Blood spilt as Auckland pick up the tempo

By WYNNE GRAY



It was a patched-up Auckland side who took to the training arena last night at Eden Park.

During a boisterous defensive session in the morning the team medicos had to stitch up several players as they showed the sort of sting demanded by coach Wayne Pivac.

"We had a bit of blood spilled there, but that's what it is all about, we had to get our support play going, clean more guys out of the contact area," he said.

Many would say the needle and thread treatment was the minimum attention the side needed after three defeats in the first four games of the NPC.

Coach Wayne Pivac was inclined to agree.

He wanted to continue with the free-flowing plans, but said that strategy had to be married to a confrontational approach.

Too many players "were waiting for plums" instead of supporting the ball carrier or cleaning out the opposition at the breakdowns.

Those instructions had been evident when the side went through a gruelling morning defensive session before a quieter run last night.

Midfield back Sam Tuitupou had managed about half the defensive drills and the staff were optimistic his damaged shoulder would be ready for Saturday's match with Taranaki in New Plymouth.

"He has had about three weeks out now and while it will be his call we think he will be okay," Pivac said.

"He has been a 50-50 chance for the last few games and he has pulled the pin, but this time we think his chances are 75-25."

Pivac will announce his side tonight and is reluctant to make too many changes after the latest loss to Waikato.

He is looking to include specialist openside flanker Craig de Goldi to get a bit more pace into the pack and to reintroduce Tuitupou.

Considerable time has been spent with first five-eighths Orene Ai'i and it seems he will be persevered with for this weekend.

While he is one of the most dangerous broken field runners in the country, his decisions and kicking game are not as potent.

"We have not seen the best of Orene yet, but his play also depends on how well the forwards are going," Pivac said.

"Naturally, we are missing Carlos [Spencer], and sometimes you don't appreciate just how influential players like him are, until they are not there. But we have to be better than that."

The other choice could be league convert Tasesa Lavea, who has recovered from a thigh injury.

Lee Stensness is unavailable because of a foot injury.

NPC points table