KEY POINTS:
Rob Penney might not be a subscriber to the saying that it's better to be lucky than good but the Canterbury coach certainly has cause to thank his good fortune.
While other provincial unions have been desperately trying to put square pegs into round first five-eighths holes -
think Auckland and Isaia Toeava or Wellington and Piri Weepu here - Penney has picked the next cab of the rank and come up with a Rolls-Royce.
With Dan Carter never likely to feature and Stephen Brett battling a persistent leg injury, Canterbury could have been expected to struggle to field a quality playmaker this season. Instead they have two to choose from, with Hamish Gard having filled the role capably enough as a stand-in at Super 14 level and Colin Slade - the union's fourth-ranked pivot - looking every inch a quality pro.
Having dismantled Tasman last week with a dazzling all-round display, Slade gets the nod to start against Hawkes Bay in tonight's second national championship semifinal.
"Last week was probably his best match in the jersey to date but there is plenty more to come from Sladey," Penney said. "He is a talent and he is getting better all the time."
That may be good news for a New Zealand rugby landscape bereft of quality playmakers, but for Canterbury's provincial rivals it is the equivalent of a two-finger salute to their chunterings about the overseas player exodus having drained the talent pool.
Canterbury may be blessed by their seemingly endless supply line of five-eighths but they certainly hadn't got lucky, Penney said.
"I think it has got to do with what is happening in our secondary school and development level rugby. We've got some good people doing some good work behind the scenes and it all culminates in the education and growth of the individual. And obviously we are blessed with quite a bit of natural talent in that position as well.
"People talk about all the All Blacks that Auckland have lost, well, you only have to go back a couple of years and look at the All Blacks we've lost and it would be comparable if not worse."
Slade will be a pivotal figure in a side that welcomes back Richie McCaw but Hawkes Bay go into the match toting their own supply of young guns. Fullback Israel Dagg, wing Zac Guildford and hooker Hikawira Elliot have been the standouts in a side that is determined not to bow out at the semifinal stage for the second year in succession.
"We have done a lot of good work up until now and we want to go one step further," coach Peter Russell said.
"If we can throw a lot at Canterbury and upset their pattern then I think the game is anyone's."
Canterbury have conceded more than 10 points just once in their past six games but Russell believes his team has the firepower to trouble them.
Canterbury v Hawkes Bay
Christchurch, 7.35 tonight
Canterbury:
Scott Hamilton
Paul Williams
Casey Laulala
Tim Bateman
James Paterson
Colin Slade
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read (c)
Richie McCaw
Hayden Hopgood
Isaac Ross
Michael Paterson
Greg Somerville
Corey Flynn
Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Steve Fualau, Owen Franks, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock, Tyson Keats, Hamish Gard, Adam Whitelock
Hawkes Bay:
Israel Dagg
Jason Kupa
Jason Shoemark
Sam Giddins
Zac Guildford
Matthew Berquist
Danny Lee
George Naoupu
Karl Lowe
Michael Johnson
Bryn Evans
Johan Snyman
Anthony Perenise
Hikawera Elliot
Sona Taumalolo
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Josh Keys, Matt Egan, Pama Petia, Chris Eaton, Aayden Clarke, Mark Jackman