While Test week has naturally dominated everyone’s thinking [it is Springboks V All Blacks by the way!] there were a number of local matches in New Zealand that are of interest, including a successful Ranfurly Shield defense, regional rugby finals and many more traditional club rivalries being celebrated throughout NZ this weekend and the next. The RugbyNZ_ Overview would love to highlight these first, to illustrate the strong presence that the game still has in our community and our culture, before reflecting on the massive test match in Johannesburg.
So many competitions are played for within our ‘rugby world’ and we sometimes overlook our Grassroots. The place where the game has its foundations laid, where it should still be the focus and where a variety of competitions, from Currie Cup to Lochore Trophy, draw from this grassroots level of talent to represent our Province or City. It is where the stars of today are still discovered, selected for higher honors and trained and developed into players that are performing on the world stage now, think Handre Pollard or Lima Sopoaga. Not only our emerging talent, but established stars like Dan Carter from Southbridge Club, or Heinrich Brussow who played for the Free State Cheetahs.
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Across the globe, the name Ranfurly Shield is well known. This original prize donated by the NZ Governor-General, Earl of Ranfurly, that has been contested since 1904. Based on a ‘Challenge system’ that explanation molds well with the warrior nature of rugby in NZ, where we face the opposition and in some occasions, a Maori Haka is performed prior to the match start. The role that the Ranfurly Shield and other significant trophies have played in rugby folklore is never in question, being held by many different provinces and great clubs right throughout the country. In 2015, it is still very relevant to the representative game.
The current holders Hawkes Bay continue that proud tradition of challenges. In fact over their history they sit second equal in successful defenses (only behind Auckland) On Thursday night, they faced Mid-Canterbury in a match that prepared fans for the upcoming ITM Cup/Heartland competitions- beginning in August. This shield challenge saw a closely fought first half where Mid-Canterbury threw everything at the holders, taking any chances and points on offer. They had the better of the early stages while the home team had the more experienced players, including just returned Zac Guildford. The Bay withstood that pressure and then began to take advantage of their weakening opposition. A good example of the different levels that we will see between the ITM Cup and the Heartland Championship, which is where Mid-Canterbury are the current holders of the Meads Cup title.
In the end, Hawkes Bay piled on the tries to score a commanding victory 57-12, but the score complimented them. It was a great example of our Grassroots game and I look forward to seeing more matches like this after August that support our representative sides and the ultimate goal for NZ Rugby – the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Games like Ranfurly Shield challenges and the ASB Cup, display traditional rivalries and our strong history that are the pillars that a successful defense of the Webb Ellis Cup will be built from [I hope]
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Harbour Rugby ‘ASB’ Cup’ Final – Massey V North Shore. Score : 31-26
This was the culmination of all North Harbour Unions complete roster of sides, with the club finals to be played at the QBE Stadium grounds – Prem 1 & 2 finals on the main ground and lower grade matches played on the two outside fields. It was a sunny afternoon when around 4000 fans welcomed the sides onto the ground. Playing for the ASB Cup, similar tournaments and leagues are spread through each nation that plays the game and this crowd brought their colour and patriotism that club matches see.
Sitting among both fellow fans and foes, the game was entertaining with some great skill on display. The stronger Massey side included talented Tevita Li on the wing and stalwart Willie Walker represented the ‘Shore. An open style of play saw much passing from hand, occasional breakdown or fumbled ball (pop passes not quite being as slick as desired) but I noticed an increase in lineouts, with more ball going out on the full. I saw some good tackling, the North Shore number 4 often collecting men and planting them, so the collision was only just below Super Rugby, but the possession was not maintained, the game moving along well.
Just before halftime saw the try of the match for Massey, a nice build-up allowed the pivot to break the first line of defense and draw the fullback in. A little chip kick was easily taken by the loose forward to complete an inspired play. Teams ending the half at 15-9, it was soon added to and the scoreboard clocked over with a try a piece and some smart penalty kicking saw Massey move out to 25-23. The ‘Shore supporters waving their green banners, they had the better try scoring opportunity but by the last ten minutes, it all came down to lineouts and some ferocious on-the-line defense. Massey would be proud of their man-on-man tackling and then they took two penaties to make it a five point game.
North Shore had the possession, using the sidelines well but with no luck in the rolling maul. This example was relevant from Steve Hansens comments after Friday nights test match, that rolling mauls are boring. With more than half the local support, North Shore had the opportunity to win it on the final play of the game but fumbled their chance near the far touch. At the whistles blow, Massey players were over-the-moon, completing another successful season. Score : 31-26, but hats off to the union lead by former Harbour coach Brad Meurant, celebrating it’s 30th anniversary as a union; est. 1985.
# In other regional results: Auckland Rugby Union ‘Gallaher Shield’ final – Grammar Tech V Auckland University. Score : 39-14 | Counties-Manukau Rugby’ McNamara Cup’ final – Bombay v Karaka. Score: 23-21 | Northland Rugby ‘Bayleys Club’ rugby final – Wellsford v Mid-Northern. Score : 29-12 | Canterbury Rugby ‘Hawkins Trophy’ final – Lincoln University v Christchurch. Score: 24-19
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Sanzar Rugby Championship
South Africa V New Zealand
Venue : Ellis Park, Johannesberg
Score : 27-20
In the end, it was a match where we “got away with it” and I don’t mean that in a condescending manner for either victor or a courageous homeside. One team outplayed the other for long periods of the game, you can’t deny that as the All Blacks did not have enough rhythm at first, bested at the breakdown and in offense. That piercing early try to Willie le Roux only added to the lethal Springboks sides menace, and our players didn’t have the confidence early enough to match Brussow, stand-in captain Schalk Burger and Francois Louw.
We saw at times the ‘Boks move with great efficiently from ruck-to-ruck as a more cohesive unit and efforts by Liam Messam and Richie McCaw took a good long while to gain parity. It was a superb contest of the highest standards which took our side longer to get up-to-play with, to show their authority and to finally make a mark themselves.
With the All Blacks clawing back a fine try before halftime; Sopoaga and his Highlanders fullback Smith in a great combination, a statement that was reiterated by the time of the final whistle. With the intensity of rugby final, it was pitched battle for the majority of the game until substitutions impacted: a yellow card to Sam Whitelock and a strange decision to apply ‘Golden oldies rules’ for the scrum when the ‘Boks had introduced replacement loosehead prop as a blood-bin replacement on the tight-head side- Sanzar conditions mean we were forced to have non-contested scrums.
That period should have cost the visitors more, and with that slight opening the All Blacks managed to get a nose in front by the 70th minute, but the knock-out punch occurred when a well-rehearsed lineout move went off perfectly. A shortened lineout throw was directed to McCaw who took a beautiful ball and struck the telling blow. It showed the players “ticker” as coach Hansen puts it. A key performance indicator of this teams effectiveness, their maturity and courage drove them to victory. They all got themselves back into the game with good decisions, every man committed to the cause as they faced down a ‘sea of green’ and had to overcome their biggest test so far in 2015.
Any two sides who can boast a record of 90 matches, must have a deep respect for the other. That has created one of the strongest adversarial relationships in Sport. Think rivalries like Ireland v England, where long history drives a contested game in any sport, be it Netball or Lawn Bowl. Matches where everything is ‘thrown at it’ and the team who can manage to find a way to win, can determine their own futures. And that comes through regular games, and in the cauldron of Ellis Park, it is a true test of players ability.
More so for the new players – whereas Broadhurst looked out of his depth and did not run back out to restart the second half (which was likely as a Coaching decision) as the Hurricane player was steady without showing the panache that his selection indicated. But we did see the maturity of Sopoaga which will be the most pleasing result for many. His 12 points on debut and a well-executed role as first-five reinforced what many in NZ rugby already saw for themselves. He earned this shirt from his duties with The Highlanders, knowing that after a full Super Rugby season he was selected on his form. A champion with that side, his confidence was reinforced by ‘Landers team mates Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Ben Smith, and such a brilliant debut performance gives the team options that will be used over the next 2 tests.
With a total of 23 players in the squad, selection is pivotal and Hansen stated that all subs “added value to the Game, they brought a much needed physicality. It’s the nature of the beast [playing the Springboks] but I am really proud of the ticker these boys showed. Mental fortitude got us over the line, and in the end it was good enough to get the job done.”
Hansen mentioned how the team came out in the second half and showed some character “We’re still pretty rusty, reflected in the turnovers and we’ll tidy up a lot and the new guys will have felt better for this, as will the old guys like Bender and Colesie”.
As well, this All Blacks team finished the stronger. Their fitness is good, which is key now because but we are now just 50 days until the World Cup and there are only two games left to establish this group. With Sonny Bill-Williams and Dan Carter left at home, those two will need to be reintroduced and with Ma’a Nonu needing a scan on his shoulder, Brodie Retallick needing a few days in a ‘moon boot’ to rest an ankle sprain (similar to Cory Janes) it will be interesting how the team use this week’s rest to heal some wounds and develop further in their planning for RWC. Some players will be exposed to club rugby (which will be fantastic for the game) but it is looking good for a huge match in a fortnight in Sydney.
I certainly saw enough at Ellis Park that in the end that will underline our Rugby World Cup goals.
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Future fixtures: Rugby Championship – Australia v New Zealand, Sydney: 8th August 2015 | Wellington Rugby ‘Jubilee Cup‘ final – Marist St Pats v Old Boys University, Porirua | Hawkes Bay ‘Maddisson Trophy‘ semi finals – A: Napier Pirates (1st) v Taradale (4th) and B: Hastings Rugby and Sports (3rd) v Havelock North (2nd) – Sat 1st August
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