Want to know Canterbury's team? You'll have to wait

The Canterbury coaching staff will not be announcing their starting line-ups until game day in a new policy change for the national provincial championship season.

Coaches Steve Hansen and Aussie McLean are hoping the tactic will give them a critical edge over opponents.

Hansen believes it will give the opposition less time to prepare specific tactics to target individual players.

In the past, Canterbury's starting line-ups have been confirmed up to two days before the match. But they will not be announced this year until just before kickoff.

The new policy will be in place for the whole NPC campaign, but has also been introduced for tomorrow night's Ranfurly Shield challenge by Nelson Bays in Christchurch.

Only two All Blacks squad members, loose forward Scott Robertson and hooker Mark Hammett, have been named in the 22 to meet Nelson Bays.

But Hammett has had a sore ankle during the All Blacks' training camp at Burnham this week and has been bracketed with young hooker Tone Kopelani.

Hansen said All Black coaches Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert had been prepared to release the Canterbury internationals.

"But the All Blacks weren't able to be released for more than one training, and we have a policy here that you've got to be at training to play," Hansen said.

"And we didn't think it was fair on the guys who are here, doing the hard work."

Hansen said he had explained his thinking to the Canterbury All Blacks and Smith was also accepting of his reasons.

Canterbury squad.-

Backs: Ben Blair, Joe Maddock, Marika Vunibaka, Caleb Ralph, Nathan Mauger, Daryl Gibson (capt), Aaron Mauger, Charlie Hore, Ben Hurst, Corey Tamou.

Forwards: Scott Robertson, Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Matt Mustchin, Peter Bowden, Brad Thorn, Todd Blackadder, David Hewett, Con Barrell, Greg Feek, Matt Sexton, Mark Hammett or Tone Kopelani.

* The new Crusaders' assistant coach will now not be named until after the end of the NPC season.

Canterbury Rugby Football Union chairman Mike Eagle yesterday said the decision to defer the appointment was made because "all applicants would be actively involved in coaching during this period, either at senior or development level."

Five candidates have been interviewed for the job vacated by forwards coaching specialist Steve Hansen, who will leave for Wales after coaching Canterbury in the NPC.

- NZPA