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Alapati Leuia sprints away - Source: Photosport -
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Canterbury (1) v Wellington (2), 7:35pm Saturday in Christchurch
Head-to-Head: Played: 162, Canterbury wins: 69, Wellington wins:
83, Draws: 10
Last Match: Canterbury beat Wellington 35-14 (Rd 5, 2009)
Last Season: Canterbury beat Wellington 7-6 in Christchurch
TAB: Canterbury $1.55, Wellington $2.35
The last Air NZ Cup final as we know it pits two familiar foes in a final for the fourth time this decade.
Wellington though travel to AMI with a rather large monkey on their back. The Lions, unbelievably, have qualified for six finals in the last seven years but not once lifted the silverware.
However, this year is perhaps their best chance ever to break the finals hoodoo. The Canterbury side that will take the field has only six of the side that beat Wellington 7-6 in last year's final.
However, as Hawke's Bay discovered last Friday night, Canterbury -minus their All Blacks stars - are as formidable as ever. It was the same old story from Rob Penny's side as they suffocated the stuffing out of the Magpies with high pressure defence and pounced with two opportunistic tries that only they could have mustered.
And they too have motivations to boot. Canterbury will not only become the first red and black side to successfully defend their title, but a win will also send midfield stalwart Casey Laulala off on an appropriate note.
To avoid this scenario Wellington need to counter Canterbury's offensive defence with discipline in ball retention, attack at set-pieces and, most importantly, by playing the territory game through Piri Weepu's boot.
It might go against everything the Lions stand for but the two times Canterbury have fallen this season, to North Harbour and Bay of Plenty, they have been out manoeuvred by smart, opposition five eights. One of them is now an All Black.
Key: Redemption for all their final failures
will have been a key motivation message in Wellington's build-up
but how they channel this energy will decide their fate.
Tip: Canterbury
Canterbury: Colin Slade, Sean Maitland, Casey Laulala,
Tim Bateman, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Stephen Brett, Tyson Keats, Nasi
Manu, George Whitelock (captain), Michael Paterson, Isaac Ross,
Samuel Whitelock, Peter Borlase, Ti'i Paulo, Andrew
Olorenshaw.
Reserves: Steve Fualau, Rodney Ah You, Ash Parker, Matt Todd,
Willi Heinz, Ryan Crotty, James Paterson.
Wellington: Apoua Stewart, David Smith, Alapati Leuia,
Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson, Mathew
Luamanu, Serge Lilo, Victor Vito, Daniel Ramsay, Jacob Ellison
(captain), Anthony Perenise, Ged Robinson, John Schwalger.
Reserves: Dane Coles, Arden David-Perrot, Mark Reddish, Scott
Fuglistaller, Fa'atonu Fili, Robert Fruean, Daniel Kirkpatrick.
