Rugby: Taranaki destroyed by clinical Canterbury

Canterbury's Ash Parker. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury 27 Taranaki 0

If there is such a thing as a pre-Shield hangover, Taranaki suffered from it yesterday. It was a subdued, almost listless performance from the Amber and Blacks, who seemed to have one eye on their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland on Wednesday.

On the other hand, Canterbury were superbly professional. From the outset, their defence was intense, their line speed impressive and their finishing clinical and ruthlessly efficient.

Canterbury scored two tries in the first 11 minutes and took a 17-0 lead into halftime. After missing three handy penalty shots in the first half, Taranaki seemed to lose their way as the match progressed, though to their credit showed some resilience in the second spell. They defended their line well, against waves of attacks, restricting Canterbury to just one second-half try.

The home side always seemed to have time and space with the ball in hand, as Taranaki struggled to impose themselves at the set piece or breakdown. When Taranaki had an opportunity - and they dominated territory in the first 40 minutes - they invariably took the wrong option or were let down by poor handling.

Neither scrum settled in the first half, which was more a problem for the visitors who anchor so much of their play around their powerful forward unit.

Canterbury have been strangely inconsistent this season. Before this weekend, they had lost three of their four matches against Premiership teams, including the Shield defeat to Southland.

Taranaki's last win in Christchurch was in 1962 but their recent form offered some hope. They went into yesterday's match having won four of their last five, albeit on the back of outstanding goalkicking from Beauden Barrett and Andre Taylor. Both were out injured yesterday and Taranaki suffered. Jack Cameron missed two early penalties and Jayden Hayward also missed a handy shot before halftime. It was scarcely believable, given Barrett had recently knocked over a record nine penalties in one match.

Canterbury opened the scoring in the third minute, the quintessential try out of nothing. After a poor Taranaki clearance, the home side regathered the ball and spun it wide. Right winger Johnny McNicholl then beat three ineffectual tackles in a 40m run to the line.

One of the pleasures of watching the ITM Cup this year has been some of the brilliant set plays the Red and Blacks have constructed, and another snappy backline move saw Sean Maitland stroll over for their second in the 11th minute.

On the cusp of halftime, Canterbury scored a fabulous counter-attacking try, with halfback Willi Heinz sparking a break from inside his own half - helped by some lazy cover defending - before sending lock Ash Parker away for a memorable touchdown in the corner. Robbie Fruean scored the bonus-point try in the 75th minute.

Jason Eaton, one of the forgotten men of New Zealand rugby, had a strong match in his second game as captain, while Maitland was impeccable at the back for Canterbury and Heinz continued his stand-out season.

Canterbury 27 (J. McNicholl, S. Maitland, A. Parker, R. Fruean tries; T. Bleyendaal 2 cons, pen) Taranaki 0. Halftime: 17-0.