Canty keen to inflict more finals pain on Wellington

NZPA ©

Canterbury intend exploiting Wellington's miserable finals record in their Air NZ Cup rugby finale in Christchurch on Saturday night.

The two teams will clash in the final for the third time in the last six years and Wellington, despite having the home advantage in 2004 and last year, have yet to prevail.

But not only Canterbury have caused Wellington to fall at the last hurdle.

Wellington have qualified for five of the last six finals and lost the lot, with Auckland (twice) and Waikato having also consigned them to losing finalists status.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney sees Wellington's plight as something of a double-edged sword; the dismal record surely offers Wellington added incentive but it also possibly plays on the players' minds in a tight contest.

"Obviously, Wellington's lack of success in finals over the years will be a massive motivational factor for them so our challenge is immense," Penney said today after naming an unchanged team for the final.

"But I'd like to think that the fact they haven't been able to win at the business end of the competition might play on their minds.

"If they don't have success early in the game maybe that anxiety level will grow and that will cause internal pressure of its own.

"The only bit we can control is to try and prevent them from getting any advantage early."

Canterbury will field the same team who beat Hawke's Bay 20-3 in Christchurch last weekend.

However, All Blacks commitments mean only eight players remain from the starting 15 who lifted the Ranfurly Shield from Wellington in their round robin fixture in August.

Canterbury had use of its their All Blacks contingent on that occasion with the influential Richie McCaw and Dan Carter playing major roles in a 36-14 win after they led 26-0 at halftime.

Wellington, too, have stuck to the same combination who showed plenty of pluck to come from behind and beat new Ranfurly Shield holders Southland 34-21 in their semifinal last weekend.

Wellington coach Jamie Joseph, who has put some early heat into the final by suggesting that Canterbury got the benefit of 50-50 decisions by referees, said Wellington's defence had to be watertight if the finals jinx was to be broken.

"We've got to tackle. If we miss our tackles we will lose. The one-on-ones are vital."

Penney did not add fuel to the fire which Joseph threatened to inflame, saying his coaching counterpart might be a little premature in making those assumptions.

One Wellington player determined to end the hoodoo is first five-eighth Piri Weepu.

He has played in five finals since 2003 without collecting a winners' medallion.

As well, he missed a penalty kick that could have given Wellington a 9-7 win instead of a 6-7 loss last year.

The weather forecast is favourable for Saturday night and a firm surface will be welcomed by both teams as they prefer an expansive game, with Wellington having strikepower on the wings in All Black Hosea Gear and David Smith.

Canterbury, too, have never deviated from playing 15-man rugby this season even to their detriment at times.

Penney summed up it well when he said the last two teams standing were worthy finalists and he predicted the grand final will indeed be a "grand final".

Wellington: Apoua Stewart, David Smith, Alapati Leuia, Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Piri Weepu, Alby Mathewson, Mathew Luamanu, Serge Lilo, Victor Vito, Daniel Ramsay, Jacob Ellison (captain), Anthony Perenise, Ged Robinson, John Schwalger.

Reserves: Dane Coles, Arden David-Perrot, Mark Reddish, Scott Fuglistaller, Fa'atonu Fili, Robert Fruean, Daniel Kirkpatrick.

Canterbury: Colin Slade, Sean Maitland, Casey Laulala, Tim Bateman, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Stephen Brett, Tyson Keats, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock (captain), Michael Paterson, Isaac Ross, Samuel Whitelock, Peter Borlase, Ti'i Paulo, Andrew Olorenshaw.

Reserves: Steve Fualau, Rodney Ah You, Ash Parker, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Ryan Crotty, James Paterson.