Bay coach quiet on Shield challenge

Former Canterbury All Black Kieran Keane is back in his old province as Hawkes Bay coach to try to lift the Ranfurly Shield today from a team he describes as "the juggernaut".

Canterbury play the Bay in their second defence of the season and the first at home at Jade Stadium, and Keane was not saying too much about second division champion Hawkes Bay's prospects - initially because of a flu-racked voice.

"We're not even contemplating anything," he said later.

"We're just enjoying the opportunity that Canterbury's given us, and are going to go out and celebrate the day."

The TAB was not offering any head-to-head odds on Canterbury, and Hawkes Bay was paying $40 for a win.

Keane said Hawkes Bay people had been looking forward to the Canterbury game for some time, though there were bad memories of their last shield exploits against Waikato.

"I think it's the underdog taking on the juggernaut," Keane said about a team with Andrew Mehrtens on the bench.

Mehrtens was benched after missing training at the weekend, which coach Aussie McLean labelled a "miscommunication".

Blindside flanker Michael Johnson is the only survivor from the team which received a 14-try 86-0 thumping from Waikato in 1999. He will play his 50th game for Hawkes Bay today.

Hawkes Bay lost 38-10 against Wellington last week.

Keane was part of Canterbury's famous 1982-85 shield run, but not all his memories of that tenure are fond ones. He broke a leg in the first minute of Northland's 1983 challenge.

Canterbury coach McLean yesterday talked about Hawkes Bay's "fantastic tradition" of the Ranfurly Shield.

"There's probably [only] four or five unions that have got a tradition anywhere near as strong as theirs. So we know that we'll be in for a battle."

McLean indicated Mehrtens was likely to get some game time today.

Teams:

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Doug Tausili, Joe Maddock, Cameron McIntyre, Ben Hurst (capt), Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Clark McLeod, Daniel Turner, Luke Thompson, Campbell Johnstone, Jed Vercoe, Chris King. Res: Tone Kopelani, Ryan Wederell, Rhys Williams, Jeff Wright, Jamie Nutbrown, Andrew Mehrtens, Alisi Tupuailei.

Hawke's Bay: Jacob Kennedy, Ray Karauria, Sefu Gau Gau, Andy Barham, Ben Trew, Tim Manawatu, Donovan Hall, Mutu Ngarimu (capt), Johnny Galo, Michael Johnson, Mark Atkinson, Lua Lokotui, Reyno Botha, Howard Murray, Clint Newland. Res: Danny Logan, Ian Baty, Bryn Evans, Asema Williams, Chad Shepherd, Aayden Clarke, Colin Bourke.

- NZPA