The Ranfurly Shield goes on the line at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Sunday, and it has dragged the most awkward conversation in New Zealand rugby along with it.
Otago defend the log o' wood for the first time this NPC season against a Canterbury side that will start Richie Mo'unga at first five-eighth — his first run in the Canterbury No 10 jersey since 2020. That last appearance in the jersey was a 23-22 loss to Taranaki in which Canterbury surrendered the Shield.
Mo'unga's presence is the story because of where he is not. Back from three years in Japan, he was left out of the All Blacks squad for the tour of South Africa under New Zealand Rugby's criteria requiring returning players to complete a domestic campaign before becoming selectable. He only became eligible at all when he ran out for Canterbury last weekend — and promptly ended a 31-all deadlock with Auckland by picking the ball off the base of a ruck and stepping through for the winner in a 38-31 result.
All Blacks tour captain Codie Taylor was watching.
"Who else but R Mo to get the job done," Taylor said. "It's been a long time and I know he's been real excited to get back in the red and black hoops. R Mo seems to be one of those people that good things happen around him or he creates them."
With Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, Beauden Barrett and Josh Jacomb covering the position in South Africa, Mo'unga will not get a call unless injury forces one. As RNZ's Jonty Dine put it, the desire of the fans, of coach Dave Rennie and of the player himself is not enough to move the policy — he will most likely play out the season in Christchurch.
Canterbury made two changes for the challenge. Mo'unga replaces Andrew Knewstubb, and fullback Johnny McNicholl returns from a finger injury in place of Kurtis MacDonald, with Chay Fihaki shifting to the wing. McNicholl and Mo'unga have not played together since 2016, when they lined up at 15 and 10 in Canterbury's 43-27 NPC final win over Tasman.
"It feels like just yesterday we were playing together," McNicholl said. "When you're back out on the training pitch and still know each other's movements and communication skills, it's all good out there."
This is McNicholl's first Shield challenge in a decade — injury ruled him out of Canterbury's brief reign last year, which ended in a 38-36 defeat to Otago at Apollo Projects Stadium.
"When you see that shield challenge on the calendar, it definitely raises the hairs on the back of your neck and you get excited for that," he said.
Lock Tahlor Cahill, who scored Canterbury's first try at One New Zealand Stadium against Auckland, admitted the moment caught him off guard.
"I was just as shocked as probably anyone else," Cahill said. "I haven't scored for three years, I think, so to get it on such a great occasion's pretty cool."
He was unambiguous about the week's motivation.
"The shield is such a special thing in New Zealand rugby, and you never want to lose it. We're going to do everything we can to try and get it back."
Otago arrive as the form side. They sit top of the table after a 41-14 dismantling of Southland in Invercargill, a match in which flanker Lucas Casey — another player overlooked for South Africa — scored twice, including an 80-metre effort that outran three outside backs. Razorbacks skipper Christian Lio-Willie also bagged a double. Canterbury sit fifth despite their round-one win.
The recent ledger between the two is split. Otago took the Shield off Canterbury in Christchurch last year; Canterbury answered by beating them 36-28 in the NPC final to lift the title for the first time since 2017.
There is a milestone in it too. Canterbury captain and hooker Brodie McAlister plays his 50th game for the province on Sunday, days after being passed over as an injury replacement for George Bell on the South Africa tour — Taranaki's Bradley Slater got the call instead. McAlister played two tests last year.
Elsewhere in round two, Taranaki host Waikato on Friday night with both sides unbeaten. But the 2.05pm kick-off in Dunedin is the one carrying the silverware, and the subplot.
Otago v Canterbury, Forsyth Barr Stadium, 2.05pm Sunday.
