Canterbury vs Taranaki Predictions - Taranaki backed in handicap market

Marc Thomas

Editor

Last updated: 30 Aug 2023

Share

Marc Thomas 30 Aug 2023

Share this article

Watch Canterbury vs Taranaki in the NPC on Saturday (04:05 SAST)
Both sides have lost just once this season
Who will bounce back with a win this weekend?

Expired

Taranaki have won four of their last five games, and three of their last four against Canterbury (Getty Images)

Canterbury vs Taranaki Preview

Taranaki are second on the table with Canterbury fourth. Both sides lost their first games of the season last week and at home. It is a tough one to call but I fancy the hosts to win it, just not by the 10-point handicap margin.

Canterbury vs Taranaki Preview
Head to Head
Canterbury Form
Canterbury Injuries & Team News
Taranaki Form
Taranaki Injuries & Team News

Canterbury have won 3 of their last 4 matches.
Taranaki have won 4 of their last 5 matches.
Taranaki have won 3 of their last 4 matches against Canterbury.

Head to Head

Taranaki have won three of their last four matches against Canterbury. In their last outing, during the 2022 season, Taranaki won 16-10 at home.

Canterbury Form

Canterbury are fourth on the table having won three and lost one of their four matches to date. They are five points off their opponents who are second.

Canterbury began the season with three solid victories over Northland, North Harbour and Manawatu. Only North Harbour really put them under any meaningful pressure.

Last weekend, in a repeat of the 2022 NPC final, Canterbury lost 36-31 at home to the defending champions, Wellington. As expected, it was a magnificent game to watch, and the hosts could easily have won if things had gone their way.

Canterbury Injuries & Team News

Canterbury will be very eager to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s defeat. They however face another tough home fixture so expect them to put out a very strong side.

Taranaki Form

Taranaki are second on the table behind Wellington on points difference. They have won four of their five games thus far and picked up six bonus points in the process.

In round one Taranaki saw off Counties Manukau 37-29 at home before beating Northland 28-13 away. It was followed with another win, this time 26-17 at Manawatu.

Taranaki then went on to beat Waikato 29-17 away before suffering an upset loss last week at home to Bay of Plenty. Most were expecting Taranaki to get their fifth successive win but a superb performance by Bay of Plenty saw the hosts go down 29-26 in a thriller.

Taranaki Injuries & Team News

Much like their opponents, Taranaki come into this match off the back of their first defeat of the season. A full-strength side can be expected.

Verdict

Canterbury v Taranaki

I am backing Taranaki to get within 10 points of Canterbury in this encounter.

Taranaki +10

Handicap

@-109.89 - 5 Units

Deposit R3,000 Get R3,000

100% bonus up to R3,000

Your first deposit at 10bet should be of at least R20. Get 100% up to R3,000 Bonus to bet on sports or games. New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply. To activate the bonus, select it from the cashier.

Bet at 10bet