Rugby: All geared up for rugged Ranfurly Shield battle

Auckland coach Mark Anscombe knows a win for his young side could make a lot of careers. Photo / Getty Images

Auckland have made six changes for their Ranfurly Shield challenge tomorrow, bolstering their pack and reintroducing several All Blacks for the expected onslaught from Southland.

Just to give Auckland a sense of the atmosphere, former All Black Grant Fox spoke to them yesterday about the special demands of a Shield match.

Frontrowers John Afoa and Tom McCartney return to the Auckland scrum, Andrew van der Heijden is back at lock and flanker Onosai Auva'a resumes after overcoming knee damage.

First-year All Black Benson Stanley is reinstated to boost the organisation and thrust at centre and Chay Raui claims the left wing spot after making his way back from injury.

While there was discussion about the changes, much of the initial focus on coach Mark Anscombe and his side was how they would cope with the next southerly bust in Invercargill.

"We can't control anything so there is no point worrying," Anscombe said. "Conditions are there for both teams so hopefully it will be all right so it can be a reasonable game."

It would not matter much to Auckland anyway because they had been dogged by bad weather throughout their ITM Cup campaign.

Anscombe joked his side had been scouring ski outlet sales around Auckland for thermal underwear before they board their flight today for the snow-laden deep south.

The game would feature sides with the best defences in the competition but it would be unlikely to find many pockets of support for Auckland in the 20,200 capacity crowd at Rugby Park Stadium.

"We have to back ourselves, be confident, look after the ball. We have to take them on up front and get go forward ball and if we do that and look after the ball, I am confident we can beat them," Anscombe said.

Auckland would be boosted with All Blacks Afoa in at loosehead prop and Stanley at centre.

Southland's scrum was unsettled last week against Waikato and Auckland would be looking for a similar advantage, although Anscombe conceded they had their troubles too against the Mooloo men.

No 8 Chris Lowrey had damaged his knee in last week's win against Manawatu so getting Auva'a back was a huge boost. He had been in strong form alongside captain Daniel Braid before he was injured last month.

Anscombe said that apart from Fox's chat there had been little attention on the Ranfurly Shield.

"The key for us is that it is a competition game," he said. "We have talked about if we beat them down there we will go top of the table and that has to be the focus."

The Shield was an extra prize which would come as a consequence of playing well, he said. But Anscombe acknowledged Southland would be a tough team to crack after five successful defences this year. They had recruited strongly in recent years, had a strong set of coaches and administration while their supporters all got in behind the region and its rugby team.

"They have got people down there who want to play for Southland and winning starts building confidence. Once the players look around and think of moving they want to go to a team that is successful," Anscombe said.

"They picked up some good young players and that is from doing a lot of hard work in the last two or three years."

It is going to be a rugged battle. Conditions might be tough but that's out of anyone's control. Auckland will be worrying about their impact and Southland won't want to be handing over the famous trophy.

Claiming the Ranfurly Shield would mean a great deal to Auckland. They have not had it for some time and winning it would be a reward for the growth and development of the young team.

"This could be a breaking point for a lot of young guys' careers. If you go down there and win a Shield game you get a lot of opportunities. It has opened doors for some of their players and that is the way we are looking at it."

Auckland has not been favoured by the weather this season and was poor in dreadful conditions last week against Manawatu. A number of players had made errors.

"Maybe we weren't 100 per cent to start with," said Anscombe, "and I'd like to think we would be for this game."

AUCKLAND

Invercargill, Thursday 7.35pm

Brent Ward
Dave Thomas
Benson Stanley
Jamie Helleur
Chay Raui
Matt Berquist
Toby Morland
Peter Saili
Daniel Braid
Onosa'i Auva'a
A. Van der Heijden
Kurtis Haiu
Charlie Faumuina
Tom McCartney
John Afoa

SOUTHLAND

Glen Horton
Mark Wells
Tony Koonwaiyou
Matt Saunders
James Paterson
Robbie Robinson
Scott Cowan
Kane Thompson
Tim Boys
John Hardie
Joe Tuineau
Josh Bekhuis
Chris King
Jason Rutledge
J. Mackintosh (c)

Southland: Brayden Mitchell, Nick Barrett, Alex Ryan, Dion Bates, Sony Rangitoheriri, Seminar Manu, Pehi Te Whare.

Auckland: Ash Dixon, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Sean Polwart, Brenton Helleur, Gareth Anscombe, Winston Stanley.