ABs props back in the action as Cantabs win
All Blacks props Nepo Laulala and Joe Moody returned to top-level rugby last night as Canterbury beat Counties Manukau 19-14 in the final round of the Mitre 10 Cup.
They entered the fray together in the 46th minute at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe – Moody for Canterbury after breaking his thumb in August, Laulala for his Counties debut after breaking his arm in the second round of Super Rugby with the Chiefs.
The pair got stuck into their work and were in the spotlight facing off at scrum time, with Laulala and Counties getting the better of a series of contests midway through the second half.
That was Counties’ best chance to regain the lead after Canterbury had gone in front early in the period, but they couldn’t take it, and so slumped to a fifth straight loss.
Canterbury got the win, but didn’t get the four-try bonus point they needed to have a shot at a home semifinal. Finishing third, they will be on the road next weekend.
If Auckland beat North Harbour today, they will play Tasman; if Auckland lose, they will be on their way to Eden Park.
It took 13 minutes for Canterbury to get on the board, at the end of a passage of play that began and ended with fullback George Bridge.
First he was able to break free down the right wing, then, after his team-mates worked the ball back into the middle of the park, he was on hand to take a short pass and surge over the line, with Mitchell Drummond adding the extras.
Counties hit back 20 minutes in, when centre Nigel Ah Wong crashed over, after making an unexpected appearance in the middle of a lineout drive from five metres out. Luteru Laulala kicked the conversion to tie things up.
Until Canterbury had scored, they had looked dominant, but once the ledger was even, Counties came into the contest more, and they took a deserved lead in the 33rd minute, when Luteru Laulala found Sione Molia in space on the right wing with a neat pass.
Canterbury were on the attack as the halftime hooter sounded, and were able to strike before heading to the sheds, when Chris King released first five-eighth Phil Burleigh clear into space. Burleigh then dumped the ball off to Braydon Ennor, who scored, but Drummond’s kick was off target, so Counties retained a slender lead at the break.
It didn’t last long after play resumed, however, as Canterbury came out hungry. Ennor got them close to the line, and from there, they put pressure on with a series of pick-and-goes and won a scrum, which led to a penalty try.
Laulala and Moody came on at that point, entering a game that was becoming rather scrappy.
With Laulala firing the Counties scrum, they won back-to-back penalties, setting up a five-metre lineout on the hour mark. A knock-on handed Canterbury a scrum, but Counties demolished them once more, only to knock on again and see the chance go begging.
Counties were piling on the pressure, seeking a consolation win at the end of a season where they missed the semifinals, but Canterbury did well to hold them off, and as the clock ticked past 70 minutes, they were able to break out of their own half.
Having repelled Counties’ scrum threat, Canterbury went hunting for a bonus point try, but couldn’t find one despite several late attempts.