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Lachie Munro - Source: Photosport -
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Taranaki v Northland, 7:35pm in New Plymouth
Last Clash: Northland beat Taranaki 29-16 in
New Plymouth (Rd 2, 2009)
TAB: Taranaki $1.18, Northland $4.50
All due respect to the players and supporters of Taranaki and Northland, but could this season's NPC get underway to a less spectacular match-up?
Taranaki might have something to say about such a comment because it's been in recruitment overdrive during the off-season and will hold genuine ambitions of making the top-four playoffs.
The Taranaki backline oozes speed and finishing power with the back-three of Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor and David Smith close to the most dangerous in the NPC, while their halves pairing of Tyson Keats and Willie Ripia has plenty of Super rugby experience.
The 'Naki, as always, has a powerful, no-nonsense forward pack and on paper should own Northland in the set-pieces and at the collision area, although high-profile off-season recruit James Broadhurst has been bracketed with Leon Power at lock.
If Northland is to fancy their chances anywhere it will be in the midfield, where two-Test All Black Rene Ranger will be out to prove he still deserves to be in the Tri Nations mix.
The Taniwha are, not surprisingly, the underdogs for this fixture and the entire NPC competition.
But if they need inspiration, they need look no further than last season, where a 25-point haul by Lachie Munro helped them to an upset 29-16 victory.
Key: The Scrum. Northland's set-piece was exposed last season and if Taranaki can get an early upper hand here they will have the visitors back-pedalling in all areas for the remainder of the night.
Tip: Taranaki
Taranaki: Kurt Baker, Andre Taylor, George Pisi, Jayden Hayward, David Smith, Willie Ripia, Tyson Keats, Ben Souness, Chris Walker, Jarrad Hoeata, Craig Clarke (c), James Broadhurst (Leon Power), Michael Bent, Laurence Corlett, Shane Cleaver.
Reserves: Tutavaha Timo, Carmichael Carl, Barrett Kane, Vunisa Samuela, Goodin Brett, Tuifua Isaia, Barrett Beauden.
Northland: Jared Payne, Simon Munro, Rene Ranger, Aaron Bancroft, Lachie Munro, David Holwell, Luke Hamilton, Cameron Eyre, Sam Barker, Dean Budd, Mark Burman, Pat O'Connor, Bronson Murray, Mikaele Tuu'u, Matt Wallis,
Reserves: Tim Dow, Paea Fa'anunu, Roy Griffin, Cam Goodhue, Rhyan Caine, Iwi Hauraki, Bryce Heem.
