2010 ITM Cup Should be Fierce Competition
The ITM Cup has just gotten underway and fans are excited to see who will capture the coveted ITM Cup in November. Canterbury will look to keep up their streak of victories in search of their 3rd straight championship. Wellington will look to win their first, despite making it to the finals every year since 2006. Waikato and Auckland will be interested in returning to form as they attempt to recapture the top prize.
2011 Changes
In 2011, 14 teams will be split into two divisions and the top-seven will make up the new premiership league, while the bottom seven will participate in the Championship League. The division is to be decided by the final placement of the squads.
All 14 teams will be looking to finish in the top seven so they can compete for the ITM Cup again in 2011. Meaning, even if the competition at the top of the table is not exciting, the battle for the middle will certainly carry more weight than usual.
2010 Predictions
It would be hard to imagine Canterbury not topping the table in 2010. Over the past two seasons they have displayed their ability to dominate the league, while playing consistently on a night to night basis. The biggest question mark for the side is how they will cope with major losses, such as Tim Bateman and Tyson Keats, as well as a number of internationals currently engaged in Tri-Nations match-ups. Nevertheless, Canterbury is still the favorite to take this year’s grand final.
The only other team that may have something to say about Canterbury’s domination is Wellington. They have lost in every final since 2006, and will be looking to put an end to that streak. Coach Jamie Joseph has the pleasure of managing the league’s best back field. Wellington has recently been helped with an infusion of youth, as under-20 all-star Julian Savea joins the club to start the season.
As per usual, Waikato and Auckland will be knocking at the door all year, trying to steal one of the top two spots.
In the offseason, both sides made sweeping changes as they attempted to compete with the dominant two. Waikato brought in Christian Lealiifano to run their offence, while Auckland brought back Daniel Braid and Brent Ward.
Hawke’s Bay is looking to continue their impressive run of the past couple years, attempting to get back to their fourth consecutive semi-final. Hawke’s looked poised for success in 2010, however, their chances have been damaged by the loss of Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford, who are logging a lot of minutes with the All Blacks at the Tri-Nations. The hope is that Luke Rooney will be able to provide enough offence to keep the team going until their return.
The battle for the middle of the table is going to be an aggressive one. However, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and North Harbour are the favorites to really challenge for the final two positions in next year’s premiership.
Bay of Plenty may be the favorite for sixth place, as they have put together a powerful front eight. North Harbour may be able to hold onto the seventh spot, as they have infused their squad with as many New Zealand under-20 nationals as they could get their hands on. If the youth is able to get comfortable early, they could be looking at a strong season.
Taranaki will once again be on the fence, as they hope to avoid finishing eighth for the fourth year in a row. Taranaki will be looking to make a push by focusing their game plan on their attacking backs, as their front eight may not be able to keep up with that of North Harbour or Bay of Plenty.
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