Auckland head coach Paul Feeney. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Auckland coach Paul Feeney is not entering the debate about why his three fringe All Blacks have not been released for today's ITM Cup Premiership match against Wellington at Eden Park.
Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua and Charles Piutau are not in the All Blacks' 23 for tonight's test in Napier,
but Auckland cannot access them.
It may be that Luatua and Piutau are 24th and 25th men respectively, given there has been a shuffle in the squad after Aaron Cruden's chest injury. But the non-release of prop Faumuina seems strange, especially as All Black coach Steve Hansen publicly questioned his fitness and form on Thursday.
"I just control the controllables. I'm not worried about the politics. That's the way it is and I've picked our team on that basis," said Feeney, whose side sits on a 1-1-1 record in an ITM Cup campaign that has yet to catch fire. He had early notification that the trio would not be available and said the same structure applies to his needs for the Auckland Colts and Auckland Bs early in game week.
Feeney was unwilling to apportion all the blame for the mess in the scrums against the Makos on the broad shoulders of Faumuina, but is keen to see vast improvement in that area against the Lions today.
