Sub-plots aplenty as lineouts take shape in Taranaki

All Black lock Jason Eaton starts for Taranaki against Auckland today. All Black lock Ali Williams starts from the bench for Auckland.

The conclusion to be drawn from this?

Williams is likely to start for the All Blacks against Australia in their potentially Tri-Nations-clinching test at Eden Park next Saturday, with Eaton on the bench.

These All Black sub-plots are all around us in these days of rotations and requests from the national panel to Air New Zealand Cup coaches.

Then again, Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko are also starting for Auckland in New Plymouth. But read nothing into that, as Howlett's right wing rival, Rico Gear, is playing for Tasman today and Scott Hamilton, Rokocoko's challenger on the left, played for Canterbury in Hamilton last night.

Williams will do what is asked of him, but he dropped a veiled hint this week of his real thoughts. He opined that Eaton was playing and he wasn't because the mullet-headed 'Naki man had justified his selection whereas Williams hadn't.

"I'd like to play longer, but that's just how it works," he said.

The best reading of the All Black availability issue seems to be that some players are requested to play, either in the starting XV or off the bench; some are offered the option; and some are told best keep your civvies on.

Two players worth keeping an eye on today are versatile Isaia Toeava, who moves out one spot to centre from last weekend, and No 8 Andrew Blowers. Both impressed against Tasman and Toeava clearly is in the All Black panel's long-term thoughts.

Blowers was powerful last Sunday, has a commanding physical presence and, without getting too far ahead of ourselves, might yet be in a position to mount a challenge for next year's World Cup.

There are many rucks to hit and tackles to make before then, but he has made sure that somewhere on the outer reaches of the selectors' radar, his blip has been registered.

Last year, Auckland went to Taranaki and got a 40-19 duffing. Six tries to one, thanks for coming. Auckland had won their previous five championship games; Taranaki had lost their previous three.

There is a symmetry to that right now: Auckland have had a couple of easy wins over soft opponents; Taranaki have lost to Wellington and North Harbour, and no doubt feel they should have taken some points from both games.

Instead, they are yet to pick up a point, and failure to win today could be a mortal blow to their already shaky hopes of making the top six for the second round of the championship.

Taranaki are missing centre Lifeimi Mafi (fractured eye socket, two weeks) and wing Michael Tagicakibau (sprained ankle, one week). Flanker John Willis has severe facial bruising, not a fractured cheekbone as first feared. He is on the bench today.

Even so, locks Paul Tito and Eaton and a strong front row of Andrew Hore, the giant Census Johnson and Tony Penn will keep Auckland honest up front.

Today is old-timers' day for the Taranaki union. Included in that are two reunions, for the 1956-57 team, who drew with the Springboks and won the Ranfurly Shield, and the 1996 team, who won the shield off Auckland. Inspiration should not be lacking for Tito's men.

On paper, Auckland should be too strong. But that's the thing; paper will count for zilch at 5.35pm today, least of all to a province who tend to lick their chops at the idea of putting one over the big city types.