Rugged look, rugged form

By CHRIS RATTUE

WAIKATO 73 NORTHLAND 33

Mark Ranby looks a little different these days, but the Ranby game remains the same.

The one-test All Black midfield back showed why his high-involvement performances are so important to Waikato as they demolished Northland in Hamilton on Saturday.

Ranby was elevated to the vice-captaincy this year, an indication of the regard in which he is held in Waikato and Chiefs circles.

With Deon Muir considering taking his career overseas, Ranby's leadership star may be about to rise even further.

But top-level sport can be a fickle friend.

In the first NPC round match against Southland, Ranby struggled off with a shoulder dislocation, and since then young racetrack maintenance worker Regan King has made every post a winning one playing at centre.

On Saturday evening, the 25-year-old Ranby was re-united with his old midfield partner Keith Lowen against Northland.

Lowen moved out to centre, where converted fullback King has been a try-scoring whiz.

These days Ranby looks like a rugged forward from a bygone era, having discarded his protective helmet in favour of tape around the ears.

"I've got a bit of stick from the team about the look, but I always remember watching Dean Bell playing in the centres for Wigan and he used to put a bit of tape around the ears. I just tell people that great players of the past did it that way," says Ranby.

"My ears tend to fall off if I don't protect them. I've had to get a couple of bits stitched back on over the years."

When Ranby used the standard headgear he still got cuts around his eyes and the equipment also built up heat, so after this year's Super 12 he experimented in club rugby with good old tape.

Because of the shoulder injury, the new Ranby image has been kept out of sight for most of the NPC and he finally re-joined the starters against Northland, after a couple of cameo comeback efforts.

Ranby considered having the dislocated joint operated on, but orthopaedic surgeon Stu Walsh opted for rehabilitation work.

After resting for 12 days, Ranby began the steady process of working the shoulder back to health using weights and exercise bands.

Ranby said the overall strength of the Waikato squad had allowed them to properly rehabilitate injured players this year.

"Ian Foster and Farrell Temata have been pretty shrewd with their selections, and the way Keith and Regan have been playing, there was no need to rush back into it," Ranby said.

"A strength of this squad is that everyone has been contributing. It was fantastic, magic, to be back and I'm rapt the shoulder held together.

"Waikato have had the potential for quite some time, but we haven't been able to realise it. To be part of an organisation that's doing all the little things right is tremendous," he said.

"Regan has played so well, and it's been great to watch the team perform the way they have, although it's always hard being on the sideline, not being able to be part of things on the field."

Waikato will have been concerned about allowing Northland to score five tries, but once the home side saw off an initial threat created by long-range Rupeni Caucaunibuca and Fero Lasagavibau scores, their superiority gave the game a festival air.

It is one of the ironic truths of the bonus point system that losing heavily can favour a team such as Northland, who have a better chance to score four tries in an open match where the stronger side is expending more energy on attack and can lose defensive concentration.

Among the top contributors was lock Keith Robinson, who continued a fine season which must have put him into All Blacks contention.

Waikato should see off Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Saturday and retain top spot, giving them home advantage in the playoffs.

Significantly, their all-important openside loose forward Marty Holah has been rested in recent weeks and will be fresh for the challenges ahead.

Waikato never look as effective without his work in the physically and technically demanding tackled ball areas.