Canterbury: Good ship is a tight ship with considerable depth

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The new media woman at Canterbury rugby made it clear there would be no direct-dialling to important people such as new-but-departing head coach Steve Hansen. All approaches most go through her.

The good ship Canterbury is a very tight ship. There is even a media plan.

But the obvious reply was that dealing with Canterbury is always like dealing with the Gestapo. What's new?

"We're trying to be more media-friendly this year," she replied.

There is even a set hour, or something like that, every Thursday when you can talk to anyone.

Marvellous stuff, but we're still confused over the new, friendly policy.

Canterbury are highly organised, ruthless and hell-bent on winning everything, even if the opposition are poor media types.

They were even ringing young Counties Manukau back Casey Laulala just as the struggling Steelers were about to name their squad, and were far from apologetic afterwards.

Since relaunching themselves on the rugby world late in 1996, the red-and-blacks have won the NPC title once, lost last year's final, lost two semis, and missed the playoffs once.

This does not quite match their Super 12 and All Black selection achievements.

Still, they are always in the frame. Even without nine All Blacks, they can put out a squad with six more All Blacks, other national representatives, plus highly-rated Colts.

They look like certainties for the semifinals.