Preview: Canterbury v Southland
Canterbury host the first Ranfurly Shield match of the 2011 ITM Cup against Southland in Saturday's opening clash in Christchurch.
Canterbury host the first Ranfurly Shield match of the 2011 ITM Cup against Southland – the same team they lost the Log o' Wood to last year before winning it back again.
The Stags will be gunning for revenge in this match following last August's Shield defeat at the hands of their South Island rivals in Invercargill.
Their cause won't be helped by the return of Crusaders George Whitelock, Matt Todd and Sean Maitland who are back in Canterbury's starting line-up for Saturday's clash in Christchurch.
Whitelock, who will captain the side, Todd and Maitland sat out last weekend's victory over Auckland at Eden Park.
Ash Parker, who started last weekend's match at blindside flanker, moves to lock, replacing Luke Katene who injured a shoulder in that match.
Whitelock replaces Parker on the blindside, with Todd coming in for Brendon O'Connor on the openside. Paea Fa'anunu replaces Joe Moody (thumb injury) at loosehead prop.
In the backs, Maitland starts at full-back ahead of Johnny McNicholl. Tom Taylor replaces All Black Colin Slade at ten.
Southland are coming off two losses in the space of five days. This has Canterbury coach Rob Penney on high alert over what his team may face at Rugby Park.
“They are going to be hurting. They haven't been playing bad rugby I thought, a little unlucky at times,” he said.
“But shield rugby will bring the best out in them. They have had a sniff of what it is like to hold it and see how much fun it can be, so I expect them to come out all guns blazing.”
Betting odds. Cantebury to win: 1/8; Southland to win 5/1; draw: 25/1
The teams:
Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Nasi Manu,7 Matt Todd,6 George Whitelock (c), 5 Luke Romano, 4 Ash Parker,3 Andrew Olorenshaw, 2 Paul Ngauamo, 1 Paea Fa'anunu.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Nepo Laulala, 18 Reuben Thorne, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Mark Swanepoel, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Johnny McNicholl, 23 Sam Cottam.
Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Glen Horton, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Matt Saunders, 11 Tim Cornforth, 10 James Wilson, 9 Scott Cowan, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge,1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Nick Barrett, 18 Ben Nally, 19 Kaleni Taituli, 20 Sonny Rangitohereri, 21 Scott Eade, 22 James Lew/Tony Koonwaiyou, 23 Michael Peterson.