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Canterbury vs Wellington Predictions - Canterbury too strong for Wellington in NPC clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Nigel Williams 1 hour ago

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Canterbury has won 4 of their last 6 matches.
Wellington is winless after 6 straight losses in NPC 2026.
Canterbury are strong favourites to beat bottom-placed Wellington.

Canterbury too strong for Wellington in NPC clash (Getty Images)

Canterbury vs Wellington Predictions

Canterbury is heavily favoured to win against Wellington. Canterbury enters the match in strong domestic form against a Wellington side that has struggled with recent losses.

Canterbury vs Wellington Predictions
Head-to-Head
Canterbury Form
Canterbury Injuries & Team News
Wellington Form
Wellington Injuries & Team News

Canterbury has won 4 of their last 6 matches.
Canterbury beat Waikato 36-14 in their previous match.
Canterbury has won 2 of the last 5 matches against Wellington.
Wellington has lost all their last 6 matches.
Wellington lost 42-28 to Tasman in their previous match.

Head-to-Head

Canterbury has won two of the last five meetings with Wellington.

Canterbury Form

Canterbury bounced back from back-to-back defeats to kickstart their NPC campaign with a 36-14 victory against Waikato in their Round 6 National Provincial Championship (NPC) match at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.

Standout performers Dallas McLeod and No. 8 Finn McLeod each scored two tries, while Andrew Knewstubb contributed 16 points, including a crucial penalty in the second half and a late intercepted try that sealed the match.

The gap was narrowed to five points early in the second half after a Waikato try, but Canterbury's defence and late scoring surge pulled them away.

Canterbury has had a decent run of form this season, winning four of their last six matches. Canterbury beat Auckland (38-31), Otago (19-15), Bay of Plenty (33-28), before losing to Northland (36-12), and Taranaki (40-26), and beating Waikato (36-14).

Canterbury are sixth in the NPC table with 20 points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

Canterbury Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Brodie McAlister, 3 Gus Brown, 4 Max Fale, 5 Tahlor Cahill, 6 Xavier Treacy, 7 Corey Kellow, 8 Dominic Gardiner, 9 Louie Chapman, 10 James White, 11 Ngane Punivai, 12 Dallas McLeod, 13 James Cameron, 14 Kurtis MacDonald, 15 Andrew Knewstubb.

Replacements: 16 George Bell, 17 Tonga Helu, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Hamish Dalzell, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Ollie Burra, 22 Toby Bell, 23 Chay Fihaki.

Wellington Form

Wellington lost 42-28 to Tasman in their Round 6 NPC match at Lansdowne Park in Blenheim, after leading 14-7 at half-time. The loss ensured that Wellington remained at the bottom with a sixth straight defeat.

The yellow card that Wellington player Callum Harkin received in the second half during Tasman's surging comeback was a key turning point, as it allowed Tasman to take full control.

Wellington has struggled in their 2026 campaign, losing all of their six matches. Wellington lost to Hawkes Bay (52-33), Auckland (34-31), North Harbour (47-7), Otago (61-22), Counties Manukau (46-35), and Tasman (42-28).

Wellington is 14th (bottom) in the NPC table with five points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

Wellington Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Geordie Bean, 2 Penieli Poasa, 3 Alex Hewitt, 4 Caleb Delany, 5 Johnny Falloon, 6 Dominic Ropeti, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8 Rupeni Raviyawa, 9 Logan Henry, 10 Callum Harkin, 11 William Davis, 12 Losilosivale Filipo, 13 Matt Proctor, 14 Divad Palu, 15 Stanley Solomon.

Replacements: 16 Kaleb Saxon, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Bradley Crichton, 19 Matolu Petaia, 20 Sione Halalilo, 21 Riley Williams, 22 Cameron Burgess, 23 Jackson Ropata.