Live updates of the NPC final between Canterbury and Otago.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first all-South Island final since Canterbury and Tasman meet for the second straight year in 2017. <\/p>\n
As Otago gear up for their first NPC premiership final in two decades, they will be turning to All Blacks No 8 Christian Lio-Willie for inspiration as they face a Canterbury outfit determined to avenge a failed Ranfurly Shield defence against their southern rivals.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been somewhat of a breakthrough year for the 27-year-old, who won his second Super Rugby Pacific title with the Crusaders in June and made his All Blacks debut against the French in Dunedin, before he was dropped from Scott Robertson\u2019s squad for the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n But the three-test All Black told the Herald all his energy is focused on adding an NPC title to his already impressive CV.<\/p>\n \u201cFor us as a team, we\u2019ve sort of taken the spectacle away from a final. We\u2019re just there to enjoy the fact that we\u2019re in the final and we\u2019re just so keen to put our best foot forward this weekend and just leave everything out there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a monumental shift in form for Otago, who finished ninth and 11th out of 14 in the previous two NPC seasons.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our goals at the beginning of the year was to play a brand of rugby that excited our people and got numbers to our stands … and we\u2019ve definitely accomplished that,\u201d Lio-Willie said.<\/p>\n Otago last found themselves in a premiership final 20 years ago, when they lost to Auckland 39-11 at Eden Park back in 2005. The Dunedin men haven\u2019t won the NPC since 1998.<\/p>\n For Canterbury, you only have to go back eight years, when they won their third consecutive title at AMI Stadium \u2013 one against Auckland in 2015 and two against Tasman in 2016 and 2017. They have lost two finals since then, against Auckland in 2018 and Wellington in 2022.<\/p>\n To add to the occasion, it will be the final game played at the temporary home of the Crusaders and Canterbury, Apollo Projects Stadium \u2013 which will next year be replaced by a new $683 million facility in central Christchurch. Canterbury Rugby confirmed on Thursday that the clash had been sold out.<\/p>\n \u201cIf each person is expressing themselves to the fullest and trusting in our team\u2019s mindset and game plans, I reckon we\u2019ll get the job done,\u201d Lio-Willie said.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n The men in red and black will be out for revenge on Saturday afternoon, after Otago won the Log o\u2019 Wood off them in Christchurch in September – launching a major second-half comeback to edge Canterbury 38-36.<\/p>\n With the Shield now secure in Dunedin for the summer, Otago need only to win their first NPC title in 27 years to complete perhaps the greatest season in the franchise\u2019s history.<\/p>\n \u201cI know Canterbury\u2019s going to be hurting from the last time and they\u2019re a different beast obviously at this time of year, so we\u2019re looking forward to the challenge. We\u2019re just keen to get up there,\u201d Lio-Willie said.<\/p>\n \u201cFinals brings moments. It\u2019s won in the small margins … We\u2019ve acknowledged the spectacle at the beginning of the week, but as it\u2019s getting closer to the game, the boys know it\u2019s just another job that needs to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n Canterbury will be without All Blacks forwards Sam Darry and George Bell on Saturday afternoon \u2013 who have been ruled out due to their involvement in the northern tour. They are bolstered though, with the return of All Blacks hooker Brodie McAlister, who was dropped from the end-of-year squad. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, prop George Bell has also been ruled out for Otago due to All Blacks duties. <\/p>\n