Rugby: Selecting home-grown players key to success

Southland Rugby head Roger Clark said yesterday the union had been through plenty of tough times and was now reaping all the hard work, and that one of the paths to success was picking home-grown players.

Clark, who was in Christchurch on Thursday night to see the side beat Canterbury 9-3 and take the Ranfurly Shield, said the reward was for the whole of Southland and not just the rugby community.

"From a rugby perspective the reward has been for a whole lot of hard work from a whole lot of people.

"It's been 50 years since we held it, so to be part of that group is quite an honour," Clark said.

"But the thing is we've got 22 guys out there who are Southlanders and I think that is the key. We've had 16 locals who have been with us for between eight to 10 years. And that means a lot.

"Then you've got the continuity of coaches with David and Simon [David Henderson and Simon Culhane] who are very good people."

Clark, who remained in Christchurch for meetings yesterday, said it was not a tough formula.

"Canterbury have been doing it for years and have the same ethos. We've got good people and I suppose it was sort of an aligning of the stars last night."

He said talk of the switching of the power base of Highlanders rugby to Southland was not something to which he gave any time.

"This is provincial rugby where guys are playing for their own team, and when it comes to the Highlanders it is another level again.

"By their performance in one competition they can go to another, but that is up to Glenn Moore and who he picks.

"When we first started, our goal was to make the top four and for Otago to win the thing. Obviously, that has changed now. We want Otago to make the top four but we want to win the thing."

There have been suggestions Southland was under pressure to remain in the Air New Zealand Cup with its small population and player numbers, but Clark did not buy that argument.

"I've always argued population has nothing to do with it at all. Look at a team like the Green Bay Packers in American football.

"They are one of the smallest markets yet have consistently been one of the best teams."

Southland community rugby manager Craig Morton said the union had shown it was not about how many people lived in the region but was more about getting a good core group of people.

"We have got some good continuity from the coaching, who have built an environment where the players are proud to call Rugby Park their home, proud to call Southland home," Morton said.

He said the talk among the team was the season was not done yet, with a semifinal for the Air New Zealand Cup next week.

Culhane, who played in three unsuccessful challenges, said the win was built on defence, and he felt the first half, when Canterbury had plenty of ball but could only score a dropped goal, was critical for his side.

"With about 20 minutes to go you could feel the momentum swing and the boys just kicked on from there," Culhane said.

"It's been five years of hard work to get where we are today. It's all pretty overwhelming seeing all the people here. I can't believe it really."