Shield in danger of fading

By CHRIS RATTUE

To those raised on the legend of the Ranfurly Shield, this may seem like sacrilege.

While Northland coach Bryce Woodward and his senior players are feeling an extra beat of the heart as they contemplate tomorrow night's shield challenge in Christchurch, it is not a feeling shared by one and all.

A shield challenge means very little to his many younger players, says Woodward.

"The senior players and the coaches are hyped up, although a team in our position playing a team with 15 All Blacks is daunting enough," said Woodward.

"I'm not sure that the younger players see anything super-special about a shield challenge.

"This area hasn't seen the shield since the 70s, and if you haven't ever seen something, then you don't know what you're missing. It's probably the same in many areas throughout the country."

Taranaki, Waikato, Canterbury and Auckland were the only unions who had held the shield in the past 10 years and he was sure the young players there knew the effect of holding the shield.

"It was a similar situation when we were with the New Zealand Colts in South Africa. A lot of the players didn't have a clue who Don Clarke was.

"Don Clarke is up there as a shining light as far as I'm concerned, but even the Colts who had heard of him had never seen his feats. If you've not experienced something, then it can mean very little to you."

One player who will know all about the magic of the shield is Northland prop Con Barrell, who has returned to his native province on loan (via a stint with Nelson Bays last year), after being a pivotal member of the great Canterbury provincial and Super 12 sides.

At the other end of the rugby experience scale, injuries mean former Warriors first-grade wing Paul Staladi, from the Horahora club, might play in the challenge.

Maybe more importantly than the shield aspect for Northland will be trying to gain their first NPC points, although few would predict these will come through a victory. They will be major underdogs, and Canterbury are expected to come out firing after their heavy defeat by Waikato.

Woodward said Northland had faced a series of teams who had come off defeats, which had made their task just a bit tougher.

"We've identified weaknesses in teams during the weeks leading up to games but those points have been exposed when they have lost, and they've fixed those problems up by the time we play them," he said.

"I believe we are making improvements. We only went down by three tries to two to Taranaki, a team many believe will be in the top four.

"Canterbury have got areas where we will be out to put pressure on. We're not just turning up - if you go in with that attitude you end up as cannon-fodder."

Northland: Hayden Taylor, Fero Lasagavibau, Jason Shoemark, Robbie Johnson, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Regan Finch, Sam Pinder; Brett Waaka, Allen Tubbs, Vula Maimuri, Nisifolo Naufahu, Glenn Taylor (capt), Con Barrell, Derren Witcombe, Mike Storey/Bronson Murray. Reserves: Jason Hammond, Murray/Tim Knight, Brad Taylor/Aaron Wright, Tim Henwood; Lee Peina, Rhyan Caine, Jason Hita/Paul Staladi.

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Joe Maddock, Nathan Mauger, Aaron Mauger (co-capt), Alisi Tupuailei, Andrew Mehrtens, Justin Marshall, Scott Robertson, Richard McCaw, Sam Broomhall, Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Greg Somerville, Mark Hammett (co-capt), David Hewett. Res: Tony Kopelani, Chris King, Daniel Turner, Johnny Leo'o, Ben Hurst, Mark Robinson, Daniel Carter.