Richard Loe: Breakdown skill highlights Canterbury's edge

The highly driven Cantabrians were superior at the breakdown. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury deservedly won the ITM Cup on Friday by the simple process of losing the game at the set pieces - but winning it everywhere else.

They were by far the better side at the breakdown, committing more people to the tackled ball, being more physical when they got there and driving over the ball.

Their defence was better and that's why they pressured Waikato into mistakes and into giving up a couple of soft tries from kicks. It was surprisingly one-sided and would have been more so if Ryan Crotty had been awarded what seemed to be a perfectly fair try after a fumble over the line by defending winger Henry Speight.

Two things really stood out for me - the lack of a crowd and the play of Isaac Ross and his selection for the Chiefs next year.

The crowd was pitifully small. I know it wasn't a pleasant night and some will have stayed home to watch on TV. I know the quakes are continuing. I know the All Blacks weren't turning out. I know this is a lower level than Super rugby. But how many excuses can we make for the fact that people across the country, not just in Christchurch, are not turning up to the showcase of our provincial game?

Seems to me rugby still has a big problem there.

During the final, I found my thoughts turning to the Super 15 squads being announced on Wednesday.

We already know that two locks - Ross and Hayden Triggs from Otago - have been selected by the Chiefs.

I spent a bit of time watching Ross during the final and came to the conclusion that he hasn't really much changed the way he was playing when he was dropped from the All Blacks.

There is no denying his skill level, his pace and his ball sense. But a lock has to be able to do all the graft in the tight phases before they run around in the open. Canterbury came second in the scrums and lineouts but the other seven forwards and a couple of the backs did the business at the breakdowns and on defence.

Wyatt Crockett was an example. He got done in the scrums but he thundered round the field looking like the rucks and mauls were all he cared about - and it worked.

Ross mostly acted as 'guard dog' round the rucks and mauls. He also doesn't always impress in taking the ball up. There was one situation on Friday where Ross almost scored a try.

If Brad Thorn had been in the same position, I think the try would have been scored - he just has that extra drive.

Waikato people have been asking me why Chiefs coach Ian Foster has brought in both Ross and Triggs. I am not sure.

Former All Black lock Kevin O'Neill has gone to the Melbourne Rebels, fair enough, but Triggs plays like a fringer as well.

In fact, I'd say he is a second five-eighths trying to play blindside flanker, trapped in a lock's body.

We are hearing that Waikato lock Toby Lynn might not have made the Chiefs this year.

I hope that is wrong - he does a power of work and really gives his all. He is a hard grafter and contact man.

The other two Chiefs locks could be Romana Graham (Waikato) and Cullum Retallick (Bay of Plenty).