Finalists Canterbury must now face Cake Tin hoodoo

In-form Wellington and a Westpac Stadium hoodoo stand between Canterbury and their first NPC first division rugby title in three years.

Having easily repulsed Bay of Plenty in the semifinal, Canterbury's biggest hurdle may lie between the ears of their own players in Saturday's final in Wellington.

Since the construction of Westpac Stadium in 2000, Canterbury have lost all three matches at the ground. And not since 1998, when they triumphed 40-28 at the now extinct Athletic Park, have they won an NPC match in the capital.

When they met Wellington in the opening match of this year's round robin on August 12, Canterbury lost 27-34 but were without six of their All Blacks.

Now, not only have they won five consecutive matches, they also have no injury or suspension concerns and boast one of the most accurate goalkickers in the world in second five-eighth Daniel Carter.

The 22-year-old booted a perfect eight from eight for 19 points against Bay of Plenty while his Wellington counterpart, halfback Piri Weepu, could only slot two from seven in his side's 28-16 semifinal win over Waikato on Friday night.

The weather conditions were awful in Wellington but his kicking percentages have been average all season and his erratic radar must be giving coach John Plumtree nightmares.

There was good news for Wellington in the leadup to the final.

Openside flanker Ben Herring will be fit to play.

Herring was thought to have aggravated neck and shoulder injuries before being helped from the field during Friday's 28-16 semifinal win over Waikato.

But yesterday, he said he had only received a blow to the back of his head, and was looking forward to his clash with All Blacks flanker Richard McCaw.

"I will definitely be there. I enjoy playing against him. It's fantastic because he's such a great player. He's incredibly competitive on the ball. He's just better at everything. He's quicker and faster around the field and gets himself into position a lot better than anybody else."

Herring's presence at the breakdown will be crucial against McCaw.

His recovery was a double dose of good news for Wellington's loose forwards, with Kristian Ormsby's swinging arm on Waikato No 8 Steven Bates being judged a non-event by the citing commissioner.

But even at full strength, Plumtree is adamant Wellington will be the underdogs at home for the first time this season.

"I think we have been expected to win at home all the time, but things have changed now against a team like that.

"They have a lot of All Blacks and a lot of experience."

The Canterbury side who beat Bay of Plenty boasted 13 current or former All Blacks in the starting 15, while Wellington had four against Waikato.

"You look through that side and I believe they have to be one of the best provincial sides in the world," Plumtree said.

"Every one of those forwards has been an All Black and most of the backs - you certainly can't say that about us."

But Plumtree expected that ratio to change when the All Blacks squad to tour Britain and France were named.

Loose forwards Rodney So'oialo and Jerry Collins are two players he thinks are most deserving of higher honours, with Herring close behind.

But Plumtree believed all of his forward pack should be seriously considered along with halfback Piri Weepu, utility back Ma'a Nonu and centre Conrad Smith.

He did not think the final would have great bearing on All Blacks selections.

He said Wellington's training this week would be lighter than usual.

"I want plenty of energy in their legs; they'll need it against Canterbury, so I won't be thrashing the boys.

"They showed they are taking it up another couple of levels against Bay of Plenty."

- NZPA

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