-
Canterbury's Kieran Read - Source: Photosport -
Related
Taranaki v Auckland, 7:35pm in New Plymouth
Last Clash: Auckland beat Taranaki in Auckland (Rd 2, 2008)
TAB: Taranaki $1.95, Auckland $1.80
It's do-or-die for both Auckland and Taranaki in New Plymouth on Friday night.
Auckland is sitting seventh on the competition ladder, two points outside the top-four, and a loss will see them in the precarious position of almost certainly missing out on the play-offs for the second consecutive year.
The situation is even more desperate for Taranaki who at ninth on the table, four points adrift of fourth place Tasman, need to win all three remaining matches to stand a chance.
The Naki welcome back the boozing five but only number eight Jarred Hoeata can find his way into a starting line-up, and for good reason, because the amber and blacks turned on one of their better performance in dispatching Otago last weekend.
While their fans would have been delighted with their first four-try bonus point of the season it was in fact their defence that laid the platform for the emphatic win. Time and time again they repelled Otago's efforts and this attitude will be imperative if they are to taste success against Auckland.
Auckland on the other hand have kick-started their spluttering campaign back in the right direction with a resounding win over Southland. The return of Jerome Kanio and John Afoa was a much needed boost at Eden Park last weekend but it was the form of tearaway openside flanker Onosai'i Auva'a and powerhouse halfback Taniela Moa that was the most eye-catching.
Both players returned to starting duties with command and, with Joe Rokocoko back now as well, this Auckland side may just be hitting their straps at the right time.
Key: This is a tough match to call but it goes with saying that any contest in New Plymouth will be won upfront. If Auckland can gain parity here they may have a touch too much class for Taranaki at the backend.
Tip: Auckland
Taranaki: Tony Penn (captain), Laurence Corlett, Michael
Bent, Jason Eaton, Craig Clarke, John Willis, Ben Souness, Jarred
Hoeata, Brett Goodin, Willie Ripia, Shayne Austin, Jayden Hayward,
Paul Perez, Nathan Hohaia, Jack Cameron.
Reserves: James Hinchco, Carl Carmichael, Nemia Soqeta, Chris
Walker, Bayden Phillips, Ed Jenkins, Asalemo Malo.
Auckland: Tevita Mailau, Tom McCartney, John Afoa, Kurtis
Haiu, Andrew van der Heijden, Jerome Kaino, Onosai'i Auva'a, Chris
Lowrey, Taniela Moa, 10 Ash Moeke, Atieli Pakalani, Jamie Helleur,
Benson Stanley (captain), Joe Rokocoko, Paul Williams.
Reserves: Pat Leafa, Pauliasi Manu, Jay Williams, Peter Saili,
Auvasa Faleali'i Gareth Arlidge, Chay Raui.
Canterbury v Manawatu, 7.35pm in New Plymouth
Last clash: Manawatu beat Canterbury 25-24 in Christchurch (Rd 1, 2008)
TAB: Canterbury $1.05, Manawatu $8.50
The Turbos haven't held the log o' wood since 1978, and that's unlikely to change on Friday night.
Canterbury may not be setting the world on fire at the moment, but they come up against a Manawatu side that seems to resigned to its fate: a return to second-tier rugby next season. Their inability to muster a fight against neighbours Wellington last weekend was the latest in a series of poor performances.
Amongst the gloom, there are two scraps of encouragement for Manawatu. The first is that they beat Canterbury on the same ground last year, in probably the biggest upset in the four-year history of the Air New Zealand Cup. The second is that Northland showed Manawatu how to get under Canterbury's skin in their shield challenge a fortnight ago: by playing niggly, physical rugby.
Manawatu coach Dave Rennie has made four changes, with wing Aaron James replacing Andre Taylor, while Tomasi Cama switches to fullback. There's a new locking duo in James Goode and Reece Robinson, while David TeMoana gets a start in the front row.
Canterbury lose one former All Black in Casey Laulala and gain one in halfback Andy Ellis, while their forwards look far stronger with Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Corey Flynn and Wyatt Crockett all re-entering the fray.
Key: How much did Manawatu learn from Northland's near miss at AMI Stadium? With relegation likely, there'd be nothing sweeter than taking the shield down with them, but they are outnumbered across the park, and having three Aarons in the backline won't make communication any easier.
Tip: Canterbury, by a lot
Canterbury: Colin Slade, Sean Maitland, Tim Bateman, Ryan
Crotty, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Stephen Brett, Andy Ellis, Nasi Manu,
George Whitelock (captain), Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock,
Owen Franks, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Andrew Olorenshaw, James Broadhurst, Richie
McCaw, Tyson Keats, Dan Carter, Casey Laulala.
Manawatu: Tomasi Cama, Aaron James, Johnny Leota, Isaac
Thompson, Lote Raikabula, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Brent
Thompson, Doug Tietjens, Nick Crosswell (captain), James Goode,
Reece Robinson, David TeMoana, Rob Foreman, Grant Polson.
Reserves: Sean O'Connor, Ma'afu Fia, Lisiate Fa'aoso, Callum
Gibbins, Hamish Gosling, Tevita Taufui, Casey Stone.
