Shield reign will inspire Bay

By WYNNE GRAY

The Ranfurly Shield is off limits until next season.

Canterbury will not allow their NPC semifinal against Bay of Plenty to double as an extra challenge for the famous trophy.

But the Bay will use the experience they absorbed from their short shield tenure this season as the inspiration to continue in this year's race for the first division title.

"We learned to deal with pressure much better during that Ranfurly Shield time," coach Vern Cotter said. "We got much more consistent and learned to stay on our toes for the whole 80 minutes."

Many of the squad are also in their second season of NPC rugby and understand far better what is required to be a top-grade footballer.

After a lengthy but ecstatic trip back home after beating North Harbour in the shootout for the playoffs, the Bay regathered yesterday to assess their wounded. Only fullback Adrian Cashmore is in doubt for Saturday because of a disc problem in his back.

Cotter said there had been many special times this season and the NPC semifinal would be another huge match. But the sight of his side after the Harbour game was right up there.

"They all lay on the floor, they could hardly get up, they had spent everything they had in their bodies to achieve something we had set out to do at the start of the season.

"I think that was a special moment for the team and a special moment for all of us."

After the euphoria of the shield victory against Auckland, the Bay had settled into a strong routine and Cotter believed they still had some improvement left for the semifinal.

Despite some clamour, Canterbury chief executive Hamish Riach said there was no chance the game would double as a shield challenge.

"There are two reasons," he said. "The team have done well to keep it and deserve to dwell on that over the summer. And the shield regulations prevent it."

Riach and Cotter were coy about the coach's apparent appointment as assistant to the Crusaders next season after hints earlier in the day from Bay chief executive Paul Abbot.

"I have had an interview, there is a process to go through and I still have not signed anything," Cotter said.

Riach added: "We are not quite across the line. Perhaps there will be something next week."

Canterbury, as the host union, will pay the Bay about $65,000 to cover their flight, accommodation, payments and expenses for the semifinal, with both provinces admitting their teams were on small victory bonuses.

The Bay's success this season has drawn inquiries of some players on whether they were interested in transferring by this Friday's deadline.

However, chief executive Paul Abbott thought Cotter's allegiance to the province, the loyalty he inspired and the exposure players had gained away from the major unions, would help keep most of them in the Bay.

"There are a few thinking about it, but the fact they have come and told me suggests we are going alright," Abbot said.

Cotter joked that after a weekend off he had to rush around yesterday "opening a few gates" to pay his way on the family farm before joining the team's practice.

He will spend today doing a fair bit of analysis and preparation for the semifinal, a game in which he does not want his side to operate on pure adrenalin.

"It is a short week, but I would like to think we can recover and get ourselves fresh," he said. "I think it is part of being professional.

"If you are going to devote yourself to anything you have got to put the time and effort into it, and a lot of that is about the top three inches - being able to switch on and switch off. That is our challenge.

"There are some inspirational guys among them."

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