Waikato won the Ranfurly Shield, beating Taranaki by 46-10 in New Plymouth on Wednesday night.
Waikato led 27-3 at half-time, with three tries in the first 20 minutes.
Sevens star Tim Mikkelson scored three of their seven tries.
Waikato will face only one Shield defence, by Hawke's Bay, the bottom team in the premiership, in Hamilton next week.
