Rugby: Taranaki beat Canterbury in thriller to win Ranfurly Shield

Taranaki 23
Canterbury 22

The Ranfurly Shield is heading north.

As they did in 2017, Taranaki snatched the Log o ‘Wood from Canterbury in Christchurch, with a late penalty from Jordie Barrett sealing a 23-22 win.

While Barrett’s last heroic deeds sealed victory, it was Lachlan Boshier who made the difference. Taranaki’s open flank lived up to his bill as a threat in the breakout, gaining many additional possessions for the side, none more important than his thief within Taranaki’s 22 with just two minutes left.

It was a play that ultimately sealed the victory for Taranaki, whose last three Shield reigns have come at Canterbury’s expense.

An early penalty from Barrett’s start put the rivals ahead after three minutes, but it was the next 10 minutes that gave Taranaki fans reason to believe.

A piece of individual skill from young winger Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to carry a loose ball forward, pick up the rebound, and slide for the game’s first try Soon after, he was followed by Lock Tupou Vaa’i, who was rewarded for endorsing a break for Jordie Barrett.

Ahead 13-0 after 15 minutes, Taranaki was off to an excellent start, and his defense backed him up.

Working hard to attend every fault, plug every hole and make every tackle, Taranaki made it difficult for Canterbury to get fluent in their attack, with Boshier making his presence felt at every fault.

A Beauden Barrett classic put the stamp on the Taranaki half. Taranaki No 10 got the ball in his own half, measured the defense and shot through a gap. Leaving the defense in his wake, Barrett sent Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens inside, who planted Richie Mo’unga to score his second.

With Canterbury only able to shoot a penalty from Mo’unga’s boot in the first half, they had all the work to do in the second.

To their credit, they came back in force.

Starting with an attempt to prop up Oli Jager from close up early in the half, the ever-constant possibility of a Canterbury comeback persisted. Taranaki began to show signs of fatigue around the 50 minute mark, and all of his defensive and tackling work from the first half caught up with them.

Canterbury took advantage and, after attempts by Mo’unga and Andrew Knewstubb, took the lead in the final 10 minutes.

However, they lost it moments later, when Jordie Barrett took a penalty from 50 meters, and Taranaki was able to close out the victory for his first Ranfurly Shield reign since 2018.

Taranaki 23 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens 2, Tupou Vaa’i tries; Jordie Barrett scam, 2 pens)
Canterbury 22 (Oli Jager, Richie Mo’unga, Andrew Knewstubb tries; Richie Mo’unga 2 cons, pen)
HT: 20-3