SUB6566RXVReal Deal R - 1 2014- 07- 29T11: 13: 50+12: 00 XV AWD FROM ONLY $12,997 DEPOSIT.* AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY. SO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN. XV 2.0i-S pictured Drive away in a new XV with a deposit from only $12,997, another third in 12 months, and the balance in 24 months. With its combination of 5-star ANCAP safety, Symmetrical All Wheel Drive and a low-slung Boxer engine, it delivers a driving experience unlike any other. This deal’s at 0% interest for a limited time, so get a move on. CALL US TODAY on 0800 782 278 or visit subaru.co.nz * $12,997 deposit based on XV 2.0i manual at $38,990. Simply pay one third deposit, one third in 12 months and one third in 24 months with 0% interest. Offer valid on NZ new Subaru XV models. Vehicle must be sold at RRP and is not available in conjunction with any other special, discount or promotional offer. Normal fi nance company lending criteria applies. Offer excludes lease, government and rental purchases. Excludes on-road costs and accessories. A document fee of $385 incl GST applies. Valid until 30 September 2014 or while stocks last. SUB6566R SUB6566RXVReal Deal R - 1 2014- 07- 29T11: 13: 50+12: 00 XV AWD FROM ONLY $12,997 DEPOSIT.* AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY. SO PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN. XV 2.0i-S pictured Drive away in a new XV with a deposit from only $12,997, another third in 12 months, and the balance in 24 months. With its combination of 5-star ANCAP safety, Symmetrical All Wheel Drive and a low-slung Boxer engine, it delivers a driving experience unlike any other. This deal’s at 0% interest for a limited time, so get a move on. CALL US TODAY on 0800 782 278 or visit subaru.co.nz * $12,997 deposit based on XV 2.0i manual at $38,990. Simply pay one third deposit, one third in 12 months and one third in 24 months with 0% interest. Offer valid on NZ new Subaru XV models. Vehicle must be sold at RRP and is not available in conjunction with any other special, discount or promotional offer. Normal fi nance company lending criteria applies. Offer excludes lease, government and rental purchases. Excludes on-road costs and accessories. A document fee of $385 incl GST applies. Valid until 30 September 2014 or while stocks last. SUB6566R YNZ8736_Loaded_Bolt_FP_curves.indd 1 25/07/2014 3:02 pm WINNING MOMENT: Canterbury's head coach scott robertson, left, and captain George Whitelock celebrate winning the RUGBY iTM Premiership after last year’s final victory MANAGING EDITOR 2014 over Wellington. Oliver lee CONTENTS EDITOR PeTer WHiTe A heads-up on what’s PROOFREADING inside this issue including elise McDowell competition draws and team profiles. PHOTOGRAPHY photosPOrT www.photosport.co.nz ThE INVESTEC RUGBY ChAMPIONShIP ..... 6 ITM CUP FIXTURE LIST ............................... 16 We preview the 2014 Investec Rugby Cham- ITM CUP ChAMPIONShIP PREVIEWS cOvER DEsIGN & ART pionship featuring the All Blacks, Wallabies, MaNaWaTU ............................................. 20 ONTiMe ASSOCIATES LTD Springboks and Pumas. HaWKe’s baY ......................................... 20 PRINTING ITM CUP SEASON PREVIEW ......................... 8 NOrTH HarbOUr .................................... 22 WebsTar Masterton What’s ahead in the ITM Cup Premiership sOUTHlaND ............................................ 22 and Championship. NOrTHlaND ............................................ 25 PUBLIsHER ITM CUP PREMIERShIP PREVIEWS baY OF PleNTY ....................................... 25 aUCKlaND ............................................. 10 OTaGO ...................................................... 26 TasMaN ................................................... 11 Box 331-667, Takapuna, RANFURLY ShIELD ........................................ 28 Auckland 0740, WelliNGTON ........................................... 12 Will Counties Manukau retain the Ranfurly Shield? New Zealand COUNTies MaNUKaU .............................. 12 We look ahead to this season’s challenges. T: 09 486 6966 PINK® BATTS® CaNTerbUrY .......................................... 14 E: [email protected] hEARTLAND ChAMPIONShIP FIXTURES ... 30 W: www.oliverlee.co.nz WaiKaTO .................................................. 15 All you need to know about this year’s TaraNaKi ................................................ 19 Pink® Batts® Heartland Championship. COPYRIGHT: Reproduction in whole or in part by any means is prohibited. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Although all material is checked for accuracy, no liability is assumed by the publisher for any loss due to use of material in this magazine. THE 2014 INVESTEC RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP The Investec Rugby Championship kicks off on August 16 with a clash between the All Blacks and Wallabies in Sydney. BY PETER WHITE The All Blacks total dominance of south Africa, Austra- McKenzie seems to have unified the inter-state rivalries lia and Argentina continued unabated in 2013 with an- that often hold them back. other clean-sweep of the Investec Rugby championship. The Wallabies have won seven tests straight, their best The tone was set in the opening fixture against the winning run since they were last world champions in hopeful Wallabies in sydney; the All Blacks ran in six 1999, and impressed with a 3–0 whitewash of France tries to two during an emphatic 47–29 victory. Ben smith in June. made a major impact with three tries, while captain The All Blacks had a profitable June themselves, beat- Richie Mccaw crossed for a try to become the first ing a cocky England side 3–0 in a series at home. They New Zealand forward to score 100 test points. will have a lot of motivation for the opening test in Although the All Blacks marched on unbeaten with six sydney as victory will give them a world-record 18th- wins from as many starts, the remaining games after consecutive test win. the sydney opener were much more competitive. Home tests against Australia and Argentina follow for Winning scores of 27–16 over Australia, 28–13 over the All Blacks before things get much tougher. Fierce Argentina and 38–27 over south Africa attest to that. rivals south Africa take them on in Wellington, then two The All Blacks finished on 28 points, comfortably ahead daunting away matches follow; the first against Argen- of south Africa (19), Australia (9) and Argentina (2) to tina in La Plata, and the second versus south Africa in defend their title. Johannesburg. Of great intrigue to rugby followers were Argentina’s senior All Blacks Richie Mccaw, Dan carter and Kieran performances. While inconsistency is likely to be an Read are all back in the fold after time on the sideline, ever-present factor for a few seasons to come, they can and there is an exciting look to the attacking balance of be a difficult team to beat at home. the team. New centre Malakai Fekitoa, Ben smith and Winning their first game in this third Investec Rugby Julian savea proved irresistible against England. championship will be their goal, but a poor build-up in south Africa thumped a World Xv 47–13 before taking on the June window will not help in this regard. The Pumas Warren Gatland’s Wales in June. The first test was a lost both tests against Ireland, before a 21–19 loss to conclusive 38–16 win, but Wales can consider them- scotland, who are coached by Kiwi vern cotter. selves unlucky to lose the second test 31–30. The spring- SIMPLY ThE BEST: This year’s Investec Rugby championship kicks off boks then thrashed scotland 55–6. The all blacks will on August 16 with another mouth-watering clash in The All Blacks finish the year off in November with a test hope KIERAN READ, the sydney between the Wallabies and All Blacks. There is against UsA in chicago, on their way to the UK for a tough 2013 irb Player of the Year, greater confidence within Australian rugby following the finale against England,s cotland and Wales; this will also is back to full fitness. super Rugby competition, and Wallabies coach Ewen serve as a dress rehearsal for next year’s Rugby Worldc up. 2014 INVESTEC RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP & BLEDISLOE CUP DRAW DATE MATCH VENUE KICK OFF NZ TIME AUGUST 16: Australia v all blacks (Bc) sydney ................................ 10.05 pm AUGUST 17: south Africa v Argentina Pretoria .............................. 3.05 am AUGUST 23: all blacks v Australia (Bc) Auckland ............................ 7.35 pm AUGUST 24: Argentina v south Africa salta .................................... 7.40 am SEPTEMBER 06: all blacks v Argentina Napier ................................. 7.35 pm SEPTEMBER 06: Australia v south Africa Perth ................................... 10.05 pm SEPTEMBER 13: all blacks v south Africa Wellington .......................... 7.35 pm SEPTEMBER 13: Australia v Argentina Gold coast .......................... 10.05 pm SEPTEMBER 27: Argentina v all blacks La Plata .............................. 12.00 am SEPTEMBER 28: South Africa v Australia cape Town .......................... 4.05 pm OCTOBER 05: South Africa v all blacks Johannesburg .................... 4.05 am OCTOBER 05: Argentina v Australia Mendoza ............................. 11.40 am (Bc) = Bledisloe cup match. 2014 BLEDISLOE CUP GAME 3 DATE MATCH VENUE KICK OFF NZ TIME OCTOBER 18: all blacks v Australia Brisbane ............................ 9.00 pm 2014 AIR NEW ZEALAND END-OF-YEAR TOUR DATE MATCH VENUE KICK OFF NZ TIME NOVEMBER 2: all blacks v UsA chicago ............................. 8.30 am NOVEMBER 9: all blacks v England London .............................. 3.30 am NOVEMBER 16: all blacks v scotland Edinburgh ......................... 6.30 am NOVEMBER 23: all blacks v Wales cardiff ............................... 6.30 am 6 RUGBY 2014 WWW.ALLBLACKS.COM Over 20 years we’ve seen a lot of different things, but one thing that hasn’t changed is our loyal support for the greatest team in the world. THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE ALL BLACKS FOR 20 YEARS. ford.co.nz FOR 3952 Super Rugby Ad.indd 1 30/07/14 3:22 PM PROVINCIAL PRIDE ON THE LINE IN THE ITM CUP Last year’s competition saw Canterbury claim their sixth consecutive national title, Bay of Plenty relegated and Tasman promoted to the ITM Premiership.