Rugby: It's no longer a case of 'Sam who?' for Broomhall

By CHRIS RATTUE

Sam Broomhall was a no-name among rugby stars when Canterbury's NPC campaign clicked into gear this year.

He was often the only non-Super 12 contracted player on the field as Canterbury, who can have current or former All Blacks on their bench, pushed their way into the grand final against Wellington on Saturday night.

Broomhall could even list his occupation as "irrigation specialist," in a squad whose careers can be summed up by the word rugby.

To be fair, not all the high-profile Canterbury side have rugby-blinkered careers.

Prop Dave Hewett has two degrees and works in financial services, hooker Matt Sexton is a corporate accounts manager for Montana wines, Mark Mayerhofler has a similar job with the Canterbury clothing company and Reuben Thorne likes to work as a cabinetmaker.

And others such as Daryl Gibson and Scott Robertson are doing university studies.

But unlike Broomhall, they are household names already on the New Zealand Rugby Football Union payroll.

Broomhall avoided a Canterbury cull to start in all their NPC games this year. He was among a host of unfamiliar names in the early squad named by coach Robbie Deans when the All Blacks were away.

Broomhall survived, and in Saturday night's semifinal against Taranaki in Christchurch he showed why.

Three big charges from the 24-year-old No 8 helped to keep Taranaki at bay and to get Canterbury moving on the scoreboard.

One run took Canterbury away from danger when Daryl Lilley hit an upright with a short-range penalty.

Another set up Scott Robertson's 55th-minute try, which just about put Canterbury out of reach.

Canterbury had plenty to thank their All Black halfback Justin Marshall for, as he continually hinted at a pass, then made muscular charges in and around rucks as his forwards battled to make headway.

But it was Broomhall, the irrigation man from Leeston, who made the big channels into Taranaki country which showed his more experienced team-mates the way.

A local described Leeston, on the Canterbury Plains 43km south-west of Christchurch, as a place with one pub and one butcher's shop.

There are, in reality, a few more activities than that going on in Leeston, including the thriving irrigation business owned by Broomhall's father. But it is not a famed breeding ground for top-level players.

"Ian Fleming was a loose forward who played a couple of games for Canterbury in 1992," said Broomhall, before adding a couple of other of Leeston's other red-and-blacks from long ago who are unfamiliar to these northern ears.

Broomhall forced his way into the Canterbury side through their academy system and by playing for Canterbury Country, who upset the townies in this year's derby.

Apart from a two-year stint at Otago University, when he played for Otago Colts, he has always been with the Leeston club.

Broomhall has been given time off by his father, and moved to Christchurch through the season to avoid the 90 minutes of daily travel.

He has made a big impression, but appears to be facing a challenge for his position from someone else from the country - another country, that is.

Brisbane Bronco Brad Thorn, who was born in Otago, has signed a one-year deal with Canterbury. Given that Todd Blackadder, Norm Maxwell and Chris Jack appear secure as the top locks, and blindside flanker Reuben Thorne is an All Black, Thorn might be angling for the No 8 job.

And the Crusaders have made it clear they want North Harbour's Ron Cribb to remain in their Super 12 squad, although that is up in the air.

But Broomhall has made a solid case for himself in his first NPC year.

Like many who witnessed Canterbury's semifinal win, Broomhall believed they had to up the tempo for Saturday's final against a Wellington team who absolutely, positively sparkled against Auckland in the semifinal at Eden Park.

"We've got to get a lot more positive," said Broomhall, showing he had quickly come to grips with top-level rugby jargon.

With some of his team-mates looking jaded from a season which started with Super 12 games in February, Broomhall might be the spark Canterbury need against Wellington on Saturday night.