Preview: Southland v Auckland
Southland face their toughest Ranfurly Shield challenge yet when they host Auckland at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Thursday.
Southland face their toughest Ranfurly Shield challenge yet when they host Auckland at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Thursday.
Round Nine kicks off with a bang with this much anticipated top of the table ITM Cup clash, where the Stags will be hoping to retain the famous Log o'Wood they've held on so dearly this season thus far.
The Shield challenge will be Southland's sixth of their present tenure, with Auckland providing their most difficult opposition on paper so far. The match will also take place 51 years to the day that Auckland won 13-9 in Invercargill to end Southland's previous hold on the historic trophy.
Previous results between these two sides doesn't make for pretty reading if you're a Stags supporter. With just seven wins from their previous 50 games against the country's biggest province, history isn't exactly on the hosts' side.
However, with just one loss to their name in 2010, Southland will enter this match as favourites after the tournament leaders conquered Hamilton – a venue they had never won at before – by beating Waikato 7-6 last week.
Auckland, nipping at the Stags' heels on the competition ladder, left it late in their 32-6 win over Manawatu in the rain. The Aucklanders struggled for much of their defeat of last-placed Manawatu in Palmerston North, before piling on three late tries in dreadful conditions.
Speaking of the weather, the two sides can expect more showers, snow to low levels – on an already sodden Rugby Park – and cold gusty southwesterlies. Not ideal conditions for players or fans!
But the biggest challenge won't be the conditions. Instead, the Southlanders were looking at combating Auckland's physical presence up front in a contest that could be dominated by exchanges among the forwards given the expected conditions after the wintry weather in the province.
“To be honest, that's what we've been talking about all week – we have to match their physicality,” Southland co-coach Dave Henderson said.
“We don't think we've done that over the past couple of years and we need to on Thursday night.”
The teams:
Southland: 15 Glen Horton, 14 Mark Wells, 13 Tony Koonwaiyou, 12 Matt Saunders, 11 James Paterson, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Scott Cowan, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Nick Barrett, 18 Alex Ryan, 19 Dion Bates, 20 Sony Rangitoheriri, 21 Seminar Manu, 22 Pehi Te Whare.
Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Dave Thomas, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Chay Raui, 10 Matt Berquist, 9 Toby Morland, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Onosa'i Auva'a, 5 Andrew Van der Heijden, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 John Afoa.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Sean Polwart, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Gareth Anscombe, 22 Winston Stanley.
Referee: Vinny Munro