Lakai leads Lions to Shield heaven
Hawke’s Bay’s 15-match Ranfurly Shield reign is over, with Wellington the new owners of the prized silverware after winning a thrilling challenge in Napier last night.
In what was the Lions’ 100th Shield match, they triumphed 19- 12 in a nailbiting finish at McLean Park, getting their hands on the Log o’ Wood for the first time since 2009.
That was a year before TJ Perenara even debuted for the province, and it was the former All Blacks halfback who ended up scoring the only try of this classic contest, but then also sinbinned after the fulltime siren for playing the ball on the ground as the holders looked to send it to golden point.
After Lions No 10 Aidan Morgan inexplicably missed a 76th minute penalty beside the posts which would have shot the lead to 10, the challengers had to withstand a massive Magpies charge in front of a vocal crowd of 8288, in this their 15th defence of the Shield – the second-equal longest reign this century. But from a dangerous five-metre lineout in the 82nd minute, it was Lions lock James Blackwell who saved the day, leaping to steal the ball at the front, and give his team a memorable victory, turning the tables on Wellington’s defeats in Napier in 2020 and 2014 in their only challenges since they last held the Shield.
‘‘ It means a lot,’’ Wellington captain Du’Plessis Kirifi told Sky Sport at the post-match presentation.
‘‘It’s an awesome thing in New Zealand rugby, we’re playing for a championship, but it’s silverware like this that brings a crowd of local supporters out, it’s a bloody brilliant thing to see.
‘‘In the week we just talked about building pressure, knowing that this game was one that could potentially go 80 minutes, and that’s something that we probably haven’t done right the last few weeks, grind out a game and finish it off. So I’m really proud of the boys for showing growth during the week and training, and it’s just awesome seeing it trans
fer to the game.’’ For Magpies captain Tom Parsons, it wasn’t exactly the way he had hoped to celebrate his 100th first- class game.
‘‘It was real tight, we knew it was going to be like that, Wellington are a class side, and I just think we didn’t capitalise when we had the ball, and they capitalised on our mistakes, and they really took it to us there, got into our set- piece, and that’s where we tried to come, and it didn’t work for us tonight.’’
Level at 9-9 after a tryless first 40, it took just 80 seconds of the second stanza for a five-pointer to be forthcoming, with the Lions cashing in against their 14-man opponents thanks to a barnstorming Julian Savea, then a hardcharging Peter Lakai, with the impressive young No 8 then offloading brilliantly for Perenara to dive over.
Wellington had come into the game on a four-game win streak, and both teams started in frantic style, clearly keen to play up-tempo, and that by halftime there would not be a try on the board would have surprised any onlooker.
McClutchie and Morgan twice traded penalties and while the hosts were muscling up in the tight stuff, winning a couple of maul turnovers, Kirifi was doing his thing over the ruck ball, including one huge turnover penalty win on his own line.
There was drama late in the half when Apikotoa went low on a barging Asafo Aumua with no attempt to wrap his arms, Perenara took wild exception, sprayed and squared up with the Magpies prop, who shoved him to the ground, as players ran from all parts.
When referee Brendon Pickerill calmed it all down, Apikotoa was waved a yellow card, Morgan nailed a great shot from 45 metres, and everyone went for a breather with things all square on the scoreboard.
The big moment
Look no further than James
Blackwell’s huge lineout steal at the death when the Magpies were on the charge to send the game to golden point.
Match rating: 8/10
This was classic Shield rugby. Just the one try scored, but a tight, heart- racing tussle as the challengers led throughout the second stanza.
The big picture
Wellington jump ahead of Hawke’s Bay to second in the Odds Conference, and immediately put the Shield up against conference leaders Waikato next Saturday. The Magpies travel to Tauranga for the Battle of the Bays against the Steamers next Saturday.
MVP
Wellington No 8 Peter Lakai. The young gun was a massive force with ball in hand.