Late cuts: Facts and figures of long shield rivalry

As Auckland and Canterbury prepare to square off today, here are some of the facts and figures for the seriously statistic-minded of the great Ranfurly Shield rivalry going back 95 years ...

* The teams have met 17 times, with the shield on the line since 1906. However, on only five occasions has the shield changed hands.

Canterbury went north and triumphed 16-13 in 1935; Auckland, with teenage sensation Bryan Williams booting goals from long range, won 20-16 at Lancaster Park in 1971; Alex Wyllie lifted the shield a year later at Eden Park after a 12-6 win; 1985, in arguably the shield game of the century, when Auckland won 28-23 in Christchurch; and, perhaps most remarkably, 10 years later when Auckland crushed Canterbury 35-0 at Lancaster Park.

* Following the 1971 win, Auckland did not have long to savour the log o' wood. After beating Counties 17-8 in the first challenge, they lost to North Auckland 17-12. Auckland went to Okara Park the following season, won the shield back 16-15 - and immediately lost it back to Canterbury.

* Curiously, the two provinces did not meet once with the shield at stake between 1910 and 1932. Even allowing for the First World War, that is a significant gap during which 86 shield games were played.

* Best quote of the shield rivalry? "Under the posts, Waka, under the posts!" Wilson Whineray, Eden Park, September 28, 1960.

* Of the six longest tenures as holders of the shield, Auckland and Canterbury share five of them. Auckland's 61 challenges resisted from 1985-93 will probably never be threatened. Auckland (1960-63) and Canterbury (1982-85) had 25 successful defences; and both had 23, Auckland from 1905-1913, Canterbury from 1953-56.

The odd one out in the top six is Hawkes Bay, with 24 from 1922-27.

* Auckland's 139-5 win over North Otago at Oamaru in 1993 is the biggest winning margin by a holder; the 35-0 margin over Canterbury in 1995 the biggest win by a challenger.

* Auckland with 187 and Canterbury with 140 are the unions to have played the most shield games. Next are Wellington on 88. All unions in the NPC have had a challenge.

* While Auckland have clearly played the most shield games as holder (155), with Canterbury on 105 and Waikato next best on 54, they have also lost most matches as holder - 14, with Canterbury and Wellington on nine.

How they fared


Home team first, successful challengers in bold:


1906: Auckland 29 Canterbury 6

1910: Auckland 6 Canterbury 4.

1932: Canterbury 14 Auckland 0.

1935: Auckland 13 Canterbury 16.

1955: Canterbury 12 Auckland 6.

1960: Auckland 19 Canterbury 18.

1962: Auckland 15 Canterbury 6.

1966: Auckland 11 Canterbury 11.

1971: Canterbury 16 Auckland 20.

1972: Auckland 6 Canterbury 12.

1983: Canterbury 31 Auckland 9.

1985: Canterbury 23 Auckland 28.

1986: Auckland 28 Canterbury 15.

1988: Auckland 31 Canterbury 10.

1990: Auckland 33 Canterbury 30.

1992: Auckland 47 Canterbury 38.

1995: Canterbury 0 Auckland 35.