Turbos take bombshell win
Out of almost nowhere, the humble Manawatu¯ Turbos have become topfour prospects after spectacularly ambushing Canterbury 32-29 in Christchurch.
Who would have thought they would have castled Canterbury at Addington on Thursday night, let alone banked five points to leapfrog Taranaki into fourth place in the championship? Canterbury clearly were lured into the ‘‘it’s-onlymanawatu¯ syndrome’’.
The Turbos beat the overwhelming favourites in their fourth visit to the South Island in four weeks and have secured 15 points during the past three games.
Next they bare their teeth against North Harbour in Palmerston North on Sunday, September 29. First they have a 10-day break and ‘‘a happy weekend’’ ahead, with the players off work until Tuesday.
For coach Peter Russell, it was his first win in Christchurch in his long career.
‘‘This was an outstanding effort – huge ticker,’’ he said. ‘‘We got stuck into them and we got some rub of the green we didn’t get against Otago and Taranaki.’’
It was the opposite of the 26-7 deficit at Invercargill last week, except this time Canterbury, which had slaughtered Southland 80-0, had to do a Houdini from 25-5 behind.
Athletic young No 8 Brayden Iose came of age in this one and when he scored the fourth try with 20 to go, Canterbury had to dot down three times to win, even if it was nervewracking as usual during the final 10 minutes.
Russell didn’t approach it as a sacrifice game, as Manawatu¯ did in 2013, when they lost 72-7, nor was he there to eke out a meritorious loss. Instead, he chased the upset of the NPC season and nailed it.
‘‘It was all about winning, making a statement and Nick Crosswell’s 100th and what he puts into Manawatu¯ rugby,’’ Russell said.
‘‘It’s about character. That’s what this team has got and they’re a dogged side who don’t want to let anyone down. Guys are making the right decisions.’’
Many Manawatu¯ disciples had settled for two wins after dousing Southland – O ye of little faith. The team hadn’t, even if the TAB had written them off, paying out $8.20 for a Turbos win on Thursday. One gent took those odds and as the greens sped to 25-5 at halftime, he messaged: ‘‘Just loving it, want to hug them all.’’
And still the Turbos have barely had centre Rob Thompson on the field.
Manawatu¯ had won at Lancaster Park in 2008, by 25-24, when Andre Taylor and Nick Crosswell played, as did assistant coach Aaron Good, when Colin Slade bleated that his injury-time penalty had gone over. That was the opening game that year and they didn’t win again.
Manawatu¯ ’s 2019 version also still has to play Bay of Plenty at Tauranga and Counties Manukau at home.
On Thursday, organised line defence – tackling at 88 per cent –
‘‘It’s about character. That’s what this team has got.’’ Peter Russell, coach
frustrated Canterbury, who spilled balls when the tryline beckoned.
‘‘We had to keep our players on their feet because of Canterbury’s wide game. They didn’t jackal one of our balls,’’ Russell said.
The bounce might have beaten Canterbury, but the rugby ball is oval for a reason, as Josh Mckay found when he didn’t cover Black’s
kick and, who else, Ngani Laumape pounced. The Turbos have grown a leg with the presence of Laumape, whose expanding skills are there for all to see, his kicking, wide balls – one set up Johnny Galloway’s try – and his dashes up the tramlines.
Black is finding long touches with his clearances and his pinpoint goal-kicking is getting the Turbos over the line. He might even have potted a droppie as the Turbos ran down the clock. With Laumape attracting so many sentries, Black can now go for gallops.
Halfback Jamie Booth is carving up NPC sides as he did as a pure sprinter against exalted first XVS when at Palmerston North Boys’ High School.
Now, he’s going full steam for 80 and getting to every ruck. Andre Taylor’s carve-up try from 75 metres, his error-free positional play and his 52m penalty shot will keep him at fullback. At 31 he still has the legs.
Prop Samu Tawake powered into his old Canterbury team-mates and forced them to sub off Harrison Allan, Fraser Armstrong ably countered All Black tighthead Owen Franks, while Lock Liam Mitchell led the tackle count.
But again the Turbos had to get by on only 38 per cent of the ball and made 155 tackles to 92.
One bung lineout gifted Canterbury a soft try, which Russell called a ‘‘collective’’ lapse, and the home video ref kindly awarded Luke Romano a very iffy try.