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Preview: Air NZ Cup, Part Two

August 29 2008

Round Five sees the only two unbeaten sides in the Air New Zealand Cup go head to head in what will indisputably be the match of the weekend.

The New Zealand capital of Wellington will host the early-season joust for supremacy, as the Lions and Bay of Plenty battle it out in a bid to cling to their unbeaten status.

Elsewhere, Auckland will be keen to send their departing coach Pat Lam off on a winning note against Waikato - a team desperate to record their first win of 2008.

Manawatu will fancy their chances against North Harbour in Palmerston North on Saturday, then the Crusaders franchises go head to head on Sunday when Canterbury play Tasman in Christchurch.

Saturday, August 30

Wellington v Bay of Plenty

Bay of Plenty are approaching a series of potential speed bumps which will fully test their road worthiness for the remainder of the Air New Zealand Cup, starting with a tough trip to the capital to meet Wellington.

Steamers' coach Kevin Schuler and his side have quietly gone about their work in the past month to emerge as one of just two unbeaten sides after four rounds.

Wellington's surge to the top of the table with four bonus-point wins has attracted widespread admiration, but Bay of Plenty's progress has largely gone under the radar.

Wellington are the first of four Super 14 franchise base teams Bay of Plenty will confront in as many weeks, with Otago, Auckland then Canterbury their next assignments.

However it will be wise for the players not think that far ahead, with the threat posed by Wellington demanding the team's full attention this weekend in what has been billed the match of Round Five.

Wellington have looked both highly organised and confident, their 26-7 win over Southland in Invercargill last week was notable for the team's composure and patience after being forced to defend for long periods.

It took Wellington a long time to get on top before three late tries underlined their superiority.

They can score from anywhere on the park either through their pace or their power, have a lot of good players and they back themselves until the very end. But there's no denying that the Lions face their toughest assignment of the year against fellow unbeaten side, the Steamers.

Last season Bay of Plenty failed to shine in finishing thirteenth after posting just one win.

The turnaround has been remarkable considering administrative issues left the Bay of Plenty union facing a deficit of close to NZ$1 million.

Saturday's clash at Westpac Stadium will be a true gauge of where Bay of Plenty sit after earlier wins over Tasman, Counties Manukau, North Harbour and Northland.

Traditionally they are expected to at least be competitive against those teams, but the test will be against the Super 14 based sides such as Wellington.

Prediction: This should be a cracking match between the two unbeaten sides in the tournament. However, with home ground advantage and Wellington's ability to pick up bonus points whenever they take to the field, may see Bay of Plenty slowly but surely run out of steam. Wellington to win by ten points.

The teams:

Wellington: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Tane Tu'ipulotu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Piri Weepu (c), 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ged Robinson, 1 John Schwalger.

Replacements: 16 Eugene Smith, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Scott Fuglistaller, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Kaipati Gaualofa, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Buxton Popoalii.

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

Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Arden David-Perrot, 18 Luke Braid, 19 Josh Hall, 20 Kelly Haimona, 21Teu Nafe, 22 AN Other.

Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

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

Referee: Vinny Munro

Television match official: Garratt Williamson

Manawatu v North Harbour

The Turbos will be looking to win their first home game of the season when they host North Harbour at FMG Stadium on Saturday.

Manawatu came close to pleasing their home supporters in Round Three against Waikato, but had to settle for a come-from-behind 38-all draw.

Unfortunately for the men in green and white hoops, a win and a draw is all the side from Palmerston North could muster after four rounds. Their latest defeat to Auckland was a big step backwards from the side that opened the tournament with a shock win over Canterbury.

North Harbour have nothing to write home about either this season and were breathing a sigh of relief after finally getting their first win, a 15-10 victory over Waikato at North Harbour Stadium, of 2008 last week.

That's not to say Harbour have not come close, bonus points have been keeping them afloat at this stage by losing by seven points or less.

The win at home last weekend will no doubt get some momentum going, while having North Harbour's All Blacks available over this week and next will also be a huge boost.

And of course there's the mental advantage for the visitors in the fact that they have never lost a competitive match against Manawatu.

Prediction: The outcome of this match depends on whether the Turbos will be flat as they were against Auckland, or charged up like they were against Canterbury and Waikato. We're thinking the latter. Manawatu to win by the smallest of margins.

The teams:

Manawatu: Tbc

North Harbour: Tbc

Venue: FMG Stadium, Palmerston North

Kick-off: 17.30 (05.30 GMT)

Referee: Josh Noonan

Television match official: Mike Fraser

Waikato v Auckland

Things aren't getting any easier for a struggling Waikato team that is the now the only side without a win after four rounds in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Another painful, bumbling display saw North Harbour win the error-plagued battle 15-10 at North Harbour stadium last Sunday in what should have been Waikato's first win of the season.

It now seems that bonus points are the only thing holding the former champions afloat as they now sit three points behind eighth-equal Auckland and North Harbour, and one ahead of bottom-placed Taranaki and Counties Manukau.

Although there are clearly some serious problems with Waikato's game-play, it is the shocking breakdown statistics that stick out from the rest.

Waikato is now trailing the competition in the breakdown and has notched up just 87 turnovers won, compared to North Harbour who have the best stat on 134 turnovers won.

Waikato also has also lost possession at the breakdown more than any other side with the ball being stolen 119 times, compared to Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay who lead on just 86.

Perhaps the Mooloo forward pack is still finding its feet in the absence of legendary openside flanker Marty Holah who dominated the breakdown for years in the competition before heading to play overseas in 2007.

Waikato coach Tony Hanks said he and his fellow coaches and players were sick of going into a changing room at the end of a game feeling "gutted''.

"There's plenty of effort going in but again some turnovers have hurt us and we're battling for a bit of confidence right now,' he said.'

"I know the players were pretty frustrated about that last turnover, because they didn't think it was their error.''

A bigger effort will be needed against Auckland at Waikato Stadium if Waikato are to crack the quarter-finals this year.

A week after being walloped by Canterbury, Auckland were expected to take their frustrations out on Manawatu in a match which doubled as a Ranfurly Shield defence.

Auckland did retain the shield courtesy of a 25-3 victory but there was little in the performance to suggest they can retain the Cup crown won last season.

Their defence of the national title is hanging in the balance - two wins and two losses have them sitting eighth on the table, a far cry from their unbeaten run in 2007.

Even the return of some of their All Blacks failed to fire Auckland.

On Saturday, it will be Auckland coach Pat Lam's last game in charge of the blue and whites before he hands over the reins to Shane Howarth so he can concentrate on his Blues job.

It will be an emotional time for Lam after four-and-a-half years in charge, but he shouldn't let that over-rule what will be a crucial fixture in Hamilton.

Instead, it's a final chance for Lam to try and get things cranked up. It's been a season of struggles in the Air New Zealand Cup with so many young players being asked to fill some big boots.

Prediction: The Mooloo men always relish matches against Auckland and the blue and whites will be braced for an almighty backlash. However, Lam's final game in charge might just add some fuel to the Auckland boys who will no doubt want to send their coach out on a winning note. Also, we're getting tired of predicting a Waikato win, only to get it wrong week after week! Auckland to win by eight points.

The teams:

Waikato: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Tim Mikkelson, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Malcolm Barnes, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tom Harding, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Aled de Malmanche/Toby Smith, 2 Vern Kamo, 1 Hikairo Forbes.

Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Toby Smith/Josh Hohneck, 18 Kent Fife, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Josh Sutherland, 21 Dwayne Sweeney, 22 James Kamana.

Auckland: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Simon Munro, 13 Ben Atiga (c), 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Isaia Toeava, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Kurtis Haiu, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Chris Lowrey, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Nick White.

Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Paea Fa'anunu, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Jamie Helleur, 22 Winston Stanley.

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Kick-off: 19:35 (07:35 GMT)

Referee: Steve Walsh

Television match official: Ben Skeen

Sunday, August 31

Canterbury v Tasman

Playing against your near-neighbor is a bit like battling against your brother: you really don't enjoy playing against them but you sure as heck don't like losing to them either.

That's the dilemma facing the Canterbury and Tasman Air New Zealand Cup squads ahead of their match on Sunday at AMI Stadium.

Tasman were disappointing against Hawke's Bay last weekend and as a result they will have extra motivation to perform against the red and black jerseys. Expect a much better performance from the Todd Blackadder-coached side on Sunday.

Given that so many of their players will feel comfortable playing in Christchurch, they will not be seriously burdened by the 'playing away' tag.

Against them, Tasman will find a Canterbury side that has steadily improved as the season has progressed.

Two weeks ago against Auckland at home this youthful but energetic team showed their potential. They were fantastic that match, showing urgency and accuracy.

Against Taranaki they were not quite as impressive, although a 14-0 victory in New Plymouth is not easy to achieve regardless of the situation and in that sense Rob Penney and his side will be quietly building confidence.

Under their new captain, Kieran Read, they have shown a hunger and a passion for the challenge that is both inspiring and contagious.

Expect the Tasman scrum with Ben Franks and Ben May on board to test Canterbury's. Undoubtedly the visitors will also attempt to throw the ball wide and challenge Canterbury's defence.

There is plenty for both the sides and the individuals to aspire towards. While the obvious goal for both sides is to win (and pick up a bonus point if possible), there is so much more to play for.

Prediction: The Cantabs are chasing their fourth straight victory for the season, and will be anxious to keep their momentum heading in the right direction. Canterbury to win by twelve points or more.

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 (c), 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/Stephen Brett.

Tasman: Tbc

Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch,

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

Referee: Brent Murray

Television match official: Vinny Munro