Canterbury vs Northland Predictions - Canterbury set to win back-to-back NPC titles

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Brad Newcomb 1 hour ago

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Canterbury are on a 7-match winning streak and have a dominant head-to-head record against Northland.
Northland reach their first NPC final after a strong campaign, but have lost 5 of their last 6 away games against Canterbury.
Canterbury are tipped to cover the -10.5 handicap in the NPC final.

Canterbury are the defending NPC champions and have a superior record over Northland (Getty Images)

Canterbury are the reigning champions and are on a lengthy winning streak. Northland have reached their maiden NPC final after a solid campaign but have historically struggled against Canterbury.

Canterbury have won 7 consecutive matches.
Canterbury have won 10 of their last 11 home games.
Northland have won 3 of their last 5 away matches.
Northland have lost 5 of their last 6 away games against Canterbury.

Head to Head

Canterbury have a commanding lead over Northland, with nine victories to one, including one draw in 11 meetings in the National Provincial Championship.

Canterbury Form

Canterbury produced a solid first-half display in their NPC semi-final match against Taranaki last weekend, scoring four tries and three conversions to lead 26-7 at the break.

The home side added two tries and a conversion to their score in the second half to secure a 26-7 victory over Taranaki.

Before that result, Canterbury thrashed Waikato 62-26 at home in their quarter-final clash.

Earlier in their NPC campaign, the Red and Blacks beat Auckland 38-31 at home, Otago 19-15 away, defeated Bay of Plenty 33-28 at home, lost 36-12 to Northland at home, and lost 40-26 away to Taranaki before defeating Waikato 36-14 away, Wellington 66-19 at home, North Harbour 25-24 away, Southland 34-21 at home, and Manawatu 22-12 away.

Canterbury finished first in the National Provincial Championship table during the regular season, with 40 points after ten rounds.

Canterbury have recorded seven consecutive victories, and they have defeated Northland in four of their last five meetings at home, giving them the advantage to come out on top in the final and secure the NPC title for a second consecutive year.

Northland Form

Northland scored two converted tries and a penalty in the first half of their semi-final match against Otago last weekend to lead 17-14 at half-time.

The Taniwha scored two tries, a conversion, and three penalties in the second half to beat Otago 38-19 at home and reach their maiden NPC final.

Before that, Northland saw off the challenge of Tasman in the quarter-finals, winning 26-21 at home.

Earlier this season in the NPC, Northland defeated Manawatu 40-14 at home, lost 34-21 away to Bay of Plenty, beat Taranaki 42-0 at home, Canterbury 36-12 away, and Tasman 20-10 at home, lost 57-42 away to North Harbour, defeated Waikato 34-17 at home, and Wellington 52-28 away, and lost 22-19 to Counties Manukau at home before beating Southland 28-14 away.

The Taniwha finished second in the National Provincial Championship table during the regular season, with 38 points from ten games.

Northland won the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in their last meeting in Christchurch earlier this season; however, they have a poor record against the defending champions, losing nine of their 11 matches, and their opponents have won four in a row on their home turf.

Team News

Canterbury

Corey Kellow, Kurtis MacDonald, Xavier Treacy, Sam Darry, Jone Rova, and

Isaac Hutchinson scored a try each against Taranaki last weekend.

Isaac Hutchinson slotted four conversions in the match.

Starting XV: Finlay Brewis, Brodie McAlister (C), Seb Calder, Jamie Hannah, Sam Darry, Xavier Treacy, Corey Kellow, Dominic Gardiner, Louie Chapman, Andrew Knewstubb, Kurtis Macdonald, Jone Rova, Dallas McLeod, Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicholl

Replacements: George Bell, Lewis Ponini, Gus Brown, Tahlor Cahill, Torian Barnes, Tyson Belworthy, James Cameron, Isaac Hutchinson

Northland

Marcel Renata scored a brace against Otago last weekend.

Heremaia Murray and Nathan Salmon each crossed the try line in the match.

Rivez Reihana landed three conversions and four penalties.

Starting XV: Esile Fono, James Mullan, Marcel Renata, Josh Goodhue, Allan Craig, Grady Forbes, Lachie Hooper, Terrell Peita, Sam Nock, Rivez Reihana (C), Brady Rush, Reesjan Pasitoa, Corey Evans, Heremaia Murray, Jordan Trainor

Replacements: Jordan Hutchings, Olly Ryan, Daniel Botha, Heath Macewan, Darcy Holwell, Josh Renton, James Ramm, Nathan Salmon

Verdict

Canterbury v Northland

Canterbury have an excellent record against Northland and are tipped to cover the -10.5 handicap in their NPC final match in Christchurch.

Canterbury -10.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 3 Units

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Brad graduated from the University of South Africa with a Bcom-Management Accounting degree and has a financial background.

His love of sport has seen him venture down the road of researching sporting history for the past several years, specifically boxing, cricket and football.

Other sports of particular interest are golf, tennis, horse racing and motorsports.

Additionally, he spends his time researching the military history of his home country of South Africa.

He is an ardent Liverpool supporter and is known to DJ and release music on occasion.