RUGBY - Coach adds Auckland to injury

Perhaps the Northland rugby players know something we don't. Or maybe the mere thought of throwing themselves in front of the Auckland juggernaut is enough to make the sturdiest rugby player rediscover his hamstrings.
Whatever the cause, the outcome looks a bit tragic, especially if you are Mark Anscombe, the coach of the Northland rugby team, this week.
Anscombe has six of his first-pick players battling injuries just to make the start-line at Homeworld Stadium in Whangarei on Saturday - a group that includes flanker Joel McKenty, No.8 Jake Paringatai and prop Bronson Murray.
But, by Saturday, he hopes to have all but one back on the playing roster, just in time to try to trip up the current leaders of the Air NZ Cup.
In the meantime, the battle with physical injuries might be minuscule compared with the mental struggle. Losing two close games on the trot has suddenly sapped his team of some much-needed self-confidence, which makes Auckland all the more daunting.
"They (Auckland) average 30 off-loads a game, we and most other teams might do 10. They have game-breakers right across the park so you can't isolate a couple and say those are the guys to shut down," Anscombe said. "The thing is our defence has gone well all year, but it is our inability to react when something goes wrong, not just for us but for them.
"We've seen it all year, the other team drop the ball and we don't capitalise on it, and that is a confidence thing for some of our players who just need to back themselves a little bit more."
What will make the performance of the medical team all the more critical this week.
Paringatai's presence is crucial but a neck strain was still causing concern yesterday. McKenty has a lower leg strain, Murray is battling back trouble and Rene Ranger is still not available with a hamstring strain.
Hayden Taylor, the veteran fullback, will learn just how serious his neck troubles are when he visits a specialist in Auckland today and lock Dan Goodwin is unlikely to play on Saturday after wrenching an ankle.
"I doubt if Goodwin will make it, in fact I probably won't risk him even if he makes good progress, but the rest I am hoping will be right by Saturday," Anscombe said.
If not the final composition of the forward pack will be tricky, with captain Justin Collins a possibility to play Jamie McQueen a likely addition on the bench to cover the front row and John Cocker an option to start at loose forward.
Goodwin's place at lock will be taken by youngster Steve Baker.
The injury woes are likely to delay the official team naming.