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Ranfurly’s Shield targets Taranaki.
Jordie Barrett scored a 49-meter penalty goal when Taranaki stunned Canterbury 23-22 in Christchurch on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second time in three years that Amber and Blacks have fought the Log o ‘Wood of Canterbury.
Barrett’s penalty in the 73rd minute followed Andrew Knewstubb’s try a couple of minutes earlier, giving Canterbury their first lead of the match.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Taranaki celebrates after defeating Canterbury and obtaining the Ranfurly Shield in Christchurch on Saturday.
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The hosts were down 20-3 at halftime, before scoring 19 straight points to lead when Mo’unga converted Knewstubb’s try.
But Barrett, who had missed three shots earlier, overcame the monstrous penalty, before the visitors parried a late raid from Canterbury, ending his 16th stint at the Shield with three defenders.
“It was probably the most dreamy night to kick goals, so [two from five] It wasn’t pretty … but it’s the kicks I want and every kicker dreams, ”Barrett said of the winner of the game.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Canterbury wing George Bridge is crushed in an inning against Taranaki on Saturday.
If it’s the last thing Beauden and Jordie Barrett do before the All Blacks’ duty, they’ll fondly remember their two-game stints.
Because this was not a Canterbury lineup, it was filled with All Blacks Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Sam Whitelock, Cullen Grace, Mo’unga, and George Bridge.
In fact, only four players on his running side were unsigned Crusaders: Reed Prinsep, Rameka Poiipi, Isaiah Punivai and Josh McKay.
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Taranaki’s Beauden Barrett and Teihorangi Walden hold up the Ranfurly Shield after defeating Canterbury.
“There’s a lot of ticker with some of these guys on our team, one through eight our group faced each other today so we’re over the moon,” Barrett said, after his first game against the team he played for in 2016.
“It was a very special moment today. But I hope we can get a chance to play for the ‘Naki again this season at some point. “
Otago will be equally pleased with the result, given that they now have a shot at the Log o ‘Wood in Inglewood next Sunday afternoon.
GLENN JEFFREY / Stuff
Ian Smith, left, and Riaan du Plooy celebrate Taranaki winning the Ranfurly Shield at the Crowded House bar in New Plymouth on Saturday.
Trailing 20-3 at halftime, Canterbury’s comeback began in the second minute of the second half, when tight-headed prop Oli Jager took the lead after Mitchell Drummond took a quick bunt.
Mo’unga’s converted try 15 minutes later reduced the deficit to just five, and the change of momentum could be felt.
Particularly when rookie center Isaiah Punvai smoked Beauden Barrett in one inning and Canterbury marched all over the ball.
However, Lachlan Boshier led an extraordinary defensive effort, making numerous steals as the visitors won a memorable Shield contest.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens rocked Canterbury with two attempts in the first half.
Speaking after the game, Canterbury coach Reuben Thorne said Boshier was the “best in the country” when it came to stealing balls.
He also regretted his team’s performance in the first half, but did not criticize that they did not attempt a drop goal when they got inside the 22 in the final minutes.
“We had moments there where he could have gone, if we had played for the penalty or for the drop goal. But that’s rugby, the guys on the field finally make the decision. We support them. Tonight, we are not quite there. “
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Taranaki has won his last three Ranfurly Shield games against Canterbury.
Taranaki’s game plan was obvious. Give the ball to Beauden and Jordie Barrett, kick, kick, kick for territory and put the heat on the hosts with a suffocating defense.
It didn’t always work out as Beauden Barrett missed a few and allowed Canterbury to counterattack through wing Manasa Mataele and Richie Mo’unga.
However, it also had the desired result in preparation for Taranaki’s second attempt, when Mo’unga fumbled on deck after a return, allowing Jordie Barrett to clear and put Tupou Vaa’i over the top.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Canterbury Captain Reed Prinsep hands over the shield to Taranaki Captain Teihorangi Walden.
That, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’ first, a kick and special chase down the right flank, propelled the Ambers and Blacks to a 13-0 lead in just 11 minutes.
Canterbury was shaken, not having fired a single shot in his home opener.
But it barely got better. Mo’unga scored a penalty goal to put them on the board, before Taranaki scored his third attempt to stretch his lead to 20-3 after 28 minutes.
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens scored it, but Beauden Barrett was the one who punished an aimless kick from Mounga with a scorching return before feeding his wing.
If one moment summed up the first half, it was Taranaki earning a scrum penalty against the feed on his own lane.
Because the Reds and Blacks had just received three consecutive scrum-dominating penalties, only for Moody to get a ping while sniffing out a try penalty.
The shouts and screams of the visitors said it all.
Taranaki 23 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens 2, Tupou Vaa’i tries; Jordie Barrett 2 pen, with) Canterbury 22 (Oli Jager, Richie Mo’unga, Andrew Knewstubb tries; Richie Mo’unga pen, 2 with). HT: 20-3
MVP Points: Lachlan Boshier 3, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens 2, Jordie Barrett 1
