Attitude, belief, fitness - Stags produce one of the great comebacks
“Credit to the boys, they found a way to lift, and our bench was unreal. It just showed the way we are slowly turning with that belief, they just found a way to work back into it which was awesome.”
Southland 31 (Rory van Vugt 3, Charlie Powell 2 tries; Jake Strachan 3 con) Northland 26 (Sam Caird, Jordan Trainor, Matt Moulds, Tevita Latu tries; Rivez Reihana 3 con): HT: 7-26.
Tribune MVP points: Semisi Tupou-Taeiloa 3, Sean Withy 2, Lachlan Albert 1
Overall: Semisi Tupou-Taeiloa 5, Dylan Nel 5, Sean Withy 5, Morgan Mitchell 4, Isaac Te Tamaki 2, Lachlan Albert 1, Viliami Fine 1, Rory van Vugt 1.
We might have just witnessed Southland rugby’s greatest comeback. And with maroon-tinted glasses on, boy did it feel good.
At 26-7 down against Northland in Whangarei things looked a little bleak at halftime.
Southland had just 28% of territory and 35% of possession in that first 40 minutes.
Those with a half-glass-full approach to life would have pointed out that the Stags had made only one visit into Northland’s 22m in that first half and had scored from it.
Southland also had Northland’s scrum under plenty of pressure and the lineout was vastly improved from six days earlier. There was some sort of glimmer of hope.
Although it’s hard to think of many who would have predicted what would unfold over the next 40 minutes as the Stags emerged from the halftime break $15 outsiders at the TAB.
“We were actually pretty concerned, we didn’t seem to have a lot of energy. We didn’t seem to be able to stop anything and we weren’t nailing our stuff,” coach Matt Saunders said about his halftime thoughts.
“Credit to the boys, they found a way to lift, and our bench was unreal. It just showed the way we are slowly turning with that belief, they just found a way to work back into it which was awesome.”
Southland went about scoring four second-half tries in a 24-point swing to win 31-26.
With the scores locked up at 26-all the matchwinner came in the 73rd minute when replacement first five-eighth Byron Smith found wing Charlie Powell with a cross kick. Powell himself then put the ball to the boot perfectly and regathered to score.
It was Powell’s second try of the half to go with the three that fellow outside back Rory van Vugt scored in the victory.
There’s probably a list of reasons that can be attached to Southland’s remarkable 24 unanswered second half points to claim victory.
Attitude is one. What we have seen through the first four games is this Southland team is willing to roll their sleeves up to the 80th minute. Even during the losses to Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki.
Fitness should also be added to the list. It felt like they had an edge over Northland in that department. The work the likes of Sean Withy, Mitch Dunshea, and Semisi Tupou-Taeiloa were producing in the 80th minute resembled the first minute of the game.
The Stags bench also had the impact it needed to in the second half.
Replacement halfback Lachie Albert provided an attacking spark, with his kick from the base of the scrum in the 57th minute a key moment in the contest.
He chased that kick regathered himself and fed van Vugt who scored.
Angus Simmers was another late in the game who delivered off the bench through his work rate in defence when the game on the line, as was flanker Leroy Ferguson. The entire bench added something.
It was Southland’s first victory in Whangarei since 2015 and it banked five competition points as the Stags took their 2024 record to two wins-two losses through four games.
But probably most importantly, the sensational come from behind victory ensured the Hetaraka (Peter) Te Tai Trophy returned to Southland.
The Southland and Northland rugby unions introduced the trophy in 2022 to honour Peter Te Tai. Te Tai’s birth name is Hetaraka, and he’s known in Southland as Peter.
Te Tai was born-and-bred in Northland and shifted to Southland as a 19-year-old during the 1960s. He was a cook on a cruise ship that ended up in Doubtful Sound.
During a visit to the doctor, it was discovered Te Tai had tuberculosis, and he headed to Riverton to recover. It was during that time he met his future wife Dorothy Tui.
Te Tai has remained in Southland ever since. He has poured plenty into helping the community whether it be as a referee, team liaison officer, or bus driver.
Stags captain Sean Withy said after the game he was pleased Southland was able to win the trophy for the first time.
It’s the second addition to the Rugby Southland HQ trophy cabinet this season after Southland also claimed the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy when it beat Otago in round one.
Withy was obviously delighted with how his team responded after finding themselves down 26-7 at halftime.
“That’s the sort of team we are, we are a proud team and a proud province. It didn’t take the coaches to give us a stir up at halftime, we gave it to each other, honest conversations there. I’m pretty speechless how we turned that around,” Withy told Sky Sport.
“We were getting beat around the corner, we were getting beat through our heart, we sorted that out and started getting double shoulders in slow the ball down that way, rather than all trying to hunt in at the ruck. I think that was the key.”
Southland now eyes another North Island road trip when they take on Wellington in Wellington at 2.05pm next Saturday.
Plenty more Stags-related Tribune content:
No 'poaching' at play in Stags midfielder's move to Northland
Stags Wrap: Illness, injuries, and a team that's not clinical enough
First-half penalty drought queried, but 'no excuse' for loss
135 and counting: A number that's unlikely to be matched again
Saunders: 'The belief that will come from this will be huge'
James Wilson: An evolving coach who has enjoyment as a success marker
Great result. I know you have talked about it Logan but is Withy the greatest stags signing ever???
Tremendous effort from the team. I was most proud of the grit, determination and tenacity displayed by all Include ability in the accolade.