KEY POINTS:
Canterbury regathered some of their momentum after last weekend's Ranfurly Shield disappointment - easily strolling into the Air New Zealand Cup semifinals with a 44-6 quarter-final thrashing of Otago in Christchurch last night.
Canterbury outclassed Otago, scoring six tries to none, and were never in danger of defeat. But whether this was a performance which would provide much confidence for a semifinal showdown against a resurgent Wellington might be questioned. Should Canterbury get past Wellington, much more would be required for a likely final against Auckland in a fortnight.
For as well as Canterbury played, especially in the second spell when they piled on 27 points and four of their tries, the result had to be taken in the context of the opposition provided by a weak Otago side.
On this effort, it would have to be said that they had over-achieved in making the last eight. Captain and lock Tom Donnelly could find few positives in the performance. "We weren't in the game at all tonight," he said. "We didn't fire a shot."
Indeed, never once did Otago look as if they would score a try and this was due as much to the strong Canterbury defence as to Otago's abject lack of creativity and flair.
The most notable recapture of some of his confidence from earlier in the season came from Canterbury's gifted young first five-eighths Stephen Brett. He missed only two of eight shots at goal for a personal tally of 14 points and his array of skills contributed to a number of the tries.
Fullback Scott Hamilton, centre Casey Laulala and wing Rico Gear were others in the Canterbury backline far too clever for their Otago opposites. Canterbury only marginally missed the powerful No 8 Mose Tuiali'i, who was a late withdrawal with a back injury.
But Canterbury still possessed power in the pack from the likes of Kieran Read, Hayden Hopgood and lanky lock Isaac Ross.
With 75 per cent of the ball in the first spell, Canterbury led 17-0 at the break and probably should have been ahead by more. A number of chances were not exploited, with a certain try by Brett lost because of a brave covering tackle by Otago's young first five-eighths Chris Noakes.
Otago looked as if they might get into the game when, playing with a strong northerly in the second spell, fullback Charlie Hore landed two penalties.
But when Brett, with a superb run and kick ahead, forced an attacking scrum from which Hamilton scored, the game was all over midway through the second half.
The uphill task faced by Otago became even more difficult when wing Matt Saunders was sent to the sin bin for allegedly throwing a punch.
Three of the Canterbury replacements, Tyson Keats, Tim Bateman and Steven Yates, added the last three tries against a tiring Otago side. Bateman's cameo was probably the most encouraging for next weekend's clash, as the highly promising midfielder has had a dreadful run this season with injury.
Canterbury 44 (H. Hopgood, I. Ross, S. Hamilton, T. Bateman, T. Keats, S. Yates tries, S. Brett 4 con, 2 pen) Otago 6 (C. Hore 2 pen). HT: 17-0.
Air NZ Cup
Canterbury 44
Otago 6
