Canterbury's stiffest Shield challenge

October 4, 2005

Some quick bulletins to keep our heads in the game:

Big match-up this week is the titanic Ranfurly Shield clash between defenders Canterbury against their arch-rivals Auckland. All Black pivot Dan Carter has been cleared to play and show whether he's ready for November's tour to the U.K. But Richard Loe thinks returning All Blacks don't do any favours for Canterbury.

The Observer profiles five new England selections and how they will impact chances for the next Six Nations and defending their title at the 2007 World Cup.

That same paper has columnist Eddie Butler half-praising outgoing WRU chief David Moffet "more as a surgeon than a butcher." "In his period of office as chief executive, Wales have gone from being a nonentity of a rugby nation with a debt of £67million into the grand-slam champions of Europe, who announced a working profit last year."

Anton Oliver's new book blasts the excessive booze culture of John Mitchell's All Blacks, a charge Mitchell refutes.

As rumored, albeit to different clubs, Jonah Lomu has just signed a contract with Cardiff in Wales. He is desperate to make the 2007 World Cup and believes he needs game time to sharpen and impress. "This is the only way I can do it," Lomu says. "I'll play for seven months for the Cardiff Blues then come back here and play for North Harbour in the NPC. " It may be a pipe-dream, but the big man believes and doesn't want to fail without trying. As one worried commentator puts it: "It is wonderful to see him back. It is horrible to see him back. I really hope he knows what he's doing."

The BBC reports that England's Lawrence Dallaglio will return to action with Wasps this Friday, just four months after fracturing his ankle, but cautions "it would be presumptuous of me to think I could just come back and play for England."

North Harbour lock Greg Rawlinson has rebuffed another offer to play for the Springboks. Springbok coach Jake White contacted the 27-year-old Rawlinson last Monday, giving him a 24-hour ultimatum to make himself available for the Boks tour to Europe next month. But Rawlinson, who was born in Durban and lived there until he was 23, wants to be an All Black and said no to a green jersey.