Canterbury out to restore mana | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Canterbury have only to look back 12 months to be well-motivated for the Air New Zealand Cup that starts against Bay of Plenty at Jade tomorrow night.

Losing the Ranfurly Shield and bowing out in the NPC quarter-finals added up to a poor season, particularly when they ran out of steam just when they needed to be peaking.

The experience many of the younger players gained in Super 14 points to a better outcome this season for a team that's the TAB's second favourite for the title.

"Guys who got by last year on sort of being inexperienced players have to really step up and be leaders now," says captain Corey Flynn.

Coach Rob Penney blames last year's fade on injury issues and a lack of experience at vital times, and he expects growth from his young players.

"You'd hate to think the opportunity given to them last year has not added value to them, so we're expecting some positive outcomes," he said.

Canterbury had an encouraging rehearsal with a 29-14 win over North Harbour.

"I was pleased with the endeavour and the effort we've just got to get our accuracy and option-taking right and decision-making, and we'll be a reasonably competitive unit," said Penney.

Bay of Plenty would be really strong, because they had had a consistent group over a period of time, he said.

"They generally have a lot more cohesiveness to them than other sides in the early part of the campaign, and that's a challenge in itself.

"And we expect they will bring what they always bring, a lot of toughness and abrasiveness to their game, but also with a degree of Bay of Plenty flair which they always seem to produce."

Flynn said BOP were not a flashy team but did the basics well.

"They rely on go-forward ball and that's pretty much what we're getting back to as well, the basic stuff."

With Tim Bateman injured, his Christchurch clubmate Ben Nowell comes in at second-five.

Canterbury team: Hamilton, Yates, Laulala, Nowell, Williams, Brett, Senio, Tuiali'i, Leo'o, Read, O'Neill, Paterson, Somerville, Flynn, Crockett. Bench: Tuu'u, Johnstone, Thorne, Hopgood, Ellis, Gard, Maitland.