Rugby: Best all-round team to come out on top

All the buzz may be about the World Cup but there is a domestic competition about to get under way. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the chances of the sides in the ITM Cup.

If the Highlanders victory showed anything - yes, take a minute to remember that great night, July 4, 2015 - it is that a complete all-round team, playing smart rugby, takes out the big show.

If anything, this is more true in the next tier down - the ITM Cup.

There are no major stars who can carry a team to a title. The stars are all playing for the All Blacks, are injured or have gone overseas.

The union which comes out on top is invariably the one which has the best all-round team.

Look at Manawatu, the winner of the Championship last season. You would struggle to name three players from the Turbos.

Same with Taranaki, which claimed the Premiership, the title in the top tier of the competition.

Plus in a competition which is over fairly rapidly, it is the team which can come together quickly and get on a roll which comes out on top.

Taranaki did that last year. After a slow start, the amber and blacks got it all together and then just could not be beaten.

Whether they can do that again is debatable.

Most of the artillery is back and they have a determined and rugged set of forwards.

Much will depend on the form of Charlie Ngatai. Big centre Seta Tamanivalu was top rate last year but never got a chance at Super rugby and his body should be in good nick.

Tasman was beaten in the final last year and has most of its players back from last year.

It will miss wingers James Lowe (injured) and Bryce Heem (Auckland) while Kade Poki is back from Japan.

Many of the players were part of the Highlanders success and whether they have run their race for the year because of that could decide how far the Tasman horse travels.

Canterbury and Auckland have been the most successful teams in the domestic competition and will be in the mix again.

Canterbury has the experience of the likes of Andy Ellis and Luke Whitelock to call on and former Highlander Cameron McIntyre is back after a long spell overseas and may offer something.

Auckland will want to give its fans something to cheer about after the dreadful Blues season. As usual it will have a hefty forward pack and some big backs. Players such as George Moala and Akira Ioane will offer plenty.

Tana Umaga will coach Counties-Manukau for a last time before moving to the Blues.

• The Steelers have lost some experience with Bundee Aki gone, some key forwards departed and other players on World Cup duty.

Much will depend on the likes of loose forward Jordan Taufau and the backs to get organised early.

Waikato struggled to be competitive last year and has brought in a new coach and co-captains.

The side has very few Chiefs in it and is green in some areas. It has plenty of players from New Zealand Colts sides from the past two years but whether that means anything remains to be seen.

Manawatu will want to hunt a few scalps but may struggle against the big boys. Injuries will be important and coach Jason O'Halloran is off to Scotland at the conclusion of the season.

Down in the Championship, Wellington will want to make it a one-year stay.

The Lions lost nine straight and suffered a horrendous injury run last year. Surely the side will not pick up as many injuries this season. It has great depth and will be hard to bowl. But if it gets away to a slow start doubts may come back into minds.

Hawkes Bay has It has lost the past couple of finals and will not want to do that again.

It has plenty of depth and the Ranfurly Shield to defend. Zac Guildford has returned and the likes of Tony Lamborn and Chris Eaton are good provincial players.

Northland probably overachieved last year in making the semifinals. Dan Pryor looks doubtful but there is plenty of pace on the wing in the form of various Fijians.

Southland relied very much on Lima Sopoaga last year and, if he is away, may struggle. John Hardie is a big loss and it will be interesting to see how much gas in left in the tank of No 8 Elliot Dixon.

Up north, the North Harbour side showed some signs of improvement and will want to continue on that upward curve.

Bay of Plenty was poor last year and after finishing bottom last season there is only one direction to go.

• A detailed analysis of Otago's chances will appear later in the week.

 


ITM Cup: team by team

 

TARANAKI

Last year: Premiership champion
Coach: Colin Copper (sixth year)
Key forward: No 8-lock Blade Thomson
Key back: Midfielder Charlie Ngatai
Prediction: Premiership semifinals

 

TASMAN

Last year: Premiership finalist
Coach: Kieran Keane (sixth year)
Key forward: Flanker Shane Christie
Key back: Halfback Jimmy Cowan
Prediction: Premiership final

 

CANTERBURY

Last year: Premiership semifinal
Coach: Scott Robertson (third year)
Key forward: Hooker Ben Funnell
Key back: First five-eighth Richie Mo'unga
Prediction: Premiership semifinals

 

AUCKLAND

Last year: Premiership semifinal
Coach: Paul Feeney (second year)
Key forward: Loose forward Akira Ioane
Key back: First five-eighth Simon Hickey
Prediction: Premiership champion

 

COUNTIES-MANUKAU

Last year: Fifth
Coach: Tana Umaga (fourth year)
Key forward: Lock Jimmy Tupou
Key back: Halfback Augustine Pulu
Prediction: Fifth

 

WAIKATO

Last year: Sixth
Coach: Sean Botherway (new, replaces Johnny Walters)
Key forward: Flanker Whetu Douglas
Key back: Utility back Damian McKenzie.
Prediction: Seventh, relegated to the Championship

 

MANAWATU

Last year: Won Championship
Coach: Jason O'Halloran (fourth year)
Key forward: Flanker Callum Gibbins
Key back: First five-eighth Otere Black
Prediction: Sixth

 

WELLINGTON

Last year: Seventh and relegated to Championship
Coach: Earl Va'a (new, replaces Chris Boyd)
Key forward: Flanker Ardia Savea
Key back: Midfielder Shaun Treeby
Prediction: Championship champion

 

HAWKES BAY

Last year: Championship final
Key forward: Lock Mark Abbott
Key back: First five-eighth Ihaia West
Prediction: Championsip finals

 

NORTHLAND

Last year: Championship semifinal
Coach: Richie Harris (new, replaces Derren Whitcombe)
Key forward: Hooker Matt Moulds
Key back: First five-eighth Dan Hawkins
Prediction: Championship semifinal

 

SOUTHLAND

Last year: Championship semifinal
Coach: Brad Mooar (second year)
Key forward: Prop Jamie Mackintosh
Key back: Halfback Scott Eade
Prediction: 12th

 

NORTH HARBOUR

Last year: 12th
Coach: Steve Jackson (second year)
Key forward: Hooker James Parsons
Key back: Halfback Bryn Hall
Prediction: 14th

 

OTAGO

Last year: 13th
Coach: Cory Brown (new, replaces Tony Brown)
Key forward: Flanker James Lentjes
Key back: Halfback Kaide Whiting
Prediction: Championship semifinal

 

BAY OF PLENTY

Last year: 14th
Coach: Clayton McMillan (new, replaces Kevin Schuler)
Key forward: Flanker Johan Bardoul
Key back: First five-eighth Dan Hollinshead
Prediction: 13th


 

 

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