The determination was evident in the voice of Waikato rugby coach Warren Gatland. Barely five days after his side lifted the Ranfurly Shield with a sublime performance against North Harbour, Gatland was in no mood even to think about it being taken away.
It goes on the line
for the first time under the new tenure tomorrow night in Hamilton, where Waikato will have their hands full against Air New Zealand Cup co-leaders Canterbury.
"They don't want to lose it in the first week," Gatland said yesterday of his players, who had enjoyed the usual celebrations sparked by shield success last weekend when they posted a record 52-7 win as the challengers.
"We've spoken about how at Waikato you don't always get the recognition you deserve. You've got to earn everything, so for that reason we don't want to let it go."
The match looms as a must-watch, with both teams boasting proud and long shield traditions which may well translate into the best cup match of the year.
Waikato's preparations were disrupted this week by the six-week ban imposed on lock Toby Lynn for biting and by the withdrawal yesterday of winger Sosene Anesi shortly after he was named to start.
Anesi failed to respond as hoped to treatment for a quadriceps strain that has sidelined him for a fortnight. James Kamana was named in his place, meaning Waikato will start with the same backline that carved North Harbour to pieces.
Lynn's place has gone to Kent Fife for his first start this season.
Gatland knows his team will need to be at their best to repel a Canterbury side not lacking motivation, having lost the shield themselves to North Harbour last winter.
Canterbury have challenged Waikato four times for the shield, for wins in 1994 and 2000 and losses in 1981 and 1998.
"Canterbury will pose a huge challenge. Like us they've got All Blacks out; we're pretty even in that respect."
Canterbury are coming off a soft 64-10 win over stragglers Manawatu, and coach Rob Penney yesterday reinstated fullback Scott Hamilton, halfback Kevin Senio and flanker Johnny Leo'o to his starting XV.
- NZPA
