Ranger injury takes gloss off win

After inspiring his team to a deserved 20-17 victory over Otago at Toll Stadium, Northland centre Rene Ranger looks likely to miss the rest of the ITM Cup season.
Ranger, who was instrumental in setting up the match-winning try by Lachie Munro, sustained a lacerated kidney after receiving a heavy blow during the second half.
Another influential player in Saturday's match, fullback Munro had snaffled a turnover and Ranger collected the chip and ghosted through the Otago defence. He was stopped by Tony Brown's shoulder - which is when the injury occurred - but not before releasing the ball to his support. From there the ball swung back to the right where Munro finished the move off before converting his own try in the 60th minute. Ranger was taken to hospital, leaving his worried teammates behind to celebrate a tainted victory.
Taniwha coach Adriaan Ferris said it was a huge knock for Ranger and the team.
"We were pretty concerned about him. It is a serious injury ... but he made it through the night OK, although he's still a bit sore. He'll be in hospital for the next few days," Ferris said.
"I know Rene's pretty gutted. He was hoping to play his 50th game for us this season (he has played 47 matches), but his health is the most important thing. We have guys in the side who can fill in at centre, but Rene has that X-factor," the coach said.
Although Ranger's injury took some of the glow off the win, Ferris was delighted and commended his team for holding Otago out and sticking to the game plan.
"We had a specific game plan against Otago - they used their field position, their set piece worked well and their forwards were strong - but our forwards really stepped up for the match which we're really pleased about."
Loose forward Joel McKenty led from the front, captaining the side for the first time in his six seasons playing for his province, and fittingly, scored the first try for the Taniwha after seven minutes.
Earlier, Munro put his side ahead with a couple of penalties after Otago had taken the lead with a Brown penalty.
Otago, with former All Blacks such as Kees Meeuws and Brown as well as a recent one in the form of Tom Donnelly seemed to have the edge in experience and organisation but Northland, could never be accused of lack of endeavour despite a high turnover rate.
Otago took the lead again in the 18th minute with a try by TJ Ioane which Brown converted but Northland found themselves back in the game 14 minutes later.
A push upfield saw them win a lineout and from there a drive at the line saw McKenty get his hand on the ball to score his try after Donelly tried to rip the ball back for Otago.
Munro converted from a wide angle to give his side a 13-10 lead, which they took into halftime.
Fortunes swung back Otago's way in the second half when wing Buxton Popoalii burst the Northland defence down the left. Otago drove the ball close to the Northland line and Meeuws was unstoppable as he dived to dot down for Brown to convert.
However, Ranger, difficult to contain in attack while also having a busy game in defence, swung the game back Northland's way, helping set up Munro's try. The result sees Northland move to nine points alongside Otago in fourth place on the championship standings.