Bunnings NPC Final Opposition Preview - Wellington

This weekend’s Bunnings NPC Final sees a rematch of two old foes.

Since the dawn of the new millennium, Canterbury (199 from 265) and Wellington (165 from 238) have won more games in the NPC than any other provinces. 

However, since 2000, Canterbury have won the NPC Premiership 11 times, Wellington have lost eight finals (7 Premiership, 1 Championship) in the same period.  

Canterbury beat Wellington in the 2004 (40-27), 2008 (7-6), 2009 (28-20) and 2013 (29-13) deciders.  

Wellington last won the NPC Premiership in 2000 when they beat Canterbury at a sold-out Lancaster Park, Christchurch, 34-29. 

The two sides last met here in Christchurch in Round 2, with Canterbury running away with it 43-10. The score line didn’t tell the whole story however, with the game carefully balanced at 15-10 with 20 minutes to go.  

Since then, both teams have been in formidable form, losing just one more game each in their runs to the final.  

This season also saw Wellington regain the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 2009, and they’ll be looking to break another drought this weekend.