Rugby: A second shot at Shield glory

Tana Umaga has been instrumental in forging Counties Manukau into a competitive side, says Jamie Chipman. Photo / Getty Images

The sledging rose and fell the other night as Counties Manukau skipper Jamie Chipman and his Australian flatmate Jono Owen traded quips about the Sevens final at the Commonwealth Games.

For much of the match Owen was bullish, slipping in his verbal blows, before New Zealand, with prominent contributions from Counties reps DJ Forbes and Sherwin Stowers, rallied to overhaul their rivals and claim gold.

At the final whistle, Chipman was in his element, reminding his flatmate about the world order in rugby.

A similar result for Counties tomorrow in Christchurch would give Chipman an even greater distinction than his gold medallist colleagues.

Since they first challenged for the Ranfurly Shield in 1958, Counties have never claimed the famous Log O' Wood.

They have gone close, drawing twice and losing the rest of their 22 attempts.

When they won the national championship in 1979, their only stumble that season was an 11-9 loss to Auckland in a Shield challenge.

Two months ago they went close before losing to Southland 13-9. They will take that experience - but not all the same players - for their second chance at the Shield this season when they visit Christchurch tomorrow.

Fullback Tim Nanai-Williams is injured and forwards Fritz Lee and Taiasina Tuifua are both suspended, while the Commonwealth Games contingent only arrived home last night. It is not ideal, but Chipman said his side was fired up for the task.

"We learned so much from that first challenge. And with the score being so close came the realisation that we could do it," he said.

Chipman is Counties through and through, brought up near Mangatangi where his mother is a teacher and his farming father still works.

He boarded at Sacred Heart College in Auckland before shifting to home territory where he works as a contract builder.

He reckons that gives him some good balance in his life, though he would also be happy to down tools for a Super rugby contract.

Chipman is only 22, but coach Milton Haig had nutted him out a while back as a provincial captain.

"He is a local boy, he bleeds for the team and he has impressed me with the way he has gone about the job," Haig said.

"He has obviously picked Tana Umaga's brain about lots of things but the way he conducts training and goes about his business shows he is a good student of the game and could be captain for a long time."

Counties' performances this season have pulled in crowds between 3000 and 6000 for their six home games, better figures than previous years, though chief executive Andrew Maddock says the union is still struggling financially.

"But we have kept all our sponsors and others want to come on board next season."

Umaga's continued involvement will be one reason, progress from his young team another.

The midfield veteran has his focus on this week's target.

"It will be tough for us this weekend," Umaga agreed. "They've [Canterbury] just got the Shield and won't want to give it away. They are probably the form side of the tournament but we won't die wondering that's for sure."

Umaga will be part of a midfield duel with his former Toulon trainee Sonny Bill Williams. The new convert was playing strongly, Umaga said, and had gone a long way towards achieving his All Black goal.

"I think he will make the All Blacks. He is playing great rugby and everyone is singing his praises as I knew they would."

Meanwhile Chipman is sincere about the help he has got from Umaga.

"He is awesome to listen to and learn from. He looks after the backs, but if I feel we should do something different I mention that to him. We'll have to nut out a new gameplan for this weekend.

"It is a huge honour for me to have Tana's help. He has been great and is an awesome player for his age."

Umaga had emphasised the need for a stronger defence and statistics showed that tackle percentage had improved. But he emphasised that Counties were still a young side who needed a great deal more development to build their confidence, skills and results.

"There is a different feeling in the squad and we are learning to get that balance of when to switch on, when to be serious and when to have fun," Chipman said.

He admitted he was surprised when Haig asked him to captain the side this season. But having accepted, he felt the responsibility helped improve his performance.

"I have got lots of leaders like Grant Henson and DJ Forbes around who help me while I have to perform to strong standards each week."

He doubts whether he will need to deliver much of a pep-talk this weekend.

"They will all be focused on the occasion. To get two chances in one season is a real honour and we know the intensity will be a lot higher than other games."