Ranfurly Shield Holders SouthlandCanterburyWellington Last defence Canterbury 3–9 Southland The Ranfurly Shield went through 10 challenges in the 2009 season, changing hands twice, and was held by Southland at the conclusion of the season.
Wellington started off their 2009 Ranfurly Shield campaign with easy wins over Heartland teams Wairarapa Bush (90–19) and Wanganui (61–6). Wellington had their first challenge against an Air New Zealand Cup team when they defeated Otago on 31 July by 23 points to 19. Their second challenge was on 22 August against Auckland, winning 16 points to 15. Wellington's last game as owner of the shield was on 29 August, a 36–14 loss to Canterbury.
Canterbury's first challenge of the season was against southern foes Otago; they won the game on 12 September 36 points to 16. They beat Taranaki 29 points to 17 to defend it for the second time. Northland were next to challenge for the shield, but couldn't pull off the upset, losing 31–21. Canterbury's fourth challenge of the season was won comfortably 50 points to 26. In their fifth and final challenge of the season, Canterbury lost the Ranfurly Shield to Southland on 22 October 9 points to 3. Southland would not have their first challenge until the following year.
Fixtures Date Holder Score Challenger Venue Attendance 2 July 90–19 Memorial Park, Masterton 5,000Approximate 9 July 61–6 Cook's Gardens, Wanganui unknown 31 July 23–19 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 11,261 22 August 16–15 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 13,466 29 August 14–36 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 18,511 12 September 36–16 AMI Stadium, Christchurch 16,500 18 September 29–17 AMI Stadium, Christchurch 8,800 26 September 31–21 AMI Stadium, Christchurch unknown 9 October 50–26 AMI Stadium, Christchurch unknown 22 October 3–9 AMI Stadium, Christchurch 10,500
Wellington Wellington were the holders coming into 2009 after they won it off Auckland in round 8 of the 2008 Air New Zealand Cup. Their first two challenges were against two Heartland teams. The first against Wairarapa Bush on 2 July, which they won 90 points to 19. Their second was against Wanganui on 9 July which they also won 61 to 6. Otago was the first Air New Zealand Cup team to challenge in 2009 when it came in round 1 of the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup. Wellington successfully defended the shield against Otago when they beat them 23 points to 19 on 31 July. Auckland were Wellingtons second challenge of the 2009 Air NZ Cup, they played them in round 4 and won 16–15 at Wellington Regional Stadium on 22 August. A week later Wellington played their 3rd Air New Zealand Cup challenge and 5th overall in 2009 against Canterbury, after the challengers established a 26–0 lead at halftime, it was too much for Wellington to regain the lead and their Ranfurly Shield tenure with 5 successful challenges, the longest time they've held onto the shield since 1953.
vs. Wairarapa Bush
Wellington named a relatively young team with only David Smith having Super Rugby experience in the starting XV, and 22-year-old Scott Fuglistaller named captain. Wairarapa Bush were a semi-finalist in the Lochore Cup section of the Heartland Championship from the 2008 season.
Wellington scored in the first three minutes to start off with a converted try, a penalty three minutes later put the scores to 10–0. Tries by Jason Woodward and Mark Reddish put the Lions up 24–0 fifteen minutes in. Wairarapa Bush were out muscled most of the first half, with Wellington working well in the rucks and rolling mauls. With Wellington up 45–0 Wairarapa Bush were awarded a scrum five metres from the line and took advantage with a try to Duncan Law, it was converted by Byron Karaitiana. Wellington went into the half-time break with a 45–7 lead.
The Lions brought up their half century with a try to Matthew Luamanu two minutes into the second half. With Api Naikatini scoring from a twenty-metre run, Jason Woodward bringing up his second and Fa'atonu Fili shooting his 8th conversion, Wellington were up 64–7 ten minutes through the second spell. David Smith scored his second try in the 55th minute to bring Wellington up to 71 points. Wairarapa Bush gained some momentum halfway through the second with some hard runs and big hits, and it showed after a Scott Fuglistaller try, a slow kick by Daniel Kirkpatrick gave the chance for the Bush to charge down and they capitalized with a try to Joe Feast in the 65th minute. Wellington brought up 90 points with tries to Marika Kau and Charlie Ngatai. A length of the field intercept try by Nick Olson in the 74th minute was the highlight of the second half for Wairarapa Bush.
vs. Wanganui
Wanganui were the reigning Heartland championship Meads Cup champions.2008 Meads Cup Final – Match Report Wellington named a more experienced side with five players with Super 14 experience but the core of team is made up of club and academy players.Wellington team to face Wanganui
The score was 9–0 fifteen minutes in, with Wanganui keeping Wellington on the backfoot but were burdened by errors and turnovers on attack. Penalties were a regular feature through the first fifteen minutes with 4 by the "Butcher Boys". The first try was scored by Alipate Leiua in the 20th minute, Daniel Kirkpatrick converted from the sideline with his fourth of the day. Wellington handling errors were the only thing stopping them from extending their lead, they had the speed which was an evident factor on offense and defense with Wanganui hesitating to take the gap. In the 25th minute, Daniel Kirkpatrick scored and converted to take its points tally to 18. Wanganui's first points came in the 32nd minute with a penalty by halfback Denning Tyrell, this was the only points by Wanganui and Wellington went into the break with a 23–3 lead.
Wanganui came out firing with immediately getting and keeping the ball down in the Wellington twenty-two. Wanganui maintained the pressure and were rewarded a penalty in front of the posts, Denning Tyrell converted the penalty and put Wanganui up to six points. Frustration was setting into the Wellington Lions, continuing to make fundamental errors. Kirkpatrick missed his first for the day with a penalty veering off to the left. Wellington extended their lead to 42 points with tries to David Smith, Charlie Ngatai and Shaun Treeby, and conversions by Kirkpatrick and replacement Fa'atonu Fili. With the score 54–6, Brendon Watt finished off the scoring with a converted try to end the match, 61–6.
vs. Otago
Wellington beat Otago on 31 July to retain the Shield for another two weeks before they take on Auckland.
After two early penalties by both teams, first five Chris Noakes scored a try after a pass went off the knee of his fellow player and rolled into the endzone before being forced by Noakes. Another penalty 4 minutes later for Otago gave them an 11–3 advantage going into the halftime break.
9 minutes into the second half the Wellington Lions scored three more points with Daniel Kirkpatrick kicking his second penalty of the night. After 14 minutes and another penalty by Noakes, Shaun Treeby made a break from an Otago error and ran 40 metres before offloading to Lock Daniel Ramsey for the try under the posts. Replacement Fa'atonu Fili converted the try and put the scores to 13–14 to Otago. Five minutes later Wellington were being pressured in their 22 before Victor Vito stole the ball in the ruck and Robert Fruean made a break which ended up getting the Lions down into the southerners half, from there Fa'atonu Fili flicked it out to Hosea Gear who sped around his opposite number Karne Hesketh for a try in the corner, Fili converted the try from the sideline and put the scores up to 20–14, the first Wellington led in the game. A drop goal a minute later by Fili meant that Otago had to score a twice, once a try, to gain the lead; that try came in the 79th minute by Adam Thomson but was two late for his team with the full-time siren going off before the conversion, which was missed, that left the end score 23–19.Wellington vs. Otago Match Report
vs. Auckland
Wellington came into the game 6th on the season points table while Auckland came in 10th after losing 2 of their first 3 games. Auckland were seeking for revenge after the previous season where Wellington won the shield of Auckland in round 8, 27–0, it was the first time ever that Auckland had been held scoreless at Eden Park.
Wing Hosea Gear opened up scoring with a try in the 5th minute off a pass by flank Mark Reddish, Fa'atonu Fili could not convert. Ash Moeke put Aucklands first points on the board with a penalty in the 11th minute. Fa'atonu Fili added three points 2 minutes later from half way. Ash Moeke had a chance to reduce the deficit to 2 but could not pull the kick left from the awarded penalty. Attacking rugby was played by both but no team could convert that momentum into points with stoppages and unforced errors dominating the first half. Fa'atonu Fili appeared to score a try but referee Pollock said that he was obstructed didn't see anything and also that his assistant referees didn't see anything, but television replays obviously showed Fili grounding the ball. No team scored during the rest of the half and Wellington went into the sheds with 8–3 lead.
Prop John Schwalger scored the first try of the second half, and his career three minutes in, from some good open passing play from the Wellingtonians, going from one side of the field to the other three times during the movement, Fa'atonu Fili could not convert the sideline kick. Auckland struck back with replacement Daniel Bowden scoring a try 10 minutes into the second half, he couldn't convert his own try though which made the scores 13–8 to Wellington. Daniel Bowden a chance at a three pointer 2 minutes later but the kick bounced off the posts and Wellington cleared with a punt downfield. Fili landed a drop kick from thirty minutes outs in the 61st minute to increase their Wellingtons lead to 8. Daniel Bowden had a chance for another 3 pointer but didn't have the accuracy. 67 minutes in, Auckland had the chance to get a try from the 22 drop out, but was butchered by a deflected kick off a Wellington player. But Auckland made up for it later by replacement halfback Taniela Moa in the 70th minute, Daniel Bowden conversion was successful. Auckland had another chance 2 minutes later but obstruction was called over the try line to keep Wellingtons lead at 16–15. Pressure was applied by Auckland till the end of the match but Wellington were able to hold on to take the win and retain the shield at a scoreline of 16–15.
vs. Canterbury
Wellington came into this game 4th on the Air NZ Cup points table while Canterbury were 3rd and had scored the most points out of any team in the competition so far. Both teams named all the All Blacks available to them, for Canterbury this was Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn, while Wellington had Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane and Rodney So'oialo.
In front of 18,511 spectators, Daniel Carter opened scoring with 3 penalties in the first 16 minutes putting Canterbury out to a 9–0 lead. 3 minutes later Canterbury scored the first try of the match, which went to Captain George Whitelock, Daniel Carter converted and extended his teams lead to 16–0. Another penalty by Carter put Canterbury up 19–0 with 10 minutes left in the first half. Tim Bateman scored Canterbury's second try of the match just on halftime hooter, Carter converted and Canterbury led the Lions 26–0 going into the sheds.