Northland 32 - Macilai, Olsen, Nock, Matich tries; Cooper 1 conversion, 2 penalties, Faiane 2 conversions
Otago 19 - Nareki, Timu tries, Tomkinson; Ioane 2 conversions
Fulltime - Northland have done it. They have put on an incredible performance to clinch a spot in the Championship final next weekend.
The Taniwha put on a clinical second half performance to come from behind to grab victory 32-19 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Tries in the second half to Jordan Olsen, Sam Nock and Mitch Matich saw the away side clinch a seesawing match.
Northland started the first half the better of the two sides and raced out to a 10-0 thanks to a try to Jone Macilai.
The home side finished the first half strongly and grabbed a deserved lead thanks to tries through Jona Nareki and Josh Timu.
But the Taniwha was too good in the second-half and came away deserved winners.
Northland will wait on the result of Saturday's second championship final to see where they'll play the final. If Hawke's Bay win the Magpies will host the decider, but if Taranaki win, the final will be played in Whangarei.
78 mins - TRY NORTHLAND to Matt Matich - Northland are hot on the attack trying to put this game to bed. After going close three times with replacement lose forward Matt Matich burrows his way over. Faiane converts the try. (NOR 32-19)
75 mins - Otago are hot on the attack looking dangerous inside Northland's half. The home side put in a grubber looking for Ricky Jackson out wide but it goes into touch 5m out.
72 mins - TRY NORTHLAND to Sam Nock - From the lineout, Sam Caird powers through the Otago defence and he draws an passes to put Sam Nock over under the posts. As Nock is scoring he has done his hamstring. Faiane converts the try. (NOR 25-19)
70 mins - It's now Northland's turn to fight for their season with the Taniwha building their attack on their own 10m line. After nine phases they win an offside penalty but the Taniwha miss touch. Collins clear and Northland will have a lineout on halfway.
66 mins - Northland have responded well and are hot on the attack deep inside Otago's 22 after strong runs from Nock and Faiane. Otago are scrambling but come up with an important breakdown penalty to ease the pressure.
63 mins - TRY OTAGO to Sio Tomkinson - From a lineout on halfway, Koroi breaks clear down the right-wing and gets into the Northland 22.
Three phases later Ioane breaks the Northland defence before he offloads to Tomkinson to score under the posts. Ioane converts the try. (OTG 19-18)
59 mins - Otago are fighting for their season and are attacking inside Northland's half. Collins puts a dangerous grubber in but it goes into touch just 5m out from Northland's line.
54 mins - TRY NORTHLAND to Jordan Olsen - From the lineout drive, Olsen breaks from the maul and crashes over to extend Northland's lead. Faiane can't convert the try. (NOR 18-12)
52 mins - A period of helta-skelter play, with both sides throwing the ball around has seen Tom Robinson charge a kick down. He grubbers it deep into the Otago 22 but Koroi cleans up and runs into touch just 5m out from his own line.
49 mins - Northland attack from the scrum and Ranger breaks clear and into the Otago 22 but a critical ankle tackle from Timu has forced Ranger into a knock on.
45 mins - PENALTY GOAL NORTHLAND to Johnny Cooper - Northland win an offside penalty just past the Otago 10m line. Cooper will have a shot at goal from 35m out and he nails it. (NOR 13-12)
43 mins - Both sides come out with fire in their belly. Hammington gives away a penalty and a bit of push and shove is on between the two sides.
Kickoff - North get us back underway.
Halftime - A very even first half with both sides looking dangerous with ball in hand. Northland had the better of the opening 20 minutes racing out to a 10-0 led. Otago came home strong and scored a try as the siren went to take a 12-10 lead into the sheds.
40 mins - TRY OTAGO to Josh Timu - Otago have one last chance before halftime and have a lineout just 5m out. They go for the drive but Northland defend it well and the home side goes wide to the backs.
Timu makes a strong runs a breaks two tackles to crash over next to the posts. Ioane converts the try. (OTG 12-10)
38 mins - Otago are hot on attack with the Northland defence scrambling. After eight phases the Taniwha wins the ball back but the referee was playing advantage so will go back for a penalty.
Otago lineout just 5m out. Northland are back to 15 players with Wright back from the sin bin.
35 mins - The momentum has swung in Otago's favour with Nareki making two strong runs to threaten the Northland defence. The home side win a penalty on the Taniwha 10m line. Otgao will have a lineout just 10m out.
30 mins - TRY OTAGO to Jona Nareki - Northland defend the lineout and force a collapsed maul to win a scrum. From the scrum, Northland try to clear but the kick is charged down. Nareki gathers and beats two defenders to score out wide. Ioane misses the conversion. (NOR 10-5)
27 mins - YELLOW CARD NORTHLAND to Matthew Wright - Josh Ioane breaks clear from a lineout on halfway. All he needs to do is draw and pass but his pass goes to the feet of Jona Nareki. Nareki does well to gather the ball but he is brought down just short of the line.
Two phases later Otago get fast ball and Matthew Wright has intentionally knocked the ball down and the referee has been sent to the bin.
25 mins - Otago produce a huge scrum and the Taniwha give away the penalty to ease the pressure. They will have a lineout on halfway.
23 mins - From the lineout, Tamati Tua makes a strong run but the small Otago first-five Josh Ioane show great defence and forces the error.
21 mins - After a period of arial ping pong, a poor kick from Cooper goes dead in goal. 22m drop out.
From the drop out, Otago give away a breakdown penalty. The Taniwha will have a lineout on the home side's 22.
16 mins - Otago have responded well and attacking inside Northland's 22. After six phases Michael Collins knocks the ball on to ease the pressure.
13 mins - PENALTY GOAL NORTHLAND to Johnny Cooper - Cooper makes no mistake from right in front with the penalty goal. (NOR 10-0)
12 mins - Northland are straight back on the attack and are deep inside Otago's 22. After six phases the attack comes to nothing but Northland wins a penalty and will have a shot at goal.
9 mins - TRY NORTHLAND to Jone Macilai - From a scrum on halfway, Northland go wide and attack through Macilai. He uses his speed and size to run over the top of Michael Collins and he scores in the corner. Cooper converts the try. (NOR 7-0)
4 mins - Otago have made the better start to this contest and are attacking inside Northland's half. The home side win a penalty for a no arms tackle and will have a shot at goal.
Ioane misses the penalty goal wide from 40m out.
Kickoff - Otago get us underway.
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7:03pm - Perfect conditions under the roof in Dunedin. Hopefully we are in for some attacking rugby.
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Kia ora, folks, and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Mitre 10 Cup Championship semi-final clash between Otago and Northland.
Updates will begin from 7:05pm.
Forsyth Barr Stadium is the venue for tonight’s first championship semi-final with the second semi-final between Hawke's Bay and Taranaki being played on Saturday in Napier at 4:35pm.
Otago are coming off the back of back-to-back losses to Southland and Tasman and will be looking to go one step further than last year where they lost to Hawke’s Bay in the semi finals.
Lock Josh Dickson, flanker Sam Fischli and No.8 Dylan Nel are changes to the pack that faced Tasman last week, while the backline is shuffled, with Josh Timu coming into centre, shifting Michael Collins to fullback and Vilimoni Koroi to the wing.
Umaga-Jensen will make his Otago debut off the bench, while Josh Hohneck will play his blazer game for the province.
Northland come into this semi final in good form with an impressive victory over Waikato last time out.
The last time these two sides played in the regular season, Otago came away comfortable winners 30-7 in Dunedin.
The only changes Northland make is Johnny Cooper slotting into first-five for Dan Hawkins, with Paddy Atkins replacing Tyler Kearns among the forwards reserves.
TAB: Otago $1.26 Northland $3.60
Otago: 1-Jamie Mackintosh, 2-Ricky Jackson, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Sam Fischli, 7-Slade McDowell, 8-Dylan Nel, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sio Tomkinson, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Vilimoni Koroi, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Henry Bell, 17-Sef Fa'agase, 18-Hisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Nasi Manu, 21-James Arscott, 22-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 23-Matt Whaanga
Northland: 1-Luatangi Li, 2-Jordan Olsen, 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Sam Caird, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Sam McNamara, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Johnny Cooper, 11-Jone Macilai, 12-Tamati Tua, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jordan Hyland, 15-Matt Wright
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Kalola Tuiloma, 19-Kane Jacobson, 20-Matt Matich, 21-Will Grant, 22-Wiseguy Fiane, 23-Scott Gregory
