Southland have shocked an All Blacks-laden Waikato and relieved them of the Ranfurly Shield in a 25-10 victory in Hamilton tonight.
In an extraordinary performance from the southerners, who last held the Shield in 2011, the home side were kept scoreless in the second half and in the end Southland won it relatively comfortably, although the wild celebrations at the final whistle hinted at the effort they put in.
The victory was another sign of the rejuvenation of the Stags, who have now won three NPC matches in a row. The last time they did that was in 2013.
It means Waikato's reign ends after only a week following their 23-22 victory over Taranaki in New Plymouth last weekend.
"We wanted to bring the Shield home. People still talk about 2009 [and 2011]. We wanted to make history," Southland captain Sean Withy said.
"We had a plan, stuck to it, and it worked."
It is the eighth time Southland have won the Shield.
The key to Southland's victory was their defence and their attacking ingenuity in the second half against a Waikato side who started All Blacks prop Oli Norris, loose forwards Luke Jacobson and Samipeni Finau and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown.
Former All Black Lima Sopoaga started at No.10 for Waikato, with another former New Zealand first-five, Aaron Cruden, on the bench.
Undeterred by the odds and talent they faced, Southland played extremely well into a strong wind in the first half to hold Waikato to a 10-8 halftime lead.
That in itself would have given the Stags added confidence, but with Withy shining defensively and second-five Faletoi Peni a man possessed on both sides of the ball, the visitors built an irresistible momentum.
“Southland had a bit more heart than us," Waikato skipper Xavier Roe said afterwards. "They just wanted it a bit more. They were better tactically than us with the wind in the second half. Full credit to them."
Unfortunately for Southland, their next opponent is Canterbury, who will play them in Invercargill next Saturday afternoon.
While Southland are playing well and are seventh of 14 teams on the NPC table, Canterbury are undefeated after five matches and are the pace setters.
The red and blacks will be favourites to force the Shield to change hands quickly again, but a likely huge crowd at Rugby Park will be hoping otherwise.
Southland 25 (S Tupou Ta'eiloa, N Shearer, F Morgan tries; B Smith 2 cons, 2 pens)
Waikato 10 (M Boyle-Tiatia try; L Sopoaga con, pen)
Halftime: Waikato 10-8
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