Several All Blacks will begin another break from the game on Saturday - and if Canterbury lose the opening national championship quarter-final to Wellington it will be a particularly lengthy absence for the national team's captain, Richie McCaw.
The sides named yesterday for what should be a cracking contest in
the capital tomorrow night include eight current All Blacks - Piri Weepu, Jerry Collins, Rodney So'oialo and Neemia Tialata for Wellington, and McCaw, Dan Carter, Aaron Mauger and Leon MacDonald for Canterbury, although MacDonald is bracketed with Paul Williams at fullback due to a light knee strain picked up in last weekend's thrilling win over Auckland.
All had a break from rugby after the Tri-Nations ended, but no one had a longer layoff than McCaw.
His last game was the final Tri-Nations test against South Africa at Rustenberg on September 3.
He was given an extended rest, and fair enough after taking a battering during the international programme.
If Canterbury lose their second game to Wellington in four weeks, his next match won't be until he leads the All Blacks out against England at Twickenham on November 6.
And if the All Black selectors opt to spread their resources between the first two internationals of the end-of-year tour, McCaw might not play until the first French test at Lyon on November 12.
In that scenario, it would mean one game in 10 weeks for McCaw. And if tomorrow night's match is anything like the last one McCaw played in Wellington wearing red and black it should be a stirring contest.
That appearance for the Crusaders in the Super 14 included him getting a throttling from Tialata and having a ball bounced off his head by a frustrated Collins.
Still, if the result tomorrow night is the same as that match last April, McCaw will again have the last laugh.
Both teams are without a first choice loose forward through injury, Reuben Thorne (broken thumb) and Chris Masoe (ankle) are yet to play since returning from the Tri-Nations in South Africa.
Canterbury's captain, hooker Corey Flynn, is out for the season with an ankle injury, so Tone Kopelani gets a rare chance, his 43rd appearance for the province since his debut in 2001.
Wellington got home 26-24, thanks to Ma'a Nonu's last-moment try in their top six match on September 17.
* Otago coach Steve Martin has scotched any idea they have got the easiest quarter-final opponent when they face North Harbour at Albany on Sunday.
That said, he's happy he's not taking his team to Waikato or Eden Park.
"I think they play a different style of game to the other teams," Martin said. "They are more opportunistic, so you need to be pretty secure in hanging on to your ball. But they do give you a chance if you have got your game plan right."
The teams met at Albany last month in the top-six stage, Harbour rattling on three tries in the second half to come from behind to win 28-18. This Otago team will be stronger, with three All Blacks, lock James Ryan, hooker Anton Oliver and prop Carl Hayman in the pack.
Losing four successive games hasn't helped Otago's preparation, but Martin reckons they have been better than that record suggests.
Otago are expected to name an unchanged side from that beaten 21-14 by Wellington last week.
Martin said it was the positives against Wellington that the team would focus on. "The pleasing thing was we got some of that attitude and desire back against Wellington. We played well for a lot of that game and we're going to carry that forward to this week."
Harbour's team is due to be named tomorrow.
* Wellington v Canterbury, Westpac Stadium, 7.35pm tomorrow
Wellington
Shannon Paku, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Tana Umaga (c), Cory Jane, Jimmy Gopperth, Piri Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Ben Herring, Jerry Collins, Luke Andrews, Ross Filipo, Neemia Tialata, M. Schwalger, Joe McDonnell
Reserves: Luke Mahoney, John Schwalger, Jeremy Thrush, Thomas Waldrom, Alby Mathewson, Miah Nikora, Lome Fa'atau.
Canterbury
MacDonald/Williams, Scott Hamilton, C. Laulala/C. Ralph, Aaron Mauger (c), C.Ralph/S. Yates, Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'I, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, C. Johnstone, Tone Kopelani, Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Ti'i Paulo, Ben Franks, Michael Paterson, Hayden Hopgood, Kevin Senio, Cameron McIntyre, Stephen Yates/Williams/Tim Bateman.
Several All Blacks will begin another break from the game on Saturday - and if Canterbury lose the opening national championship quarter-final to Wellington it will be a particularly lengthy absence for the national team's captain, Richie McCaw.
The sides named yesterday for what should be a cracking contest in
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.