By James Bennett
Join the team at 3news.co.nz/sport for live video updates of the ITM CUP as Taranaki host Wellington. We will keep you up to date with all the action.
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LIVE COMMENTARY: Final Score: Taranaki 5 - 23 Wellington
80 mins - The last five minutes have nothing much to write home about and on that note the game ends on a forward pass. Wellington too big and too strong tonight.
75 mins - VIDEO UPDATED of the try as Wellington launch another attack in the Taranaki 22m. The longer this one goes, the more and more dangerous the Lions look...
70 mins - HAT TRICK time for Jason Woodward, classic wingers try really, he just swooped on some loose ball and slid over in the right hand corner, video coming. No luck for Weepu with the conversion.
68 mins - Scott Waldrom costs his side a penalty right out in front and this is a gift three points for Weepu...No probs.
65 mins - Scrums have been slow all night, this one to Wellington on the 22m is no different. Finally they clear it from the base and launch an attack.. Weepu marshaling the troops...
61 mins - VIDEO UPDATED as the play takes place around halfway...
58 mins - Another chance for Wellington to attack, midfield scrum about 30 odd metres out. Aww lovely interplay between forwards and backs but it breaks down, just that early season finishing no there yet but proving Wellington are a force this season...
57 mins - VIDEO UPDATED...TRY WELLINGTON and it's Woodward who bags a double but Dane Coles set that one up. The hooker was running like a winger down the right wing, he did all the yards then simply popped it back on the inside for an easy run in for Woodward, Weepu adds the extras. Video coming.
54 mins - Barrett again was away with the conversion, not a great night with the boot for him...Now Hobbs has a chance to extend the lead for Wellington with a penalty shot....Nope. Stay 8-5.
51 mins - TRY TARANAKI! Jayden Hayward finds a step and a fend on Piri Weepu to dive over and narrow the gap, quality from the second five...Video coming.
49 mins - Forwards keep it tight but the Lions D led by Tialata stands firm for now...Corey Jane is off for the moment, sounds like a finger injury...Another one of these scrums, Taranaki ball.
47 mins - All the ball for the home side as Baker makes a break down the left hand flank, fends off one but then is caught by the cover...They are doing everything but score a try at this stage... They get a penalty and decide to keep the pressure on with a lineout 5m out.
44 mins - The Naki at it again, a bit sloppy at first before a lovely grubber from Hayward, Savea wins the foot race however and we have a 22m restart.
42 mins - Bright start from Taranaki, they go hammer and tongs at the Welly line, claims of a try but a quick check with the touchie and it appears someone played it on the ground, penalty Wellington.
40 mins - Aww! The conversion comes off the post...There is just time for a restart but shortly after Weepu boots it into touch and we head to the sheds..if it's anything like this arvo, this game could open up in the second spell, see you then..VIDEO UPDATED of the try.
38 mins - TRY Wellington! Just like the Manawatu game they strike just before the break....Solid buildup work and then simply hands will do it for the backs, Woodward diving in the left hand corner....Video coming.
36 mins - Penalty to Wellington and they will have a shot from about 40m out...Change in kicker as Piri Weepu lines this one up...Strides in... and.... No! He was right on line but it just didn't have the legs, to be fair it was about 50m on the angle...
34 mins - VIDEO UPDATED of the best action in the first 40....A relieving penalty for Taranaki and Barret carves off some territory...not a lot in this one....
31 mins - Penalty from the scrum and Barrett will have a crack at goal..Ohh! Shocking kick from a handy range for Barrett he just hit it really poorly.
29 mins - ACTION! A loose pass from Weepu led to the ball on the turf...it was toed ahead by a Taranaki player before Barrett was leading the charge to the line, however Woodward just got back in time to force it in goal...Video coming. Looks like it will be a 5m scrum to Taranaki.
26 mins - Weepu drops it on the boot and we head down into Taranaki territory once more...see saw continues.
25 mins - Nothing much at the moment it seems, a fairly lame attack and we have a scrum on the 10m line, Wellington side of halfway...It feels like one try will bring four...there you go I called it...
21 mins - This game is just asking to be cracked open...what have Taranaki got as they enter the 22m...
17 mins - Bearden Barrett gets a chance to reply to the penalty after a contentious call against wing Woodward.... Barrett makes a hash of it and drags it left...
16 mins - Hobbs crashes in midfield and Welly get a penalty right in front of the sticks...Hobbs could throw this one over...no throw but he boots it long and true, 3-0 Wellington.
15 mins - Plenty of pressure on the 'Naki line, a charged Keats box kick leads to a 5m scrum and a reasonable blind side for the Lions...
12 mins - Jane injects himself in the Wellington line but from the resulting phase Vito knocks on handing possession back to Taranaki. Bit sloppy at the moment but perhaps like this afternoon's game it will open up after the teams find their feet...
9 mins - Few problems with the scrums at the moment...think a penalty will be coming soon, either way, after several failed engagements...
8 mins - Welly try some quick hands down the right hand touch but the linking isn't quite there early season and it goes over the sideline.
5 mins - The resulting scrum and Wellington have a penalty, do the refs really know what's going on in there? Anyway, Hobbs will have a crack at goal...he's come up short and Jayden Hayward sends a raking kick in reply.
3 mins - Hore isn't on target with his lineout throw, he finds Eaton but that was a bit crooked sorry champ, scrum down Wellington ball.
2 mins - A penalty at ruck time gives the 'Naki a relieving penalty and they kick for touch...
Kickoff - Beauden Barrett gets us underway and a return kick downfield catches Taranaki off guard, Jason Woodward nearly running away but he's catch and dragged in to touch.
7:34pm - Here are the teams, both laden with talent both young and old.
7:30pm - Clear, cool night in New Plymouth as we await the teams onto the park, this traditional rivalry should be a cracker.
We will bring you live commentary from 7:30pm, in the meantime you can check out video from this afternoon’s ITM match between Manawatu and Hawkes Bay.
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These sides both harbour final ambitions in 2011, so a win in the opener is vital if they don't want to spot the field a few points from week one.
VENUE & TIME: Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth, Saturday July 16 @ 1935
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 166; Taranaki 45 wins, Wellington 115, drawn 5, abandoned 1.
LAST TIME: October 16, 2010 (Wellington) – Wellington 49-15 Taranaki.
Taranaki could not consider James Broadhurst (shoulder) and concussion ruled both Scott Ireland and Shane Cleaver out of contention but a strong side has still been named.
Kurt Baker gets to play for the first time in nine months after a slow rehab from stress fractures.
Wellington has named a side with plenty of experience up front and some speed in the backs; All Blacks Piri Weepu and Cory Jane are both available and will start.
Andre Bell has few worries with injury at this stage.
Taranaki had an up-and-down pre-season, winning and losing out-and-home matches with Bay of Plenty before suffering a solid thumping from Waikato in its final hit-out.
Those results, while counting for nothing in the grand scheme of things, will have given Colin Cooper plenty to chew on.
Wellington had one moderate performance, when it scraped home against Manawatu with a last-minute try, and one good one, when Canterbury was thumped at Petone last week.
The Lions put 40 on the board in conditions that were not ideal, completing what was arguably the best pre-season display by any of the ITM Cup teams.
Taranaki has plenty of experienced players available but will be very keen to see some who had varied Super rugby seasons play plenty of minutes in the amber and black.
Beauden Barrett may not have played much but will be the starting first-five after playing a string of cameos a year ago.
Everything he's shown so far says he will do a good job, so his progress will be monitored by many, not least the other teams.
Craig Clarke was solid, as ever, and Jayden Hayward looked good at the higher level when replacing the injured All Blacks.
Both will be significant figures for Taranaki this year.
Wellington will be looking to Victor Vito to recapture the sort of form he showed in the early going during the Super rugby campaign before grinding away in an under-performing pack took its toll.
The young inside backs, Lima Sopoaga and Michael Hobbs, also have a lot to prove and are capable of doing it; Sopoaga had some good moments for the Highlanders and now only needs to add the consistency that generally comes with experience.
Hobbs has been out of action for the best part of a year but showed a great deal of promise before some serious injuries slowed him and the Lions may centre planty of play around him in 2011.
Although Wellington has Piri Weepu and Cory Jane available this week, Taranaki still appeals as a side more than capable of winning.
On a weekend where the weather will play a big part the home pack has the players to control territory and create chances, which should be enough for the 'Naki to get home in a close contest.
TEAMS:
Taranaki: 1. Carl Carmichael, 2. Andrew Hore, 3. Michael Bent, 4. Jason Eaton, 5. Craig Clarke (capt), 6. Chris Walker, 7. Scott Waldrom, 8. Samuela Vunisa, 9. Tyson Keats, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Andre Taylor, 12. Jayden Hayward, 13. Isaia Tuifua, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Kurt Baker.
Reserves: 16. Laurence Corlett, 17. Sione Lea, 18. Blade Thomson, 19. Ben Souness, 20. Brett Goodin, 21. Jack Cameron, 22. Frazer Climo, 23. Kevin Curtis.
Wellington: 1. Neemia Tialata, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Whetu Henry, 4. Jeremy Thrush (capt), 5. Mark Reddish, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Scott Fuglistaller, 8. Victor Vito, 9. Piri Weepu, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Michael Hobbs, 13. Alipate Leiua, 14. Jason Woodward, 15. Cory Jane.
Reserves: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Reg Goodes, 18. Api Naikatini, 19. Faifili Levave, 20. TJ Perenara, 21. Steve Honey, 22. Apoua Stewart, 23. Arden David-Perrot.
REFEREE: Jonathon White
- Sportal
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