That was quick: Shield moves on again
The Barrett-less Taranaki held on to the Ranfurly Shield for just one week.
In wet and windy conditions in Inglewood yesterday, a hugely committed Otago challenge – and Josh Ioane’s class at No 10 – was simply too much for Taranaki.
Otago used the wind smartly in the first half to build a 22-5 lead, and a crucial second-half try by Ioane kept Taranaki at arm’s length on the way to a deserved 30-19 victory.
It was the first time the Shield has changed hands in successive matches since 2013, when Otago won it off Waikato, before losing it to Hawke’s Bay. Otago’s first defence will be against Hawke’s Bay in Dunedin on Sunday. That promises to be another huge tussle after the Magpies’ upset win against Canterbury.
Taranaki’s young forwards toiled hard, with Tupou Vaa’i and Kaylum Boshier excellent, but they had no one to match Ioane in the backline, while Otago hooker Liam Coltman also had a strong shift.
Taranaki grabbed the first score of the second 40 minutes through hard-working No 8
Boshier.
The try was the reward for some excellent play by the Taranaki pack, who had identified that the direct approach was the best way to go. However, the home side suffered a serious blow after 50 minutes when captain Teihorangi
Walden was forced from the paddock with what looked like a serious ankle injury.
The pain for the home side was doubled about after 58 minutes when Ioane spotted a half gap in the line after sustained Otago pressure to collect a vital try score extend the visitors’ lead to 15 points.
Ioane’s acceleration and strength was too much for the Taranaki defence, and his overall game management must have pleased the All Blacks selectors as they weigh up a 46-man squad for
The Rugby Championship.
A further Ioane penalty after 72 minutes eased Otago out to a 30-12 lead and the celebrations in living rooms back in Dunedin were already under way, despite a late try to Lachlan Boshier.
It was a good weekend for rugby fans in the Deep South.
Otago grabbed the Ranfurly Shield with a 30-19 win against Championship rivals Taranaki, Southland also secured their second win of the campaign, and to top it off Canterbury’s early-season blues continued with a loss to Hawke’s Bay.
Otago No 10 Josh Ioane excelled in a strong overall team display by Otago as they took the Shield off a spirited but limited Taranaki side, who badly missed Jordie and Beauden Barrett.
It also lifts Otago up the Championship ladder, and coach Tom Donnelly has not been afraid to state his priority this year is to win promotion to the top tier.
Their success will also be warmly welcomed in Hawke’s Bay, as the Magpies will travel to Dunedin on Sunday to try to do to Otago what they did to Taranaki.
Otago’s pack fronted in Inglewood, with their loose forwards working hard on defence, and their Irish lock, Jack Regan, winning enough lineout ball to put the squeeze on Taranaki.
The visitors also had too much sting in the backline, where Ioane looked in control and the backthree of Vili Koroi, Freedom Vahaakolo and Jona Nareki showed glimpses of their footwork and power.
Canterbury were forced to sup some of their own medicine on Saturday as Hawke’s Bay used some late set-piece dominance to engineer a famous 20-19 win.
Led by the brilliant Ash Dixon, the Magpies stunned Canterbury in Napier, and the province that
won nine titles out of 10 between 2008 and 2017 appears to have come back to earth with a thud.
After three games Southland have more wins than Canterbury this season, and Hawke’s Bay fully deserved their win after dominating the first half.
The loss means Canterbury are fourth in the Premiership standings, trailing Tasman by eight competition points.
With classy fullback David Havili cruising past opponents at will during the Mako’s win against Waikato on Saturday afternoon, Tasman have already emerged as warm favourites to repeat their 2019 success.
Even without All Blacks such as Shannon Frizell, Tasman can call on plenty of talent and their backline in particular is a level above most Mitre 10 Cup rivals.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Wellington, also looked good in patches during their 32-10 win against the Bay of Plenty on Friday, with hooker Tyrone Thompson scoring a memorable try.
The Lions look capable of mounting another serious challenge this year.
However, this season’s overachievers appear to be Southland, whose renewed grit was again on display as they edged North Harbour 11-10 in Invercargill.
New coach Dale MacLeod has done a marvellous job in giving Southland structure and purpose, and Blues flanker Tony Lambourn is leading the way on the paddock with his hard-nosed attitude to defence and the breakdown.
The contest was by no means a classic, but the Stags are winning admirers this year for their tenacity, and willingness to work for each other.
Auckland bounced back from their home loss to Wellington last week with a commanding win against winless Manawatu¯.
Playmaker Simon Hickey was instrumental as the Aucklanders simply had too much power for the Turbos. Hurricanes recruit Hickey grabbed 20 points as Auckland ran up 50 points in a one-sided clash.