Richard Loe: Southland likely to tighten Shield grip

Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Getty Images

You'd have to say that Southland could well finish the season as they started it - as Ranfurly Shield holders - based on that match against Auckland this week.

I thought they were terrific - great attitude, pride and passion and you can't help but cheer them on. Canterbury are next up but, at the moment, I don't see them winning the Shield. The problem for me is in the tight five. They are not quite doing the business, as far as I am concerned. That's why the wheels came off against Taranaki and I was amazed that the Canterbury coaches benched Sonny Bill Williams.

The story is that he got it wrong when he tracked back and tried to drop on a couple of balls but I think the rot had set in up front. It wasn't down to Sonny Bill. For my money, he made a difference when he came on against Wellington yesterday; he's an All Black and he'll be on the end-of-year tour, as sure as eggs.

I don't know why the Canterbury coaches, Rob Penney and Tabai Matson, aren't picking him.

He scored a cracking try and the guy who started, Ryan Crotty, was a bit rusty and threw an intercept pass that was about three metres forward as well, costing them 7 points. I can't think of one good reason not to select Williams.

Maybe they'll bring him back for the Shield match. However, with strange selection decisions like SBW and unconvincing displays up front, I can't see Canterbury lifting the Shield if Southland can hold their form.

I don't think Wellington are up to much either. They were improved yesterday but have been poor for much of the season and Canterbury and Hosea Gear kept them in the match.

It has been a trying and exhausting year for Southland but they have really found their feet as a team and I think that will sustain them.

Auckland should have won that game but they just didn't quite look like it and their frustration began to catch up with them. They are a young side and haven't yet learned how to grind out a victory.

Their tight five didn't quite foot it with Southland's and I thought the locks, Kurtis Haiu and Andrew van der Heijden, were good ball carriers, but not so good at the grafting stuff, which cost them in turnovers.

It was zero degrees and a minus factor in wind chill which would not have helped them - but you can't go past Southland at the moment. They have progressed mightily as a team but you must admire some of the individuals too.

Jason Rutledge is our No1 hooker right now (with Keven Mealamu and Andrew Hore still out) and his form is way better than Corey Flynn's or Aled de Malmanche or anyone else on the scene. He does the basics well and his defence is superb. He may warrant a real look after the World Cup.

You get the feeling that Scott Cowan, Jimmy's little brother, and first five-eighths Robbie Robinson may mature too. Both played well and appeal as potentials for the future - but I am not really talking them up for anything above ITM Cup level at this stage.

As for the finals of the ITM Cup, you would have to have Southland making it to the top four.

Auckland, Canterbury should be there and I'd say Taranaki will make it as well.