Rugby: Smith warns team against complacency

Everything points to a big win for Canterbury in their clash with Taranaki in New Plymouth tonight.

The men in amber and black have not beaten the red and blacks in an NPC match since 1978, and they are not expected to buck that trend.

Canterbury for this game have eight All Blacks in their starting line-up, while Taranaki have none.

The visitors have three former All Blacks in their starting XV, Taranaki have one in prop Gordon Slater.

Canterbury's strength deepens even further on the reserves' bench, which seats Fijian sevens player Marika Vunibaka and two former All Blacks, Dallas Seymour and Con Barrell.

Canterbury's preparations were disrupted because of the withdrawal through injury of All Black halfback Justin Marshall and former All Black midfielder Mark Mayerhofler.

However, Mayerhofler has been replaced in the starting XV by another All Black, centre Mark Robinson. Other changes include the return of Afato So'oalo for Vunibaka and All Black lock Norm Maxwell, who has recovered from the flu, coming in for Chris Jack.

Taranaki have been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.

Three Taranaki players - halfback Brendan Haami, hooker Daniel Smith and flanker Brent Thompson - had trips to the judiciary in Wellington. Haami received a four-week ban for stomping, Smith received two weeks for a dangerous tackle, while Thompson escaped punishment.

Canterbury coach Robbie Deans said the suspensions of Haami and Smith would probably only serve to make Taranaki tougher to beat.

"They are in a backs-to-the-wall situation and it's bound to be a physical encounter."

Canterbury sit atop the first-division standings, joint leaders with Waikato and Auckland on 15 points - each with three wins and a loss.

After a 20-27 loss to Wellington, Canterbury have beaten North Harbour 31-3, Counties Manukau 30-16 and Auckland 29-26.

Taranaki are in seventh place after wins over Southland 27-24 and Waikato 30-18, and losses to Auckland 14-42 and Wellington 13-41.

- NZPA