This was the start new Canterbury coach Scott Robertson dreamed about.



A 30-6 victory - the precious four-try bonus point was nabbed in the third quarter - over a Taranaki side coached by the canny Colin Cooper and that included handy operators such as Kane Barrett, James Broadhurst, Jarrad Hoeata and Andre Taylor.



By halftime the concerns that injuries, the absence of All Blacks and the resting of hard-nosed skipper George Whitelock would leave Canterbury exposed in this national provincial championship opener had disappeared.



The defending champions were just too combative in the breakdowns and set pieces and even with several rookies in the line-up they never frightened of this assignment.Instead they thrived.



Canterbury haven't lost to Taranaki in Christchurch since the NPC began in 1976 and they immediately got a boost with visiting hooker Timo Tutavaha struggling to strike his jumpers.



Then it was left to the backs to mount attacks from deep and their support runners to keep momentum going.



Only around 7000 people turned-up but they were rewarded for their loyalty by copping an eyeful of some decent footy from the home side, even as referee Shane McDermott correctly pinged them for not keep their feet at the rucks.



There were shades of the Crusaders' early-season strategy of moving the ball wide in Canterbury's attacks but their movements were not so lateral and they profited more around the fringes.



Right wing Patrick Osborne was directly involved in both of their tries in the opening 40 minutes and this excitement machine could flourish in the NPC after struggling to get regular starts with the Chiefs.



Osborne steamed through three tackles in the short journey to the line for the first try, holding the ball loft in his right mitt like a basketballer driving to the basket before dunking it over the line.



And it was his kick and chase led to Matt Todd collecting the second.



When Taranaki No 10 Beaudein Waaka was penalised for imitating a hedgehog protecting an acorn, the quick-thinking Todd took a quick tap and lunged across the chalk.



Earlier in the week Tyler Bleyendaal spoke of his desire to use the NPC to prove he should be the starting No 10 for the Crusaders next year.



The early signs are promising; admittedly he was offered the luxury of a lounging in his armchair by his forwards, which allowed him to remain stationary from first receiver, but he uncorked several spectacular cross-kicks.



Several fizzed - one went on the full and another was charged down - but he arrowed one kick so accurately it sat up for lock Luke Katene to score his try in the left hand corner. Seconds earlier Bleyendaal did the same on the opposite side of the park but Osborne was chopped down by the defence.



If the TAB ever want to get a little more innovative they should offer a book on how long it takes the wild-eyed Hoeata to surrender his first penalty.



Last night the Taranaki lock was in his usual belligerent mood and anyone who has watched this cove in action before would not have been surprised his loose shoulder shot on Luke Whitelock resulted in his side conceding their first three points.



Canterbury's next match is against Tasman in Blenheim next Saturday night.