Canterbury lift shield in thriller
Free-wheeling challenge a classic that went to wire
The Ranfurly Shield is on the move south. Canterbury won a classic, free-wheeling rugby challenge in Hamilton last night in which they had to call on all their class and experience to overcome a fired-up Waikato, whose 355-day tenure ends on six successful defences.
This was Canterbury’s first shield victory since 2010, and they looked to have benefited from a pep-talk during the week from Don Hayes, the skipper of the team during the great 1982-85 shield era.
Working off a classy, and multiskilled 10-12-13 combination of Richie Mo’unga, Jordie Barrett and Jack Goodhue, Canterbury took a 20-12 lead to the sheds.
Captain Luke Whitelock said after the game: “Waikato made us work for it. They wouldn’t lie down.”
The captain said winning the shield was an “awesome experience”.
“These things don’t come around too often,” he told Radio Sport after the match.
“It was a classic shield game, it was tit for tat. It came down to a couple of key moments . . . that paid dividends for us.”
Whitelock said it was special to play shield rugby.
“It has an intensity over your usual round-robin game. It was going punch for punch . . . it’s about keeping to your processes.
“We knew it was going to be a big occasion. It’s awesome to be part of that winning team.”
Skipper Whitelock led from the front at No 8 and Mo’unga kicked the goals before Barrett relieved him, to good effect, in the second spell.
Goodhue set up fullback Johnny McNicholl early with a searing break and well-timed pass.
Waikato had plenty of prominent performers, wing Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara to the fore with a try in the corner to tie it all up at 23-23.
The home side’s defence was rather stiffer than it was in the flat defeat to Counties Manukau last Friday.
That meant Canterbury was not always able to click straight into gear with their attack.
But they still had their moments of typical clinical efficiency, such as when Ben Funnell scored from a lineout drive.
The hooker could have had two but he was in front of the ball carrier from whom he ripped the ball.
Waikato’s try to No 8 and skipper Whetu Douglas was a beauty, with Jordan Trainor, who was strong all night, latching on to a Sam Christie chip before finding Douglas with a sweet offload.
Canterbury, who will have one defence, on October 7 against North Harbour, stay atop the Premiership standings.
Waikato remain in fifth position in the Mitre 10 Cup top tier.
Waikato are back in action on Sunday in Whangarei for a crossover clash with the Taniwha, while Canterbury travel to Taranaki on the same day.
Whitelock said his side would be celebrating first and worrying about what may be in store for them at Yarrow Stadium later.
Canterbury 29 (Ben Funnell, Johnny McNicholl tries; Richie Mo’unga 2 con, 2 pen, Jordie Barrett 3 pen)
Waikato 23 (Jordan Manihera, Whetu Douglas, Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara tries; Jordan Trainor con, 2 pen). Ht: 20-12.