The Ranfurly Shield is back in Canterbury following a thrilling 26-16 victory over a tenacious Southland Stags team in Invercargill.
The result means Canterbury gained revenge after the Southlanders took the Shield in a 9-3 victory at AMI Stadium last season.
Courageous defence, a massive work rate among all the players and a very good mental attitude were the keys to this victory. Sonny Bill Williams again made his presence felt, as did centre partner Robbie Fruean.
In the forwards, Matt Todd got through a huge amount of work as usual and Sam Whitelock added a lot at the unfamiliar position of blindside flanker.
Colin Slade was outstanding at first-five – scoring 21 points through a try, four penalties and two conversions and he didn’t miss a kick at goal.
Southland got off to a good start with a penalty to Robbie Robinson after eight minutes but Slade replied for Canterbury when flanker John Hardie was offside at a ruck.
Williams launched himself into the game after 18 minutes when trapping an attempted kick through with his feet and sprinting upfield before passing inside to the flying Telusa Veainu for a converted try.
It was precisely this sort of clinical finishing which separated the sides.
Veainu was in the action again when attempting an intercept which didn’t quite come off and then Nasi Manu went on a trademark blockbusting run.
A Slade penalty pushed the score out to 13-3 and another after 30 minutes made the score 16-3. Southland were in trouble but Canterbury were playing with the wind at their backs and needed to put points on the board.
A Robinson penalty narrowed the gap to 16-6 and Southland were nearly in when wing Tony Koonwaiyou flicked a pass into flanker Hardie who dived over. However, the TMO adjudged the wing had gone into touch.
It was probably a tough call on Southland but they scored straight away from the lineout anyway through No8 Kane Thompson.
The halftime score of 16-13 was a slim lead for Canterbury, though luckily for them the wind died down in the second half and wouldn’t prove to be a big factor.
The Red and Blacks begain the second spell in a business like fashion – Isaac Ross showing up in the loose and Slade scored an outstanding try when dummying and going through a gap in the defence.
Williams, Slade and Maitland showed up in the build up to the try and it was a victory for the sort of patient game the Cantabs are trying to play.
Slade’s conversion gave Canterbury a 10-point buffer.
Southland suffered another setback when Robinson went off after 52 minutes.
An outstanding breakdown steal by Todd freed Williams for an outstanding run upfield from his own goal-line. It was a run which showcased his fend, speed and attacking mindset and was an exciting glimpse of the big player’s talent.
Williams almost stole a try after chasing through a kick, but Southland substitute Peri Te Whare just beat him to the ball.
Another Slade penalty after a Southland player was adjudged to be offside pushed the score to 26-16 and although Southland never gave up, the writing was on the wall.
Canterbury’s defence was too good and so the Shield was going north.
The Southland crowd was magnificent to the end. Most of the 14,000 or so stayed for the presentation of the Log o Wood which captain Andy Ellis gladly accepted.
“This means a hell of a lot to us,” Ellis said.
“We know the Shield as been treasured in Southland but the Canterbury community feel the same way and we’re proud to be able to bring it back.”
Canterbury – Tries: Telusa Veainu, Colin Slade. Pens: Slade 4. Cons: Slade 2.
Southland – Try: Kane Thompson. Pens: Robbie Robinson 2, James Wilson. Con: Robinson.
HT: Canterbury 16-13.
Kickers:
Slade 6 from 6.
Robinson 3 from 3
Wilson 1 from 1
Canterbury
1. Wyatt Crockett
2. Steve Fualau
3. Peter Borlase
4. Luke Romano
5. Isaac Ross
6. Sam Whitelock
7. Matt Todd
8. Nasi Manu
9. Andy Ellis (c)
10. Colin Slade
11. Telusa Veainu
12. Sonny Bill Williams
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Tu Umaga-Marshall
15. Sean Maitland
Reserves not used:
16. Paul Ngauamo
17. Andrew Olorenshaw
19. Brendon O’Connor
20. Willi Heinz
21. Steve Brett
22. Ryan Crotty