Waikato beat Southland

By CHRIS RATTUE

WAIKATO 30 SOUTHLAND 15

Waikato christened their new NPC home with five competition points, but the win over Southland was hardly worthy of wild celebrations.

After a bumbling first half, the introduction of All Blacks Marty Holah and Royce Willis, plus prop Deacon Manu, helped Waikato rumble on to an opening round win.

But it came with a price in injuries.

Mark Ranby, the rock in the Waikato backline and the newly appointed vice-captain, was having x-rays on a suspected fractured shoulder.

Lock Chresten Davis needed x-rays on a leg injury, and recent All Blacks first five-eighths David Hill was a despondent figure as his groin injury flared again.

Ranby's injury created instant upset, Waikato coach Ian Foster accusing Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan of a "cheap shot" late tackle in the 34th minute."

Cowan was penalised and spoken to by referee Bryce Lawrence. The match commissioner was still reviewing the game late tonight.

Waikato aren't quite in the superheavyweight class of teams such as Canterbury, but despite Foster fielding a below-strength starting line-up, they were expected to see off Southland.

In they end they did, but it was a struggle.

Southland's limited resources have been further restricted by injury problems, although their lot has been improved significantly with the return of No 8 Paul Miller from Otago, where he has been on loan.

Miller - Southland's only Super 12 player today - was outstanding, driving Waikato back with his close quarter runs, making a couple of scything breaks, and pulling a try-saving tackle on Bruce Reihana.

Why Otago let him go is a bit of a mystery, even with their determination to play Taine Randell at No 8.

Miller may be unique among New Zealand loose forwards in being able to drive opponents back, a la Toutai Kefu.

"They (Otago) have got different thoughts about him," Southland coach Phil Young said.

"Our thoughts are that we rate him very highly.

"We respect him as a player and a person."

Foster said of Miller: "He was a handful in the close channels where Southland were very strong."

But while Miller is an unexpected bonus, Southland have lost captain/lock Brendon Timmins and hooker Jason Rutledge for the season, and Super 12 hooker and replacement captain Corey Flynn (broken thumb) for a month.

Young also had to do without experienced prop Keith Cameron.

Canterbury would hardly blink at that sort of injury list, but such losses are felt heavily by small unions.

Such is Southland's hooking crisis that 22-year-old David Hall was converted from playing as a club flanker just a couple of weeks ago.

The hooking bad luck didn't change either.

Hall left the field with what could be a long-term injury.

Southland battled superbly with the wind in the first half.

Waikato's tradition of driving forward work counted for little as the Southlanders took control in that area.

It was a rolling maul that led to their first try to Hale T-Pole - the flanker previously known as Hale Tu'uhoko.

But after trailing 15-12 at halftime, Waikato dominated the second spell, even if some of their work was clumsy and chances went begging.

They largely controlled possession, and when Southland did get their hands on the ball, they were too willing to give it up.

Waikato took a 20-15 lead midway through the second spell when Hall's lineout throw went straight to Steven Bates, who plunged over.

And Waikato finished off the visitors in the 73rd minute when Derek Maisey - who had returned for the injured Hill - took advantage of a huge overlap after charges by Willis and captain Deon Muir.

Foster said he was "delighted with the five points" when asked for his appraisal, in a gentle flick at a performance marred by 20-odd turnovers.

"This is round one of about 10 rounds so we'll take it," he said. "It was a slow start to the campaign.

"You can't win a championship in round one. You've got to put blocks in place.

"I take my hat off to Southland ... they taught us a lesson in driving play.

"We looked like a team that hadn't played together for a while."

Captain Muir added: "Royce and 'Dekes' gave us some straight front foot ball.

"Now we know where we are and can go away and do some homework.

"Southland were more committed at ruck time than us."

Southland captain Steve Jackson said the introduction of players such as Willis and Holah - who Foster described as outstanding - had lifted Waikato.

"But that doesn't mean our performance should have gone down.