Canterbury's latest Ranfurly Shield hero describes chaotic Otago win

Dominic Gardiner wrote himself into Ranfurly Shield folklore in Canterbury’s successful 19-15 challenge against Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday.

In the last minute, hard-pressed on defence, Gardiner ripped the ball off Otago replacement hooker Nic Souchon at a ruck. This turnover allowed Canterbury to keep possession until the clock stopped.

“Those turnovers are split-second decisions,” Gardiner told RugbyPass.  “I noticed Nic was slightly isolated so I made a grab for the ball, got a cling on it and ripped it away.

“Closing a game down is something we walk through at practice at least once a week. It’s hard to get excited when you’re being battered by opposition. The key thing in those moments is to stay calm and be deliberate in what you’re doing.”

With a game-high 23 tackles (none missed) and 13 carries, the most by a Canterbury forward, Gardiner performed his role with aplomb.

“It felt like a grind, which for a flanker are the games you like,” Gardiner said.

“The good thing about this Canterbury team is we’ve played a lot of rugby together. We understand what each other is going to do and even when things are not going so well there is still a lot of trust, belief and talent.”

In the 54th minute, starting hooker and scorer of two tries Brodie McAlister accidentally barged into referee Ben O’Keefe and left the field for a head injury assessment. When replacement hooker Manumaua Letiu was yellow carded a minute later for persistent team infringements, Canterbury was suddenly down to 13 players and uncontested scrums.

“It was a bit of a shambles,” Gardiner laughed. “We were standing around in a circle playing pick up sticks. Who’s drawn the short straw? Louie Chapman (halfback) has always been keen to try the forwards, so he moved to the side of a scrum, as did the best ten in the world, Richie Mo’unga.

“There’s a lot of talk about the hybrid. I threw the ball to the lineout. You might ask why, as one of the taller players, I wouldn’t jump. I know where people are standing. I should practice my throwing more.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

23

24

First try wins

80%

Home team wins

80%

Canterbury navigated the chaos to capture the Shield for a record 18th time, improving their record to 154 wins in 203 games. Gardiner was part of the Canterbury team that beat Southland 54-14 to win the Shield last year but lost it in the next game to Otago 38-36. His father also successfully challenged for the Shield.

On September 3, 1994, Angus Gardiner was openside flanker when Canterbury beat Waikato 29-26 at Rugby Park in Hamilton. Gardiner made a break that led to a controversial penalty try awarded by referee Glen Walstroom (127 first-class games). Gardiner was caught in a tackle just short of the try line by fullback Todd Miller. Gardiner offloaded to lock Todd Blackadder in support. In the next phase, first-five Andrew Mehrtens was impeded by multiple defenders, ruled offside, sufficient for Walstroom to contend that a try would have been scored.

Angus went on to play two successful defences that season against Counties Manukau (42-16) and Otago (22-20). Overall, he played 69 games for Canterbury, scoring 22 tries and achieving 51 wins, including a 1997 NPC title.

“Dad’s rugby was before my time, but it’s great hearing the stories and something to be proud of. The celebrations back then were much crazier than ours,” Gardiner said.

After Canterbury beat Hawke’s Bay 18-11 on September 27, 1969 at McLean Park in Napier, ending the Magpies’ legendary 21-game Shield tenure, most Canterbury forwards celebrated so vigorously they missed the flight back to Christchurch. That includes Alex “Grizz” Wyllie, who played 210 games for Canterbury and coached a team between 1982 and 1985 that bettered that reign with 25 successful defences. His grandson is 19-year-old Finn McLeod, who came off the bench on Sunday as a flanker replacement for just his second game in Red and Black.

“He’s a hell of a player, physically well developed. I’m impressed with how he’s carried himself. He’s taken his chances and obviously has a heck of a pedigree,” Gardiner acclaimed.

Gardiner missed the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season with the Crusaders after suffering a hamstring tear and then a stress fracture in his foot. He played 10 games for Canterbury as they won the NPC for their 15th time in 2025. He has 28 wins in 36 appearances and has scored five tries, including one in Canterbury’s opening round 2026 victory against Auckland 38-31.

During Super Rugby Pacific 2026, Gardiner played 14 games for the Crusaders, eight as a starter. He said the highlights of the season were the five wins at the new Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium. In the opening night April 24 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs, 35-20, Gardiner led the Crusaders in carries, meters gained, tackles, and turnovers, and secured half of the Crusaders’ 14 spotless lineouts.

This Saturday, Gardiner is back at Te Kaha/One New Zealand Stadium as Canterbury defends the Ranfurly Shield against Bay of Plenty, who have a sorry record with just two wins in 25 matches.

Bay of Plenty have only held the Shield once. On August 15, 2004, the Steamers beat Auckland 33-28 at Eden Park with first-five Glen Jackson scoring 23 points. They held it on August 22 against Waikato 26-20 in Mount Maunganui, with Jackson converting tries from Adrian Cashmore and Anthony Tahana and kicking four penalties. But on September 5, they lost it to Canterbury 33-26 despite another 21 points from Jackson. Andrew Mehrtens had 18 for Canterbury, with Justin Marshall, Caleb Ralph, and a penalty try the other sources of the visitors’ points.

“I’m not worried about Bay of Plenty’s record. They’re a dangerous side. They’ve got big, physical forwards and fast, skilful backs. They’re going to give it heaps. It’s the Shield.”