Canterbury sends early NPC warning
Canterbury flexed their considerable muscle to start the NPC with a bonus-point win against a brave but mismatched Manawatu¯ .
Fielding what was virtually a Super Rugby-strength side in Palmerston North last night, Canterbury’s powerful forward pack was completely dominant at set-piece time, delivering two first-half tries to hooker Brodie McAlister from rolling mauls.
Axed All Blacks winger George Bridge also picked up two tries in a one-sided contest that suggested that there are still very much two tiers in the NPC despite each side contesting for the same prize in this year’s revamped competition.
On this evidence, Canterbury are going to be serious title contenders with experienced Super Rugby players across their squad, complemented by former test players Owen Franks, Bridge and Willi Heinz.
They look particularly strong in the back row, where All Blacks contender Cullen Grace combined with Highlanders standout Billy Harmon and Crusaders tackling machine Tom Christie.
Grace was a standout for visitors with his athleticism and work rate, but mention must also be made of Manawatu¯ back-rowers Brayden Iose and TK Howden, who worked extremely hard in a well-beaten side. Grace was in the thick of the action from the opening seconds, when he crashed the ball up and was involved in a heavy head collision with Turbos prop Harrison Allan.
Somewhat surprisingly, referee Dan Waenga awarded a penalty only despite the upright nature of Allan’s tackle, and neither man was required to undertake an HIA.
Burke scored the first try of the NPC season in the 10th minute, brushing past some ordinary defence from Turbos winger Ed Fidow down the short side and running 50 metres to score.
It was a sign of things to come as Canterbury built a 29-3 lead by halftime and carried on with it in the second spell.
For the Turbos, consolation came from a fine tries by replacement hooker Leif Schwenke and fullback Drew Wild – and in the knowledge they won’t face Canterbury every week.