Ralph mourns ex-colleague on eve of big shield match

Canterbury three-quarter Caleb Ralph missed training to go to the Bay of Plenty, but he was not on a spying mission.

Canterbury and Bay of Plenty meet in a fourth-round NPC match which doubles as a Ranfurly Shield defence in Christchurch tomorrow night, but Ralph's presence among the opposition was condoned by all.

The Rotorua-born Ralph was mourning the death of his former Bay of Plenty and New Zealand sevens team-mate Joe Tauiwi.

Tauiwi, 34, succumbed to cancer and his funeral was held at Katikati. Ralph and Tauiwi were Bay of Plenty team-mates in 1996 and 1997.

Ralph may have revived many old friendships in the Bay, but they will be set aside tomorrow as he takes his place at centre for Canterbury in the season's toughest shield challenge to date.

As well as four changes in personnel, Canterbury have made three positional switches.

Ralph is one of these. The groin injury to Daryl Gibson has prompted coaches Steve Hansen and Aussie McLean to move Nathan Mauger in a place and bring Ralph from the left wing to centre. In the pack, Sam Broomhall reverts to the blindside flank, after starting at No 8 against Southland, to accommodate the return of Scott Robertson, who is over a bout of blood poisoning.

New Zealand Colts flanker Richard McCaw replaces Johnny Leo'o on the openside, and Canterbury's two Pacific Island wings, Marika Vunibaka and Afato So'oalo, return after injury to replace Ralph and Joe Naufahu.

The highly-regarded McCaw will play his second NPC match after making his debut against North Harbour last year.

"Richie is a player we think a lot of and he's been working very hard," Hansen said.

He added that Robertson's enthusiasm at final training yesterday indicated he was bursting for action after missing the Southland game with his arm infection. Robertson came to Canterbury after first representing Bay of Plenty.

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Marika Vunibaka, Caleb Ralph, Afato So'oalo, Nathan Mauger, Aaron Mauger, Ben Hurst, Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Brad Thorn, Todd Blackadder (capt), Sam Broomhall, David Hewett, Matt Sexton, Greg Feek. Reserves: Joe Maddock, Cameron McIntyre, Billy Fulton, Matt Mustchin, Pete Bowden, Con Barrell, Tone Kopelani.

- NZPA