Auckland show form of NPC champs

By GRAHAM REDDAWAY

Auckland's depth of playing talent was on show at Eden Park in a NPC warm-up match against second-division Counties Manukau, and the champion side's defence of their title seems to be in good hands.

Auckland coach Wayne Pivac expected the game to be much closer than the 79-25 scoreline.

He has lost eight players to the All Blacks and had several injury problems, but Auckland still ran in 13 tries, nine of them by halftime, when they led 53-6.

Pivac gave former star league inside back Tasesa Lavea a run in the second spell, and after a scratchy start, he showed his considerable talents.

Second five-eighth Sam Tuitupou played in the last quarter, All Black prop Kees Meeuws turned up for the second 40 minutes, former All Black flanker Daniel Braid gave his injured ankle a try-out and hooker Derren Witcombe had a storming first game for Auckland.

The unveiling of teenage wing Tony Koonwaiyou and second five-eighths Isakeli Nacewa were other highlights of the romp.

The only negative Pivac took from the match was that his side fell off the pace in the second spell. Holes appeared in the Auckland defence, and Counties were able to score three tries.

For Counties coach Bruce Robertson, that was a big plus. "We were shell-shocked in the first spell and we came back well," he said.

But the result demonstrated the gap between the top of the first division and the second division.

Pivac lost Shannon Paku to injury within the first 10 minutes, but he expects to field a frontline XV for the Eden Park match against Manu Samoa on Friday night.

* Waitemata fullback Ray Isara was the star of the Auckland second XV's 27-10 win over the Counties Manukau second XV at Western Springs Stadium.

Isara showed strong running from the back, turning defence into attack in the four-tries-to-one win.

* North Harbour warmed up for the NPC with an encouraging 44-25 win over Taranaki in New Plymouth.

Luke McAlister impressed when he came on at first five-eighth, grabbing a try and kicking 10 points, and prop Peter Bielski scored two of Harbour's five tries.

* An 80m try gave Otago a late 38-33 win over Wellington in an entertaining game at Carisbrook. Otago were 17-11 up at halftime and outscored Wellington five tries to four.

Wellington looked to have the game sewn up, pinning Otago in their own territory in the dying stages. But a 60m break by wing Matt Saunders set up a Josh Blackie try.

* Rowing legend Rob Waddell will be missing from the Waikato NPC squad named today.

Waddell made the Waikato training squad on the strength of a few club games for Hautapu and one for the province's development team. But he apparently has not made the NPC grade yet and is expected to line up for Waikato B when the season opens.

An extended Waikato squad left yesterday for Surfers Paradise and a five-day training camp. The trip is being paid for under a deal with a Japanese rugby club.