Log book of ages

While some might carp at referee Bryce Lawrence's penalty count against Wellington, the plain fact was that this was a good, old-fashioned, blood-and-guts, death-by-inches rugby battle during which Wellington maybe forgot the most basic of all Ranfurly Shield commandments: You have to win the Shield because the holders will never lose it.

On a night when the NZRU had just announced that it was giving an $8 million performance-enhancing drug to the NPC, the Shield showed it needs less of a shot in the arm and was still in rude good health with this throwback to the old days.

It was dominated by the two forward packs and had drop-goal attempts aplenty (even the unlikely scenario of one from Ma'a Nonu which was, predictably, charged down). There was even a guy called Lawrence blowing the whistle, just like dad Keith used to do and who got the same sort of incredulous looks that players gave Keith when he was at his most officious.

However, no matter how much we'd all like to blame the ref, the clear conclusion was that Wellington somehow neglected to win this one, while Canterbury somehow summoned up from somewhere yet another dig-deep, they-shall-not-pass defence.

Yet, for most of the match, you warmed to the cleverness and the industry of the Wellingtonians, who sprang a bit of a surprise on the holders. Instead of taking the ball wide and playing to their dangerous backs, Wellington attacked where Canterbury least expected it - in the scrum and close in around the rucks and mauls.

Coach John Plumtree and his pack had obviously done some big work on the scrum. At times, with 23-year-old prop Neemia Tialata prominent, the Canterbury scrum performed awkward little backward ballets not normally associated with an all-All Black Canterbury scrum.

Add to that Jerry Collins stomping up the middle and offloading, halfback Piri Weepu playing a strong all-round game and a big night from lock Ross Filipo and Wellington had the Canterbury defence guessing. Instead of sending the ball wide where Canterbury could produce their renowned steals and counter-attacks, Wellington controlled their play.

At least they did when they didn't make mistakes. No 8 Thomas Waldrom, spoken of recently as a possible outsider for the All Black Grand Slam tour, had a first half he'd like to forget.

He found the Canterbury defence to be a step up from the ones he's mostly been waltzing through this season and suffered too many dropped balls and knock-ons to have done his slim chances much good here.

But it was Wellington who scored first - winger Lome Fa'atau nipping in ahead of Scott Hamilton for the game's only touchdown after a kick by Weepu. Hamilton is another who has been spoken of in outsider terms for the tour. He has again looked good this season and produced two or three excellent breaks in this game. However, he maybe just lacks half a yard of real pace for the top level, although Fa'atau has embarrassed plenty of others.

After that, it was arm-wrestle time. Jimmy Gopperth and the excellent Ben Blair traded kicks and an efficient Wellington went to half-time 11-6 up. It took Canterbury 65 minutes to get in front and it was only then that this match was really decided.

Canterbury had re-assembled its pack to deal with the Wellington scrum thrust. Young lock Craig Clarke is big and probably a prospect but moving Reuben Thorne into lock and bringing Hayden Hopgood into the loose worked, as did ditching Corey Flynn's wayward lineout missiles and replacing him with Tony Kopelani.

With lineout and scrum working better, Canterbury set about setting the universe back on its axis. At one stage, playing controlled, powerful rugby, they recycled the ball through more than 20 phases of accurate, unbroken control - pinning Wellington back in their own quarter with nothing to do but defend.

And what defence. At one stage, Filipo hit Canterbury winger Caleb Ralph with a mammoth tackle. It could only be compared to what would've happened to Ralph if he had run flat out into Ayers Rock.

Canterbury didn't really look like scoring - but neither did Wellington and that's where they lost it.

Instead of trying to bring Fa'atau, Nonu and Roy Kinikinilau more into play, they persisted with the hard yards and kicking at precisely the times when a bit of adventure might have earned them Canterbury's treasure.

In terms of player watch, Blair was solidity and courage personified and kicked the goals that mattered. He may never return to the All Black ranks but he remains an excellent player and embodies the heart and soul of this Canterbury unit.

One who might move closer to All Blackdom in time to come is young halfback Andrew Ellis. While he lacks Justin Marshall's strength and presence, field management and decision-making abilities, those will come. His pass most definitely will not remind anyone of Marshall's.

We are not all that familiar, these days, with a pass of fluidity and motion and it was enjoyable to watch.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY