Rugby: Fear of defeat motivating Canterbury

By BOB SCHUMACHER

Fear of losing compels Canterbury to keep winning.

Nine straight wins in the NPC first division bear testimony to the fact that this Robbie Deans and Steve Hansen-coached Canterbury side are winners.

The record book shows the Canterbury class of 2000 are achievers, who have already graduated with honours and who now want to end the year with a rugby masters degree.

They have claimed the Super 12 title this year when the odds were against them. They have won the Ranfurly Shield and defended it this season when Waikato, Otago, and Northland hands were desperate to have it in their province.

Now Canterbury are on target to win the NPC first division title tonight, but first they will have to subdue then subjugate a Wellington side still riding high after their crushing win over titleholders Auckland in their semifinal.

Wellington are an enigmatic team, frustratingly so for their supporters. Sublime one day, ridiculous the next.

Often, however, they saves their best for the traditional rivalry against Canterbury and of their last eight encounters, Wellington have won five, including this year's round-robin in the capital city and last year's clash at Jade Stadium.

While Canterbury may not have the same attacking potential as Wellington, they have consistency, resolution, discipline and pride.

Toss those ingredients into a cake tin and Canterbury should produce a successful recipe for their fans to dine out on at their home stadium tonight.

A long season has seemingly taken its toll on Canterbury in recent weeks. Some of those who have played throughout the Super 12, All Black, and NPC programmes have looked a little leg weary in the last few weeks.

But, as Deans has said several times, "challenge is a finite one" and he expects the players to lift themselves for another 80 minutes of tough, tension-filled, pressure-packed rugby.

Approaching the final, Canterbury may have fancied themselves in one of the game's key areas, the scrum, but Wellington's buckling of Auckland's scrum in the semifinal would have caused a rethink.

Powerful South African prop Morne van der Merve has put his weight alongside feisty Englishman Kevin Yates, and former All Black hooker Norm Hewitt.

Canterbury, by recalling Greg Feek at loosehead, have an All Black front row and Feek, Mark Hammett, and Greg Somerville, will not be prepared to retreat one pace.

Sparks from the front row could reach the night air in Christchurch, but it is to be hoped that the scrums do not become a succession of one collapse after another and that referee Paul Honiss maintains control.

Canterbury's tight five should have a slight edge over Wellington. All Black locks Norm Maxwell and Todd Blackadder have previously overshadowed Dion Waller and Inoke Afeaki, both of whom have been guilty of ill discipline.

But the key to another Canterbury success lies with first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens, whose ability to mix his kicking keeps opposition guessing. The little chip has been used well and the bomb and the angled grubber have turned opposing side and had them backtracking 50m. Canterbury are as aware as every footballing fan in New Zealand that Wellington have brilliant matchwinners at the back in Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu and Tana Umaga.

They cannot be given room or ball. Mehrtens and the Canterbury pack have the responsibility of ensuring that trio be kept hard at work on defence rather than be stamping their authority out wide.

If Canterbury manage that, the dream of the Super 12-Ranfurly Shield-NPC treble should become reality.