All Blacks return for Eden Park clash

Tana Umaga

Now that's more like it. The critics of an All Black-free NPC will be thinking that as they peruse the teams for the key showdown at Eden Park tomorrow night.

All Blacks are back in the Auckland and Wellington teams as they manoeuvre to tie up semifinal spots in the penultimate round of matches.

In Auckland's case, sitting joint top with Canterbury on 29 points, they want to nail a home semifinal. Victory tomorrow will ensure that.

Wellington, after their crushing one-point loss in Christchurch last week, will just settle for the win. They lie fifth on 21, just one point behind fourth-placed North Harbour.

Back come All Black captain Tana Umaga and No 8 Rodney So'oialo one week earlier than expected from their post-international spot of R and R. So'oialo also regains the captaincy from Ma'a Nonu.

Out go in-form wing Roy Kinikinilau - Nonu moving to wing in a rejigging of a plethora of midfield options - and another strong performer, Thomas Waldrom.

Auckland have made five changes, with All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Ali Williams back and fullback Brent Ward, flanker and captain Justin Collins and centre Ben Atiga returning from injury.

All Black hooker Keven Mealamu, not expected back until next week, will be on the bench along with two of Auckland's best players in the competition, versatile back Isa Nacewa and lock Kurtis Haiu.

Haiu misses out in a reshuffle which has utility Angus Macdonald as Williams' locking partner.

All Black fullback Mils Muliaina, off to Waikato at the end of the year, comes back to sit on the bench but there's no room in the 22 for wing Tony Koonwaiyou - who has scored four tries in the last four games - fullback Isaia Toeava and lock Jay Williams from last week's winning combination against Northland.

* Waikato coach Warren Gatland is disappointed but defiant after missing out on the semifinals. The crushing defeat by North Harbour last Sunday ended their hopes and made it four losses in succession.

But the former All Black and Waikato hooker, who had conspicuous success coaching Ireland and Wasps in the English premiership, said yesterday that he's not about "to run away and hide".

"You always ask yourself those questions like 'would I do anything differently if I had the chance', because you're always disappointed if you don't achieve something you set out to achieve," Gatland said.

"That's the challenge of it, but I don't think there's anything different that I would have done."

* Canterbury No 8 Mose Tuiali'i has been suspended for one match by a Rugby Union judicial committee for a dangerous tackle on Wellington lock Ross Filipo in last week's Ranfurly Shield match in Christchurch.

He misses tomorrow's match against Otago at Carisbrook, but will be back for Auckland's challenge for the shield in Christchurch on October 8.

* Eden Park, tomorrow 7.35pm

Auckland

Brent Ward
Doug Howlett
Ben Atiga
Sam Tuitupou
Joe Rokocoko
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine
Brad Mika
Daniel Braid
Justin Collins (c)
Ali Williams
Angus Macdonald
John Afoa
Derren Witcombe
Saimone Taumoepeau

Wellington

Shannon Paku
Lome Fa'atau
Conrad Smith
Tana Umaga
Ma'a Nonu
Jimmy Gopperth
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo (c)
Ben Herring
Jerry Collins
Luke Andrews
Ross Filipo
Neemia Tialata
Luke Mahoney
John Schwalger

Reserves:

Auckland: Keven Mealamu, Nick White, Kurtis Haiu, Daniel Crichton, Taniela Moa, Isa Nacewa, Mils Muliaina

Wellington: Roy Kinikinilau, Tamati Ellison, Brendan Haami, Thomas Waldrom, Ross Kennedy, Tim Fairbrother, Mahonri Schwalger.