Mooloo character triumphant

By WYNNE GRAY

WAIKATO 25 AUCKLAND 16

A parade of Mooloo champions watched another champion Mooloo side go to work. It was an afternoon for mutual admiration.

As men such as John Mitchell, Matthew Cooper, Richard Jerram, Brent Anderson and Richard Loe - stars of the 1992 title-winning side - looked on, their successors all but secured a home semifinal for this year's NPC.

Had fortune, some rulings or execution gone their way, Waikato could have earned a 20-25-point winning margin. They were as vigorous as Auckland were sluggish.

Captain Deon Muir repeatedly made ground with his surges, Marty Holah scavenged relentlessly, Keith Robinson banged about all over Waikato Stadium, and backs such as Rhys Duggan, Keith Lowen and Todd Miller brought an unstoppable mindset. This was their day, one to compare against the Class of 92.

"It is an awesome feeling," Muir said. "We always felt we had control of the game although they did keep coming back at us."

Waikato had confidence in each other, they believed in each other - like the 10 minutes when Robinson was sent to the sinbin for a harmless early shirtfront tackle - and they did not concede a point. They had trust.

Like coach Ian Foster who backed his judgment to return the goalkicking to David Hill despite his mixed match last week and Bruce Reihana's peerless form.

"It was my belief he needed to goalkick so he could go into the game and run it for us. I guess it was a bit of a risk on my account but I had faith he would do the job."

Hill did, even with three misses in eight kicks, and Waikato had another player ready for the semis.

The only jarring note for the NPC leaders was the knee ligament injury to prominent blindside flanker Jono Gibbes, a player who is strong in the air and offers a strong workrate. His exit appears to be for the season.

It was a sign of his contribution that even as Waikato wanted to soak up a rare and memorable homesoil victory, a clutch of players went up to console Gibbes as he hobbled off the ground on crutches. It underlined the comradeship and attitude that are significant foundations of the province's success.

Waikato also have plenty of skill but are growing the team ethos, the no guts no glory approach that has pushed Canterbury to distinction.

"I am rapt," coach Foster said. He was speaking from the heart.

A classy five-eighths who reached a record number of Waikato caps, Foster had been part of sides that beat Auckland in memorable games at Eden Park. Success at the revamped Waikato Stadium had been blotchy and the last win at home was in 1998 when Auckland had been without their All Blacks.

Saturday was a text of character for Waikato. They had to bounce back after losing to Otago, exorcise the Auckland bogey and convince themselves and their supporters they were not about to surrender the early series momentum. They had to make a statement.

"I thought our energy shone through," Foster said as he lauded his side's defence, organisation and attitude.

They started fast and never really deviated.

A summary from despondent Auckland coach Wayne Pivac sounded very similar to the synopsis from Taine Randell in 1999 as he searched for reasons for the All Blacks huge defeat in Sydney.

"We were outpassioned if you like," Pivac said.

He added his side was inexplicably flat and passive for a match that may have serious consequences in the run to the playoffs.

Even the defence that had been Auckland's forte this season and only yielded two tries in this match, had been breached too easily.

It had scrambled to save a number of tries but initial broken tackles had created pressure and led to penalties.

In a side which scarcely fired, Bradley Mika and Daniel Braid battled strongly, Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett showed out under great stress in cover defence.

"We played for 20 minutes today and you are not going to win many games at this level doing that," said Pivac.

Waikato had been able to create quick ball for continuity and were also able to slow down Auckland's ball. As usual, though, interpretations about the legality of play at the breakdown depended on which side you talked to.

Foster clearly felt his side had been denied some chances on the Auckland goalline. He knew the reason but would not discuss those until he reviewed the tape and calmed down some more.

Muir was more forthright.

"I felt they were killing our ball a lot when we were in the red zone with scoring opportunities.

"It would happen time and time again and nothing was getting done about it and we were getting a raw deal at times getting penalised for rucking."