Preview: 2010 ITM Cup

Goodbye Air New Zealand Cup, hello ITM Cup! Besides a new tournament sponsor, nothing else has changed as we head into another season of domestic rugby in New Zealand.

Goodbye Air New Zealand Cup, hello ITM Cup! Besides a new tournament sponsor, nothing else has changed as we head into another season of domestic rugby in New Zealand.

However, the added interest is that from next year the competition will be split into a first and second division where the big guns get separated from the under-achievers.

This means the finishing order of this year's tournament will be crucial as the top seven teams qualify for the Premiership and the bottom seven will play in the Championship.

Each team will then play all other teams in their division plus four teams from the other division and the winner of the Championship will earn promotion at the expense of the bottom-placed Premiership side.

This battle for a top-seven place in 2010 thus adds extra spice to the ITM Cup in what can be best described as the “competition within the competition”.

Planet Rugby takes an inside look at the fourteen teams set to battle it out over the next four months where a place in the top seven is now just as important as making the play-offs…

Auckland

Last time out: 5th. Even though New Zealand's most successful team in their domestic history (they've won the title 16 times) failed to crack the semis for the second year in a row since winning the trophy in 2007, Auckland did improve drastically from eleventh in 2008 to fifth last year. The Aucklanders didn't make game-breaking headlines, but showed they are on the right road to success.

This year: They may not have an abundance of current or former All Blacks to call on, but with the return of flanker Daniel Braid from Queensland, the recruitment of former Magpies pivot Mat Berquist and several of New Zealand's U20 players fresh from their Junior World Cup success – the talent is certainly there. Their pre-season was a mixed bag for the men in blue and white hoops. After suffering a 36-14 defeat to Waikato and drawing with Counties-Manukau 33-all, Auckland cruised to a convincing 27-3 win over Northland. Auckland now prepare to take on North Harbour in their first match of the 2010 ITM Cup at North Harbour Stadium.

Squad: Ben Atiga, Onosa'i Auva'a, Mat Berquist, Daniel Braid, Ash Dixon, Charlie Faumuina, Kurtis Haiu, Brenton Helleur, Jamie Helleur, Chris Lowrey, Tevita Mailau, Pauliasi Manu, Tom McCartney, Ash Moeke, Liaki Moli, Toby Morland, Atieli Pakalani, Charles Piutau, Sean Polwart, Chay Raui, Peter Saili, Winston Stanley, Dave Thomas, Andrew Van der Heijden, Brent Ward

Coach – Mark Anscombe

Bay of Plenty

Last time out: 7th. After making the perfect start and leading the tournament following five wins from six outings – including wins over competition heavyweights Wellington, Waikato and Canterbury – the Steamers went off the boil somewhat and had to settle for a mediocre mid-table finish.

This year: While it is early days in the Steamers' year, there are a multitude of positives to come from their pre-season matches where last year's mid-table finishers went unbeaten. Victories over Taranaki (27-24), Manawatu (35-10) and Hawke's Bay (44-34) will give BoP a lot of confidence. The Steamers tight five have continued on from last year taking few backwards steps, with the loose forwards always looking for work. A real feature has been the quick-fire attacking moves, when the Steamers have seized upon opposition mistakes to score tries. Seventeen tries in their pre-season games testify to Bay of Plenty's desire for victory. They have also recruited a number of newcomers including All Black wing Lelia Masaga, former Hurricanes lock Luke Andrews, Highlanders centre Brett Mather and former Auckland scrum-half Taniela Moa. It means the Steamers could field an entire starting line-up of players with Super Rugby experience.

Squad: James McGougan, Joe Savage, Josh Hohneck, Tristan Moran, Daniel Perrin, John Pareanga, Cullum Rettalick, John Moore, Luke Andrews, Colin Bourke (captain), Luke Braid, Sam Cane, Solomon King, Tanerau Latimer, Josh Hall, Dan Waenga, Mike Delany, Nick McCashin, Brett Mather, Cory Aporo, Grant McQuoid, Phil Burleigh, Ben Smith, Jason Hona, Lance MacDonald, Leilia Masaga, Toby Arnold.

Coach – Sean Horan

Canterbury

Last time out: 1st (champions). Canterbury made it back-to-back titles for the first time in their history of playing in the NPC/Air NZ Cup (their seventh overall), and did it without barely breaking sweat. Having finished top of the table, the Cantabs' only hiccups along the way were shock defeats to Bay of Plenty, North Harbour and Southland – losing the Ranfurly Shield in the process. However, they bounced back to see off Hawke's Bay in the semi-finals before beating Wellington 28-20 to lift the Air NZ Cup trophy at home.

This year: Canterbury won their opening pre-season game against Tasman in Blenheim 21-10 and lost 25-19 to Wellington, but there's nothing stopping the red and black machine making it a hat-trick of titles on the domestic scene this year. Along with Hawke's Bay and Wellington, Canterbury racked up the most tries (40) last year with Sean Maitland running in eight of them. Coach Rob Penney will want more of the same from his speedy winger, especially with seven All Blacks away on Tri-Nations duty – leaving the forwards rather exposed. It's in the backs though that the Christchurch bunch look really impressive with plenty of Super Rugby experience coming from the likes of Stephen Brett, Andy Ellis, Colin Slade, Adam Whitelock, Robbie Fruean, Ryan Crotty and Maitland. Phew! Oh, and all eyes will be on a former rugby league chap by the name of Sonny Bill Williams…

Squad: Rodney Ah You, Peter Borlase, Stephen Brett, Wyatt Crockett, Ryan Crotty, Andy Ellis, Robbie Fruean, Steve Fualau, Willi Heinz, Sean Maitland, Nasi Manu, Sam Monaghan, Paul Ngauamo, Brendon O'Connor, Andrew Olorenshaw, Patrick Osborne, Ash Parker, Luke Romano, Isaac Ross, Colin Slade, Matt Todd, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Telusa Veainu, Rob Verbakel, Adam Whitelock, Dan Carter, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Brad Thorn, George Whitelock (captain), Sam Whitelock, Sonny Bill Williams

Coach – Rob Penney

Counties-Manukau

Last time out: Last. Played thirteen, won two (against Northland and Taranaki) and lost the rest. The Steelers continued to be the whipping boys of the tournament. Enough said!

This year: Counties-Manukau is already seeing its investment in Tana Umaga as a player-coach paying dividends. Chiefs full-back Tim Nanai-Williams has re-signed with the Steelers because he wants to play with Umaga in the 2010 provincial competition, sponsors are coming out of the woodwork and membership sales are already up on last year. Whether that all translates into victories, however, remains to be seen.

Squad: Jamie Chipman, Dean Cummins, Graham Dewes, Jeremiah