Rugby: Taranaki back from dead

By WYNNE GRAY

It quickly became apparent yesterday that Taranaki would get a bonus point for four tries, but the victory they also needed against Counties Manukau to take them to the NPC playoffs seemed a mirage.

In a lung-busting match of the type which used to be called festival football, Taranaki hung on for a 48-46 win at Pukekohe and entry to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.

Those who have called for NPC changes should be asked to explain after the latest weekend of round-robin rugby.

When the final qualifiers are not decided until the last act of the concluding match, and when that team can be taken to the wire by the second-to-last side, it must be a decent competition.

Taranaki were elated and relieved, taking the chance offered them after their greatest danger to a final-four place, Waikato, stumbled against Wellington.

"I suppose for a spectator it was a great game of rugby, but from the purist's point of view it was not," Taranaki captain Andy Slater confessed.

The Pukekohe venue had a huge impact on the final four placings.

A month ago, Waikato arrived there as the Ranfurly Shield holders, but with a warning from one of their concerned supporters that the Mooloo men could lose their last four matches.

They did, starting with a disastrous defeat against Counties, then losing the shield and, on Saturday, their chance of making the playoffs.

Enter Taranaki yesterday, needing a win and the bonus point to qualify because of their victory in the pool game against North Harbour.

Counties did their utmost to spoil Taranaki's day. Coach Andrew Talaimanu rated it "close, just like our season."

"We were desperate to win for our pride. They were desperate to win for their top four [place]."

Talaimanu was due to attend a sports dinner last night where North Harbour coach Wayne Shelford was guest speaker. He had planned to wish Harbour well, but was preparing to apologise instead.

Taranaki started the day in eighth place on the points table, having scored four tries in just one game (against Waikato) this season. But they had three tries inside the first quarter and were denied another when held up over the line.

With Counties adventurous from the start, and Taranaki tighter and latching on to errors, bonus points were not a problem.

In the wash-up, there were 14 tries in this madcap match, which rivalled some of the freewheeling spirit and dodgy defence of Super 12 games a few years ago.

Taranaki had a 12-point advantage early on, but Counties had the lead at the break. They increased that margin to 10 points, but when referee Gary Wise awarded Taranaki a penalty try for an early tackle on midfielder Mepi Faoagali, the scores were level at 36-all.

With 25 minutes left, Taranaki looked as if they might be worn out, and were struggling to make Saturday's semifinal against Canterbury.

But loose forward Campbell Feather put the visitors back in the lead with a try. However, Punani Hunia scored twice in his first start for Counties to give them the break once more. Blair Feeney's tricky conversion attempt hit the post, a miss which became more significant in the final, frantic minutes.

A rumbling Taranaki drive propelled Daryl Fale in at the corner for a 48-46 lead with five minutes left.

Andy Slater and his brother Gordon, in another note to the All Black selectors, barged away, Fale, Brent Thompson and Neil Crowley were there to rip the ball clear for Paul Tito, Daniel Smith and Tony Penn to rumble on. They kept it cosy, so tight that most of the backline joined in as extra forwards. The danger was if there was any turnover.

It came, but as Counties hared off for the try at the other end of the stadium, the referee ruled a forward pass.

"That was it, she was gone," Slater thought until he heard the whistle. Minutes later he heard the same whistle signalling that Taranaki were through to the first playoffs of this millennium.

Slater said: "I think it has been much harder to make it this time than in 1998.

"We want to enjoy this and start work tomorrow."

For Slater and other farmers in the side that meant rising before dawn today to milk their herds. Then it will be down to rugby business.

Coach Colin Cooper said Canterbury had given his side some serious rugby lessons in their 43-9 win in the pool game.

"We were disappointed last time in the semis. We have learned from it and we are not going along to make up the numbers against Canterbury."