Knee injury keeps Lavea on sideline

By CHRIS RATTUE

Former league star and brief Kiwis international Tasesa Lavea has missed the first Auckland NPC squad, but head coach Wayne Pivac is tipping the 23-year-old should soon make the grade.

The retention of inside back Lee Stensness and inclusion of former Waikato hooker Richard Kirke are the talking points in the 26-man squad selected for matches against Counties-Manukau, Manu Samoa and the early NPC campaign, which begins against Otago in Dunedin on August 15.

Stensness, the long-time Auckland back, appeared to be on the outer when he missed selection in the training squad.

The NPC squad, announced yesterday, is missing Auckland's eight All Blacks. Pivac has had no recent contact with the national selectors, but presumes that no test players will be released back before the World Cup.

Lavea, a schoolboy rugby star in Auckland before being signed by the Melbourne Storm, had taken Stensness' spot in the 35-man training squad.

But Lavea, who Auckland regard as a first or second five-eighth or fullback, is still battling back after a knee operation.

"Tasesa has progressed really well, but he will start in the development team," Pivac said. "The attitude of the guy, his professionalism, has really shown through. In the last few training runs we've seen some really classy touches from him."

Neither Stensness nor Kirke will start in the initial Auckland line-up.

Orene Ai'i will begin the season as the No 1 first five-eighths ahead of Stensness, with Lavea a longer-term possibility.

Pivac said he regarded Ai'i, along with Carlos Spencer, as the best first five-eighth in the country at taking the ball to defensive lines.

The loaning of James Arlidge to Northland suggests that he does not fit in with this part of the Auckland game plan.

And with Keven Mealamu in the All Blacks, Kirke will understudy Derren Witcombe, who is on loan from Northland this season and becomes a fully-contracted Auckland player after that.

Kirke played 30 games for Waikato in the mid-1990s and three as a replacement for the Crusaders in the inaugural Super 12 competition.

He has played for English clubs, England A in 1999 and 2001, and for Sri Lanka in the Hong Kong Sevens.

Pivac said the 31-year-old, who plays for Ponsonby, would add front-row experience as Auckland look to ease their outstanding tighthead prop prospect, 126kg New Zealand Colt John Afoa, into the big time.

Other squad newcomers are two other New Zealand Colts, wing Tony Koonwaiyou and flanker/lock Jerome Kaino, and 21-year-old Auckland-born Fijian wing Isa Nacewa.



Auckland squad.-

Backs: Brent Ward, Shannon Paku, Tony Koonwaiyou, Iliesa Tanivula, Isa Nacewa, Ben Atiga, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Sam Tuitupou, Lee Stensness, Orene Ai'i, Craig McGrath, David Gibson.

Forwards: Xavier Rush (capt), Sione Lauaki, Justin Collins, Daniel Braid, Craig De Goldi, Jerome Kaino, Angus Macdonald, Bryce Williams, Bradley Mika, John Afoa, Scott Palmer, Nick White, Richard Kirke, Derren Witcombe.