Canterbury can thank neighbours Otago when they win the NPC first division rugby competition this season. Even teams with the stunning record of the Cantabs in both Super 12 and NPC play need a wake-up call every now and again. And they got theirs when Otago deservedly got the better of themon Saturday afternoon. Reflection, I know, is a wonderful thing but when you think of it Otago struck Canterbury at a time when their guard was always likely to be down They had successfully battled through three successive hotly-contested Ranfurly Shield games against Taranaki, Waikato and Wellington and without the "log of wood" to spur them on the chances of them under-performing were better than they had been for a long time. It wasn't that Canterbury looked tired, it was just that the passion which is such an integral part of their game wasn't quite as intense as it would normally be. And to give Otago due credit they were good enough and smart enough to take advantage of deficiencies which are usually foreign to Canterbury sides. None more so than the defence around the ruck and maul area. Generally the Cantabs are absolutely lethal in that part of the game, even when the likes of McCaw aren't there to marshall the troops. On Saturday though the Otago pack, so brilliantly led by the rejuvenated Anton Oliver, were often able to make good metreage there, with ball carriers often brushing aside a couple of tackles before having their progress halted. And the usually tight Canterbury midfield defence were exposed from time to time as well. The problem for the other three contenders for the first division title-Auckland, North harbour and Otago- now is that Canterbury are sure to bounce back stronger than ever. Getting the bulk of their All Blacks back will, of course, be a help but even without them you could wager that with the business end of the NPC season now upon us last weekend's loss will quickly become a distant memory. A Canterbury team with something to prove is well nigh unstoppable. Believe me.
