D2 WEEKENDSPORT Saturday, July 23, 2011 THE PRESS, Christchurch RUGBY Whitelock awaits fiery foes Springboks Matt Markham TEAMS ‘singing’ in No-one would begrudge CANTERBURY George Whitelock another ■ Sean Maitland, Telusa week on the sidelines. Veainu, Robbie Fruean, He’s busted his gut for the Ryan Crotty, Patrick Crusaders, travelled around Sydney rain Osborne, Tom Taylor, Willi the world and maintained his Heinz, Nasi Manu, Matt usual high standards of skill As drenched Sydneysiders Todd, George Whitelock and professionalism. moan about the wettest July (captain), Luke Romano, He’s tackled, rucked and in 61 years, the Springboks Ash Parker, Andrew mauled to his heart’s content. are privately ‘‘Singin’ in the Olorenshaw, Paul Ngauamo, While his body should be Rain’’, hoping the deluge con- Paea Fa’anunu. Reserves: battle-scarred and wearied tinues and bogs the Wallabies’ Ben Funnell, Nepo Laulala, the rugged blindside flanker new-age Gene Kellys. Reuben Thorne, Brendon feels far from it. Not since 1950 has Sydney O’Connor, Mark Swanepoel, He bounced his way endured such torrential rain Takerei Norton, Johnny around at an intensive train- and South Africa skipper McNicholl, Sam Cottam. ing on Thursday looking like John Smit believes the condi- it was his first run of the SOUTHLAND tions may nullify the dancing season. ■ Robbie Robinson, Tim footwork of Australian Most importantly, White- Cornforth, Kendrick Lynn, wonderkids Kurtley Beale, lock can’t wait to get back out Matt Saunders, Glen Digby Ioane, James O’Connor on the paddock. Horton, James Wilson, and Quade Cooper tonight. ‘‘I’m pretty pumped about Scott Cowan, Elliot Dixon, ‘‘The weather will prob- getting back out there,’’ he Tim Boys, John Hardie, Joe ably play a role here, and all said. Tuineau, Josh Bekhuis, those guys will be hoping for a Rocky Elsom ‘‘I had a good freshen up Chris King/Nic Barrett, sunny day tomorrow,’’ Smit after finishing with the David Hall/Jason Rutledge, said yesterday. necessarily a problem,’’ Crusaders and spent a few Jamie Mackintosh ‘‘They’re a huge threat. Elsom said. ‘‘And even then, days down in Dunedin and (captain). Reserves: Hall/ Those players have a huge you’re talking about completely switched myself Rutledge, King/Barrett, Ben amount of X-factor when it perceived strengths. What off from all things rugby Nally, Kaleni Taetuli, Sonny comes to how they can use happens when you get out really. Rangitoheriri, Scott Eade, their feet and the kind of there can be different.’’ ‘‘So far it seems to have James Lew, Micheal magic [they bring], and their As well as a waterlogged worked too. I felt really good Peterson. line breaks. pitch, the Wallabies can also running around at training ■ Rugby Park, Christchurch ‘‘We’ve seen their stats in expect the Springboks to flood this week, and getting back 2.35pm today. Referee: the Super 15 and how effective the breakdown. out and playing some rugby is Garratt Williamson. they’ve been for their Asked if they had anyone going to be great.’’ ■ TAB: Canterbury $1.14 franchises. But the one way of capable of containing Aus- His wait to get back in the Southland $5.00. trying to contain those guys is tralia’s ferocious flanker firing line won’t be long, in to make sure that you control David Pocock, Smit said: fact as soon as this afternoon. the game. ‘‘Yeah, we’ve got 15 guys.’’ Back in the Canterbury to hold it and what it can ‘‘When you’ve got pos- ‘‘We’ve seen over the past ITM Cup starting lineup and mean to a team so they are session of the ball, try and two or three seasons how named as captain, Whitelock going to give us a really good keep it. important the breakdown is. will run out onto Rugby Park challenge. ‘‘The worst thing for a It’s the one area where you today in his first game since ‘‘That’s where we are going team playing against players get to exert that kind of the end of the Super Rugby. to have to step up and meet like that is turning the ball dominance. Samoa won that His Canterbury side will them, it’s going to be pretty over in the wrong place, last week [against Australia]. look to firstly defend the brutal up front but hopefully allowing them to play off the They certainly dominated Ranfurly Shield from the very we can control the ball well cuff from ball where there’s physically and they got hold side from whom they took it and give our backs a good no structured defence. of the breakdown and they last year, Southland, and chance to stretch their legs.’’ ‘‘So a lot of it will be threw a lot of numbers into continue their march towards Fellow Crusaders Matt composure from a team that the breakdown. a fourth consecutive cham- On guard: Canterbury skipper George Whitelock is anticipating a most ‘‘physical’’ Ranfurly Shield challenge from Southland today. Todd and Sean Maitland join probably doesn’t have as ‘‘It was a lot easier for pionship. Photo: STACY SQUIRES Whitelock in the starting much experience as it has them to prepare for each ‘‘It’s going to be an lineup for the first time this over the years.’’ other and the Australians intensive season,’’ Whitelock With a relatively young get excited about. ‘‘In our first base for this to be a great expect 100 per cent commit- season. Wallabies captain Rocky only had four or five days to said. side underneath him, game against North Otago we side.’’ ment, they will play the ball They will be without the Elsom admitted the ‘‘oppor- prepare for that match. So ‘‘The schedule is pretty full Whitelock knows that the had 14 guys having their Whitelock missed the Ran- up front with a physicality services of Colin Slade who is tunities get narrowed a bit in we’ll experience a different on, it could be a fact of the best challenge is set if Canterbury debut in the jersey. furly Shield lifting in that can be second to none,’’ on test duty and prop Joe these conditions’’ but Wallaby team this weekend. team not winning the compe- are to retain their champions ‘‘It’s a young side, but Invercargill last year due to Whitelock said. Moody who is out with an remained confident his side But everyone expects us to be tition, but the team with the mantle, but from what he had that’s not a reflection of the injury, but knows Southland ‘‘After us taking the shield injured finger. would adapt. physical and we want to be least key injuries and the side seen in training and in last talent that is there. will bring everything they off them last year they will be Takerei Norton will ‘‘If it’s like it is now, physical. I think any nation in that manages its players the week’s 40-33 victory over ‘‘Last week against Auck- have to today’s challenge. pretty hungry to get it back. replace Tyler Bleyendaal on obviously it’s not going to be the top 10 of world rugby best.’’ Auckland there was plenty to land proved that there is the ‘‘With Southland you can ‘‘They know what it’s like the reserves bench. as free-flowing, but that’s not wants to be physical.’’ AAP CYCLING MOTORSPORT Canty gets champs for 3 more years Dixon Kevin Tutty years for Christchurch. Commonwealth Games – a continue to grow and develop event where people love to get for Gold ‘‘We knew that having the circuit including a climb up with increased investment up on the hill, have a few BikeNZ has shown faith in race for one year was not a Dyers Pass Rd and down reaping rewards,’’ Turner beers and watch the race. Canterbury cycling by good recipe, that was why we Hackthorne Rd in Cashmere. said. ‘‘This year absolutely blew Coast awarding it an extension of applied for a three-year term Thousands lined the Roulston said from Europe me away with the crowd and three years to hold the New initially, but we wanted course for the men’s race this last night that he will be back noise,’’ Roulston said. Zealand road cycling cham- another three years to be able year and BikeNZ chief execu- to defend the title he won in Six weeks after this year’s New Zealand IndyCar star pionships. to build a better event. tive, Kieran Turner, was January. race Christchurch was Scott Dixon will form a Kiwi- BikeNZ initially awarded ‘‘After last January we impressed with the turnout ‘‘It’s not often you see shaken by the February 22 heavy outfit for this year’s Christchurch the RaboDirect said the event could be huge and the organisation. crowds like that in New earthquake, but Hollander Gold Coast V8 Supercars race. sponsored national road and and that we needed an ‘‘The city has a massive Zealand and even Europe,’’ says the course is largely The two-time IndyCar time trial championships for extension to the contract number of cycling fans who said Roulston of last unaffected by the quake and champion has been confirmed three years. The third and last sooner than later so we could get out and support the event January’s race. ‘‘It had a full- will be ready for next year’s as compatriot Shane Van Gis- year of that contract is offer sponsors a longer term and there is also good support on European ambience up the events on January 6 to 8. bergen’s co-driver for the January 2012.