Passionate southerners give Mooloos a fright

Waikato 24 Southland 12

Southland's visit might prove to be a timely reminder for Waikato as they moved a step closer to the national championship final.

If a visitor from a far-off place had wandered into Waikato Stadium half an hour into this Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final, they'd have wondered who had been the top qualifier and who sneaked in 8th spot such was the passion and cutting edge Southland brought to the contest.

To anybody hovering outside the stadium shortly before kickoff: did you spot the telephone box from which Southland, so lackadaisical, so spiritless a week ago against Northland, emerged on Saturday night in full caped regalia?

They combined robust defence with penetrating runs from several backs, notably second five-eighth James Kawau in what should be a Super 14 contract-winning display.

Three times in the first half, the television official was required. Three times he said, correctly, sorry Southland.

It took Waikato until five minutes before the break to take the sting out of the visitors, when Mils Muliaina picked up an in-pass from Sitiveni Sivivatu and scooted to the tryline.

There had been fine isolated moments earlier from Waikato, and Stephen Donald would surely have scored had not Sivivatu's pass been forward. But Waikato looked like a dancer who had forgotten his steps in that first spell. They got a hand from referee Steve Walsh, who murdered Southland in the penalty count.

It was the 23rd minute before they got their solitary first-half whistle - it was 9-1 at the break, 15-5 at the end - and they needed every break to go their way if they were to pull off an upset. Walsh won't be getting any cards bearing Invercargill postmarks this Christmas.

Once prop Aled de Malmanche barged across two minutes into the second half to put the hosts out to 17-0 it was game over. Sosene Anesi capped a good night's work slicing through 16 minutes from the end, but Southland didn't give up and in fullback Kendrick Lynn, Kawau and replacement first five-eighths James Wilson, who scored two late tries, one a 60m breakaway, they have pacy backs worth watching next year.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan worked tirelessly but, once Waikato found their feet, class showed through. Liam Messam and Keith Robinson were good value, and captain for the night Marty Holah made critical tackles as Southland roared in the first half hour.

Nobody told captain Clarke Dermody and his men what was supposed to happen, and they deserve praise for leaving nothing in the changing room.

"We tried to send a message out not to force it. We put ourselves under pressure in that first 30 minutes," Waikato coach Warren Gatland said.

His concern will be that semifinal opponents Otago will be far more adept at making them pay.