Canterbury vs Taranaki Predictions - Canterbury to bounce back with a win at home

Brad Newcomb

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Last updated: 3 hours ago

Brad Newcomb 3 hours ago

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Canterbury are league leaders, strong at home with 5 wins in last 6 home games.
Taranaki have won 5 of last 6 away fixtures.
Canterbury favoured to cover -6.5 handicap in a close match.

Canterbury are in solid form at home (Getty Images)

Canterbury vs Taranaki Predictions

Canterbury vs Taranaki Predictions
Head to Head
Canterbury Form
Canterbury Team News & Injuries
Taranaki Form
Taranaki Team News & Injuries

Canterbury are the league leaders in the NPC and have been in solid form at home. Taranaki have performed well away from home this season.

Canterbury have won 3 of their last 5 fixtures.
Canterbury have won 5 of their last 6 home games.
Canterbury have won 3 of their last 5 home matches against Taranaki.
Taranaki have won 5 of their last 6 away fixtures.
Taranaki have won 3 of their last 4 matches against Canterbury.

Head to Head

Canterbury have a slight edge with eight victories to six against Taranaki in 14 meetings in the National Provincial Championship.

Canterbury Form

Canterbury scored two tries and a conversion in the first half against Northland away from home last weekend, going into the break with a seven-point advantage.

Canterbury scored a converted try in the second half and were on course to win before Northland scored a late converted try to snatch a 19-all draw

Canterbury defeated Auckland 19-15, Manawatu 53-14, and Tasman 31-25 before losing 38-36 to Otago at home this season.

Canterbury are 1st in the National Provincial Championship standings with 37 points from nine games.

Canterbury have failed to win their last two NPC matches, but they have been playing well at home, recording five victories in their last six fixtures.

Canterbury Team News & Injuries

Starting XV: Andrew Knewstubb, Chay Fihaki, Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod, Ngantungane Punivai, James White, Tyson Belworthy, Finlay Brewis, George Bell, Seb Calder, Liam Jack, Jamie Hannah, Zach Gallagher, Tom Christie, Dom Gardiner

Reserves: Manumaua Letiu, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Darcy Breen, Tahlor Cahill, Torian Barnes, Riley Williams, Jone Rova, Manasa Mataele

Taranaki Form

Taranaki scored two penalties and a try in the first half against Wellington last weekend to lead 11-6 at half-time.

Taranaki produced a solid second half, scoring three converted tries and a penalty try to register a 39-20 home victory against Wellington.

Before that result, Taranaki defeated North Harbour 46-24, Auckland 50-8, and Counties Manukau 43-22 before losing 28-26 to Otago away from home this season.

Taranaki are 3rd in the National Provincial Championship table with 32 points from nine matches.

Taranaki have had success playing on the road in the NPC this season, but they face a tricky test away to Canterbury, as their opponents are difficult to beat on their home turf.

Taranaki Team News & Injuries

Starting XV: Brayton Northcott-Hill, Adam Lennox, Daniel Rona, Meihana Grindlay, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Josh Jacomb, Logan Crowley, Jared Proffit, Bradley Slater, Reuben O'Neill, Fiti Sa, Hemopo Cunningham, Arese Poliko, Michael Loft, Kaylum Boshier

Reserves: JJ Pokai, Perry Lawrence, Marika Parker, Jesse Parete, Sage Walters-Hansen, Ben Dufficy, Taniela Rakuro, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Verdict

Canterbury v Taranaki

Canterbury have solid form at home and are tipped to cover the -6.5 handicap in a competitive clash with Taranaki.

Canterbury -6.5

Handicap

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