Rugby: Auckland embrace returning All Blacks

Auckland have snapped up Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and John Afoa for their trip north to Kerikeri where they will tangle with the buoyant Northland side. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Competition leaders Wellington have spurned their All Blacks while cellar-dwellers Auckland have snapped up their quota with the relish of a side in dire trouble.

That contrast in thinking straddled All Black coach Graham Henry's obvious desire for his fringe players to get in some more matchplay before next week's Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

Henry fudged his replies but it was apparent he wanted some under-used members of his squad in the national championship action this weekend. There were veiled hints he wanted the New Zealand Rugby Union to make sure that happened.

That idea was embraced by the struggling Auckland team who will use Joe Rokocoko, Isaia Toeava, Jerome Kaino and John Afoa for their trip north to Kerikeri tomorrow where they will tangle with the buoyant Northland side.

However, coach Mark Anscombe has dropped halfback Taniela Moa from this weekend's squad because he broke team protocol when he missed a promotional activity.

Meanwhile, the Wellington union and coach Jamie Joseph have refused to integrate any regular All Blacks into their side to play Bay of Plenty tomorrow though they have accepted No 8 Rodney So'oialo on to the bench because of a swag of injuries.

However, they have embraced Tamati Ellison at fullback even though he did travel to South Africa and was at the national training camp this week.

Wellington have twin Ranfurly Shield defences after this weekend and do not want to interrupt planning for those matches in exchange for giving a handful of All Blacks match practice.

That means Cory Jane, Neemia Tialata and perhaps Piri Weepu, if his ankleinjury recovers, will play for WellingtonB against Horowhenua-Kapiti.

It is a classic impasse and one which will get worse later in the season when the All Blacks have finished their test programme and six weeks before the start of their end-of-year tour.

Wellington utility back Jane suggested he might look elsewhere for his provincial rugby this season.

He should perhaps ask his All Black masters about their strategies because before the twin defeats in South Africa, they planned on resting most of their squad before the test in Sydney.

Wellington chief executive Greg Peters said it was a tricky situation but he had to think of the team's welfare: "We can only have them for one full training run each week, through All Black training requirements and player promotions, so it severely constrains our ability to play them."

All Black utility Toeava will make his comeback from a stress fracture in his foot for Auckland tomorrow and will fill in at fullback for Paul Williams, who was banned for a week for a dangerous tackle on Daniel Carter in the last round.

Rokocoko will play on the wing and if he is given a roving commission that should set up a classic confrontation against Blues comrade Rene Ranger.

Winston Stanley will play at centre outside his brother and captain Benson Stanley, who has recovered from the physical onslaught he suffered in his return game last weekend.

New five-eighths Ash Moeke has kept his place while Daniel Bowden has failed a fitness test after a head knock last week and has been replaced in the reserves by Jamie Helleur.