Waikato ready for special effort

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato are close to top gear for today's Ranfurly Shield challenge, coach Ian Foster believes.

He is resisting playing down either his own side's form or the importance of the shield, which Canterbury puts on the line for the 22nd time since beating Waikato 26-18 in Hamilton almost three years ago.

There are eight players on each side remaining from that game, which kicked off what has become the seventh-equal longest Ranfurly Shield tenure.

Many believe, however, that Waikato captain Jono Gibbes will lift his first major trophy this afternoon, against a Canterbury side who have slipped to fifth in the national championship and lost to Southland in Invercargill last Sunday.

Even the unexpected bonus of having Andrew Mehrtens available after he was omitted from the World Cup squad has backfired, with injuries curtailing his impact, including ruling him out of this match.

Instead of moulding a thriving side around veterans such as Norm Maxwell, the Aussie McLean-coached Canterbury have often looked out of sync, unsure of their abilities and how they want to play.

Very un-Canterbury like in other words, although McLean claimed: "To be frank, I'm pretty happy with the way our team are going. We just haven't got the results we're after."

Waikato have built up steadily since losing their opening NPC game to Taranaki.

They always looked vulnerable in that first match - Taranaki tend to hit the ground running while Waikato were blending in new players.

But they have roared into action with healthy wins over Auckland and Otago in the last two rounds.

Foster, whose record playing career with Waikato was rich in Ranfurly Shield experience, warned that Canterbury's loss to Southland might reflect the obstacles shield holders experience.

So much energy and effort was needed for defences that away games became tougher, he said.

"It's been very quiet from Canterbury this week and they are a team that will be hurting.

"They've held it a long time which shows how passionate they are about the shield.

"It's a special part of New Zealand and this is a challenge, rather than an NPC game, to us.

"Provinces such as Waikato who have held the shield know how much it means to the community. It galvanises communities.

"The beauty is it's a one-off with a winner and a loser, where everything is on the line.

"It's all about desire and smartness on the day.

"We're pretty ecstatic about our last two performances. I wouldn't say we're at 100 per cent, but we're not far away."

Lock Keith Robinson, prop Deacon Manu, hooker Greg Smith and centre Regan King have missed training sessions through injury, but Foster says they will play.

So though Waikato should be confident, the defenders may be more cautious and the early stanzas could indicate whether they can find a new level when it is really needed.

They have the bonus of Caleb Ralph and Ben Blair back from the All Black camp, and Blair in particular looks the man who could spark some Canterbury action.

If you were placing a bet on who might come up with a last-minute act of salvation, then Blair would be at short odds.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Loki Crichton, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Matt Priscott, David Hill, Rhys Duggan; Steven Bates, Scott Couch, Jono Gibbes (capt), Chresten Davis, Keith Robinson, Deacon Manu, Greg Smith, Michael Collins. Res: Scott Linklater, David Briggs, Dave Duley, Wayne McEntee; Isaac Boss, Derek Maisey, Sosene Anesi.

Canterbury: Ben Blair, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, Mark Robinson, Caleb Ralph, Cameron McIntyre, Ben Hurst (capt), Sam Broomhall, Johnny Leo'o, Scott Robertson, Norm Maxwell, Matt Dalzell, Campbell Johnstone, Tone Kopelani, Greg Feek. Res: Jed Vercoe, Chris King, Daniel Turner, Andrew Morgan; Jamie Nutbrown, Charlie Hore, Joe Maddock.

Referee: Steve Walsh

Kickoff: 2.35pm

NPC points table