Canterbury in the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup

Canterbury is one of fourteen teams taking part in the current Air New Zealand Cup. At the start of the season Canterbury had yet to win the top-flight New Zealand rugby competition since its change in format, though it had won the 2004 National Provincial Championship and had held the Ranfurly Shield last in 2007. This was the thirty-third consecutive year Canterbury is participating in the highest level of provincial rugby, having been at this level every year since the league system was instituted in 1976.

2008 Squad

The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup squad was announced at the conclusion of the pre-season. The 2008 squad included twelve players new to the Canterbury first team (indicated by an asterisk). The captaincy went to Kieran Read, taking over from previous captain Corey Flynn who, while in the squad came into the season uncertain of a strat due to injury while playing for the Crusaders.

Coach

Rob Penney

Forwards

Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks (on loan to Tasman), Owen Franks*, Corey Flynn, Ti'i Paulo, Steve Fualau, Campbell Johnstone, Peter Borlase*, Michael Paterson, Isaac Ross, James Broadhurst* (2007 Canterbury Colts and Canterbury B), Kieran Read (Captain), Nasi Manu, Hayden Hopgood, George Whitelock* (Otago), Mose Tuiali'i.

Backs

Tyson Keats, Steve Alfeld* (2007 Canterbury Colts and Canterbury B), Stephen Brett, Hamish Gard, Colin Slade* (2007 Canterbury Colts and New Zealand Universities), Tim Bateman, Phil Burleigh* (2007 Canterbury Colts and Canterbury B), Ryan Crotty*, Kosuke Endo* (Japan), Casey Laulala, Adam Whitelock* (2007 Canterbury Colts), James Paterson* (2007 Canterbury Colts), Sean Maitland, Scott Hamilton, Sam Whitelock*, Paul Williams (Vice Captain).

Unavailable players

The following Canterbury players were unavailable through the season due to All Blacks duty: Greg Somerville,Richie McCaw, Andrew Ellis, Dan Carter and Leon MacDonald.

Canterbury lost the services of the following players from the 2007 squad due to retirement or transfer: Johnny Leo'o to Japan, Aaron Mauger to Leicester Tigers (England), Caleb Ralph to Fukuoka Sanix Blues (Japan), Reuben Thorne to Yamaha Jubilo (Japan), Kevin O'Neill to Waikato and Kevin Senio to Castres Olympique (France) (Rico Gear who left to play for Worcester Warriors (England) was a loan player from Tasman). Campbell Johnstone left half way through the season.

Pre-season

evens

Canterbury took part in the provincial sevens tournament at Queenstown with team captained by Steven Yates. Day one saw Canterbury go undefeated with wins over the West Coast 42-0, Wellington 20-10 and North Harbour 27-5. Two losses on day two however saw Canterbury eliminated early on. They were defeated in a close game with southern rivals Otago 17-19 and then fell to perennial sevens stalwart Bay of Plenty 26-29.

Captain Steven Yates headed the try-scoring with five touchdowns while Nick McCashin top-scored with 32 points.

Canterbury 2008 sevens squad: Steven Yates (five tries), Ben Nowell (three tries), Mikaele Tuu'u, Julian Poff (one try), Wane Seru, Ryan Hooper, Nick Thomson (three tries), Jacob Stevens (four tries), Willy Heinz (two tries), Nick McCashin (two tries, eleven conversions), Lloyd Carter (two tries), Pisi Napolioni.

Warm-up matches

Canterbury's build-up consisted of three matches against Crusaders stablemate Tasman, Southland and Wellington. None of these games were afforded first-class status by Canterbury, although this does not preclude the fact that their opponants in these matches my have awarded provicial caps.

Tasman defeated Cantebury at the small North Canterbury township of Omihi 19-31. This game was played in four twenty minute quarters and featured few first choice players from the previous season. Canterbury then defeated Southland at Rugby Park Invercargill 24-14. The final pre-season game was a defeat to Wellington at Porirua Park 12-20. This game resulted in the unfortunate injury of back-line veteran Casey Laulala who suffered an arm fracture.

Regualar season

Highlights

* Ti'i Paulo played his blazer game (twelfth) for the province when he ran on against Auckland.
* The following players made their first class debuts for Canterbury during the 2008 season: Adam Whitelock, James Paterson, James Broadhurst, Sam Whitelock, Kosuke Endo, Colin Slade, Steve Alfeld, George Whitelock, Owen Franks, Paul Borlase.

Round 1

----rugbybox
date = 14:35 2008-08-02
home = Canterbury
score = 24–25
away = Manawatu
homescore = Tries: A Whitelock (2), Keats
Con: Gard (3)
Pen: Gard
awayscore = Tries: Taylor (2), M James
Con: M James, Cruden
Pen: Cruden
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 7,500
referee = Mark Stanish ----

Round 2

----rugbybox
date = 14:35 2008-08-09
home = Otago
score = 13–20
away = Canterbury
homescore = Tries: Morland
Con: Noakes
Pen: Noakes, Bowden
awayscore = Tries: Keats, Williams
Con: Slade (2)
Pen: Slade (2)
stadium = Carisbrook, Dunedin
attendance = 5,000
referee = Steve Walsh ----

Round 3

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-08-16
home = Canterbury
score = 34–3
away = Auckland
homescore = Tries: Williams, J Paterson, Hamilton, Crockett, Crotty, Fualau
Con: Slade (2)
Pen:
awayscore = Tries:
Con:
Pen: Munro
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 9,000
referee = Chris Pollock ----

Round 4

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-08-23
home = Taranaki
score = 0–14
away = Canterbury
homescore = Tries:
Con:
Pen:
awayscore = Tries: Williams
Con:
Pen: Slade (3)
stadium = Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
attendance = 6,400
referee = Jonathan White ----

Round 5

----rugbybox
date = 14:35 2008-08-31
home = Canterbury
score = 44–15
away = Tasman
homescore = Tries: J Paterson (2), M Paterson (2), Ross, A Whitelock, Crotty
Con: Slade (3)
Pen: Slade
awayscore = Tries: Malneek, Fotuali'i
Con: Nikora
Pen: Nikora
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 8,000
referee = Brent Murray ----

Round 6

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-09-06
home = North Harbour
score = 9–36
away = Canterbury
homescore = Tries: J Paterson (2), Wiliams, Ross, M Paterson
Con: Slade (4)
Pen: Slade
awayscore = Tries:
Con:
Pen: Gopperth (3)
stadium = North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
attendance = 3,900
referee = Garratt Williamson ----This was prop Campbell Johnstone's final game for the province and was given the honour of leading his team onto the feild. He earned 69 provicial caps for canterbury in a career that started in 2002 against Marlborough. Mr Johnstone finished with a combined 105 first class appearances for Canterbury and the Crusaders, and three test caps [ [http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/profile/campbell-johnstone/12/player-details.aspx|Canterbury player profile] ] . Steven Brett was selected for the run on side at first five, in what would have been his first game back at top class rugby since injury in the Super 14, but was stood down in favour of Colin Slade. This was the lowest attendence to watch a Canterbury side this season and coincidentally was North Harbour's highest home gate.

Round 7

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-09-12
home = Northland
score = 3–5
away = Canterbury
homescore = Tries:
Con:
Pen: Holwell
awayscore = Tries: Bateman
Con:
Pen:
stadium = Okara Park, Whangarei
attendance =
referee = ----Entering this match Northland had failed to win a match since the opening round victory over Waikato while Canterbury had byreflection kept a blemish free campaign since their opening round lost to Manawatu. Northland had not beaten Canterbury since 1999. The expectation was that Canterbury would have little trouble overcoming the Taniwha in what is thought to be their last first class meeting before Northland is demoted to the Heartland Cup [ [http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/news/match-preview-northland-vs-canterbury/41/news.aspx|Canterbury v Northland preview] ] . Against expectation Northland proved to be a stern opponent and matched Canterbury in their defensive prowess in a game that after the first twenty-three minutes was scoreless. The game marked the return of Andrew Ellis and Steven Brett, both coming back from injury.

Round 8

----rugbybox
date = 17:05 2008-09-18
home = Canterbury
score = 37–20
away = Bay of Plenty
homescore = Tries: Tuiali'i, Hamilton, Slade, G Whitelock, Bateman, Brett
Con: Brett 2
Pen: Brett
awayscore = Tries: Aporo, King
Con: Delany 2
Pen: Delany 2
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 9,500
referee = Bryce Lawrence ----Canterbury ran out convincing winners over a Bay of Plenty team that had shared the top of the table with Wellington three weeks before. After Canterbury's near miss against Northland the previous week Bay of Plenty went to Christchurch believing a win was within their grasp. For both teams home quarter-finals were still very much on the line, but Canterbury took their eighth consecutive victory against the Steamers. Brett, who had returned to the team the previous week, this week took over the goal kicking duties from new-comer Colin Slade. He returned a mixed bag missing four of seven shots.

Round 9

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-09-27
home = Canterbury
score = 31–7
away = Hawkes Bay
homescore = Tries: Ellis 2, G Whitelock, Bateman
Con: Brett 3, Slade
DG: Brett
awayscore = Tries: Guildford
Con: Giddens
Pen:
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance = 10,065
referee = Jonathan White ----Corey Flynn played his first game in Canterbury colours this year when he was subbed on for Ti'i Paulo late in the game, he had been convalesing since breaking his arm playing for the Crusaders against the Hurricanes in the Super 14 semi-final earlier in the year. Hawke's Bay were chasing a home quarterfinal spot going into this game and went ahead early, that would prove to be the last time they would trouble the scorers. Canterbury scored 31 unanswered points, based around an inpregnable defensive effort after their early lapse. Stephen Brett showed a return to form with the boot kicking all his conversions and landing a rare drop goal. Canterbury secured a bonus point on the full time hooter and ensured that they would finish second on the table to Wellington regardless of the results in round 10.

Round 10

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-10-03
home = Southland
score = 6–25
away = Canterbury
homescore = Tries:
Con:
Pen: Robinson, Stewart
awayscore = Tries: J Paterson, KeatsCon: Slade 2
Pen: Slade 2
stadium = Rugby Park, Invercargill
attendance = 9,000
referee = Josh Noonan ----Southland's final home game of the season saw them still chasing a possible top four place, while Canterbury were destined to take second regardless of the result. However Canterbury's rock solid defence (the best in the competition after ten weeks) kept the Stags out of the game from the start. Even the 13-0 half time score looked like a match winner. Slade regained his starting place as first five and kicking duties due to Steven Brett's recurring leg injury. Casey Laulala made his first apperance of the season following breaking his arm agaist Wellington. Mose Tuiali'i however saw his Canterbury career end on a low note by being knocked out cold in a freak lineout clash with team-mate Issac Ross - ironically Tuiali'i had been benched for most of the game in order to save one of the team's stars of the season for the play-offs.

Play-offs

Quarter-final

----rugbybox
date = 19:35 2008-10-10
home = Canterbury
score = 48–10
away = Tasman
homescore = Tries: Williams (2), J Paterson, Slade, Read, Laulala, Hamilton
Con: Slade (4), Gard
Pen: Slade
awayscore = Tries: Pelenise
Con: Nikora
Pen: Nikora
stadium = AMI Stadium, Christchurch
attendance =
referee = ----

Player Statistics

Points Scorers

"Current to the end of quarter-final"

Try Scorers

"Current to the quarter-final"

ee also

2008 Air New Zealand Cup

External Links

[http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/ Official website]