Rugby

The Rugby Championship takes a break but there’s still plenty to catch the eye, including a midweek battle for the Log. It’s a big ask for Canterbury, who play old mates Otago in the first of today’s triple- header before heading to Hamilton for Wednesday night’s Shield challenge. Behind Auckland, these are the most successful Shield teams. Canterbury have won it 14 times and repelled 132 challenges. Waikato have won it 10 times and had 57 defences, including six this year after beating Hawke’s Bay in the last challenge of 2015. Canterbury last won the Log in October 2010, beating Southland 26- 15, but handed it back after just two defences. In their only challenge since, the Red and Blacks lost to the Naki in 2012. There’s plenty of other Mitre 10 Cup action, including Auckland’s trip to Rotorua tomorrow to play the Bay after North Harbour have hosted Southland. After their surprise loss to Counties Manukau in Farah Palmer Cup action, Auckland host Canterbury in today’s televised semifinal.