Chiefs mate v mate at the Mount

By CHRIS RATTUE

John Mitchell was left in no doubt about the importance of the Ranfurly Shield this week.

Not that he needed any reminders, having captained Waikato through a mini shield era after the great triumph over Auckland 11 years ago.

Despite this, a friendly punter obviously felt the Waikato coach needed a refresher course before tomorrow's challenge against Bay of Plenty in Mt Maunganui.

Having spied a visiting Japanese team training near his Fraser Tech club, Mitchell - like any self-respecting obsessive coach - had stopped his car to have a nosy.

Next minute - a loud bang on the driver's window. A local fan wanted to let him know in no uncertain terms the importance of the shield.

It was a case of preaching to the converted, of course, even though Mitchell is also ever mindful of the value of NPC points tomorrow.

"He [the fan] really let it spill out. The shield brings a special value to a province like ours ... Rugby people around us have certainly let the team know how they feel about it," says Mitchell.

It's that extra emotional factor which makes this clash one of the most tantalising in many years of provincial rugby.

For once, the silverware is not in the hands of a usual suspect. Bay of Plenty, a team down in the doldrums just two years ago, have risen from the dread - the dreaded thought of relegation, that is - and grabbed the famous Log o' Wood in the process. These are what sporting dreams are made of.

For too long, Taranaki - who held the shield momentarily in professional rugby's infancy - carried the hopes of the outsiders, although they struggled come NPC semifinal time.

Bay of Plenty are the new rugby darlings after claiming what is still sometimes referred to as the most prized trophy in New Zealand sport.

There is another edge to tomorrow's clash, with it being a local derby. There is a constant battle among the top players to win and retain professional contracts. Bay of Plenty have gradually edged their way into the Chiefs' mix, and could make another major claim here.

There is also an element of Chiefs mate against Chiefs mate, with a wealth of intelligence about opposing players thrown into the equation.

How will the players react under the heat at sunny Mt Maunganui? Bay of Plenty will run on a fair degree of emotion, after a week which began with traditional shield celebrations, followed by community visits.

Mitchell says: "They will be lifted by the people around them. And the less preparation time, the more focused and purposeful they will be. I think it will help them in this case."

Mitchell would say this, of course, but he may have a point.

An emotional high combined with a touch of fear about losing a prize they will have come to value more and more during the week should produce plenty of fire in the belly.

Look out for a high-octane start at the speedway track, although the holders must ensure they don't give up early penalties allowing Waikato to control the start.

In terms of match-winners, Waikato may hold the ace with the return of Sitiveni Sivivatu from a hamstring problem.

In terms of experience, Waikato have an edge through their domination of the Chiefs side, but don't have an overwhelming advantage in this area because they also have a fair share of newcomers.

Mitchell says: "We're a young team and whatever happens in this game, we will grow out of it.

"For some of our guys, it will be the closest they come to experiencing a test-match-type atmosphere."

A game that, when the schedule was announced, shaped as just another NPC encounter might instead help the domestic game reclaim ground it loses every year to the Super 12. Just imagine the fervour if Bay of Plenty could embark on a magical shield run.

The worrying thing for Bay of Plenty is that while their brilliant defence and determination deflated Auckland, Waikato hit the ground running with their timing and tactics against the rugged Southlanders.

On paper, a Waikato team minus four All Blacks and other injured players still have a slight edge.

In terms of riding a wave of support, Bay of Plenty have plenty.

The result will probably depend on who makes the better decisions under a pressure many of these players are not used to.

* Bay of Plenty vs Waikato, Mt Maunganui, tomorrow, 2.35pm