Preview - Division One semi-finals

Gutsy Marshal back for Cantabs

It's down to the semi-finals of the Air New Zealand National Provincial Championships (NPC) and it's all set up with some mouth-watering battles. The table-topping Wellington Lions have home ground advantage against Waikato on Friday, while Canterbury host the 2004 season's surprise packet, Bay of Plenty, in Christchurch on Saturday.

The Cantabs secured a safe passage into the semi-finals with a convincing 68-19 victory over hapless Northland last week - a result which will allow them to keep the Ranfurly Shield till next year.

With all the talk of a Wellington versus Canterbury Final, BoP and the Mooloo Men will be keen to cause a couple of upsets.

Read all the Previews:

Friday October 15

Wellington v Waikato
Wellington, 19.35

Wellington Lions coach John Plumtree is down-playing his team's home ground advantage, ahead of Friday night's semi-final showdown against Waikato. "It's good for the fans, but you can't read too much into it," Plumtree said.

"We played them in Hamilton last year in the semi-finals and won," he added.

Plumtree admires the character of a Waikato side that came close to missing out on the play-offs.

"We've had an easier run, whereas Waikato have been playing sudden-death matches in each of the past two or three weeks," Plumtree said.

Wellington's biggest setback for the semi-final came in their 30-0 win over Southland last weekend, when key forward Jerry Collins was ordered off for a dangerous tackle on Paul Miller.

Collins faced a New Zealand Rugby Union judicial panel on Wednesday, leaving with a two match ban. The All Black loose forward has subsequently appealed the decision in a last ditch effort to play in the semi-finals.

Despite Collins' banning, Plumtree has optimistically picked him in the starting line-up - but will have to wait for the result of the appeal hearing on Friday.

Winger Lome Fa'atau and fly-half Riki Flutey are over their niggling injuries and have been included in the starting line-up.

Meanwhile, versatile Waikato back Richard Kahui will start on the wing. With two wingers injured last Saturday - a shoulder injury suffered by starting winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and replacement Solo Korovata's broken collar bone - Waikato coach John Mitchell has opted for Kahui to start on the wing alongside in-form speedster Sosene Anesi.

Kahui is the only change to the Waikato starting line-up which beat Taranaki 26-20 last week. The versatile back is no stranger to the wing position having played there for nearly half of the match against Taranaki last Saturday.

However, the replacements bench sees a number of changes.

Well-known Waikato winger Roger Randle earns a spot on the bench this Friday night to cover the wing position. Randle, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in the 2003 Super 12, last made an appearance for Waikato in the Air New Zealand NPC back in 2002.

Other players back from injury this week to take a place on the bench are All Black scrum-half Byron Kelleher and lock Dave Duley.

For the third consecutive week Waikato need a win to stay in alive in the 2004 Air New Zealand NPC.

Waikato coach John Mitchell said that his team had to "patch up some bodies" for another week of NPC rugby, but is fortunate to have another opportunity in the competition.

"We will be coming up against a side that is the best in the competition and the most physical. We look forward to this challenge."

Prediction: Wellington to ease into the Final with a 12 point victory over the Mooloo Men.

The Teams:

Wellington: 15 Shannon Paku, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Conrad Smith,  12 Tana Umaga, 11 Ma'a Nonu, 10 Riki Flutey,  9 Piri Weepu, 8 Rodney So'oialo (captain), 7 Ben Herring, 6 Jerry Collins/Kristian Ormsby, 5 Luke Andrews, 4 Ross Kennedy,   3 Neemia Tialata, Mahonri Schwalger, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Joe McDonnell.
Replacements: 16 Luke Mahoney, 17 Tim Fairbrother, 18 Kristian Ormsby/Thomas Waldrom, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Jimmy Gopperth, 21 Tamati Ellison, 22 Sireli Bobo.

Waikato: 15 Isaac Boss, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Keith Lowen, 12 Derek Maisey, 11 Richard Kahi, 10 David Hill, 9 Rhys Duggan, 8 Steven Bates, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Jono Gibbes (captain), 4 Sean Hohneck 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Scott Linklater, 1 David Briggs
Replacements: 16 Jamie McQueen, 17 Nathan White, 18 Dave Duley, 19 Josh Sole, 20 Byron Kelleher, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Roger Randle

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (Southland)

Saturday October 16

Canterbury v Bay of Plenty
Christchurch, 19.35

Canterbury, secure in the knowledge that the 'Log of Wood' will stay in Christchurch till next year, go into this match on the back of some impressive performances in recent weeks.

They have beaten Waikato and Auckland away from home and thumped Northland last week in a Shield defence at Jade Stadium.

"In the NPC, each weekend is a separate episode," said coach Aussie McLean. After an epic Shield win over Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui early in the Air New Zealand NPC, Canterbury need little reminder of the Steamers' ability.

"They have some good players and have used them well," McLean said. "We have a lot of respect for them and they've had results, not only at home but on the road against Auckland when they won the Shield and then last weekend in the semi-final against North Harbour."

At the same time it's hard not to regard Canterbury as favourites. They are playing at home and have a team stacked with All Blacks and experience of major matches - both at Super 12 and Air New Zealand NPC level.

McLean was able to give extensive game time to all his squad in last weekend's clash against Northland and took some of his key men such as Richie McCaw and Chris Jack off early.

All Black Justin Marshall returns at scrum-half this weekend after being out with injury. Lock Norman Maxwell, after a week's rest, is back. Canterbury has an exceptional record at home - they have not lost at Jade Stadium this season.

Bay of Plenty's achievements this season have led to Joe Schmidt being appointed assistant coach of the Blues for next year's Super 12.

However, coach Vern Cotter said the team's focus is on the task at hand.

Cotter admits that playing Canterbury at home will be tough, but adds that Bay of Plenty relish the challenge.

"Winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time was tremendous for us and making the Division One semi-finals is also a major achievement," Cotter added.

Bay of Plenty put in a relentless defensive effort against North Harbour last week. "It has left us a bit fatigued, but it was still good to get a match of that intensity," the coach said.

Experienced fullback Adrian Cashmore also suffered a back injury, but there is hope that he will recover in time for the play-off.

Hooker Aleki Lutui will not be back from his injury, while props Simms Davison and Taufa'ao Filise make timely returns to the squad.

Prediction: Canterbury will use their home ground advantage to win by 15 points or more.

The teams:

Canterbury: 15 Daniel Carter, 14 Scott Hamilton, 13 Casey Laulala, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Caleb Ralph, 10 Andrew Mehrtens, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Sam Broomhall, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Reuben Thorne, 5 Norm Maxwell, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Dave Hewett
Replacements: 16 Tone Kopelani, 17 Campbell Johnstone, 18 Brad Thorn, 19 Johnny Leo'o, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Marika Vunibaka, 22 Ben Blair

Bay of Plenty: 15 Adrian Cashmore/Apoua Stewart/Damon Kaui, 14 Apoua Stewart/Charles Baxter, 13 Rua Tipoki, 12 Grant McQuoid, 11 Anthony Tahana, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Charles Hubbard, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Nili Latu, 6 Wayne Ormond (captain), 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Mark Sorenson, 3 Ben Castle, 2 Ngarimu Simpkins, 1 Simms Davison
Replacements: 16 Simon Chisholm, 17 Taufa'ao Filise, 18 John Moore, 19 Paul Tupai, 20 Robert Moon, 21 Allan Bunting, 22 Charles Baxter/Damon Kaui

Referee: Steve Walsh (North Harbour)

Division Two Finals:
(Saturday, October 16)

Nelson Bays v Hawke's Bay
Nelson, 17.35

Nelson Bays will host the union's first Final in the division since 1999, when they beat BoP. "It's great to be not only in the Final, but also to be hosting it," said coach Wayne Love.

Crowds for most home matches this season have been around 3000, but for a Final they are hoping for a crowd at least double that.

This will be Hawke's Bay's fourth consecutive Air New Zealand NPC Division Two Final and they won the in 2001, 2002 and 2003. There is a difference to this year's Final, they are away from home for the first time in three years.

Coach Kieran Keane said: "Nelson Bays were the top dogs, they've taken over our mantle.

"It's always nice to be playing at home, but we can't be concerned about it. It's a Final and we wouldn't care if we played on Mars."

Division Three Final
(Saturday, October 16)
Poverty Bay v Wairarapa-Bush, Gisborne, 14.35