Is This The Greatest Ranfurly Shield Season Ever?

2013 will be remembered as one of the most thrilling Ranfurly Shield seasons ever - 4 holders in just the space of 4 games.

The last time the season saw 4 different Ranfurly Shield holders was back in 2007 - although that was over one season when North Harbour, Waikato, Canterbury and Auckland all held the shield at some stage of the season with Auckland nicking the Shield off Canterbury in their final game of the season.

Before 2007, there was the 1996 season when Taranaki, Waikato and Auckland all held the shield, and 1974 when South Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland all held the shield.

Indeed the last time the Shield was held by 5 different unions in one season was 1950 when Canterbury, Waiarapa, South Canterbury and Northland (then North Auckland) all held the shield - the first three mentioned unions actually failed in their first defences of the shield which is not dissimilar to the fate that has befallen Otago and Hawkes Bay.

1950 South Canterbury Ranfurly Shield winning team

With the ITM Cup now effectively a support competition to Super Rugby, it means that the quality of teams is fairly even now and it is perhaps not surprising to see unions that haven't held the Shield for so long having their time in the sun - personally, this is exactly what the provincial game needs in the light of declining media coverage and crowds.

So what chance of Counties winning and losing the Shield in the space of a week like their predecessors. Well given what has happened this season, anything is possible - let's not forget that Counties had lost two in a row going into their match against the Bay on Saturday, so if anything, the Shield could be the boost that the Naki needs to get its season - and Premiership survival campaign - back on track.

Can the Shield revive the Naki's flagging season?

Indeed, it is very conceivable that the holders at the start of the season - Waikato could very well get back the shield in the same season they lost it. That is if Counties can finally break the Shield defence hoodoo this season against Taranaki, but lose it in their next home game against their Chiefs Super Rugby partners.

As they say though, It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.