Ranfurly Shield is safe beside the bed

By JULIE ASH

Auckland prop Nick White slept with one eye open after the Ranfurly Shield win over Canterbury on Saturday.

Shield tradition demands that when the Log o' Wood changes hands, a front rower is appointed to mind it.

White took the task seriously.

"There is quite a bit of work involved with it, because everyone wants to have a hold and have photos with it so you have to have your wits about you," he said.

So to be on the safe side, the shield spent its first night in Auckland hands stored beside White's bed.

"I couldn't imagine it being the most comfortable thing to sleep with, so I just put it beside the bed where I could see it."

The triumphant team arrived home yesterday morning after their 40-31 win at Jade Stadium.

About 200 fans went to the airport and another 200 - mainly autograph-seeking youngsters - went to SkyCity for a reception lunch provided by the casino.

It was a new experience for all the Auckland players. None was in the team when Auckland last held the shield, in 1997.

Said captain Xavier Rush: "You don't get the chance to have a crack at it every day, so when you do it is great to be able to capitalise on it."

After the win, the team celebrated quietly in the bar of their Christchurch hotel.

"It was a bit of a hostile environment down there, so we had to be careful, especially after taking their prized jewel away from them," Rush joked.

Up 28-16 at halftime, Auckland got home 40-31 against the boot of Andrew Mehrtens, who kept Canterbury in the game.

For centre Ben Atiga, whose 74th-minute try clinched the win, it was "all a bit of a blur" yesterday.

"I think I just saw the opportunity and took it. Towards the last 10 metres I thought, 'I am in for it, I've got it, I've got it'."

In Christchurch, staff at one of the city's biggest sports bars, the Holy Grail, were grateful that the All Blacks' World Cup opener against Italy came soon after the end of the province's 23-match shield reign.

Restaurant manager Niki Nuaror said: "The shield loss wasn't forgotten, but after the All Blacks' game the mood was very positive. Everyone had a good time after all."

- additional reporting: Monique Devereux