Northland rugby trio make Auckland Blues

When the 2011 Super Rugby full 32-man squads were unveiled at Eden Park, the Auckland-based franchise had a big streak of Cambridge Blue to its backline.
Three Northland backs were announced in the Blues' lineup at yesterday's season launch, where the five New Zealand franchise coaches - Blues coach Pat Lam, the Chiefs' Ian Foster, Hurricanes' Mark Hammett, Crusader's Todd Blackadder, the Highlanders' Jamie Joseph and New Zealand Rugby Union professional rugby manager Neil Sorenson were on hand to make the announcements.
Newly-capped All Back utility back Rene Ranger returns for his third season with the Auckland franchise, while Taniwha skipper Jared Payne is back after a two-year stint with the Crusaders.
Following a stellar season with Northland as the team's, and the Air New Zealand Cup's, top point's scorer, outside back Lachie Munro makes the step up from the wider training squad into the Blues mix.
As well, Northland prop Bronson Murray was included in the Highlanders squad for a second season at the franchise.
Meanwhile, Northland coach Bryce Woodward was recently named assistant coach for the Blues, handing over the Taniwha reins to Toll Northland's Development coach Adriaan Ferris for the 2011 ITM Cup season. Entering his third season coaching at this level, Blues' coach Pat Lam said Woodward and the three Northland players would bring invaluable qualities to the squad.
"The key to being head coach is to surround yourself with good leaders. There were a lot of good applicants for the assistant role, but what stood out for me about Bryce was his values are much in line with mine. He has been a head coach for most of his career and he knows what makes a good assistant coach."
Barring a few below-par performances and unlucky results which saw Northland slip into tenth in the ITM Cup, Lam added Northland had a good season and Woodward showed what he could do with the provincial side most people thought would struggle this year.
Another player to prove his leadership skills during recent seasons was fullback Payne, who performed consistently week in and week out.
"Jared Payne captained Northland ably in the ITM Cup and he will bring that leadership into the Blues as well as ability - he has been one of the form fullbacks this year. With the way we want to play our game this season, he will be beneficial to the team, both on and off the field."
After making his All Blacks debut coming off the bench against Wales in July and a fantastic NPC season, Lam was quick to retain Ranger in his Blues squad.
"With the way he played this year, it was disappointing for him to miss out on the All Blacks end of year tour. We are looking forward to seeing what he can do for us this year."
Munro's selection as the newest Northland player to make the Blues squad came after a "rollercoaster ride" which tested the 23-year-old first five/fullback's character.
Following a season with Auckland, Munro was released by the union at the start of 2009, and missed out on a chance to score a Blues contract earlier. He moved to Northland where he played two solid seasons for the province and made the Blues wider training squad last season.
"A person who goes through tough times and comes back stronger for it shows great character, we are privileged to have him back," Lam said.
Munro's journey was a lesson not to give up for the likes of fellow Northland players Dan Pryor, Dean Budd, Rhyan Caine and Aaron Bancroft who were not named in the Blues 32-man squad but would be "in or around" the wider training squad which is to be confirmed next week, Lam said.
"We weighed up the demands of Super Rugby when we picked the squad and their inexperience counted against them, but they should take a leaf out of Lachie's book."
Round one of the new-look Super 15 kicks off on February 18. The Blues first match is a home game against Canterbury on February 19.