Rugby: Shield secondary to NPC says Searancke

By Chris Rattue

Waikato have targeted the NPC as their major aim this season, with new coach Kiwi Searancke saying they realise the Ranfurly Shield "won't be with us forever."

Former coach John Boe continued to rate the shield as the premier domestic rugby trophy as the Mooloos retained the shield throughout 1998.

However Searancke, who was Boe's assistant, believes the NPC is the true test of a side's ability, and is also more significant in promoting players into national squads.

Waikato will run up a massive score over Wairarapa Bush in today's first defence of the shield in Hamilton, even though they are missing Royce Willis, Michael Collins, Rhys Duggan, Bruce Reihana and Mark Ranby, and also have late injury concerns.

Searancke said: "At the moment I'm not feeling the pressure of retaining the shield, although if it keeps going I'm sure the pressure will build.

"It's great that we've got it but it won't be with us forever and that is the attitude we have got.

"I think the NPC is the most important. Our first aim is to get to the semifinals again.

"The All Black selectors have also made it clear they view the NPC semifinals and final as the place they can really gauge how good players are."

Original first five-eighths selection Michael Blank will miss today's match because of an ankle problem, with Glen Jackson taking his place.

Captain Deon Muir and wing Roger Randle are in doubt with hamstring problems. Flanker Nick Holten, who captained the side against Japan, will take over the leadership job, with Hayden Scown taking Muir's place on the back of the scrum.

If Randle is out, Scott McLeod will go on to the wing and swap roles with centre Keith Lowen during the game.

Brad Miller, the younger brother of fullback Todd Miller, and young wing Jeremy Murray have moved into contention for places on the reserves' bench.

Searancke said one of the problems with matches in which first-division sides are expected to run up cricket scores against smaller unions was that the forwards tended to become lazy as the score mounted.

"They start wanting to run around like centres, which as someone who spent 20 years with my head down in the forwards I can fully understand," said Searancke, a former Waikato prop.

"But you don't really find out how good your forward pack is until you come up against other first-division sides. What I'll really be looking at is performance, rather than the score, in this game.

"You've got to be honest and say we will win this game, although sport is full of major upsets."

Waikato: Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Keith Lowen, Damian Karauna, Matthew Cooper, Glen Jackson, Ben Willis; Deon Muir (captain), Nick Holten, Tony Petero, Mark Cooksley, Marty Holah, Paul Martin, Guy Coleman, David Briggs.

Reserves (from): Scott McLeod, Brad Miller, Jeremy Murray, Isaac Boss, Hayden Scown, Chresten Davis, Horo Manuel, Greg Smith.

Wairarapa Bush: Russell Thompson, Darren Kapene, Robin Walker, Corie Karaitiana, Ben Couch, Neil Rodger, Troy Para; Simon Searle, Mike Fleming (captain), Mike Gibbs, Kerry Hargood, Germaine Anaha, Lee Pako, Deon Mitchell, David Hume.

Reserves: Neil Foote, Tom Molenitar, James Bruce, Aaron Satchwell, James Saipani, Adam Laffey, Aaron Matenga.