Rugby: Coaches put friendship on hold for Shield clash

Milton Haig gets his point across to the players during training yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Like a pair of old maids, Southland coach Dave Henderson and his Counties Manukau counterpart Milton Haig talk on the phone most weeks.

Chez Henderson was Haig's second home growing up in Invercargill, they consider themselves best mates and proved it by being best man at each other's weddings.

But the phones have gone silent.

"I talk to him every week, but we haven't talked this week," Haig said.

"There's a bit of rivalry there," said Henderson, who co-coaches Southland with newly appointed Highlanders assistant Simon Culhane. "It's normally a bit quieter [when our teams are due to play each other], but we'll get on the phone again next week.

"My biggest concern is that he's owed me $5 for the past 25 years so I'll wait and see whether he coughs up."

Perhaps double or quits on the result of Saturday's Ranfurly Shield challenge?

"He's not that sort of bloke. He's got short arms and long pockets," Henderson joked.

If you were a betting man, however, you'd be tempted to squeeze a few dollars on Haig's Counties Manukau side.

Within the space of a fortnight they have gone from national provincial championship whipping boys to ITM Cup darlings. Yesterday, they looked as surprised as anybody to see the media descend on training.

Wins in successive weeks against franchise bases Otago and Wellington have raised hopes that the flight south will be more than a mere flight of fancy.

"They're a very good team. What they've had in the past is a very good backline that can finish but they weren't getting enough ball. What they've been able to do this year is complement the backline with a forward pack that is very competitive. I guess you'd have to say [Milton's] done a bloody good job."

In many ways the challenge shapes as a classic, even cliched, contrast in styles. In the northern corner you have the counterpunchers from Counties, whose back three of Ahsee Tuala, Sherwin Stowers and particularly Tim Nanai-Williams are capable of shredding defences from deep.

In the southern corner is Southland, a disciplined and well-organised unit who have made defence their calling card.

"They're a very good defensive side," Haig said. "They led the competition in defence last year and you're going to have to do something pretty special to get past their D-wall."

Henderson's side ground out a 16-12 victory against Otago but, if Counties stay true to form, they will need more than 16 points.

"You just don't know how it's going to play out," Henderson said. "We played Counties up there last year and it was 14-6. Each year our defensive record has been pretty strong and again this year it has been a strength but we want to express ourselves as well.

"We want it to be a spectacle and to come out on the right side of that spectacle."

Counties' biggest fear might be the occasion itself. Not one of their squad has experienced the joy of lifting the Shield, not even Tana Umaga who is set to start after shaking off the flu.

"The main objective of the weekend is to stay on top of the table," Haig said. "If we do that, the by-product will be the Shield coming home with us.

"None of us really know anything about the Shield. A few of us have challenged once or twice without ever winning it. If we stay focused on what we want to achieve as a group, which is to get five points and stay on top of the table, that's probably what we'll end up doing."