Rugby: Hard to see a Northland win

Canterbury have worked too hard and come too far this rugby season to let the Ranfurly Shield go north tonight.

With so much glory to be gained, Northland will be tough and tenacious in the challenge at Jade Stadium in Christchurch, but Canterbury are in no mood to surrender the shield or their top position on the NPC first-division standings.

Four of Canterbury's starting line-up - fullback Ben Blair, midfield back Mark Mayerhofler, prop David Hewett and hooker Matt Sexton - have reason to ensure no complacency creeps into the Canterbury camp.

They are the only survivors from Canterbury's starting XV against Northland in their first-division match in Whangarei last year. They will need no reminding of what happened on that occasion.

Canterbury scored two tries in three minutes in the first quarter to lead 12-0, then rested on their laurels as Northland went on to win 27-20.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward masterminded that stunning upset last year, but he knows Canterbury, with their nine All Blacks, will not be caught off guard again.

"They're the best side in New Zealand without doubt and for us to win they'll have to be off their game and we'll have to be at our absolute best," Woodward said yesterday.

"It's a huge ask, but I'm sure there have been bigger upsets in New Zealand rugby than us beating Canterbury.

"Realistically, it is going to be very tough. But is it possible? Well, I wouldn't be flying down if I didn't think it was possible.

"Is it probable? Well, maybe not, but if we're out there competing on the same paddock then one team has to leave it with a win."

Woodward said Canterbury's strength was that they had no weakness.

"The bottom line, however, is their ability to win. They shouldn't have won the Super 12 final but they did.

"They damn near shouldn't have won last weekend's match against Otago, but they did.

"They were almost dead and buried against Auckland, but they keep winning and that's the sign of a great side.

Northland have the bonus of a second shield challenge this season, and Woodward hopes the lessons from the earlier heavy loss to Waikato have been absorbed.

"For that challenge I believe the thought patterns of the guys were more about sitting on the bus with the shield at the front instead of going out and winning a game of rugby.

"It is important to us that we put a performance on the park that our families and supporters can be proud of.

"If we do that at least we can come away with bit of pride. If we get into a winning position then we will fight tooth and nail."

Northland have won four of their last eight NPC games against Canterbury, but the scales should tilt Canterbury's way tonight.

The Canterbury pack will not concede any ground to the robust Northland pack, and the astute direction which first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens brings to the backline should create chances for try-hungry wings Marika Vunibaka and Caleb Ralph.

However, there is a motto which Northland have used this season that demands they play with an attitude they call "mongrel dog."

And lock Vula Maimuri has been a stark example of what that motto means when translated to action on the field.

The Fijian lock, who works as a forestry pruner in Awanui, has not just read the motto and tried to derive some obscure meaning from it. He has taken it literally.

As a long list of opponents have discovered this season, Maimuri's tackling style tests the sternest sternums in the business.

Maimuri will come head-to-head with Northland's famous export, All Black lock Norman Maxwell, a man also noted for a rather dangerous disregard for his own welfare.

Having beaten his body up by throwing it about all season, Maimuri says he is primed for a big match.

- NZPA