Waikato 44 Southland 36
By CHRIS RATTUE
Christianity and a Christian have hampered Todd Miller's chances of a long All Black career.
Injuries have also cut into his prospects, but when he is fit and firing, Waikato are still blessed with one of the best fullbacks in the business.
Kiwi Searancke's side would have been in trouble without him as they clung to a 44-36 Ranfurly Shield and NPC victory over Southland at Rugby Park in Hamilton on Saturday.
Miller's decision to not play on Sundays because of his religious beliefs has reduced his chances of extending his All Black career of four non-test games in 1997.
And even had the 25-year-old Miller been available to play every day, he and other fullbacks have been blocked in their path to the top by Christian Cullen.
With long All Black tours a thing of the past and test teams not carrying specialist fullback reserves, Miller's days were probably numbered.
But along with another discarded All Black, midfield back Scott McLeod, Miller rescued a shaky shield defence against a Southland side who threatened a huge upset by taking opportunities, rather than constructing too much themselves.
Miller created Waikato's opening try by running into the line from deep to let Bruce Reihana score the first of his three touchdowns.
And Miller notched the second, after a McLeod break, with some twists and turns when he found himself 10m from the line with no one outside him to finish the move.
In a tremendous first half, Miller produced some great cover defending and a magical catch and dance up the sideline followed by an centimetre-perfect kick to touch to again keep Southland at bay.
McLeod, who played eight tests in 1996-97, produced another big midfield break to set up Reihana's second try to give Waikato a 25-19 lead early in the second half.
Searancke believes injuries affected McLeod's confidence in recent seasons, but the player disagrees.
"I don't think they affected my confidence. It's just that now I am actually able to run."
On regaining an All Black place, or rumours he will play rugby in Europe, McLeod said: "I'm just concentrating on playing well for Waikato and not thinking about anything else. Just focusing on Waikato is helping my game."
Which hardly dispelled the rumours he will head overseas.
Whenever the shield holders appeared ready to take control, Southland would come back.
Waikato were not averse to helping them. At 25-19, Glen Jackson tried a long pass which centre Graeme Bond intercepted for a try which got Southland back in front.
It came at a time when Waikato needed to put a foot on the Southland throat, rather than try a speculative pass.
The inconsistent Jackson had a wobbly match, with three botched kickoffs, although he did produce a clever run for the 70th-minute try which gave his side a 37-29 cushion and the first decent sight of victory.
The turning point probably came when Southland first five-eighths David Hill missed straight 40m and 45m penalties midway through the second half, when his side was trailing 29-30.
Said Southland captain Brendon Timmins: "You could see they [Waikato] were starting to doubt themselves ... the kicks missed and they got out of jail."
Coach Leicester Rutledge was also left ruing three crucial missed tackles which led to Waikato tries.
After their loss to Taranaki last week, it was hardly the convincing performance on home turf that Searancke and his troops would have wanted.
Waikato's effort was typified by instances where their scrum crashed Southland back, yet their defensive screen was not in place and the visitors engineered breakouts.
One led to Southland's first try, a brilliant effort started and finished by No 8 Mat O'Connell.
Said Searancke: "We looked slow and a little bit lethargic."
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Rugby: Discarded fullback remains a blessing for Waikato
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