Shane Christie set for 50th game [Fairfax]
You don't get to pick your milestone moments.
Under normal circumstances, Tasman Makos flanker and captain Shane Christie might have preferred to celebrate his 50th game for the province in front of a supportive home crowd. Instead, the 29-year-old loosie will lead his team on to AMI Stadium in Christchurch tomorrow night to take on a Canterbury side struggling for form in this year's ITM Cup rugby competition.
Canterbury might have lost much of their early season mojo after two consecutive losses, but they still represent formidable opposition in a significant career moment for the Makos skipper.
Christie becomes the eighth player to achieve 50 games for the province, having debuted for Tasman in 2010 as a substitute in their 20-11 away loss to Wellington. He had his first start later that season against North Harbour - a 28-21 loss at Trafalgar Park. He's since added New Zealand Sevens and New Zealand Maori credentials to his resume and has also become a key member of the Highlanders' forward makeup.
While Christie acknowledged the significance of the occasion, he was determined to play down his own achievement and focus more on helping to produce a convincing team performance.
"It'll be a good match and if we can get the win, it'll be a pretty cool experience," he said.
"I'm really just focusing on the game and I'm not really too worried about the 50th. I didn't want it to be a big thing [during the week] - it's just another game."
He said that this week's buildup had been solid. "We're tracking pretty well at the moment.
"We're really starting to build during the week at training and everyone's on the same page."
With Tasman already assured of a semifinal spot in their debut premiership season, the focus for the next two weeks will be on jostling for position in a bid to secure a home playoff.
Taranaki and Tasman share the premiership points lead, two clear of third-placed Canterbury, with both Canterbury and Counties-Manukau still looming as major obstacles for Tasman as their last two regular season opponents.
Christie will have the support of a near full-strength Tasman lineup which is without both loosehead prop Tim Perry (calf) and blindside flanker Pete Samu (knee) through injury. Midfielder Tom Marshall (shoulder) and No 8 Liam Squire (back) also remain on the injured list.
Continuity's been assured, though, with the versatile Siua Halanukonuka taking over Perry's No 1 jersey and Tevita Koloamatangi stepping back into the loose forward role that he filled so admirably last season.
Tasman are nearing the end of a physically and mentally demanding campaign and, according to head coach Kieran Keane, he and assistant coach Leon MacDonald had considered every alternative, including the players' fitness, before opting to field their strongest possible lineup.The backline is identical to that which started against Otago last Sunday, with prop Reuben Northover, flanker Nemani Nagusa and first five-eighth Rohan Saifoloi moving onto the bench.
"We've thought over just about every possible scenario and slept on it and we're going down to win," Keane said. "We wanted our best available lineup to do that, so it's an opportunity for even more success and history. We aspire to that."
Keane was aware of Canterbury's own injury problems, including the loss of halfback and captain Willie Heinz for the remainder of the season to a leg injury, but was still expecting to face a formidable Canterbury side.
"It's all on, and judging by the way we've prepared, we're pretty happy and comfortable about where we're going and who we're going down with."
Keane also acknowledged Christie's achievement and hoped that tomorrow's result matched the occasion.
"It's a milestone for him. He's been great all season and he's been really growing as a captain. He's done a fine job and it'll be a great reward for him to have another achievement and [hopefully] some success to celebrate - but that's all in the lap of the gods."
Meanwhile, an already injury-stricken Canterbury team suffered another potential blow yesterday with news that All Blacks star Dan Carter has a knock to the knee and could be in doubt for the game.
Carter, who is on the comeback trail after a broken bone in his right leg, played the first 40 minutes of Canterbury's loss to Southland last Sunday. He got a knock to his knee after 20 minutes and suffered bruising.
Carter, whose return is being carefully monitored by the All Blacks medical team, was expected to play for up to 60 minutes against Tasman. However, Robertson has drafted in former Canterbury, Tasman and Crusaders halfback Steve Alfeld, who will deputise for New Zealand junior international and former Nelson College captain Mitchell Drummond.
Canterbury coach Scott Robertson has delayed naming his team until after today's captain's run.
- The Nelson Mail
