Andrew Mehrtens is farewelled by the Marlborough team yesterday. Picture / Mark Mitchell
The Ranfurly Shield stayed, but Andrew Mehrtens didn't.
The veteran first five-eighths ended his long New Zealand rugby career yesterday when he helped Canterbury to a 67-3 win over Marlborough in their first shield defence of the season at Jade Stadium.
Mehrtens kicked six of 11 conversion attempts to finish
with 1056 career points since making his debut against Mid-Canterbury 12 years ago, and afterwards reiterated that he had no regrets about signing for second-division London club Harlequin.
"It's the right time - it's time to move on," he said.
"There's sadness in that I will miss the occasion, the pride of playing for Canterbury, the All Blacks, the Crusaders and Old Boys, but overall it's happiness.
"I've been tremendously privileged, but overall it's been a bonus and I can't complain at all."
Behind a dominant forward pack who allowed halfback Jamie Nutbrown to clear good ball, Mehrtens produced some of the touches that made him a regular in the All Blacks, Crusaders and Canterbury for so long.
Not everything went right for the 32-year-old, but none of the 13,000 fans at the ground were going to wail about the odd indiscretion.
The two biggest cheers of the day came when he made a clean break through the defence in the 57th minute, and when he raced back on the final whistle to clear up a dangerous kick-and-chase by Marlborough.
It was Mehrtens' day, and although he seemed happy to deflect it to 10 of his team-mates who were making their Canterbury debuts, there was no escaping the limelight.
Coach Aussie McLean did not hold back when he summed up the contribution Mehrtens had made to Canterbury rugby.
"He's the greatest player we've ever had, and I don't think you can say anything more than that from a Canterbury perspective.
"He's dominated New Zealand rugby for close to a decade and has been a difference for teams whether they have won or lost."
Although Canterbury were kept scoreless for the final quarter, there was little to gripe about with this performance.
The Marlborough scrum battled valiantly, but was constantly under pressure.
Canterbury's backs revelled in the flood of ball and had too much vision and pace for their counterparts.
- NZPA
