Standout show by Ranger

MAARTEN HOLL

GREAT START: Wellsford Rugby Club’s first All Black Rene Ranger was spear-tackled in his run-on debut against the Springboks but the incident went unpenalised.

Relevant offers

WELLSFORD rugby hero Rene Ranger made up for a patchy first half with a powerful finishing effort to secure his debut try soon after the break in Saturday's test against the Springboks.

However, that was beaten in the breathtaking stakes when Ranger's replacement, Israel Dagg, sliced through for a sizzling solo try in the same left-hand corner.

Dagg's heroics couldn't wipe the smile from Ranger though, who barrelled through opposite Gio Aplon and somehow avoided the sideline to notch a face-saving try after some handling muffs and poor options marred his early efforts.

"I needed something to build my confidence back up, so getting that try built it right back up there," he says. "The first 40 was all right but for a few dropped balls which kind of got my head down.

"I was over the moon, pretty stoked. I ended up getting a try, which I didn't think would happen."

The man dubbed "superman" by assistant coach Wayne Smith leading up to the test found the Springboks defence tougher to beat than the Super 14 teams he tormented with the Blues this year. However, he enjoyed the chance to attack from deep, casting off the public pressure and media attention that had weighed him down.

Ranger wasn't sure if he had done enough to keep the No 11 jersey for the test against Australia in Melbourne on July 31, with the injured Joe Rokocoko expected to be available, along with Dagg.

"Once you're starting, the goal is to stay there. I suppose with the game I had, it's a bit of a 50-50 call now. I just have to go back and work hard at training."

Ranger feared he would be sinbinned for a "no arm" tackle on fullback Zane Kirchner soon before he was replaced in the 63rd minute, but a quick glance at the stadium big screen assured him he would escape censure.

- © Fairfax NZ News