Champs tumble in low-key NPC opener

By CHRIS RATTUE

Wellington 33 Canterbury 24

The rest of the NPC could breathe easy, at least briefly.

Canterbury's team of no-names went down to Wellington last night in the opening round of the NPC.

Had Canterbury, who rested almost their entire All Blacks mob, won this game in the capital then it would have been a real case of "be afraid, very afraid".

As it was, the champions were hardly disgraced against the team which won the championship two years ago.

Had their set pieces been a bit better organised, Canterbury looked to have the penetration to win this game.

And the reality is that by the business end of the season, when Reuben Thorne and company don the red and black jersey again, this game will have no relevance when they sort out who is the champion side for the year.

Still, Wellington - with No 8 Rodney So'oialo among their most prominent performers - got their season off to a reasonable start.

They led 10-0 early on before a burst by Canterbury around the half hour mark levelled the scores.

Wellington, with their superior lineout a key factor, then kicked away with Riki Flutey landing three penalties to give the home side a 19-10 lead at halftime.

A break from centre Ma'a Nonu led to So'oialo's second try just after halftime, giving Wellington the decisive 26-10 break.

The appearance of Jonah Lomu for Wellington after halftime at least added a touch of credibility to an opening round game that - because of the absence of New Zealand rugby's true stars - lacked the fanfare it deserved.

Lomu made a couple of charges close to the forwards as seems to be his role these days. He also put in a crushing and potentially try-saving tackle on replacement Rhys Williams late in the match.

Canterbury joined the celebrity stakes by sending on test prop Dave Hewett in the 60th minute.

It wasn't a bad game as such. And it never ceases to amaze the talent that Canterbury can turn up these days. But there was a sense that the NPC was being robbed of the status it deserves.

The competition may have opened last night, but it hasn't really started yet.

Wellington 33 (R. So'oialo 2, K. Lealamanua tries; R. Flutey 4 pen, 3 con), Canterbury 24 (J. Maddock 2, A. Tupuailei tries; B. Blair 3 con, pen). Halftime: Wellington 19-10