Lumbering lock runs down flyer

By CHRIS RATTUE

WAIKATO 34 NORTHLAND 18

Miracles do happen. The 4000 crowd at ITM Stadium in Whangarei witnessed one today.

Most of them probably turned up hoping for another one, involving Northland beating Waikato, but the Mooloo triumphed by 16 points.

Yet they did see something far more miraculous - a lumbering lock forward sprinting 80m to run down one of the most brilliant wing three-quarters rugby has seen.

The wing, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, had already busted the Waikato midfield to set up a first-minute try to fellow Fijian Fero Lasagavibau.

Two minutes later, Caucaunibuca was off again, grabbing a turnover on his own 22m line and setting sail down the left-hand touchline with not a defender in sight.

That's when big Dave Duley set off, as the rest of us thought: "Don't bother flogging that dead horse, Dave. You haven't got a chance."

Yet somehow he did it. Just when Caucaunibuca should have started gliding away from the lock, No 4 started hauling No 11 in.

And bang in the corner, Duley got his man, flinging enough body parts into touch for the video referee to notice.

"I didn't expect to catch him. It just happened," said former Bay of Plenty forward, who was in his first starting game for Waikato.

"I only thought of stopping him getting nearer the posts. But as I got closer and closer the adrenalin started flowing.

"I'll say he was flying ... Okay, maybe he was going a bit slower than usual.

"I used to play flanker but I'm not known for my speed," said Duley.

"The boys were giving me a bit of stick out there, saying I should play on the wing in future.

"I'll always remember this day, the day I caught Rupeni. The trouble is, I don't think people will believe me."

And there's more. Duley should hardly be in his prime, having had just 1 1/2 games since a wrist fracture sidelined him for five months.

Only three minutes of his comeback time was in the top Waikato side.

Caucaunibuca often appears to be cruising, even in his greatest moments, but this time he really was. A Waikato opponent suggested the wing might have been dining out a bit recently.

He may flow on the field, but Caucaunibuca's conversations - with the media at least - tend to be in sentences of one word.

"I'm 100kg - I should be 94kg," he said in the stadium tunnel, in one of his more eloquent moments.

Caucaunibuca has had two tests for Fiji in recent weeks but is only getting back to fitness after a leg injury at the end of the Super 12, and his wedding.

Moments after Duley's incredible moment, Caucaunibuca sat on the ground, apparently exhausted, then was substituted. This might have been the first time a rugby player retired puffed.

Later, he indicated he had suffered a head injury that left him dazed and might have affected his speed as Duley gave chase.

Caucaunibuca, who will be one of the major World Cup attractions, returns to Fiji tomorrow.

Fiji and Northland medical staff will liaise about his fitness, although he is not expected back for another Northland appearance this year.

Waikato captain Jono Gibbes reckoned Duley's remarkable chase helped to spark Waikato into action.

"That was a great chase ... no one usually catches Rupeni in those situations."

Gibbes added: "We had our foot on their throat but we kept letting them back in. But we found a bit of composure at the end.

"We've still got some stuff to address."

Northland lost centre Norm Berryman to illness a few hours before the match and that may have affected their defensive formations.

Waikato found space on the flanks, with Regan King and Liki Crichton among those to take advantage, but Waikato errors helped Northland to hang on.

There was an inevitable feel to the result once Caucaunibuca departed, although he returned as an injury replacement for Sam Davis in the 47th minute - but had little impact.

Had Duley not run down Caucaunibuca, the home side might have pulled off an upset. If there was a turning point, this was it.

Northland coach Donny Stevenson said Caucaunibuca had a shin problem.

"He's not 100 per cent. He has a limp - a very fast limp. Fitness is an issue," he said.

Limp or no limp, it was a case of hold up your head, Dave Duley. He gave a sporting masterclass in never giving in.