Preview: Air NZ Cup, Part One

With less than a month to go in an Air NZ Cup notable for its parity, only defending champions Canterbury can start making plans for the semis.

With less than a month to go in an Air New Zealand Cup notable for its parity, only defending champions Canterbury can start making plans for the semi-finals. For the rest the dogfight now unfolds.

After yet another weekend where the pecking order was turned on its head and form book thrown out the window, the scenario at the top of the table is tight.

With still a possible fifteen competition points up for grabs, and just five points separating third through to eighth on the table, no-one outside Canterbury can rest too easily and everyone as far down as Taranaki looks to be still right in the play-off mix.

Hawkes Bay v Counties Manukau

Hawke's Bay will be out to – and should – continue their winning form in the Air New Zealand when they host Counties Manakau at McLean Park in Napier on Thursday.

The Magpies have now won their last four matches – taking bonus points from three – and looked set to secure a place in the semi-finals for the third year in a row.

Hawke's Bay showed a calm composure and champion status to beat Bay of Plenty 22-19 last week with left wing Zac Guilford's last-minute try getting them home.

The Steelers, after going down yet again last week – their third on the trot – at least gave Canterbury a run for their money before finally losing 17-28. Last week's result proved that there is always an element of danger for even the most highly-regarded opponent when facing Counties Manukau.

Hawke's Bay will be wary, but are currently riding the crest of a wave that shouldn't see them wipe out to the tournament basement dwellers anytime soon.

In team news, Magpies number nine Chris Eaton injured himself last week when trying to make a tackle but has recovered to take his place in the starting line-up. Jason Kupa also left the field early but is not so lucky as he is ruled out of a place in the side.

Counties-Manukau suffered a late blow a week ago when fly-half Tasesa Lavea pulled out not long before kick-off and he will miss this week as well. There are a couple of brackets in the Steelers side but the best news is that the forward pack, which did so well against Canterbury, can include prop Simon Lemalu for this match.

Hawke's Bay: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Mark Jackman, 13 Jason Shoemark (c), 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Chris Eaton, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 George Naoupu, 5 Ross Kennedy, 4 Michael Johnson, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Faka'anaua Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Josh Keys, 18 Matt Egan, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Dane Shelford, 21 Richard Buckman, 22 Nick Thompson.

Counties-Manukau: 15 Nanai-Williams/Ahsee Tuala, 14 David Raikuna,13 Siale Piutau (c), 12 Dean Cummins/Tim Nanai-Williams, 11 Sherwin Stowers, 10 Josh Hall, 9 Samisoni Fisilau/Notise Tauafao, 8 Waka Setetaia, 7 Mark Selwyn, 6 DJ Forbes, 5 Rees Logan, 4 Jamie Chipman, 3 Tuaefe Palelei,2 Matt Holloway, 1 Simon Lemalu.
Replacements: 16 Ilaisa Ma'asi, 17 Graham Dewes, 18 Alepini Olosoni, 19 Fritz Lee, 20 Tauafao/August Pulu, 21 Ahsee Tuala, 22 Jason Roache.

Canterbury v Manawatu

Canterbury will be doing some soul-searching this week ahead of their Air New Zealand Cup and Ranfurly Shield match against Manawatu at AMI Stadium on Friday.

The defending champs fumbled their way to a 28-17 win over bottom-placed Counties Manukau last week.

In a lacklustre display, they led by just 10-3 at half-time through a converted try by hooker Ti'i Paulo and a penalty from pivot Stephen Brett after Counties went ahead with a drop goal from scrum-half Samisoni Fisilau.

Some well-taken penalties by full-back Colin Slade and two tries by wing Sean Maitland in the second half saw Canterbury ease through for the win. It was Maitland's third double score in three matches.

Some good news though for the men in black – and not very good news for the men in green – is the return of Canterbury's All Blacks to the team.

Props Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks, lock Brad Thorn and blindside flanker Kieran Read will start for Canterbury, with flanker Richie McCaw and fly-half Dan Carter on the reserves bench. Lock Isaac Ross is unavailable due to illness.

It will be Franks' first game for Canterbury this season and the second match in red and black colours for Thorn and McCaw (who played in the successful Ranfurly Shield match against Wellington) and Read (who played against Waikato).

Carter has played four games for Canterbury – the first three against North Harbour, Auckland and Waikato, plus the Shield victory over Wellington.

In other changes to the team which beat Counties-Manukau, hooker Corey Flynn starts ahead of Ti'i Paulo and Tim Bateman replaces Casey Laulala at centre. On the wing, Tu Umaga-Marshall comes in for James Paterson and Andy Ellis starts ahead of Tyson Keats at halfback.

“It's great to have our All Blacks available for this match against Manawatu and also next week against Hawke's Bay. They're all quality individuals and offer so much both on and off the pitch,” said Canterbury coach Rob Penney.

“Many of them were involved in the Ranfurly Shield win over Wellington and they're all looking forward to now defending it against Manawatu.

“It will be the last opportunity for our supporters to see the Canterbury All Blacks play at AMI Stadium this year before they tour the United Kingdom so we hope to see a big crowd there.”

Canterbury: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 George Whitelock (c), 6 Kieran Read, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 James Broadhurst, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Tyson Keats, 21 Dan Carter, 22 Casey Laulala.

Manawatu: Tbc

Referee: Bryce Lawrence

Taranaki v Auckland

Auckland's face a pivotal Air New Zealand Cup clash with Taranaki at Yarrow Stadium on Friday.

Auckland's hot and cold season continued when they upended Southland at Eden Park, the win planting them firmly in the semi-finals mix with Taranaki, Counties Manukau and Waikato to come.

Two tries to scrum-half Taniela Moa and a brilliant solo try by replacement Peter Saili lit the match up while Auckland blindside flanker Jerome Kaino had an outstanding game with a number of powerful carries.

Taranaki left the controversy of the past week when five players were stood down for breaching the team's alcohol rules with an emphatic 38-10 win over Otago. Three tries in the third quarter propelled Taranaki away from the southerners.

It was Taranaki's first four-try bag of the season and only its second bonus point after nine rounds. More importantly, it kept Taranaki's faint semifinal hopes with the five points lifting the amber and blacks to 24 and in touch with the pack chasing Canterbury, Hawke