Rugby: Rutledge not that confident

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato v Southland

Their players come from far and wide, and even this week Southland tacked on another troop as they prepared for today's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato in Hamilton.

Otago prop Joe McDonnell has been loaned to Southland, but for how long is anyone's guess. Otago can reclaim him at any time, although Southland coach Leicester Rutledge says another Otago prop, Carl Hayman, could then join his squad.

McDonnell is covering for injured prop Simon Ross, who has returned to Australia while he recovers.

Comings and goings are the order of the day for Southland. They were supposed to have Brumbies flanker Des Tuiavai'i but injury delayed his arrival. So fellow Brumbies forward Peter Ryan joined Southland as cover. But Tuiavai'i has discovered he needs an operation and will not play for Southland this season, while Ryan heads home after the match against Counties Manukau next week.

"It's not ideal but we don't live in an ideal world. We only have a population of 50,000," says Rutledge.

Halfback Brett McCormack is the only Southlander among the starting backs for today's game.

Brumbies centre Graeme Bond is getting a year's experience in the NPC after an injury-ravaged season. Bond plays at centre but wears the No 12 jersey - he refuses to wear 13 because of the bad injury luck he has had wearing that number.

Wing Anthony Lafaiali'i, who hails from Thames Valley, has been with Southland for a couple of seasons.

But Joe Naufahu (Canterbury) and Alex Telea (Wellington) are on loan, West Coaster Mal Arnold arrived via Canterbury, and David Hill is from Marlborough.

Simon Etheridge, Mark Tinnock, Aaron Dempsey and Davin Heaps are the Southlanders in the forward pack.

Rutledge hopes that players such as Naufahu will stick with Southland so they can build a side. But he also knows that long-serving Otago lock Brendon Timmins, who is on loan, is at a stage where he could head overseas if another Super 12 contract does not come his way

McDonnell's arrival from Otago means he will play against Waikato for the second time in four rounds.

Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke believes the loan system needs to be looked at by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.

"The time to talk about it is at the end of the season,"Searancke said. "Is it good for the game, and is it good for the individual player? I think the unions should get together and look at the whole loan issue."

Of more immediate concern for Searancke will be getting his side back on track after their surprise defeat against Taranaki.

They will be without wing Roger Randle, who has a mystery shoulder injury which could keep him out for a couple of weeks.

Southland have lost wing Pailate Fili for the season because of a wrecked shoulder.

They last won the shield in 1959 when they beat Taranaki, and immediately lost it to Auckland. Former All Black Rutledge, who played 12 seasons for Southland, got closest to the shield in 1976 in a 9-all draw with Auckland.

He is not overly optimistic about his side's chances against Waikato.

"We'll have to play like there's no tomorrow to have any show at all and Waikato might need to have an off day," he said.

"We will have to have one of our best games for a long time."