Canterbury: Johnny McNicholl, Nathan Earle, Jack Goodhue, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Ben Volavola, Alby Mathewson, Luke Whitelock (captain), Jed Brown, Reed Prinsep, David McDuling, Scott Barrett, Siate Tokolahi, Nathan Vella, Daniel Lienert-Brown
Reserves: Ben Funnell, Alex Hodgman, Oli Jager, Dominic Bird, Billy Harmon, Jack Stratton, Richie Mo'unga, Inga Finau.

Taranaki: Stephen Perofeta, Declan O'Donnell, Seta Tamanivalu, Sean Wainui, Latu Vaeno, Marty McKenzie, Kylem O'Donnell, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Berny Hall (c), Mitchell Brown, Leighton Price, Ben Matwijow, Ryan Cocker, Rhys Marshall, Mitchell Graham
Reserves: Sione Lea, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Lachlan Boshier, Toa Halafihi, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Johnny Fa'auli, Jackson Ormond

More 2017 Crusaders in the Taranaki backline than the Canterbury backline.

Looks like Razor is happy to sacrifice this game. Or am I being too harsh on Vol au Vent?

@Chris-B. said in Canterbury vs Taranaki:

More 2017 Crusaders in the Taranaki backline than the Canterbury backline.

Depends if they do the sensible thing and sign Bridge. Then it's even Stevens.

@shark Probably still got a WTG sort of space for him. Last year they had 18 backs including WTG/medical exemptions.

Ellis, Nadolo, Freuan, Fonotia and McNicholl have gone. Plus anyone else Razor might have cut that we don't know about.

Hall, Ioane, Tamanivalu have come in - plus feels like I'm forgetting someone.

When is the team named?

Not at all confident about this game. This is Canterbury's toughest week in the comp, with three games in eight days. Taranaki are an excellent team and have a strong record against us over the past few years. And we're coming off a Ranfurly Shield win, which would have taken a lot of mental energy out of the boys. Moreover the after Shield beers certainly wouldn't have helped our recovery. I just hope we limit them to no 4 try bonus point, or earn a losing BP ourselves, because that would mean we still lead the comp a. I also think that Taranaki will lose next week to Wellington whilst we have North Harbour.

@Cantab79 you weren't confident about the Shield match either......

I quite like the changes Razor has gone for in this one. And I'm putting this one out there, Volavola is due

@ACT-Crusader said in Canterbury vs Taranaki:

@Cantab79 you weren't confident about the Shield match either......

I quite like the changes Razor has gone for in this one. And I'm putting this one out there, Volavola is due

In an "every dog has it's day" kinda way?

Just tuned in. Canterbury up 24-21 after 58 mins but Taranaki now have a chance to level the scores. Expected a tight one, and seems we're getting it.

I was thinking about the only good reason for starting Volavola in this is to tell him it's a trial vs McKenzie as Mo'unga's back up.

That was an exciting game. Man our boys had to do a hell of a lot of tackling. Thought the young Cantabs stood up again.

Naki were pretty effective in attack, however I thought they missed a lot of tackles in defence.

Great way to cap off a big week with another win away.

Obviously very happy with a win, especially given it was our 3rd game in eight days and we'd just come off an extremely tough game against Waikato. Taranaki played well and could easily have won it. They have some excellent forwards and really dangerous backs, but IMO they are just lacking a wee bit in the halves with key decision making players.