Rugby: Arch-rivals battle for shield promises to be a thriller

A week ago Otago's rugby players and community were saying a silent prayer for their South Island arch-rivals Canterbury.

Canterbury were playing Waikato for the Ranfurly Shield and a Canterbury win would give Otago the first challenge.

Both provinces got what they wanted and tonight friendships will be forgotten for 80 minutes as they pound each other at Jade Stadium.

A home NPC first division semifinal is guaranteed for Canterbury if they win. It would take them closer to achieving a rare Super 12, NPC, Ranfurly Shield treble.

Otago have been given the chance of turning around a season of NPC despair.

After losing their first three NPC games, they need to win to have a chance of making the semifinals. But the shield will be the main goal and success will ensure it stays with Otago over the summer.

The log o' wood was last in Otago's possession in 1957. They have since challenged unsuccessfully 16 times, four against Canterbury.

Respected Otago captain and No 8 Kelvin Middleton has no doubts about the shield's value.

"People ask me what motivation I will be using - I think the shield is motivation itself," he said.

"It is hard to define it in words, but you only have to ask Waikato people what it meant to them over the past three years and that best sums it up."

Because Otago were playing Southland last Saturday at the same time Canterbury took on Waikato, Middleton did not know the fate of the shield until he had walked off Carisbrook.

"We had been so focused on doing our job against Southland we did not get a chance to cheer Canterbury on," he said.

"It was not until I walked off the park that I was told we would be challenging for the shield. I thought then it would be an exciting week."

Five of the Canterbury players who successfully challenged Waikato for the shield in 1994 will play tonight. Middleton said that experience of the big occasion could favour the holders.

"But we are treating it as a one-off game. A lot of people might class it as a test match and it might resemble that. It might not be a great display, but I am sure the intensity will be terrific."

If tonight's game comes anywhere near the standard of their last shield clash in 1994, when Andrew Mehrtens' last-minute penalty goal gave Canterbury a 22-20 win, the expected crowd of 30,000 are in for a special treat.

The relegation of veteran centre Kerry Eynon to the bench is the main talking point of the Taranaki team to play North Harbour tomorrow.

Eynon is the only casualty from the starting side who went down to Northland 23-27 at Whangarei last weekend and will be replaced at midfield by Faapulou Soolefai.

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Marika Vunibaka, Mark Robinson, Caleb Ralph, Daryl Gibson (capt), Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Sam Broomhall, Scott Robertson, Norm Maxwell, Todd Blackadder, Reuben Thorne, Greg Somerville, Matt Sexton and David Hewett. Res: Afato So'oala, Mark Mayerhofler, Ben Hurst, Dallas Seymour, Chris Jack, Greg Feek and Mark Hammett.

Otago: Justin Swart, Brendan Laney, Seilala Mapusua, Hayden Reid, Pita Alatini, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Kelvin Middleton (capt), Josh Kronfeld, Taine Randell, John Blaikie, Simon Maling, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Carl Hoeft. Res: Romi Ropati, Charles Hore, Donovan Hall, Josh Blackie, Filipo Levi, Carl Hayman, Tom Willis.

Taranaki: Daryl Lilley, Neil Brew, Faapulou Soolefai, Kerry Eynon, Lome Fa'atau, Mepi Faoagali, Craig Taylor, Craig Fevre, Campbell Feather, Neil Crowley, Andy Slater (captain), Paul Tito, Brent Thompson, Gordon Slater, Daniel Smith Tama Tuirirang/Tony Penn. Reserves: Kerry Eynon, Mark Urwin, Richard Jarman, Darryl Fale, Keith Robinson, Penn/Tuirirangi, Daniel Smith.

North Harbour: Sialo Laega, Aisea Tuilevi, Rua Tipkoi, Eric Rush, Walter Little, Willie Walker, Mark Robinson, Rob Cribb, Craig Newby, Matt Lord, Troy Flavell (captain), Matua Parkinson, Rod Moore, Slade McFarland, Tony Coughlan. Reserves: Karl Te Nana, Marc Ellis, John Beckett, Blair Urlich, Phil Weedon, Dean Thompson, Ace Tiatia.

- NZPA