Bay of Plenty ready to throw it all at the shield

Vern Cotter calls it playing "big rugby", and for his Bay of Plenty team it won't come much bigger than their quest to regain the Ranfurly Shield against Canterbury today.

Last year, the Bay won the shield for the first time, beating Auckland at Eden Park, but lost it in a thriller 33-26 three weeks later to Canterbury.

The Bay warmed up with an ordinary 29-6 loss to Otago last weekend but they now know what is required to win back rugby's most famous domestic trophy.

"We've got to throw everything at it, and it means taking a few risks. You've got to generate play," Cotter said yesterday. "We're not going to win by playing small rugby, we have to play big rugby and that means having a crack."

Cotter knows Canterbury well, as Crusaders' assistant coach this year. "Even though it's early in the season they know what the Ranfurly Shield represents.

"That province have the NPC trophy, the Super 12 trophy and didn't get them by accident."

He then made it clear he and his players can't wait for today.

"You want to be able to go out and challenge the best, and that's what they are.

"It'll be a benchmark for us."

For second five-eighths Grant McQuoid last season's match was a mix of emotions.

He played the game seven days after the death of his newborn baby and came within fingertips of scoring a try in the final movement which, with the conversion, would have drawn the game and retained the trophy. But he believes winning the shield did wonders for the team, and the province.

"It was fantastic for a union like this to win it. What it did was unify us even more," he said.

"We gave them a really good run last year when all their All Blacks were there. This time a few of them are missing."

The Bay have halfback Kevin Senio, energetic openside flanker Nili Latu and pacy Fijian winger Vili Bolavucu back.

Canterbury are without some of their All Blacks, but the class runs deep in the squad and they will line up 10 current or former test players today.

Much interest will centre on Leon MacDonald's performance as the All Black No 10 debate bangs on round the country.

The Bay will figure they can match Canterbury up front, win enough ball and, as Cotter put it, have a crack through the backs.

If they can pull it off, it would be a remarkable win. The odds are against it. Just as they were at Eden Park last August.

* Sitiveni Sivivatu was in the Waikato team to face Southland tomorrow for a few hours yesterday. But then he failed a fitness test on his calf muscle injury, which gave national under 21 representative Dwayne Sweeney a reprieve on the wing for the trip to Invercargill.

That means only one change to the starting XV from that which beat Taranaki 30-6 last weekend, All Black Sione Lauaki replacing Dave Faville in the loose forward mix.

Liam Messam switches to openside with All Black Marty Holah on the bench.

"I wanted to try Liam at No 7 this week, particularly after his fantastic game last week," Gatland said.

"Marty, due to his commitments in Australia this week, had his first training with us today so it made sense to put him on the bench."

* Northland coach Bruce Hodder has made three changes for today's trip to Taranaki, although injury played a part in all three moves.

Ron Fanuatanu comes in for Aaron Baigent on the wing. Baigent injured a knee in the loss to Wellington last weekend and might be out for the season.

Corey Tamou replaces John Senio at halfback. Senio damaged a hamstring and is looking at a couple of weeks on the sideline while Mesake Davu is at No 8, replacing Brad Christenson, who hurt a knee at training this week.

Both teams are looking for their first win of the competition, and in Taranaki's case they want to mark veteran prop Gordon Slater's 100th NPC first division game with a flourish.