KEY POINTS:
Glory years: 1977, 1983, 1997, 2001, 2004.
2006 finish: 5th (W6 L4). Def 36-23 by Wellington in quarter-final.
Best result: Smacked up Hawkes Bay 45-0 in their season-opener but seldom looked convincing after that. Did manage a scratchy win over Auckland in Christchurch in an otherwise underwhelming season.
Worst result: Bumbled their way to a 17-21 shield defeat by Harbour, managing to dominate every statistical category except the one that really mattered.
Dearly departed: Ben Blair, Tone Kopelani, Cameron McIntyre, Caleb Ralph.
Holidaying in France: Daniel Carter, Andrew Ellis, Leon MacDonald, Aaron Mauger, Richard McCaw, Greg Somerville (maybe), Reuben Thorne.
New kids on the block: Sean Maitland.
Shooting star: Stephen Brett burst on to the scene last year and immediately drew comparisons with Daniel Carter. While he still lacks Carter's kicking ability, tactical nous and megabucks underwear modelling contract, the kid can play. Should make big strides this year.
Old stagers: Scott Hamilton and Campbell Johnstone should bring up 50 appearances for the Red and Blacks this season. Canterbury has other experienced players of modest ability, but they're going to the World Cup, which doesn't seem at all fair.
Coaches count: Rob Penney is by far and away the best-looking coach in the competition - in a rugby kind of way - with ears that make Errol Brain's look normal and a nose so disfigured it may once have been a mouth. Can he coach? We'll see.
Quirks of the draw: All five visitors to the park formerly known as Lancaster hail from the North Island - a place according to Cantabrian lore, where the natives all drink Italian coffee, drive flash cars and eat their own children. Home: Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Auckland. Away: Counties-Manukau, Otago, Waikato, Taranaki, Tasman. Not playing: Southland, North Harbour, Northland.
Scouting report
Beat Southland and Harbour pre-season but lost to Otago in between. Unexpectedly lost first-choice halfback Andrew Ellis to the All Blacks but have an able replacement in Kevin Senio. Hamilton played fullback against Harbour and looks likely to keep the job for the regular season. Christian Cullen he ain't, but he should provide a steadying influence in a backline that will also boast All Black centre reject Casey Laulala.
Prospects
The All Black selectors have been particularly unkind to Canterbury, depriving them of a couple of average players as well as their superstars. When you're already missing the likes of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Aaron Mauger, the last thing you need is for Reuben Thorne and Andrew Ellis to get called up for bench-warming duties in France. Especially when another two more of your vastly over-rated players, Caleb Ralph and Ben Blair, have departed the scene. C'est la vie. At least they get to keep Casey Laulala, Mose Tuiali'i and Corey Flynn. Top XV look solid enough but there's not a lot to follow if injuries bite.
Prediction: 4th. Enough firepower to knock over the minnows but should be outgunned by the likes of Wellington, Auckland and Waikato.
