Rugby: Counties boys unreal, say Southland

Scott Cowan keeps the ball moving for Southland in the face of a big fight by Counties. Photo / Getty Images

It is another month before Southland get to play at home - in a strange sort of way that might provide some relief.

On Saturday they peeled back another epic challenge against a Counties Manukau side like no other that captain Jamie Mackintosh has played before.

It might not provide much consolation to Milton Haig and Tana Umaga et al, but they can take heart in the fact they are now recognised as genuine contenders rather than a team that has briefly got above its station.

"The Counties boys were just unreal," Mackintosh said yesterday. "Their defence and particularly the set piece - they put us under pressure in the scrum in the first half - was outstanding. It just made for a great game.

"Both teams used the ball really well and it turned out to be an awesome spectacle.

"The lungs were burning. We wanted to use the ball, we definitely didn't want to kick it to them with [Tim] Nanai-Williams running really well ... and we took that to the extreme when we ran at them from behind our goal line with about 109m to go to theirs, but it actually proved to be a pretty good decision."

The one-test prop saw parallels between what Counties are doing now and where Southland were at four years ago.

"It took us four or five years to put together a pretty good team and start making the semifinals. They're now paying the dividend of getting some experienced guys back and keeping the same team together.

"They're playing with real heart and will be a real threat in the competition."

Like their match against Otago the week before, Southland were not safe until the final whistle and are quickly learning what many great teams before them have: the Ranfurly Shield is a double-edged log of wood.

The administrators love it as they see the ratio between seats and bums narrow. The public love it as it becomes a source of local pride.

The players love it too, but the sheer intensity comes at a price.

Every home game, whether it be against contenders or teams normally considered easy beats, they know they will be up against 15 men playing to the sharp edge of their physical capabilities.

It is understandable, then, that Mackintosh is relishing the next month on the road.

"It'll certainly be easier on the body," he said. "It was a big motivation for us. After the game we were rapt knowing that we were going away for the next three weekends and the shield was going to be staying home. It's a really good feeling."

Counties returned home yesterday with plans for the first Ranfurly Shield parade down Pukekohe's main street on hold, but their pride intact.

"Southland didn't want to give it up. They were brilliant," said assistant coach Umaga. "They were everywhere ... it felt like there were 20 of them out there."