Auckland's turn-around galvanises title defence

By WYNNE GRAY

Saimone Taumoepeau has been a wrecking machine in his three NPC starts.

The Auckland loosehead prop has reinforced the coaching cliche about rugby starting up front and fuelled the champions' hopes of a title defence after they halted Taranaki's unbeaten run with a 51-22 win on Saturday.

As quiet as Taumoepeau is, he has made a big noise since his debut against North Harbour. He forced his tighthead opposite Adrian Donald to be replaced that day and created the same fate for Wellington's Neemia Tialata a week later.

Taranaki came to Eden Park concerned about Taumoepeau's tactics, but with Gordon Slater, a veteran of more than 160 games for his province, ready to counter him.

Again it was a technical knockout to Taumoepeau as he led the consistent disruption of a Taranaki scrum which had not been beaten this season.

"They got us on the hop a few times and used the power they have got," beaten skipper Paul Tito said.

Privately, the visitors believed Taumoepeau scrummed illegally. They thought he had been allowed to pack on an angle to create such momentum.

However, All Black Kees Meeuws, back at tighthead to accommodate Taumoepeau, had a different version.

He backed up coach Pat Lam's assertion a few weeks ago that Taumoepeau was the best scrummager in Auckland club rugby. Meeuws predicts big things from the 24-year-old younger brother of Tongan international Tevita, who played for Auckland, Harbour, the Blues and the Chiefs.

"Look at what he did to Gordie [Slater] out there and he's had a few games in his position," Meeuws said.

Weighing a modest 105kg, there is some mystery about how Taumoepeau generates his heat.

The reserved prop does not give too much away, either, although he admits he has had plenty of tips from his brother and takes notice of where the referee stands at each scrum.

He moved to New Zealand after schooling in Tonga to work and play rugby. When he made Auckland's NPC squad this season he left his packing job at Carter Holt Harvey.

"I like playing here, I came here to try and play for New Zealand," he said. "I love scrummaging and I think my best has been against North Harbour and Taranaki."

After his latest enforcer routine, more than just his provincial opponents might be taking a closer interest in Taumoepeau.

Auckland's tight five had an ascendancy again on Saturday, but, unlike their previous two matches, this time they cashed in on that superiority.

Lam picked a team of grafters to combat the workaholic Taranaki forwards and that selection rejig worked. There was a far better balance to the loose forward trio of Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino and Xavier Rush, with more work than shirk and continuity dividends for the backline.

It was also noticeable how Auckland started far more conservatively. They still ran the ball and used the width of the park but reduced their passing risks.

They adhered to the percentages, while Carlos Spencer kicked for territory or to create pressure through a chasing defensive line. Once they were in Taranaki territory, Spencer used his impressive array of knee, banana or crosskicks for his following henchmen.

Brent Ward and Ben Atiga were beneficiaries, while Sam Tuitupou was a midfield menace and alternate attacking avenue. Halfback David Gibson was able to throw waves of neat passes as his forwards did their business.

Tries to start each half from Braid and a 90m surge with half the team handling before replacement wing Joe Rokocoko scored were precious moments in a seven-tries-to-three blitz.

It was a win-win match, with Taranaki still at the top of the points table and Auckland still holding on to their hopes of making the final four.

Visiting coach Kieran Crowley noted the significant lift in intensity at Eden Park in a match where he said Auckland were allowed to play their game and Taranaki did not produce theirs.


Taranaki lost exciting wing Shayne Austin to knee cartilage damage during the match and are unsure whether they will have vigorous hooker Andrew Hore for this week's meeting with their Super 12 franchise mates Wellington.

Lam and his captain Rush were calmly satisfied in their public debrief but it was easy to understand how much the victory meant to Auckland by listening to their noisy dressing room before it, eventually, disgorged its smiling occupants.

For some like Rush it had been an awfully long wait. His last victory was with the All Blacks on July 23 in Christchurch.

"It is good to finally get a win under our belts and actually go home and smile and our families will be happy," Rush said. "It is a nice feeling."

Auckland would find faults with their performance when they came to analyse the victory but the crucial part was to take pleasure in the form reversal, enjoy the moment and use it as a springboard for the rest of the series, he said.

The rest of the first-division teams will have a different opinion after getting an uneasy reminder of last season. Auckland lost three of their first four matches before turning that year around with an away victory against Taranaki, en route to their successful NPC title defence.


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