Canterbury: The most hated favourites 

Source: PhotosportRed and Black pride at AMI

Canterbury are favoured to defend their Air NZ Cup title against Wellington on Saturday night but does their success breed contempt, asks tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.

The Canterbury machine, winner of seven Super 14 titles and six provincial titles, has superseded Auckland as the most hated rugby province in New Zealand.

Auckland's infamous run of domination in the 1980s and 90s, which yielded 15 championships in 30 years and saw them hold the Ranfurly Shield for 61 successive defenses over eight years, was the driving force behind our beloved Tall Poppy Syndrome.

This culture of winning, while not completely responsible, was instrumental in a fourth of the country being dubbed everyone's favourite acronym, a JAFA, and was the social fabric that led to a young boy in Christchurch holding up a sign saying that they "hate Aucklanders."

But oh how the tables have turned because there is not a single soul outside of Christchurch that doesn't hope for a Wellington victory, come Saturday night.

Is this Tall Tall-poppy syndrome? You bet ya. Does success breed contempt? Absolutely.

But Canterbury captain George Whitelock puts his own political spin on this envy of success. 

Like how the Labour Party, who ruled for nine long years before inevitably being topped by John Key's National Party at the last election, Whitelock believes it's just part of the New Zealand psyche.

"Oh that's just the nature of New Zealand and the New Zealand public," Whitelock told tvnz.co.nz

"Everybody wants change.... now and again, but we'll definitely go out to win on Saturday and Wellington is really a top side and we're really going to have to go and play hard for the full 80 minutes."

He makes a good point and this Canterbury side is a different beast to the team that won the 2008 title. Only six players remain from their starting line-up that beat Wellington 7-6 in last year's final.

"Yeah, both teams are in the same boat with all the All Blacks away, Whitelock says.

I guess we're not fielding our strongest possible team, but it's the next best and it's a great credit to both sides that we've reached the final with so many All Blacks away."

So they're hurting from the Ranfurly Shield loss, they will be fired up and we're well aware of that. "

That Ranfurly Shield shellacking, a 36-14 victory to Canterbury in round five, was the red and blacks third straight win over Wellington since 2007 but perhaps the visitors biggest hurdle is their poor finals record: The Lions have made six finals in seven years without a single success.

A staggering statistic that Whitleock believes could play into his side's hands.

"You can't take anything for granted in this professional era, but I would like to think there is a little demon sticking in the back of their minds and if we can put pressure on them hopefully if will come back out."

And if the Capital demons do resurface, Canterbury's status as everyone's most hated favourites will be only further enhanced.