A toast to the shield
RUGBY
OTAGO prop George Bower has got a better Ranfurly Shield story than most.
His cousin Apisai Naikatini was part of the Wellington side which wrestled the Log O’Wood from Auckland in 2008 and held on to it for almost a year until Canterbury whisked it away.
At some stage during that tenure, Naikatini popped over to the Bower household and he brought a guest.
So there it was — the Ranfurly Shield propped up safely while the Bower family toasted it.
‘‘We were sitting around the kava bowl and the Ranfurly was right there! That was my first interaction with the Ranfurly Shield, so now I’m here playing for a different province but it is right over there,’’ Bower (28) said, gesturing over his left shoulder towards where the coveted trophy was resting on a table while Otago trained.
‘‘And I’ve drunk kava with it before,’’ he added laughing.
‘‘But it does mean a lot. Ranfurly Shield challenges don’t come around often.
‘‘You could see in our performance against Taranaki how much we wanted it.’’
Otago produced a clinical performance to beat Taranaki 3019 and win the shield for the third time in the past seven years. The team’s first defence of this reign is against Hawke’s Bay at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.
There is some symmetry there for two of the Otago coaching staff.
Head coach Tom Donnelly and assistant coach Lee Allan both played when Otago last defended the shield against Hawke’s Bay in 2013. It lost 2019.
‘‘We actually have not talked about it this week. This is a new team and we’ve left our demons in the past,’’ Bower said.
Hawke’s Bay is fresh from a historic 2019 victory against Canterbury. It was its first win against Canterbury in 38 years, so it will present a stern challenge.
The visitors arguably boast the most effective rolling maul in the
tournament. Veteran hooker Ash Dixon is seemingly unstoppable when he gets in the boot of a drive.
But Otago is certainly prepared. Plenty of practice has gone into the defending the rolling maul this week.
‘‘We pride ourselves on our mauls and our maul defence and we know Hawke’s Bay will bring an attacking mindset — they pretty much maul from anywhere in the field.
‘‘The boys have prepared for it and are ready for whatever comes. We just have to be switched on.’’
Bower grew up in Wellington but moved to Dunedin to train as a teacher. He plugged away for the Harbour Hawks and for Otago B.
He managed a couple of runs for Otago, but his career took an upswing in 2018.
He forced his way into the Otago squad and got picked up by the Crusaders and has snagged a couple of Super Rugby titles.
Otago has made two changes from the successful side which took the shield from Taranaki.
Ricky Jackson replaces Liam Coltman as the starting hooker. Coltman, who was called into the All Blacks squad as injury cover for Asafo Aumua, drops to the bench.
The only other change sees Sione Misiloi replace Nasi Manu on the bench.
TONY Lamborn has plenty of belief in this Southland team.
The side has won two of its first three matches and, as the loose forward and captain pointed out, that was very nearly three wins.
Tomorrow’s game against Waikato in Invercargill will be its toughest challenge yet.
But it is one the team was excited for. It is coming off a thrilling 1110 win over North Harbour a week ago.
Lamborn was the hero on that occasion, coming up with the key turnover which then allowed Greg Dyer to slot the winning penalty.
‘‘I knew we needed a penalty, or we needed the ball back,’’ Lamborn said.
‘‘I was telling everyone to chop tackle so I can get the ball.
‘‘I was just floating in behind the defence line, just looking for an opportunity.
‘‘Then the boys put in a good shot and Tim Sail fell in front of me and was on his back and the ball was just there
available.’’
Born in Timaru, schooled in Ashburton and leaving aged 16 to move to Havelock North, Lamborn has been something of a rugby nomad.
He has represented North Otago, Hawke’s Bay and Southland at provincial level. In Super Rugby he has played for both the Hurricanes in 2016 and the Blues this year.
On top of that he plays his international rugby for the United States — qualifying through his father — and has
played in Major League Rugby.
He enjoyed playing there and he said the league was similar or perhaps just below the level of the Mitre 10 Cup.
While Americans had not traditionally grown up playing rugby, he said there were kids now starting to play in schools.
In a few years that had potential to make the country a much stronger force.
It was somewhere he may look to finish his career, with an eye to coaching as well.
However, for now he was enjoying playing in New Zealand and loved the Southland team.
‘‘I don’t mind Southland at all.
‘‘A few people whinge about it, but my mum was born down here and my grandparents lived down here.
‘‘I spent a fair bit of my school holidays down here. I’m fairly familiar with it.
‘‘I guess the main difference is most of the teams I’ve played for have been in big cities, a bit busier and louder.
‘‘In terms of that respect it’s quite enjoyable; me and my family really love it here.’’
Southland has made a raft of changes for the Waikato game, looking to use some of its squad depth.
Sebastian Siataga comes in at hooker for Greg PleasantsTate, while Ray Tatafu replaces lock Michael McKee.
Lamborn moves to openside flanker and Glenn Preston comes on to the blindside, while Charles Alaimalo drops back to No 8.
In the backs Liam Howley and Greg Dyer form a newlook inside back combination, while Jaye Thompson moves into centre and Isaac Te Tamaki slots in on the right wing.
The Waikato team will be named at noon today.