Canterbury team to play Wellington in ITM Cup Final
Canterbury Head Coach Scott Robertson has made three changes to his team to play Wellington in the ITM Cup Premiership Final this Saturday night.
The forwards are the same as played against Auckland in the Semi-Final last weekend, other than a change in the reserves as Marcel Cummings-Toone has recovered from a heel injury to return to the team.
In the backs, Johnny McNicholl has moved to the left wing, making room for Tom Taylor to come in at fullback. Rob Thompson, who started on the wing last week, is named in the reserves.
Colin Slade has recovered from the knee injury he sustained last time Canterbury met Wellington, and will also take a place on the bench for the Final.
Canterbury will be defending its Premiership title and aiming to make it six in a row. Head Coach Scott Robertson said the team knows Wellington will be a challenge, but has the belief they can do it.
“Wellington have been outstanding this season so there is no doubt they will be a big challenge on Saturday. It was a tough and close encounter last time we played. Finals create a great test of a team’s character and we are looking forward to this challenge.
“Canterbury made history last year by becoming the first provincial team to win five titles in a row. That puts us in a position this year that no other team has ever been in – the chance to make it six out of six. We intend to fully honour that opportunity on Saturday night,” Robertson said.
The Final will be played at Westpac Stadium in Wellington and kick-off is at 7:35pm.
Canterbury team to play Wellington:
1
Loosehead Prop
MOODY
JOE
2
Hooker
FUNNELL
BEN
3
Tighthead Prop
LAULALA
NEPO
4
Left Lock
EVERSON
JOEL
5
Right Lock
KATENE
LUKE
6
Blindside Flanker
WHITELOCK
LUKE
7
Openside Flanker
WHITELOCK
GEORGE (C)
8
Number Eight
MANU
NASI
9
Halfback
ELLIS
ANDY
10
First Five
BLEYENDAAL
TYLER
11
Left Wing
MCNICHOLL
JOHNNY
12
Second Five
CROTTY
RYAN
13
Centre
WHITELOCK
ADAM
14
Right Wing
OSBORNE
PATRICK
15
Full Back
TAYLOR
TOM
REPLACEMENTS:
16
Hooker
CUMMINGS-TOONE
MARCEL
17
Prop
FA’ANUNU
PAEA
18
BIRD
DOMINIC
19
TAUFUA
JORDAN
20
HEINZ
WILLI
21
THOMPSON
ROB
22
SLADE
COLIN
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