Rugby: Taranaki's plan - Got the shield, cup is next

Taranaki now aim for the ITM cup. Photo / Getty Images

Basking in the glow of winning the Ranfurly Shield this week, Taranaki are now looking to squeeze the ITM Cup alongside it in the cabinet but they will also hope they don't go down in history for all the wrong reasons.

Taranaki will defend the Log o' Wood in what will be a feverish challenge from Hawkes Bay at Yarrow Stadium tomorrow afternoon - five days after their 15-12 tryless victory over Southland in Invercargill.

Taranaki manager Shane McDonald said the team were acutely aware that now they had claimed the shield for the first time in 15 years, they did not want to go down in history as the team with the shortest reign.

"There is plenty of motivation for us there," said McDonald.

Wellington (1963) and Waikato (2007) share the ignominy of the shortest reigns in the trophy's 107-year history - seven days.

Thursday was a big day for the amber and blacks after their deeds at Rugby Stadium the night before. A pool session in Invercargill was followed by a flight to New Plymouth via Christchurch and then an open-top bus parade through town as well as more celebrations at Yarrow Stadium.

McDonald said tiredness among the players had been an issue, but that wasn't due to any outlandish festivities.

"The boys didn't drink much after the game - they knew they had another one on Sunday. But the game was an 8.05pm kick-off, which meant the players didn't eat till midnight and then didn't get to bed until 1am or 1.30am. A lot had trouble sleeping because they were so wired.

"We let them sleep in this morning and a few of the other players and I took the shield around four or five schools in the area."

There is more at stake for Taranaki tomorrow than merely dodging an unwanted milestone.

They are third on the Premiership table, two points behind table-toppers Canterbury and are in the hunt for the double.

But the table is so congested that five teams are still in the running to take the top title. Canterbury, Waikato, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Auckland make up the top five places in that order and one point separates each team.

Taranaki can be particularly satisfied with their position as their victory over Southland came only four days after being dismantled 27-0 by Canterbury in Christchurch.

It was quite a response and a similar effort could be required to repel the challenge of Championship side Hawkes Bay, who have not held the Shield since 1966.