Canterbury vs Otago Preview & Tips - Otago to stun Canterbury and win NPC Grand Final

Otago have been exceptionally impressive this term, and they will be the pick of many to go on and secure the trophy after a supreme season. 

Otago have won three of their last 10 against Canterbury, with the latter winning the other seven. 

Canterbury were hurtling towards the quarter-finals of the NPC with seven wins from their opening seven. However, their stunning 38-36 home loss to next opponents Otago saw the feeling of invincibility disappear, with a 19-19 draw with Northland hammering this home. 

A 34-14 win over Taranaki in their final group game saw them move into the knockout stages on the back of a win, but they were given a real scare by Counties Manukau in the quarter-finals. The 80 minutes ended with the sides at 15-15, with Canterbury eventually able to run out 23-15 winners after extra time. A big 43-19 win over Hawke's Bay in the semi-finals followed, but Canterbury are anything but certain to win the final. 

Two wins in their last five games inside 80 minutes is hardly the perfect run they were hoping for. Otago were actually the side that started this questionable run, and they will be confident that they can hand the regular season winners another defeat. 

While I anticipate a very close game, I believe that Canterbury will be left stunned by Otago. The weight of arriving for a final as the favourite is often tough to deal with, and this is doubly true when a side is not in great form. With this in mind, I back Canterbury to lose by between 1-12 points. 

Otago have been brilliant this season, losing two of their matches across the entirety of the season and winning eight regular season games along with two knockout matches. 

Otago were a single point away from matching Canterbury's points total for the season, while they have recently dispensed of Waikato (44-41) and Hawke's Bay (43-19). Impressively, Otago have scored 40 points or more in their last four matches, with the side flexing their try scoring muscles in late-season. 

While Canterbury arrive as the favourites for this one, Otago are the only side to have beaten their opponents this year. That game ended in a two-point win for Otago, and I back more of the same as Otago secure the trophy on the back of an eighth consecutive win.