... and he's sent it wide.
21 mins - Timu stabs through a kick on the left flank, tricky bounce for Trainor who clears as far as the Auckland 22m. Collins with a half break from the line-out, but Auckland win the defensive penalty at the ruck. Line-out at halfway.
18 mins - Otago on the front foot now. Hammington's pass is loose but the penalty advantage was being played. Ioane will call for the kicking tee, 35-odd metres on the angle here...and over the black dot it sails. (Auckland 10-6)
16 mins - Penalty advantage cashed in for Auckland. Plummer takes the easy three points from dead in front. (Auckland 10-3)
14 mins - Some lengthy possession for Otago but they can't come up with much against a staunch Auckland defence and eventually concede a penalty at the ruck. Auckland line-out near the Otago 22m.
12 mins - Otago having plenty of trouble negotiating their own scrumfeed against this Auckland pack at their own 10m line.
8 mins - TRY AUCKLAND - Clinical 5m lineout and drive from the Aucklanders and Leni Apisai comes up with the spoils. Plummer converts. (Auckland 7-3)
7 mins - Hodgman and Tu'ungafasi send an early message to their Otago front-row counterparts. Tighthead penalty won at the first scrum of the game, Auckland will feed a lineout 5m out.
3 mins - Another penalty gives Ioane a handy shot at the posts, and he steps up to open the scoring. (Otago 3-0)
1 min - We're underway! Early penalty for Otago. Ioane will take them to a lineout at the Auckland 22m.
4:32pm - Both teams about to take the pitch at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Conditions are - as you'd expect under a roof - ideal.
4:10pm - Join us back here at 4:35pm for all the live action between Otago and Auckland.
Waikato 53 (Xavier Roe, Fletcher Smith, Adam Thomson, Damian McKenzie tries; Damian McKenzie 5 con, 6 pen) Wellington 28 (Julian Savea, Vaea Fifita, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 4 con). HT: 23-21.
FULLTIME - Excellent first-up performance from Waikato, who bolted clear in the second half to notch an emphatic win. Check out the video above for highlights.
73 mins - TRY WAIKATO - Fletcher Smith on the break, grubbers through for Luke Jacobson to dot down. Waikato running away with this one. (Waikato 50-28)
66 mins - TRY WAIKATO - Wellington hot on attack but a stray pass bounces right up into the hands of McKenzie, who puts the foot down and bolts 80m clear to score. Huge swing play there.
52 mins - TRY WELLINGTON - The Lions roll a maul 10m out and Ardie Savea hits the one-out ball at pace and powers over the line. Garden-Bachop converts, great response from the visitors. (Waikato 33-28)
49 mins - TRY WAIKATO - Xavier Rose dabs through a grubber from the base of a ruck after seieng some space in behind, and Adam Thomson bolts through to pounce and claim a try in his Mooloo debut. McKenzie converts. (Waikato 33-21)
43 mins - McKenzie bangs over a penalty from close range. (Waikato 26-21)
HALFTIME
43 mins - TRY WELLINGTON - Nifty blindside move from the 5m scrum initiated by TJ Perenara, who puts Connor Garden-Bachop over in the corner. Jackson Garden-Bachop converts his brother's try to cut the Waikato advantage to two points at the break.
29 mins - TRY WELLINGTON - Clinical rolling maul guides Vaea Fifita over the chalk for a critical try for the visitors. (Waikato 23-14)
24 mins - McKenzie slots another penalty for Waikato to extend their advantage (Waikato 23-7)
18 mins - TRY WAIKATO - Fletcher Smith pounces on a chargedown to run 30m unopposed and score. Huge five minute stretch here for the hosts.
Team line-ups
Waikato: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Sefo Kautai, 4-Hamilton Burr, 5-Samipeni Finau, 6-Adam Thomson, 7-Mitch Jacobson, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Fletcher Smith, 11-Patrick Osborne, 12-Anton Lienert-Brown, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 14-Bailyn Sullivan, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Steven Misa, 17-Rob Cobb, 18-Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19-James Thompson, 20-Simon Parker, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Liam Coombes-Fabling
Wellington: 1-Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Alex Fidow, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8-Ardie Savea, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Julian Savea, 12-Vince Aso, 13-Billy Proctor, 14-Connor Garden-Bachop, 15-Trent Renata
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Morgan Poi, 18-Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, 19-Taine Plumtree, 20-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Peter Umaga-Jensen
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Pre-match banter
All Blacks not keen on tournament in Australia
All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor isn't too keen on the idea of spending Christmas Day away from his family in isolation if he travels with the team to Australia for the Rugby Championship.
On Friday SANZAAR announced Australia would host the tournament, with World Rugby approving the playing window of November 7 to December 12.
Before the latest waves of COVID-19 cases, New Zealand was the favoured host and even received full backing from World Rugby and SANZAAR, but a late play from Australia saw them win the right to host the six-week tournament.
Instead, the All Blacks are set to host two Bledisloe Cup matches, starting next month before departing for Australia.
If the tournament does end on December 12, the All Blacks players and staff - several of whom have young children - will be in managed isolation during the Christmas period.
The partners of TJ Perenara and Richie Mo'unga gave birth last month, while Beauden Barrett's wife is expecting any time now.
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson says they are working through plans to ensure the All Blacks can finish earlier so they can get through their isolation period before December 25.
But the prospect of spending 10 weeks away from family is tough for Taylor.
"I'm still working through it mentally, but there will be processes in place," he says. "The All Blacks environment is like a home.
"It'll be tough being away from the family and kids, but people have to do it all over the world.
"You always want to play at home, even if it was behind closed doors with an empty crowd.
"With what's going on, it's what you have to do to get out on the paddock."
Fellow All Black George Bridge agrees but says players need to be adaptable during these tricky times.
"We haven't got the full details around times and dates, but that's the way it is. It's been a rough year and you just have to be adaptable.
"There was some chat about the Rugby Championship being played in New Zealand, but it's good to see we will have a couple of test matches here."
Earlier this week, All Blacks captain Sam Cane and midfielder Jack Goodhue also expressed concerns about playing outside of New Zealand.
Robinson says NZ Rugby will support any All Black who doesn't wish to travel with the team, whether it's for personal reasons or they don't feel comfortable with participating.
"We are hugely supportive of our players - we know they have gone through an incredibly tough time this year.
"This challenge of what they are about to undertake is going to be significant and we will back them and their families in whatever way we need to ensure they are looked after.
"If that means they are unable to assemble or travel we'll hear that out and support that."
Last week, Ian Foster named his first-ever All Blacks squad with 35 players, but selectors will likely need to call up at least 11 more for the trip to Australia.
Even though the Rugby Championship has been given the green light, South Africa's involvement is still to be determined as they have only just started training as a team.
SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said the Springboks' participation was dependent on several factors outside its control.
While in recent days, 13 Pumas players - along with head coach Mario Ledesma - have tested positive for COVID-19.
