Northland 23
Canterbury 27
With an outrageous backflip pass, Sonny Bill Williams did enough to earn an All Black call-up for the end-of-year tour - if that was ever in doubt.
The 25-year-old has been the subject of considerable debate in rugby circles since his arrival here from playing in France. There were many disciples but perhaps just as many who wondered if he could live up to the hype.
He will.
With his first three touches in his first ITM Cup start yesterday, he set up two Canterbury tries and threatened to open the game up with the other. His second offload that gifted lock Luke Romano a try was one to remember.
He received the ball about 12m out, attacked the line and then somehow pulled off an extraordinary backflip despite the attention of two defenders.
In that moment, he might have convinced a few more naysayers. He then followed it up less than 10 minutes later with an incisive run and perfectly-timed pass for Isaac Ross to score.
Williams has shown he can play in just two provincial games in New Zealand. His core skills are good and his unpredictability is an asset to any side. He can offload, fend and scythe through a gap, plus he can draw defenders and create space.
Of course, it will be much tougher at international level. But the All Blacks selectors must take him on the end-of-year tour. They need to discover what he is capable of and see how he fits in the All Blacks' game plan.
There are aspects of his game that need ironing out, like knowing when to take the ball to ground when the offload isn't on, but his creativity can't be quelled too much. The NZRU brought him back for a reason and that was to provide something different.
Williams' likely selection might scupper any hopes for Robbie Fruean. The Canterbury centre is being overshadowed by the hype around Williams, but he has been one of the form players of the ITM Cup and yesterday added another try to his burgeoning tally.
Messrs Henry and co would do worse than to take the strong-running centre with them to the northern hemisphere but it is becoming an increasingly congested midfield, especially with Isaia Toeava set to return from injury. Fruean might be battling Richard Kahui for a final spot on tour, and Kahui is something of a favourite for his utility value.
Fruean scored the first try of an entertaining match yesterday, when he collected Williams' first offload and scampered to the line in the sixth minute.
Canterbury were excellent in patches, but so were Northland and the home side trailed just 21-16 at halftime despite Williams' exploits.
They didn't panic, stuck to their own game plan and kept plugging away at the two-time defending champions, even when they were a man down for 10 minutes early in the second half. They upset Southland last weekend and aren't overawed by the big sides any more, and have earned many admirers for their enterprising style.
They had the momentum when Cameron Eyre scored to narrow the gap to 24-23 with 15 minutes remaining but Canterbury absorbed the pressure, added a Stephen Brett dropped goal and hung on to prevail in a gripping match.
The result was almost immaterial. Instead, the game will be remembered for the day Sonny Bill Williams arrived.
Northland 23 (B. Murray, C. Eyre tries; L. Munro 3 pens, 2 cons) Canterbury 27 (R. Fruean, L. Romano, I. Ross tries; S. Brett 3 cons, dg; A. Ellis dg). Halftime: 16-21.
