Woodward places team on notice but puts away axe

Coach Bryce Woodward has kept faith with his starting line-up that was so comprehensively beaten last weekend by Counties-Manukau but has warned that players will be dropped if they continue to expose the team by being out of step with the team's defensive patterns for this week's outing against Manawatu.
"There are a few players in the line-up who know if they don't improve their performances, then this week could be their last chance with the team," Woodward said.
He said the breakdown area  was still problematic but implementing the defensive structure - that they practise every week - during the match had become of greater importance this week.
"We're running out of patience, there's a lack of commitment or trust in the system and you can directly link that to the first two tries in the Counties game and, if the process had worked, then the softer tries later might not have happened too," Woodward said.
As well as a tighter defence, the coach said he was also looking for a marked improvement in the scrum this week.
Manawatu have lost their last three matches following their spectacular 19-12 win against Otago.
After Auckland defeated them in the final play of the match last weekend 23-20, the Turbos are eyeing up Northland as a chance to stock up on some much needed points.
Their coach Dave Rennie said on top of the gut-wrenching loss to Auckland, they had to cope with losing valuable players to injury at Eden Park last week.
Chief among them is national U20 star Aaron Cruden,  whose name has been bandied around as a possible end-of-year All Black.
The flyhalf pulled up lame during the warm-up and there's still a large question mark over him for this week's match, as he is yet to train with the squad this week.
Openside flanker Josh Bradnock injured his groin last week, while prop David Timona is also an unlikely starter with a knee injury. Midfielder Frankie Bryant has been ruled out for the rest of the season but there is some good news for Rennie, with a possible return to the side of impressive loose forward Nick Crosswell after four weeks on the sideline.
"It'd be great to get him back tomorrow  but really we need another 24 hours to assess where we really are before the game," the Palmerston North-based coach said. Rennie gave his entire squad the day off yesterday, hoping that the mini-break may just be enough to get some of his players through today's fitness tests.
Woodward has no recent injury problems resulting from the Counties' game to consider.
The only change in the squad is Junior Gadolo's return to the bench, replacing Michael Farmer, who returns to North Harbour.
Competing with Manawatu, one of the most improved teams of the competition this year, will be a challenge but Woodward believes they can upset the locals in Sunday's match at the Palmerston North Showgrounds.
"I think many sides would be satisfied in leading Auckland at Eden Park with just a few minutes to go ... and Manawatu will be looking to get back on track this week with a win against Northland," he said.
He doesn't underestimate the challenge his players face but said Manawatu resembled Northland in terms of overall talent.
"We have to put  the woes of last week behind us and get on and put a good performance on the park this week, so I'm expecting a battle and I'll be  disappointed if we're not in the hunt for points at the end of the game," he said.
Woodward said that players not able to improve themselves for the match could find themselves off the roster for next week's game against Canterbury.
Northland: Jared Payne (captain), Simon Munro, Damian Fakafanua, Derek Carpenter, Rene Ranger, Lachie Munro, Rhyan Caine, Cameron Eyre, Joel McKenty, Roy Griffin, Cam Jowitt, Daniel Goodwin, Karl Haitana, Mikaele Tuu'u, Bronson Murray. Reserves: Tim Dow, Matt Wallis, Junior Gadolo, Matt Clutterbuck, Luke Hamilton, David Holwell, Jon Elrick.