Rugby: Counties get into mood for Shield challenge

By Wynne Gray

As a dress-rehearsal for this week's Ranfurly Shield challenge, it was the hard slog Counties Manukau needed.

It was not the spectacle the crowd at Pukekohe wanted yesterday, but the benefits may emerge this Saturday.

On a rain-sodden afternoon and against a dogged Southland side, Counties eventually triumphed 31-10 to open their NPC campaign. It was a bonus-point win but the scoreline was a flattering reflection of the match.

Counties had their four tries in twin six-minute bursts in each half, but round those times they were made to work ultra-hard by an unrelenting visiting pack and very committed defenders.

It was just the sort of hit-out coach Mac McCallion agreed would be invaluable in tuning the side for Saturday's shield challenge against Waikato, another of the sides expected to outmuscle Counties this season.

Given dry conditions and Jonah Lomu to slot into their backline, Counties have a side which can cut others to pieces. Put them in the wet and with a game decided more on forward power, and Counties can struggle.

So it was yesterday, when they had to think their way past a Southland team comfortable with foul weather and intent on making fools of those who predict they will be NPC cellar-dwellers again.

Counties had to soak up the pressure, they had to fight into a strong second-half wind and they had to defuse the visiting forward strength.

It could be thus again in Hamilton this Saturday, where Waikato will have the forward firepower backed by steady backs and control, while Counties will have to find ways to sting.

With 15 minutes left yesterday, Counties held a slender 17-10 lead but should have surrendered that advantage as their defence was caught short on the blind.

Southland wing Anthony Lafaiali'i chipped ahead but the ball beat him over the deadball line. Southland despair at that lost chance seemed to infect the team and they lost a little composure and precious possession.

Counties finally got to the scoring zone and a clever Danny Lee reverse-pass from a ruck found No 8 Koula Tukino through the gap for the touchdown and Blair Feeney conversion. Six minutes from the end and Counties had saved the game.

In their hurried restart, Southland kicked the ball dead and from the ensuing scrum on halfway, the ball went wide to Lomu on the left, who brushed past a couple of tiring defenders to score from 40m.

It was a useful reward for Lomu, who looked for plenty of work in the miserable conditions.

The twin-try Counties blast mirrored the opening spell, when fullback Loki Crichton scored after a solo sidestepping run and soon after new skipper Glenn Marsh scored from a Tukino inside pass from the base of the scrum.

But in being unable to push out to more than a 17-0 lead at the break, Counties risked being rolled by Southland's vigour and heart, bolstered by the breeze.

However, their tactical kicking with the wind was not as sharp as that from Feeney and the pressure was not as severe as it could have been.

Burly No 8 Paul Miller bashed over from a five-metre scrum, lively prop Simon Kerr was held up on the goal-line and then Lafaiali'i lost his chip-and-chase race. Southland's scrum had the acid on the home men and their lineout was working better too, but in the end, a few class touches destroyed all the earnest, hewing endeavour.

Coach Bob Telfer was disappointed but sure their first win in the NPC this year would not be that far away, while his opposite, Mac McCallion, was rapt to get away with a win, sure his side would know how to attack a shield challenge and would benefit immensely from Southland's inspection.

There were points to prove against Super 12 franchise partner Waikato for the players and also the Counties coaching staff, McCallion and Andrew Talaimanu, who had been bypassed as Ross Cooper's deputy.

Counties hoped to have Lomu released from any All Black obligations but there were doubts about flanker Hare Makiri who had reinjured a knee.