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Saturday, September 20, 2014
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Brenton Connell has been moved into centre for the crunch clash with Buller in the Heartland Rugby Championship in Ashburton today. 230814-TM-211
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MID CANTERBURY 1 Tukulua Tolu, 2 Jon Sharpe, 3 Simon Fleetwood, 4 Logan Bonnington, 5 Andrew Smith, 6 Tevita Ula, 7 Seta Koroitamana, 8 Jon Dampney, 9 Will Mackenzie, 10 Murray Williams, 11 Willie McGoon, 12 Peni Manumanuniliwa, 13 Brenton Connell, 14 Matt Thatcher, 15 Richard Catherwood. Reserves: 16 Matt Groom, 17 Jackson Donlan, 18 Eric Duff, 19 Sam Watt, 20 Cawte Whiting, 21 Nete Caucau, 22 Josh Walker.
BULLER 1 Logan Mundy, 2 Warwick Knox, 3 Jerome Vaai, 4 Glen Angus, 5 Craig Moore, 6 Blair McIlroy, 7 Luke Brownlee, 8 Tai Ratu, 9 Andrew Stephens (C), 10 James Lash, 11 Setefano Sauqaqa, 12 Penijamini Nabainivalu, 13 Mike Lealava’a, 14 Scott Neighbours, 15 Iliesa Ravudra. Reserves: 16 Glen Duncan, 17 Phil Beveridge, 18 Isei Lewaqai, 19 Reece Burton, 20 Craig Adams, 21 Jesse Elley, 22 Sam Marris.
Cantabs made to work hard Canterbury 28 Counties Manukau 20 The drought continues. The majority of rugby people would have been shocked if the Steelers had won their first match over Canterbury since Joeli Vidiri’s heyday in 1998, but the visitors to Pukekohe did enough last night to go 6-0 for the season in their 28-20 win. Canterbury will be unhappy at not securing the bonus point, but that was partly due to some staunch Steelers’ resistance. They made a stirring second half comeback, where the passes started to stick. However, lock Sikeli Nabou, who was held up over the line once, was then binned for a punch and they lost the momentum. It might have been different if centre Rey Lee-Lo had been awarded a try, but the TMO ruled inconclusive on whether he had exerted enough control. Canterbury knew the home side would come out with plenty of huff and puff, but they are ex-
pert at absorbing early heat. It didn’t help Counties Manukau that they converted just two of six first half penalty goal attempts, and tried a couple of injudicious grubber kicks when longer tactical kicking was required. But they rectified some of their issues early in the second stanza with some relentless play which yielded a try to Willi Heinz from a simple 8-9 scrum move. Steelers wing Frank Halai tried hard and ran with some meaning, scoring a try off a Toni Pulu bust, and another from long-range. The Steelers next host Wellington next Saturday, while Canterbury are at North Harbour on Wednesday night. Canterbury 28 (Matt Todd, Johnny McNicholl, Willi Heinz tries; Tom Taylor 2 con, 3 pen) Counties Manukau 20 (Frank Halai 2 tries; Sherwin Stowers con, Michael Stanley con; Tim Nanai-Williams pen, Ahsee Tuala pen). HT: 20-6. - NZH
‘Dad’s Army prepares to defend the Shield Jason Shoemark thrives on the Dad’s Army jokes his Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby team-mates throw his way. At 33, and the oldest in the squad, he expects them. But he is quick to point out utility back Matt Berquist, two years Shoemark’s junior, receives more. “It’s because Matt is bald,” Shoemark joked. An example of how the jokes bring out the best in Shoemark was the fact he did the best in a recent yoyo endurance test with a score of 22. The 2009 and ‘10 Magpies captain will receive a bigger test when he has his first ITM Cup starting XV appearance of the season in today’s Ranfurly Shield defence against Bay of Plenty at Napier’s McLean Park. As expected Shoemark, who has had four appearance off the bench this season, replaces Andrew Horrell at second fiveeighth. “I know I’ve got big shoes to fill. I just have to carry on doing what Andrew has been doing and
make everything run smoothly,” Shoemark said. “It’s been a different feeling sitting on the bench but the body feels good. Hopefully I can add to what has been done so far.” A former Blues and Highlanders Super player before travelling overseas to play for the Exeter Chiefs in the Aviva Premiership, Shoemark, said the only difference between being a starter and a sub is the starter gets more time in the starting XV at trainings. And the biggest differences between this year’s Magpies squad and the Magpies teams he played for from 2006-’10? “This one is so much younger. “There’s Matt Berquist, Chris Eaton and I who are over 30 and the rest are in their early to mid 20s. This is a very talented team ... we just have to build consistency. We have to back up those performances like we had against Otago week in and week out. We learnt against Northland [a 2321 loss] what can happen when you have lapses ... it’s a mental thing.” - NZH
Ashburton Guardian 23
England the ABs’ biggest RWC threat, says Henry In front of a packed and partisan crowd, World Cupwinning coach Sir Graham Henry said he believes England pose the biggest roadblock to the All Blacks winning back-to-back titles. Henry, who will host a supporters’ package to the World Cup in England next year, along with unlikely 2011 hero Stephen Donald, said you should not underestimate the power of a home crowd, both in lifting spirits and influencing officials. He described the effect of England playing at Twickenham as similar to the All Blacks’ mastery at Eden Park, and also believes referees become susceptible to pressure from 70,000 home supporters at rugby HQ. “England playing at home give away [an average of] eight penalties a game,” Henry said. “Playing away they concede 16. There will be some rugby reasons for that ... but most refs tend to favour the home side. “I don’t believe it’s intentional, it’s more a subconscious thing. You’ve at least 70,000 English people pressuring you to make decisions that favour their side.” Despite losing the June series 3-0 to the All Blacks, England, for the first two tests at least, showed they were making significant progress under coach Stuart Lancaster, particularly with regards to playing with width. They will not, however, be the only side capable of mounting a genuine title challenge. “Ireland will be competitive,” Henry said. “Joe Schmidt is a very good coach. They will be focused and play to their potential. My worry with them is fitness. They tend to run out of petrol.” South Africa’s competitiveness in Wellington last weekend caught the eye of Henry, and one player in particular impressed the coach. While acknowledging that the better side won, he saw enough from the Boks to suggest that they could be competitive next year. “The young first-five, Handre Pollard, has real ability,” Henry said. - NZH