Rugby: Sonny Bill to get game time

Sonny Bill Williams has been named on the Canterbury bench for Friday's ITM Cup clash with Bay of Plenty. Photo / Simon Baker

The Sonny Bill Williams roadshow finally gets on the road in the sixth round of the national provincial championship when Canterbury host Bay of Plenty tonight.

Williams, sidelined by knee surgery and then a hamstring strain, gets his chance to show his wares in Christchurch.

But with Robbie Fruean and Ryan Crotty named to start at centre and second five-eighths respectively, fans will get only a fleeting look after the league convert was named on the bench by coach Rob Penney.

Defending champions Canterbury, fourth in the standings after a shaky start, should possess too much firepower for Bay of Plenty after including Tri-Nations All Blacks Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks and Corey Flynn in their forwards.

Northland are girding themselves to try to break the toughest defensive line this season when they host Southland, who have conceded just 80 points in five matches, tomorrow.

Northland last week gave Wellington a run for their money before going down 28-31 but a maturing game plan featuring straight running could see an upset over the unbeaten championship leaders.

"They'll be looking at how we have been playing the game, they think that's how we will play it but we will try and bring something new to the table to avoid being predictable," said Northland coach Bryce Woodward.

He will be looking to rugged All Black winger Rene Ranger to punch holes in the Southland defence, as he did to set up two tries against Wellington, and the wise old heads of first five-eighths David Holwell and skipper and centre Jared Payne to mastermind play.

"Jared is tactically one of the more astute players in my time coaching. He is a very clever footballer, a good athlete with a lot of knowledge of the game and a big part of our success."

Woodward, with an eye on the boot of Southland first five-eighths Robbie Robinson, who sank Tasman with seven penalties in a 21-16 win, said discipline would be a key to the game.

If Northland pull it off, Wellington, second, have a good chance to move to the top of the standings as they play cellar dwellers Manawatu in Palmerston North on the same day.

Tomorrow's other match sees North Harbour attempt to bounce back from last week's 39-29 loss to Bay of Plenty when Waikato visit.

In Sunday's matches, third-placed Taranaki play Auckland away with a chance to advance if Southland or Wellington stumble and Hawkes Bay eye their second win of the season when they play bottom placed Otago.

- NZPA