NPC preview: Waikato v Canterbury

Canterbury are aiming to defend the NPC trophy and secure a fourth consecutive title when they take on Waikato in the Premiership Final in Hamilton on Saturday.

The game is a rematch of last year’s final, where Canterbury triumphed against Waikato 33-13 to win their third straight title.

This match, played last November, was the last rugby game to be played at the now earthquake damaged AMI Stadium.

Waikato coach Chris Gibbes insists he never lost faith that his team could make the domestic final through a hectic Premiership campaign.

Back-to-back losses to Taranaki and Bay of Plenty, and later a 54-20 dunking by second-tier front-runners Manawatu, didn’t jolt his belief that Waikato were good enough.

Last Saturday’s 26-19 bonus-point win over Auckland in Hamilton – the clincher coming deep into overtime – ensured not only a place in the Final, but hosting rights also.

Gibbes also maintains lessons have been learned from last year’s loss to Canterbury in the Final.

Their 27-13 win over Canterbury in Christchurch on August 10 won’t hurt their self-belief either.

“There’s a couple of things we can take out of that, but as an overall contest, she’s a different kettle of fish,” Gibbes said of the Final.

“We learned that the harsh way in that final, having beaten them in the round robin then going down there and not firing a shot.”

“This is the big one for us and what we have been working towards all season,” Mooloos coach Chris Gibbes said.

“We have done the work and prepared the best we can. It is time to play.

“We need the Waikato people to get in behind us and get to the Stadium to support us as it will an epic occasion and one we are proud to be able to play on our home ground.”

Changes to the Waikato starting line-up from last week’s Auckland game sees Sam Christie coming into starting line-up to cover the injured Save Tokula, with Jackson Willison moving to centre – while the forwards remain the same as last week.

In the reserves All Black Sitiveni Sivivatu returns to the Waikato side.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney is looking forward to the final.

“Its been a very unique year, Tabs [co-coach Tabai Matson] and I, together with the rest of our management team cannot speak highly enough of this young group of players and their achievement in reaching this year’s NPC final,” Penney said.

“The challenges have been many and varied as we all know.

“For this group to have to now travel to Hamilton and confront the tournament leaders and the form team Waikato on their home soil will be a daunting task.

“We will be giving it our best shot though and we will try to represent Canterbury with a performance that it deserves and demands.”

Canterbury coaches Rob Penney and Tabai Matson have only made two changes to the side that beat Otago 29-16 at the impressive new Forsyth Bar Stadium last Saturday.

Both changes are in the outside backs – with Telusa Veainu replacing Johnny McNicholl on the right wing and Sean Maitland replacing Tom Taylor at fullback after being rested for the Otago match due to a foot injury.

Paul Ngauamo will play his blazer game if he takes to the field on Saturday.

Teams:

Waikato: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Tim Mikkelson, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Alex Bradley, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Romana Graham, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Nathan White, 2 Marcel Cummings-Toone, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Vance Elliott, 17 Ben May, 18 Matt Vant Leven, 19 Zak Hohneck, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 22 Declan O’Donnell, 23 Ted Tauroa.

Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Tyler Bleyendaal, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock (captain), 5 Ash Parker, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Luke Katene, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Takerei Norton, 21 Tom Taylor, 22 Johnny McNicholl, 23 Andrew Olorenshaw.

Date: Saturday, September 3
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Garratt Williamson
Assistant referees: Nick Briant, Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri
TMO: Chris Morgan

Championship Final – Manawatu v Hawke’s Bay:

Teams:

Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Aseli Tikoirotuma, 13 Lewis Marshall, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Tomasi Cama, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 James Oliver, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Reece Robinson, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson Grant.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 Jared Brock, 18 Fraser Stone, 19 Callum Gibbins, 20 Isaac Thompson, 21 Casey Stone, 22 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 23 David Te Moana.

Hawke’s Bay: 15 Mark Jackman, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Tua Saseve, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Gillies Kaka, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Karl Lowe, 7 Adam Bradey, 6 Trent Boswell-Wakefield, 5 Bryn Evans (captain), 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Kas Lealamanua.
Replacements: 16 Danny Logan, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Maselino Paulino, 19 Hugh Reed, 20 Isaac Paewai, 21 Sinoti Sinoti, 22 Tino Nemani, 23 Jody Allen.

Date: Sunday, September 4
Venue: FMG Stadium, Palmerston North
Kick-off: 17.30 (05.30 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, Richard Kelly
TMO: David Walsh