Whitelock back for Final
There is one change to the Canterbury team to play Waikato in Friday’s NPC Final in Christchurch.
Flank George Whitelock comes back into the starting line-up for the first time since injuring a knee in the Round 10 match against Otago at Carisbrook on September 25.
Whitelock, who takes over the captaincy reins from Wyatt Crockett, replaces Ash Parker, who drops to the reserves bench.
Whitelock will play at blindside flank, with Matt Todd staying at openside.
Fellow loose forward Brendon O’Connor holds his place on the bench. Lock cover Rob Verbakel is not in the match-day 22.
Canterbury head coach Rob Penney is expecting a step up in intensity for this final showdown.
“We will be preparing for a tough battle – we know how good the Waikato forwards are and what they will bring. Having said that, we’ll have our home support behind us and all the players are looking forward to it,” he said.
Still unavailable due to injury are Corey Flynn (calf) and Adam Whitelock (concussion).
Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Sam Whitelock, Andy Ellis, Sonny Bill Williams and Dan Carter are on All Black duty.
Waikato beat Canterbury 26-6 in Hamilton in the final round robin game of the season.
Centre Robbie Fruean, who shone in Canterbury’s 57-41 semifinal victory over Wellington last weekend, is joint leading try scorer in the NPC (10 tries) with Bay of Plenty wing Lelia Masaga.
Canterbury’s rookie wing Telusa Veainu, who scored a double last weekend against Wellington, has scored eight tries in his debut season.
Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock (captain), 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Ash Parker, 19 Brendon O’Connor, 20 Takerei Norton, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sam Monaghan.
Date: Friday, November 5
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Jonathon White
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson, Kane McBride
TMO: Nick Briant
