In demand Cowan is Stag knight in shining armour

Jimmy Cowan

Loyalty is valued pretty highly down south, so when Jimmy Cowan turned down the chance to move to arguably greener pastures there would have been a few nods of approval among doughty locals.

The Gore-born, 23-year-old halfback has caught the eye in recent times as a result of a Justin Marshall-type game - strong and physical around the rucks - and was rewarded when he found himself called into the All Blacks for their end-of-season tour to France and the UK last year.

Since then he's been courted by a number of provinces and franchises - he diplomatically declined to name names but the Crusaders are understood to be in the mix - but has rebuffed those advances to stick with Southland.

"I have been approached by a few but I'm a loyal boy," Cowan said as he prepares to take on the Lions in Invercargill on Tuesday night.

"I have got some unfinished business down here. There are some good youngsters coming through the ranks and if we keep them together I think we can be a force in the near future."

The Stags struggled last season when they won only one game, against Northland, in the NPC to finish second from bottom. They're not expected to set the world alight this time round but they have a solid tight five with the likes of props Clarke Dermody and Jamie Mackintosh, lock Daniel Quate and a loose trio led by former All Black No 8 Paul Miller and tearaway openside Hale T-Pole.

Cowan fancies his side's chances against a stuttering Lions and makes no bones about the fact they will play to their strengths up front.

He also admitted that they wouldn't mind a typically grizzly Invercargill evening to put the wind up the Lions - although he quickly caught himself and said a good evening would be preferable to ensure a 20,000-strong crowd at Rugby Park.

Tuesday night won't be Cowan's only engagement in the coming weeks and he will jet off on Saturday to team up with the Junior All Blacks as they prepare to take on Australia A in Canberra on June 26.

Cowan was chuffed to be selected for that side considering he had an indifferent Super 12 campaign with the Highlanders and the emergence of a host of good halfbacks behind Marshall and Byron Kelleher. His form might have had something to do with the fact he was trying too hard to impress under the watchful gaze of the national selectors.

"This year has been a big learning curve," he admitted. "I came back from the All Blacks tour and got a starting spot with the Highlanders but didn't handle it too well. Every game has to be top-notch because I know the selectors are watching.

"But I couldn't find any consistency, I made a lot of mistakes, my decision-making wasn't good and my passing and kicking wasn't up to scratch. I'm trying to forget about it and put it all behind me."

A win over the Lions would certainly go a long way to healing the wounds and the halfback who made his debut for the Stags as a 17-year-old thinks they have a good chance of toppling Sir Clive Woodward's army. With the first test in Christchurch less than a week away, the Lions will rest their test side and field the dirt-trackers instead.

Southland have beaten the Lions twice in 10 outings - in 1950 and 1966 - and, while the non-test players will have plenty to prove, the visitors would underestimate the home side at their peril. 

- HERALD ON SUNDAY