Preview: Canterbury v Taranaki
Sean Maitland makes a welcome return from an ankle injury to resume at fullback for Canterbury, while Corey Flynn should see some game time off the bench after being released by the All Blacks. Taranaki has lost George Pisi and Mahonri Schwalger to Samoa's World Cup squad.
Also Andre Taylor is out and the little terrier Tyson Keats is on the bench.
Overall I like the Canterbury line up and they are on a winning streak.
I hope Fruean and Maitland can regain their try scoring touches.
Playing at home helps, so I'm going with the bookies on this with a 10 pt margin to Canterbury which keeps their play off hopes alive.
TEAMS:
Canterbury: 1. Paea Fa'anunu, 2. Ben Funnell, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Ash Parker, 6. George Whitelock (capt), 7. Matt Todd, 8. Nasi Manu, 9. Willi Heinz, 10. Tyler Bleyendaal, 11. Patrick Osborne, 12. Ryan Crotty, 13. Robbie Fruean, 14. Johnny McNicholl, 15. Sean Maitland.
Reserves: 16. Corey Flynn, 17. Joe Moody, 18. Luke Katene or Joel Everson, 19. Brendon O'Connor, 20. Mark Swanepoel, 21. Tom Taylor, 22. Telusa Veainu or Rhys Llewellyn, 23. Andrew Olorenshaw.
Taranaki: 1. Carl Carmichael, 2. Laurence Corlett, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Jason Eaton, 5. Craig Clarke (capt), 6. Ben Souness, 7. Scott Waldrom, 8. Samuela Vunisa, 9. Brett Goodin, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Jackson Ormond, 12. Jayden Hayward, 13. Isaia Tuifua, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Kurt Baker.
Reserves: 16. Timo Tutavaha, 17. Shane Cleaver, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Chris Walker, 20. Tyson Keats, 21. Jack Cameron, 22. Frazer Climo, 23. Willie Ioane.
Preview: Auckland v Bay of Plenty
Auckland has made plenty of changes from Tuesday's match.
The changes go to the bench which is probably not a bad choice given their lacklustre performance vs Tasman.
Sean Horan (Bay) has a whole bunch of brackets in the team and on the bench. The only two confirmed changes are at tighthead prop, where Bronson Murray starts, lock (Leon Power moves up from the bench) and first-five where Chris Noakes gets the job.
If Bay of Plenty's season is not to vanish almost without trace a far more cohesive effort and, more importantly, a win of any description at Auckland is not just desirable but absolutely necessary.
Auckland need this win to give them a chance for play-offs.
I think at home Auckland may be motivated to not look like total pratts.
Both have good players on paper.
I think Auckland management would have learned alot from BOP defeat against Hawkes bay and will have a plan.
I'm going with Auckland by 8pts.
BTW. The BOP vs Hawkes bay game was probably the best game I have seen from ITM cup this season. It was hard, continuous running by both teams. HB were blessed to have Dagg and Guildford playing and they made all the difference.
TEAMS:
Auckland: 1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. Tom McCartney (capt), 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Liaki Moli, 5. Chris Lowrey, 6. Nathan Hughes, 7. Sean Polwart, 8. Peter Saili, 9. Alby Mathewson, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 11. George Moala, 12. Winston Stanley, 13. Hadleigh Parkes, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 15.Dave Thomas .
Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Angus Ta'avao, 18. Steve Luatua, 19. Sam Henwood, 20. Toby Morland, 21. Piers Francis, 22. Brent Ward, 23. Tevita Mailau.
Bay of Plenty: 1. Tristan Moran, 2. John Pareanga, 3. Bronson Murray, 4. Leon Power, 5. Culum Retallick or Luke Andrews, 6. Tanerau Latimer, 7. Luke Braid, 8. Colin Bourke (capt), 9. Jamie Nutbrown, 10. Chris Noakes, 11. Jason Hona or Ben W Smith, 12. Steve Kefu or Hona, 13. Phil Burleigh, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Toby Arnold.
Reserves: 16. Daniel Perrin, 17. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 18. Andrews or Leighton Price, 19. Sam Cane, 20. Josh Hall, 21. Daniel Waenga or Nick McCashin, 22. Smith or Lance MacDonald, 23. Josh Hohneck.
The rest of the day's games I'll offer an opinion later.
Link to BOP vs HB game
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