Boardroom rumpus not worrying Counties Manukau team

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Suggestions that off-field rumblings will sink the Counties Manukau ship have been booted into touch.

While chief executive Peter Dunne was understandably far from happy when he saw his job advertised, union chairman Rod Gabb said nothing sinister should be read into that.

"It is very simple," Gabb said. "The board is being transparent. Peter Dunne has a two-year contract which finishes at the end of the year.

"We are simply testing the market. In no way are we discouraging him from applying. As the incumbent, I feel he is in a strong position."

Rumours that coach Andrew Talaimanu was also on the way out were also dismissed by Gabb.

"The board fully supports Peter Dunne and Andrew Talaimanu. It has been a tough year, and as a union we are finding it tough.

"Andrew is in the first year of a two-year contract. There will be a review at the end of the season, but unless we finish up in the second division, I can see no reason while we would even consider changing anything."

It appears the off-field worries are not impacting on the players.

While he is "considering his options," Dunne maintains a close relationship with the team.

"I had a beer with them after training on Thursday," he said. "They knew it was going to be hard, but they are certainly not talking about finishing in the bottom two."

But it is hard to shut out the bad vibes as Counties Manukau head into today's fifth-round game against Otago still searching for their first win. Even the home advantage they could count on at Pukekohe Stadium appears to have deserted Danny Lee's team.

Their only points have come from a 24-24 draw with bottom-placed Southland and a bonus point for running North Harbour close.

In a couple of changes, Gus Leger has come in for Peter Epati at second five-eighths and Koula Tukino replaces Kristian Ormsby in a reshuffled pack.

All Black Carl Hayman's return at prop in the Otago front row has forced South African Marius Mostert out of the squad. That is the only change from the team who walloped Southland last Sunday.

"It was a difficult decision, because Marius has played pretty well and done a really good job for us at scrum time," coach Laurie Mains said. "But we owe it to Carl to get him into the game. It's not his fault he's been away with the All Blacks."

Mains said he was not concerned that Hayman, a tighthead prop by preference, would start at loosehead.

"He's had to cover the All Blacks at loosehead, and he's a good loosehead as well as a tighthead. It's one of his strengths that he can play either side."

Hayman, who will be turning out for his 23rd game for Otago, will be having his first start since his All Black run-on test debut against Argentina in Christchurch on June 23.