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Tim Boys (L) and Scott Cowan celebrate with the Ranfurly Shield - Source: Photosport -
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Southland tackled their way into Ranfurly Shield rugby folklore
with a 9-3 triumph over Canterbury on Thursday night which ended
half a century of heartbreak.
The Log of Wood will reside in Invercargill over summer, the first
time it has been in the deep south since their one-match reign in
1959.
In a front of a baying group of supporters that made the match feel
like a home fixture for Southland, the players lifted in the second
half after being battered on defence through the first 40
minutes.
Having survived all season on gutsy defence, the southerners did it
again, going into halftime at 3-3.
They had the better of the second spell, and would have been
unlucky to lose as they repelled a series of late Canterbury
raids.
The players leaped in a joyous team hug after first five-eighth
Robbie Robinson kicked the ball out to end the game, in the
knowledge they had lifted one of New Zealand rugby's most prized
possessions.
Southland also guaranteed a place in next weekend's Air NZ Cup
semifinals. Third coming into the match, they risked missing the
playoffs if they lost to the competition leaders.
Canterbury were always guaranteed top qualification for the
semifinals and lacked the vigour of the visitors, whose tactics of
defending and relentlessly kicking for territory in damp conditions
couldn't be cracked.
But it was the Shield that meant most to the team and the
supporters, who grew in confidence as Robinson slotted three
penalties, in the 35th, 47th and 71st minutes.
His three-from-three return contrasted with a none-from-two effort
from opposite Stephen Brett, whose 17th-minute dropped goal was
Canterbury's only points.
Shorn of eight All Blacks, Canterbury still managed to dominate
early possession and territory.
However, despite averaging 30 points a game, they rarely threatened
the tryline against a Southland side who boast the best defence in
the competition.
Canterbury's tenure lasted just three defences and captain George
Whitelock cut a dismayed figure as he handed the Shield to
Southland skipper Jamie Mackintosh, his team set to begin their
sixth tenure as holders next season.
"I can't believe this, it hasn't really sunk in yet," Mackintosh
told Sky Sport.
"There are people over in the crowd crying and what have you. I
don't think we understand what we've done here but it's pretty
special."
Mackintosh had no doubt about the key behind one of the great
Shield heists.
"Coming into the game we had the best defence record in the
competition," he said.
"I think that's because we're all good mates and help each other
out... I think that was the winning of it."
Whitelock limped out of the match with injury in the 19th minute,
and his young side failed to match the increasing fervour of a pack
led by outstanding hooker Jason Rutledge, Mackintosh and lock Josh
Beckhuis.
Stand-in Canterbury captain Tim Bateman paid credit to the victors'
resilience.
"We didn't put the points on the board really, did we?" second
five-eighth Bateman said.
"Southland defended outstandingly well, a lot of really good cover
defence. We battered away at them for long periods of time but they
held strong.
"Robbie Robinson kicked really well to the corners and put up some
really good high balls."
Southland's sole current All Black Jimmy Cowan played the role of
water boy and chief barracker, the halfback becoming increasingly
animated as the minutes ticked by.
His team must come back to earth for a semifinal next week which
could yet be against the same opponents at the same venue.
