News

Preview: Air NZ Cup, Part Two

August 15 2008

It's Round Three of the Air New Zealand Cup and the tournament throws up a domestic highlight with heavyweights Auckland and Canterbury meeting in Christchurch on Saturday.

Both have been tripped up already, Auckland by Counties Manukau and Canterbury by Manawatu, before recovering to post victories over Taranaki and Otago respectively last weekend.

The game will mark the 100th appearance at national provincial level of Auckland prop Nick White, whose team showed improvement but largely failed to flatter in retaining the Ranfurly Shield against Taranaki 22-6 last weekend.

Other fixtures see Hawke's Bay hosting Southland and North Harbour taking on Bay of Plenty at Mount Maunganui on Saturday and Tasman at home against Taranaki on Sunday.

Bay of Plenty v North Harbour

Bay of Plenty has been the surprise packet of the season and many people, have been guilty of under-estimating the Steamers.

Under Kevin Schuler the team is playing accurate, winning rugby and must be in with a serious play-off chance.

Bay of Plenty has carried good pre-season form into the competition proper and has claimed two wins - one narrowly in the Blenheim mud and the other by more than 40 points over the Steelers.

The Steamers are yet to give up a point after half-time and their defence has been exemplary, while their eight tries are equal top with Wellington.

The only serious worry is the goal-kicking which, at below 40 per cent, is the worst in the competition.

North Harbour has battled hard in their two matches to date but can only show two consolation points for a lot of effort.

Harbour should be doing better: they have the best line-out, the best turnover ratio, they give up fewest penalties and have the best goal-kicker in Jimmy Gopperth, but defensive lapses tend to be bad ones that let in tries.

Prediction: North Harbour have come close, but failed on both occasions. We feel that their winless campaign will finally come right with victory over the Steamers. North Harbour to win by two points.

The teams:

Bay of Plenty: 15 Zar Lawrence, 14 Lance MacDonald, 13 Cory Aporo, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer (c), 6 Solomon King, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 James McGougan, 2 Dean Elmiger, 1 Joe Savage.

Replacements: 16 Ray Brown, 17 Arden David-Perrot, 18 Aidan Kuka, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Kelly Haimona, 21 Paula Asaeli, 22 Teu Nafe.

North Harbour: 15 Hayden Abercrombie, 14 Viliame Waqaseduadua, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Josh York, 10 Jimmy Gopperth (c), 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Viliame Maafu, 7 Robbie Colhoun, 6 Tom Chamberlain, 5 Martin Purdy, 4 Chris Smith, 3 Michael Reid , 2 James Hinchco, 1 James Afoa.

Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Biddles, 18 Richard Mayhew, 19 Malakai Ravulo, 20 Matt France, 21 Jon Elrick, 22 Jerome Smith.

Venue: Bay Park Stadium, Mount Maunganui

Kick-off: 14:35 (02:35 GMT)

Referee: Keith Brown

TMO: Ben Skeen

Hawke's Bay v Southland

Southland takes on Hawke's Bay at McLean Park on Saturday in what promises to be a real war of attrition up front.

The outcome of this game will depend a lot on how the Hawke's Bay pack fares against a very well respected Stags eight.

And with Jamie Mackinstosh set to make an appearance in the Stags front row for the first time this season, Southland fans will be extra confident after hearing the news they have been lusting after for some time.

The 23-year-old has been sidelined from rugby since the start of May because of a toe injury, but he is about to end his rehab.

The 2008 Highlanders player of the year made an appearance for his club Woodlands in the Southland club final two weeks ago but it was for just 30 minutes as a loose forward because of limitations on his scrummaging.

Mackintosh got through a scrum session with the Stags in good shape on Tuesday and has proved himself fit enough to assume the Southland captaincy for the first time in an Air New Zealand Cup fixture.

While Fai Mika has been encouraging at loosehead prop in the first two rounds of the competition, Mackintosh's presence is going to be a massive boost for Southland heading into the Napier showdown.

Hawke's Bay has boosted its own front row stocks in anticipation of the big Stags prop re-entering the provincial scene.

With regular starting tighthead prop Tom Simpson sidelined with a neck problem Hawke's Bay has gone to its Super 14 franchise partner Wellington for back-up.

Wellington has agreed to lend Hurricanes prop Anthony Perenise to the union and he will square off against Mackintosh.

The more ball the Hawke's Bay boys in the single-digit numbers can drum up, the more often their young strike weapons such as Zac Guildford and Israel Dagg.can get themselves into the game.

Hawke's Bay returned to form with a vengeance last week after the insipid first-round showing, picking up six tries on the way to a good win over Northland. Although they gave up five, the Magpies looked vastly better than at Wellington.

Southland did it on the bit against Manawatu, controlling most of the match through he forwards and taking a couple of chances to put the game away well before the end.

After an impressive year in 2007, where they finished fourth after being beaten in the semi-final against Auckland, this season the Magpies find themselves in a logjam in the middle of the table after just two games.

Hawke's Bay and Southland have played several memorable matches down the years and Saturday's clash could well be another as both teams try and break into the top half of the table.

Their clash with Southland on the weekend should have a bit of added spice after what the Bay did to Southland in Invercargill last year - a 41-13 hiding in Round One.

Prediction: This match shapes as a battle between two tough forward packs and whoever gains the ascendancy up front will no doubt take the vital competition points. Hawke's Bay to win by five points.

The teams:

Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Jason Kupa, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Daniel Waenga, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Danny Lee (c), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Michael Johnson, 5 Bryn Evans, 4 Matt Egan, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Josh Keys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Sam Giddens, 22 Mark Jackman.

Southland: 15 Mark Wells, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Kawau, 11 Pehi Te Whare, 10 Blair Stewart, 9 Scott Cowan, 8 Hua Tamariki, 7 Tim Boys, 6 Dion Bates, 5 Hoani Macdonald, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).

Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Fai Mika, 18 Daniel Ramsay, 19 John Hardie, 20 Dane Shelford, 21 Willie Rickards, 22 Robbie Robinson.

Venue: McLean Park, Napier

Kick-off: 17:30 (05:30 GMT)

Referee: Steve Walsh

TMO: Glenn Newman

Canterbury v Auckland

One hundred and thirty three years of rivalry between these two great provinces cranks up again on Saturday at AMI Stadium.

You can imagine the real sense of expectation the Auckland players had when they came off the boat in Christchurch in 1875 to play the first match between the provinces.

Sure, Auckland were playing a Christchurch side and not the Canterbury provincial side, yet the feeling of expectation would have been as great as the Auckland players will this week feel coming to Christchurch.

Back then rugby was not the professional enterprise that it is these days, although back then literally a quarter of the town stopped work on the afternoon in question to watch the match at Cramner Square.

Christchurch won that match by the romantic scoreline of nine and a half to nil, although the score appeared secondary to the way that the sides played the game.

In that sense the game has not changed. While the intensity between these two great provinces is as strong as it ever has been, the essential notions of fair play and sportsmanship are as important today as they were in 1875.

While the 1875 match between the provinces can now be viewed as being romantic, it was perhaps not as important as the 2008 clash between the unions.

It was business as usual last weekend as both Canterbury and Auckland had wins in the Air New Zealand Cups after losing their matches in the first round.

Canterbury was still not as accurate as they would have liked against Otago, although a win on the road is still important and they were more convincing than what the 20-13 final scoreline suggested.

Auckland on the other hand was also reasonably convincing, pulling through in the second half to score a comfortable 22-6 win over the always gutsy Taranaki.

While the results for both unions have been somewhat up and down this season so far, there is a bigger picture here. That picture is of a group of young players coming through in this competition, players who will hopefully make a real mark in the sport in the years to come.

From a Canterbury perspective that means providing a platform for young players like George and Adam Whitelock to show their talents.

In Auckland's case that means allowing young talent like fly-half Lachie Munro and hooker Tom McCarthy to get regular gametime and show fans that the future of New Zealand is in good heart.

While some of the public may still lament the fact that the All Blacks don't play regularly in the Air New Zealand Cup, what their collective absences means is opportunity for young players to make a name for themselves.

That is the exciting thing about Saturday's match. It is a real opportunity for young players from both sides to show that they are up to playing at this level.

The Canterbury side will be primed for this match. Auckland always brings out the best of any player wearing red and black and this Saturday will be no different.

Expect Canterbury to continue to improve their accuracy, while at the same time developing their set-piece. Against Otago last weekend their line-out (both on their own and opposition throws) was particularly impressive and in this facet of the game Michael Paterson will be important.

The Canterbury scrum was also sound against Otago, although Auckland will be another step-up. The real challenge for the home side will be on the ground. In this facet of the game Auckland's Daniel Braid is one of the best in the country. His battle with Hayden Hopgood promises plenty and will be a very good test for the flanker.

If Canterbury can continue to improve their set-piece, work hard on their accuracy and rely on their kicking game to put pressure on the visitors then they should do well.

Auckland however has shown plenty of initiative on attack this season and if they are given any room on Saturday night they will punish the red and blacks.

While it is impossible to pick a clear winner, what is not in doubt is that both teams will give it their all. To do anything else would let down 133 years of competition between the two provinces. And like the players in 1875, neither team in 2008 will want to leave the field knowing that they could have done more to secure victory.

Prediction: Picking winners of Canterbury v Auckland matches is nearly always impossible. Both sides will want the win equally as badly. They will know that a win against the other will be one of the clearest indicators of a successful season. It may all come down to which team is most accurate. Canterbury to win by six points.

The teams:

Canterbury: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Adam Whitelock, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 James Paterson, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Mose Tuiali'i, 7 Hayden Hopgood, 6 Kieran Read (captain), 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Michael Paterson, 3 Campbell Johnstone, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Steve Fualau, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Nasi Manu, 19 George Whitelock, 20 Steve Alfeld, 21 Ryan Crotty, 22 Kosuke Endo.

Auckland: 15 Jamie Helleur, 14 Jarek Goebel, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 David Smith, 10 Lachie Munro, 9 Brenton Helleur, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Kurtis Haiu, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Stanley Haukinima, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Paea Fa'anunu.

Replacements: 16 Pauliasi Manu, 17 Nick White, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart/Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Ash Moeke, 22 Mapa Tuipulotu.

Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)

Referee: Chris Pollock

TMO: Josh Noonan

Sunday, August 17

Tasman v Taranaki

A week is a long time in sport - just ask Tasman.

Last Friday night, they were wildly celebrating Miah Nikora's late 38-metre drop goal which earned the team a 16-14 win over Waikato in Hamilton.

Three days later that euphoria died when the New Zealand Rugby Union announced Tasman, along with Northland, was to be axed from the Air New Zealand Cup.

The news was delivered to the Tasman players by Todd Blackadder after training on Monday, the coach confirming the NZRU had kicked the province out of the competition.

The revelation would have been no great shock, with speculation rife that Tasman was on its way out.

The majority of them will be scratching around for work in three months' time, but Blackadder will be urging his troops to fix their minds on the season ahead.

On Sunday Tasman meets Taranaki in Nelson and Blackadder will be aware many of his players will still be dark about the NZRU pulling the rug from under them.

It's a match Taranaki must win if they are to realistically hold hopes of a quarter-final spot later in the season.

A loss to Tasman will make things very difficult and it will be difficult to drum up a crowd for the home game against Canterbury on Saturday, August 23.

Taranaki coach Adrian Kennedy has made four changes to the team that disappointed in the Ranfurly Shield challenge last weekend.

While one is because of injury, the other three changes from the side that lost 22-6 to Auckland are for one of the most hated words in New Zealand rugby - rotation.

Three of the changes Kennedy has made to his starting line-up for the crucial Air New Zealand Cup match against Tasman in Nelson on Sunday are in the forwards, with the other at inside centre.

"Obviously, we're disappointed after our performance against Auckland and the players are hurting," Kennedy said.

"We're just looking for a bit more energy. We're looking for fresher guys and looking at rotation.

"There's healthy competition in the side and it's about giving players opportunities."

Out with a thigh injury for the Tasman match is hooker Laurence Corlett, with James Annabell promoted from the bench.

Relegated to the bench are prop Hamish Mitchell and centre Corey Niwa, with English lock Tom Ryder dropping out of the matchday 22.

Shane Cleaver is promoted from the bench to take over at tighthead prop, with Welshman Jonathan Spratt joining Nathan Hohaia in the midfield.

Jason Eaton, who started on the blindside flank for the shield game, switches back to lock with Alex Tulou moving from the bench to take over the number six jersey.

Tulou's place on the bench goes to Leon Power.

The other new face on the bench is prop Carl Carmichael, who will cover hooker.

"Shane has been training well. We're keen to see how he can compete at this level," Kennedy said.

"Alex will inject a lot of pace into the back row and work in tandem with Scott Waldrom, while Leon played well for the B team against Wanganui last weekend."

Kennedy said Spratt's strong performance when he came on in the second half against Auckland earned him promotion.

"He showed a lot of energy and he's been training very well."

The teams:

Tasman: Tbc

Taranaki: Asalemo Malo, Paul Perez, Nathan Hohaia, Jonathan Spratt, Shayne Austin, Willie Ripia, Brett Goodin, Taiasina Tuifua, Scott Waldrom, Alex Tulou, Craig Clarke, Jason Eaton, Shane Cleaver, James Annabell, Tony Penn (c).

Replacements: Carl Carmichael, Hamish Mitchell, Leon Power, Nemia Soqeta, Brendan Haami, Corey Niwa, Jack Cameron.

Venue: Trafalgar Park, Nelson

Kick-off: 14:35 (02:35 GMT)

Referee: Garratt Williamson

TMO: Kane McBride