Rugby: Enormity of shield sinks in for prop

Prop Jason Marshall. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

It took a chat with his Canada rugby coach Kieran Crowley for Jason Marshall to realise the significance of the Hawke's Bay Magpies' Ranfurly Shield success.

"I didn't know much about the shield until I arrived in the Bay. Kieran congratulated me on my form for the Magpies the other day and told me how he had played 200 games for Taranaki and never won the shield. I felt bad for Kieran because here I am, in my first season in the Bay, and I've played in a successful shield challenging team and two successful defences ... it was pretty special when Kieran explained the significance of it to me and pretty cool at the same time," Magpies prop Marshall said.

Despite the Magpies' shield success to date, Marshall, a veteran of 30 tests for Canada including all four 2011 World Cup pool games, knows he still has to improve his scrummaging.

"There have been some weeks when the scrum has been under pressure and others when it has gone well. Improving the consistency is the aim. We need good ball for our backline, which is pretty special," Marshall said.

The main reason Marshall came to the Bay was to get regular ITM Cup time to enhance his chances of Canada selection for next year's World Cup. The former Simon Fraser University American football team quarterback was also hoping to score a Super Rugby contract.

"That Super stint isn't going to happen. When our scrum wasn't going so well, some of the Super coaches got disinterested in me, it was always a bit of a long shot. But I'm enjoying my rugby here and everyone is so friendly ... my teammates, the coaching staff and the Hawke's Bay community as a whole," Marshall said.

"It's so much easier here because I can speak English to my teammates. When I was in France, I could barely speak to my teammates," Marshall explained.

The former flanker and No8 who didn't switch to prop until 2008 is unsure what to expect against North Harbour in Albany tonight.

"They had a massive win [29-24 against previously unbeaten Premiership leaders Canterbury] on Wednesday so they are going to be a bit sore. We've made a few changes so hopefully we can keep performing in the manner we have in recent weeks ... it's going to be a big challenge."

Marshall stressed the importance of winning tonight's match and Wednesday night's Ranfurly Shield defence against Wellington to the Magpies' quest to secure a home semifinal.

"At our pre-season camp, one of the goals we set was a home semifinal. However, we also know how crucial it is to take one game at a time and focus on playing the best we can in that game."

While Marshall has had plenty of rugby news, the bulk of it Shield-related, to email home to his Canada-based parents Harvey and Helen, the same can't be said about his pig-hunting expeditions.

"We've put in a total of 24 hours at two different locations and have yet to bring any meat home. But it's a good way to see the New Zealand countryside," the Hawke's Bay Magpies and Canada World Cup rugby prop said.

One of those expeditions saw Marshall and fellow Magpies props Adrian Barone and Brendon Edmonds in rugged hill country south of Gisborne. The other took in some remote areas of Central Hawke's Bay.

While Marshall's parents, who came to Napier to watch him in the World Cup, are unlikely to visit the Bay to watch him in Magpies colours, they keep a close eye on his progress online. Should Marshall make next year's World Cup tournament, his parents will make the trip to Britain.

Magpies fans have yet to see a repeat of the most googled online footage of Marshall, a 39-metre lineout throw, a throwback to his quarterback days. He labelled it "a special secret play ... a catch-up card".

"We spoke about it at one training. I'll need to bring it up with Craig [Philpott, Magpies head coach]. Hopefully it works out when he gives me the all-clear to use it," Marshall said.

No doubt if the throw does come up trumps, Marshall's parents will hear about it and probably see it before Marshall Facebooks or emails them to check it out.